A 19-year-old hiker who died after falling approximately 150 meters from Mt. Baldy in California on December 29 has been identified as Marcus Alexander Muench Casanova, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. Casanova was hiking with a friend near the Devil's Backbone trail when he fell; his companion, who was unharmed, hiked to an area with cell reception and contacted rescue crews, providing GPS coordinates.
The sheriff's office reported that high winds hampered initial recovery efforts, preventing helicopter access on Monday. However, crews were able to recover Casanova's body on Tuesday. During the search for Casanova, authorities discovered the bodies of two other deceased hikers on the mountain. It remains unclear how long those individuals had been deceased, and they were not hiking with Casanova.
Mt. Baldy, a snow-capped peak in Southern California, is known for its challenging terrain and is considered one of the most dangerous climbs in the region. The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department has rescued five other hikers from the mountain recently, highlighting the risks associated with hiking in the area, particularly during winter conditions. The investigation into the deaths of all three hikers is ongoing.
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