Posted on 01/10/2023 8:08:43 AM PST by BenLurkin
A female hiker on Mt. Baldy died after sliding an estimated 500-700 feet down Baldy Bowl’s steep, icy hillside Sunday, authorities announced.
Officials with the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department received a call from the California Office of Emergency Services in reference to “an SOS message from a Garmin InReach device” stating that a hiker had just fallen down Baldy Bowl, the sheriff’s department said in a news release.
A sheriff’s helicopter responded to the scene using coordinates from the woman’s device and was able to locate her on a steep hillside.
A medic was lowered down from the helicopter to evaluate the woman and requested an air rescue and transport to the hospital due to her “substantial injuries.”
An air rescue helicopter then responded to the scene, lowering an additional medic and gear.
After the weather cleared, the deceased hiker was transported to the San Bernardino County Coroner’s Office.
Her name is being withheld pending notification of her next of kin.
(Excerpt) Read more at ktla.com ...
Female hiker?
Has KTLA been notified of this now-deceased human’s preferred pronouns?
If not SHAME ON THEM for assuming them!!!
I spent my entire working life outside. It baffles me why these Snowflakes and Zeros are so obsessed with climbing up big rocks and falling off. That’s some weird stuff.
I don’t believe there are any 14 ers in Colorado that are considered technical climbs. No so in the winter. It is Sportiva Nepal Cubes, crampons, and ice axe time of year.
Sorry. Baldy not very tall. I guess that the reason I have never climbed it.
Sudden death due to jab.
These are the big mountains... therefore one must carry the right kind of gear for the current conditions, which are prone to change drastically in a short period of time. Essential gear would be an ice axe and crampons or micro spikes.
They have to be carried in hand/worn on shoes-boots, for immediate use, and knowing how to arrest oneself beforehand is critical.
Also, using the buddy system is important, for two heads making decisions (safe route selection/go forward - go up - go back - go down/etc.) are better than one.
Sad death but preventable.
Fairly close to the summit, the trail traverses a knife edge (probably less so in reality than memory), with cross-winds and long drop-offs to either side. I hiked this in the summer years ago, and remember being right anxious in this section. Hiking there in wintry/icy conditions = no thanks.
The poor woman had courage, and met a frightful demise. Condolences to her family.
I’m pretty sure this happens again recently
If I still had access to cold mountains, I would love to train with telemark skies. As it was, I used snow shoes and crampons.
In retrospect, I probably did some pretty stupid things.
When I lived in Manhattan I had a friend killed in the gunks ice climbing he was a very meek lawyer with a very large firm but he loved ice climbing
It’s a dangerous sport or endeavor
Mt. Baldy can be treacherous in winter, as ice chutes are not uncommon.
Didn’t we all I hiked and climbed some pretty scary stuff in my 20s and late teens actually but the biggest risk I took was ocean sailing and very bad storms one of which sunk freighters
I was too naive to understand the danger of 100 mile an hour winds and mountainous seas
Plus at night you really can’t see it
I agree.
Many winter hikers do fine some number of times and assume that means they will always be fine.
Then that one time conditions change more and faster than they ever dreamed possible and that’s it for them
I’ve climbed Mount Baldy once and that was enough for me. It is very steep from the top of the chair lift to the parking lot. My friend and I did it during the summer and thought we were going to need a rescue unit to get us off.
I’m surprised how many bought the ranch this year up in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. It appears they would be bright enough to do it in the spring or fall before the winter weather and temperatures get going. Another thing that really freaks me out is how many of them hike up these big rocks SOLO. To me, that’s a stupid move. But that’s just me.
Sounds like a Monday on my driveway.
yes, and then sometimes people in the rescue teams die.
Mount Baldy is a location, not a suggestion.
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