Missing hiker found dead on Mt. Baldy

The body of a hiker who went missing on Mount Baldy was recovered Sunday morning, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. This report aired on KTLA 5 News at 6, Feb. 11, 2024.

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[lancestuart]

People never learn. That mountain is no joke and climbing it in winter is insane. I’m sorry for her family’s loss.

[abefroman]

If you go up in the mountains during a snow storm, you're going to have a very bad time.

[thestone]

I feel bad for her, Mount Baldy is not a safe place to go for a hike on your own many other hikers had been missing or found dead over the years.

[Lenny.]

No surprise there, that's how Julian Sands met his demise. The harsh weather conditions were very similar. Never hike alone! I have been up to Cucamonga Peak over a dozen times and NEVER alone, always with at least one person because it's dangerous up there. Condolences to the family and friends.

[petuniasevan]

I grew up in sight of Mt. Baldy out my bedroom window. As a kid I got to spend many days and nights up in both the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains. Scout leaders, church officials, my parents, our neighbors, all warned of how dangerous it was to go off gallivanting on mountain trails alone, and especially in bad or threatening weather. Also don't take shelter under those coulter pines with the 10 lb spiky cones, and don't ever try tubing down the rivers that are swollen with rain.
One impression I got over the years, both living there and away, was that an awful lot of people are very cavalier about the dangers, almost as if the place was a Disney set and the ride would end soon and they would disembark. Unfortunately for many, their families are left to pick up the pieces.

[THE_WOAT]

Extremely sad. May she rest in peace and condolences to her family.

[arkwill]

As a much younger man I was once caught out on a remote mountain when it suddenly started snowing and quickly turned into blizzard. Me and my hiking partner had turned back but after a short while it started to get hard to make out the trail and our visibility was limited to maybe 30-40 feet. I remember the fear growing as we realized that one wrong turn and we had no idea where we'd end up and we didn't have the proper gear to easily survive the night. Luckily we eventually got back to a point where we found a familiar landmark (a fence post ) and realized we were going the right way. As we got lower the snow wasn't as heavy and we could see more in order to get back to the trailhead. Completely stupid on our part and we were very lucky to survive it. I recall the whole time we were slogging back that I had the sense that if I stopped and looked back I was going to see the angel of death in the distance behind us and if we allowed him to catch us it was all over. Still makes me shudder -- but I learned from it. Sadly, others do not.

[nancysantamarialatica]

Aww wow. My deepest condolences to her family .
That mountain has taken many lives so far.
So beautiful young soul .

[bombaybeach]

Completely predictable. At least it didn't take six months to find her like it did Julian Sands.

[HolgerRuneFan]

I have hiked Mt. Baldy over 50 times, so I know the terrain and the mountain very well, from all approaches. I live only 20 minutes away from the primary trailhead above Mt. Baldy Village. Sadly, this young lady attempted a hike under *extremely* dangerous conditions, which was incredibly foolhardy. Nobody but a mountaineering expert should ever, ever attempt Baldy in a snowstorm. She was also a solo hiker who didn't learn (or follow) the adage, "he who hikes alone has a fool as a companion." What she did was no different than attempting a hike to Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the Grand Canyon in 110 degree heat.

She didn't have emergency supplies or shelter, or a GPS system-- all things any casual hiker should always carry. A backpack containing an emergency bivy, mirror (to signal), and emergency food/water would only take up a few pounds. But the most egregious thing was attempting Baldy in the middle of heavy snow and cold! This was an avoidable tragedy.

I mean no disrespect to the deceased hiker, may she R.I.P, but I pray people learn from her fundamental and very basic mistakes.

[zariballard]

How could she go hiking without KNOWING THAT BAD WEATHER WAS COMING???? It's been all over the news for two weeks!!

[UHNWI]

What a shame, RIP. Prayers and condolences to her loved ones 🤲🏻

[Lila]

Oh this is so sad. Rest in peace beautiful one. Condolences to her family and friends…

[vincentvasquez]

Mount Baldy has claimed another. It claimed Julian Sands the actor. It claimed the 12 year old Jared Negrete of El Monte back in July of 1991, it also claimed a young mother Crystal Paula Gonzalez last year, and now this young lady of El Monte. RIP all of them.

[ShovelMonkey]

Snow everywhere. In the mountains. Middle of winter. Cause of death unknown. Bang-up job of reporting there guys.

[seeharvester]

What in the world is she doing up there in the middle of winter alone?

[cynthiasmith]

Never go out alone, it becomes Condolences to her family and friends... We are so very sorry...

[aldo-]

This has a lot of red flags for me..I doubt she was a hiker and what sane person goes out as a giant storm is rolling in? Something isn't adding up here

[popeyesailorman]

After several nights of freezing temps, the result was inevitable even for the most avid hikers

RIP

[libbykaynorris]

Poor little thing got caught in the storm. So sorry for her family. That's where Julian Sands was hiking when he died.