Overview
- Joseph Brambila, 21, was last seen on Nov. 11 on Mount Whitney and was reported missing days later, according to the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office.
- Officials describe deep snow and icy, unstable slopes that make ground operations dangerous, with recovery unlikely until melt, though limited searches may occur when conditions allow.
- Hikers reported a motionless body roughly 1,000 feet below the cables near Trail Crest, but an aerial sweep could not locate or confirm any remains.
- The Fowler-O’Sullivan Foundation is assisting the family; its founder expressed a strong belief the reported body is Brambila, though authorities have not verified this.
- The charity says it is not actively searching, while individuals plan to use ground-penetrating radar this weekend as a private effort to help locate the reported site.