Authorities said rescuers discovered the bodies of three hikers along Mt Baldy’s Devil’s Backbone trail on Monday, December 29.
Search and rescue team members were looking for one hiker who had fallen off the trail when they finally encountered the three victims, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
The incident began around 11:30 in the morning, when a 19-year-old fell from the trail, and fell down about 500 feet, the agency said in a written statement.
The Devil’s Backbone trail in Mt Baldy.
“His friend and fellow hiker hiked to an area with cellular service and provided GPS coordinates to assist rescuers,” the statement said.
Officers began both an air and ground search.
“During the aerial search, deputies located the injured pedestrian and located two additional individuals nearby who have not been identified,” according to the statement.
But the helicopter could not reach the people because of the strong wind.
During the second attempt around 7:30 pm, officers managed to get a medic to the victims, sheriff’s officials said. All three were confirmed dead.
Efforts to recover the bodies continued Tuesday as strong winds continued to pose a challenge.
The victims were yet to be identified. No other details were available.
Closure issued for the area until January 1st
The US Forest Service has issued a temporary closure and ban for portions of San Gabriel National Monument, including Mt Baldy, to be in effect until 11:59 pm on Wednesday, December 31st.
The closure was put into effect “to protect natural resources and provide for public safety,” the department said.
“The tragic loss of life on Mt. Baldy and the repeated rescue responses highlight how dangerous the current conditions are, even for experienced hikers,” according to San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus.
“Weather and terrain conditions remain extremely dangerous and unpredictable, posing a significant risk to both the public and Search and Rescue personnel,” he said. “The temporary closure of the Mt. Baldy trails is necessary to prevent additional emergencies and protect lives. The public is encouraged to respect the closure and avoid the area until it is safe to reopen.”
Closed recreation sites including:
Additional details, including a copy of the closure order, can be found online at fs.usda.gov/r05/angeles/alerts/mt-baldy-emergency-closure.
“The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department advises all subjects to refrain from traveling to or recreating in the Mt. Baldy area for the duration of the closure,” the department’s statement said. “Public cooperation is essential to ensure the safety of visitors and rescue personnel and to support ongoing public safety operations.”
Violations of the order can include fines of up to $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, plus up to six months in prison, or both.
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Anyone with information was asked to contact the Fontana Sheriff’s Station at (909) 356-6767, or Sheriff’s Dispatch at (909) 387-8313. Information may also be provided anonymously to the We-Tip hotline at (800) 782-7463.
(This story will be updated as additional information becomes available.)
This article originally appeared on the Victorville Daily Press: Three hikers found dead on Mt. Baldy, a recovery effort is underway