By Fatma Younis
The body of a missing California hiker, covered in snow, was recovered on Mount Whitney on Sunday after a blustery storm delayed retrieval operations for five days. The Inyo County Sheriff's Office extended condolences to the hiker's family and loved ones in a Monday statement; the individual has not been publicly identified.
Recovery Efforts Delayed by Storm
On October 19, a motel in Lone Pine reported a guest who failed to check out and had mentioned plans to hike in the area. The climber's vehicle was found the next day at the base of Mount Whitney. A California Highway Patrol helicopter located the deceased man on the Mountaineer's Route, a steep nine‑mile path to the summit, at an elevation of about 13,600 feet. Hazardous weather from a storm system prevented authorities from securing the body until a county search and rescue team hoisted it off the mountain by helicopter on Sunday.
Mount Whitney's Recent Fatalities
Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous United States, has proven perilous in recent years. In October, 52‑year‑old Fresno builder Kalem Peter Kazarian died while hiking. Last December, 21‑year‑old solo hiker Joseph Brambila was missing for weeks before his body was found.
