Recovery effort underway for 3 found dead on California's Mount Baldy

Dec. 30 (UPI) -- The search for a missing teen hiker on Southern California's Mount Baldy resulted in three hikers being found dead Tuesday, local officials said.

The names and ages of the teen and two other hikers have not been released. Local officials said they temporarily closed Mount Baldy to prevent further emergencies following last week's torrential rains and snowfall at higher elevations that have made hiking conditions dangerous.

"The tragic loss of life on Mt. Baldy and repeated rescue responses highlight how dangerous current conditions are, even for experienced hikers," San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus said in a statement.

"Weather and terrain conditions remain extremely dangerous and unpredictable, posing a significant risk to both the public and search-and-rescue personnel," he added.

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The teen hiker was reported missing Monday by a companion who hiked to an area with cellular service and provided rescuers with GPS coordinates, ABC News reported.

The teen fell about 500 feet near Devil's Backbone trail, and search-and-rescue by chance located the teen's body and those of two other hikers from a different group while conducting an aerial search.

A medic was lowered to the bodies and confirmed all three were dead, but wind conditions prevented their removal.

The recovery effort continued Tuesday, and the mountain will remain closed through Wednesday night to protect the public and natural resources.

Anyone caught violating the closure order could be imprisoned for up to six months and fined up to $5,000.

Mount Baldy is a popular hiking destination, but it also is very dangerous and has claimed many lives -- especially during inclement weather.

Actor Julian Sands died while hiking on Mount Baldy in January 2023, and his remains were found months later.

Mount Baldy officially is named Mount San Antonio, reaches a maximum elevation of 10,064 feet and is the tallest peak in the San Gabriel Mountains in Southern California.

The mountain is located about 45 miles east of Los Angeles.

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