Hiker Falls Off Cliff And Dies On Mount Whitney; Body Couldn't Be Removed For Days

INYO COUNTY, CA — A hiker suffered a fatal fall off a cliff over the weekend at Mount Whitney, but the person’s remains could not be recovered for days due to weather conditions on the mountain, according to authorities.

Inyo County Search and Rescue received a report around 1 p.m. Saturday of a hiker in the area of the 99 Switchbacks off the Main Trail who had fallen from the trail and off a cliff.

High winds prevented a California Highway Patrol helicopter from reaching the fallen hiker Saturday, according to Inyo County Search and Rescue, and, while several rescuers from Mono County Search and Rescue hiked roughly seven miles the following day to lower the deceased to a more accessible area, the winds again forced the evacuation to be postponed Sunday.

Rescuers were finally able to remove the deceased on Monday when weather conditions improved, Inyo County Search and Rescue said in a Facebook post.

The organization warned hikers that Mount Whitney is already experiencing snow, ice, low temperatures and windstorms.

“The Main Trail is no longer a casual hike but a mountaineering endeavor,” the Facebook post said. “The 99 Switchbacks are especially icy and slippery and should not be attempted without proper equipment, experience, and preparation.”