California Hiker Missing for a Week Found Dead in Mt. Baldy

In a heartbreaking turn of events, the search for 22-year-old Lifei "Ada" Huang, missing for a week in California's San Bernardino Mountains, concluded on Sunday with the discovery of her lifeless body, according to CBS News.

The California hiker, a resident of El Monte, went for a hike on Mt. Baldy amid a powerful storm that swept Southern California with heavy rain.

Huang was last seen on February 4 at approximately 2:30 PM, embarking on her hike.

Concerns grew when no communication was received from her after 4:30 PM.

Authorities initiated a search early Monday morning but faced challenges due to the storm's adverse conditions and the rugged terrain of the mountain.

After days of relentless efforts, the breakthrough came when a citizen flying a drone reported a potential sighting of Huang's body on Saturday around 3:30 PM in the upper San Antonio Creek Falls area.

However, rescue teams faced difficulties reaching the location due to the hazardous mountain conditions.

"Deputies and search and rescue team members responded to the upper San Antonio Creek Falls area but were unable to hike to the spot where Ms. Huang was believed to be, due to the conditions on the mountain," a statement from San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said.

Intensive Efforts to Recover the California Hiker's Body

On Saturday, February 10, the US Forestry Department informed the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office about the drone sighting, per the Daily Press.

Deputies and the sheriff's West Valley Search and Rescue Crew promptly responded but were thwarted in their attempts to reach the location due to perilous mountain conditions.

High winds prevented sheriff's aviation crews from conducting an aerial search, compelling rescue team members to stay overnight near the site to maintain the scene.

On Sunday, February 11, at 7:45 AM, sheriff's Air Rescue 306 deployed medics to the location, successfully hoisting Huang's body off the mountain.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner's Division will conduct an investigation to determine the cause of Huang's tragic demise. Grateful for the collaborative efforts, sheriff's officials expressed their thanks to all personnel, volunteers, and citizens who alerted the US Forestry.

City of El Monte officials conveyed condolences on Facebook, expressing solidarity with the Huang family and appreciating the dedicated efforts of the US Department of Forestry and the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department in the rescue mission.

Risky Mountain Conditions and Warnings Ignored

The severe storm that hit Southern California last week resulted in Los Angeles County experiencing over half of its annual rainfall in just three days.

Despite warnings from authorities, Huang and other hikers chose to venture into the San Gabriel Mountains, specifically Mt. Baldy, as the storm commenced on February 4, SFGATE reports.

The California hiker's friends revealed that she shared videos on social media, showcasing her singing on a frosty trail as rain started to fall.

On Mt. Baldy, three other hikers endured frigid conditions overnight, necessitating a successful rescue by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department the following day.

Mt. Baldy, notorious for being the site of 10 hiking fatalities since 2017, including the tragic death of British actor Julian Sands in January 2023, has raised concerns among officials.

Some have proposed closing the California mountain to winter hikers due to its inherent dangers.

"The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department strongly urges everyone to stay away and refrain from mountain activities during this inclement weather," emphasized the agency on Sunday.

The adverse weather conditions have blanketed the mountain in snow, significantly heightening the risk for hikers.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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