Los Angeles's Mount Baldy claims more victims

[unicorn]

A 19 year-old was found, having fallen 150 m to his death in the "Devil's Backbone" trail area of the 3000 m Mount Baldy. A friend traveling with him managed to call authorities and give the location of his fallen friend. Two other corpses were found alongside the 19 year-old's (how long they'd been there is unknown). This area is well-known to kill the unprepared, despite warning signs. Actor Julian Sands was also killed here 2 years ago--though in his case, his corpse wasn't found until the snow melted 5 months later. 😢🥶

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crrnlw4rxeyo

"Three hikers, including a 19-year-old who fell approximately 500 feet (150m), have been found dead on Mt Baldy, a looming snow-capped mountain known to be one of the most dangerous to climb in Southern California. Rescue workers found the 19-year-old dead and discovered two other dead hikers during the search, Jenny Smith, a spokesperson for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, said during a news conference. The other two dead hikers were not hiking with the teenager, and it is not clear how long they had been deceased on the mountain.

The teenager went hiking on 29 December with a friend who was able to call for help after the teen fell. The friend had to hike away from the fall site near the Devil's Backbone trail to an area with cell reception and provided their GPS location to rescue crews, authorities said. That companion was unharmed. Due to high winds, emergency crews were unable to complete a recovery operation by helicopter on Monday, but were able to recover the bodies on Tuesday...". 

[unicorn]

Here's a video of someone doing the hike in the summer (non-icy conditions):

 

 

[Pete1111]

I remember when Julian Sands went missing.  He ascended when the forecast was stormy. 

I thought, "who climbs up there when the weather is like this?"

Yet, hikers do.  I imagine they find the experience rewarding, perhaps both spiritually and physically.

This latest fatality sounds similar.  The weather was terrible.

One article I found reports  it is one of the deadliest peaks in the US.

 

[PeterRS]

I know I have been somewhat adventurous during my career and taken a good few risks, but I have never understood why some people find extreme and danegerous outdoor activities so attractive to them. Sure, I'd love to see the world from the top of Everest, but I have seen it from a tourist plane flying a little higher and that was good enough for me. There was a documentary some years ago about two or more groups trying to climb up the horribly narrow Hillary Steps near the summit with many stuck because of the queues. When you depend on oxygen and tanks don't last too long, that would horrify me!

I have watched through binoculars rock climbers in Switzerland suspended a few thousand meters up and almost horizontal. Same with extreme skiing where more than once I have also watched it start avalanches. Overcoming the fear of danger must surely have something to do with it.