Hiker dies after fall on Mount Whitney 99 Switchbacks

A hiker died after falling from the 99 Switchbacks section of Mount Whitney on Saturday, Oct. 25, rescue officials said, touching off a multiday recovery effort repeatedly stalled by high winds and winterlike conditions on the mountain. Inyo County Search and Rescue crews were alerted shortly before 1 p.m. and staged with a California Highway Patrol helicopter at Lone Pine Airport later that afternoon, but sustained winds prevented an aerial response, officials said.

Rescuers confirmed the fatality the following day after members of Mono County Search and Rescue hiked roughly seven miles to reach the scene near the Main Trail. Mono County personnel lowered the hiker’s body to a more accessible location, but gusting winds again prevented helicopter evacuation. When weather improved on Monday, Oct. 27, CHP Helicopter H80 was able to extract the body with support from Inyo County Search and Rescue. The remains were transferred to the Inyo County Coroner’s Office. The victim’s name has not been released pending family notification.

“Our sincere condolences go out to the family and friends of the hiker,” rescuers wrote in a public statement, and they asked the public to be respectful...