Overview
- Authorities say a 19-year-old fell roughly 500 feet near the Devil's Backbone, and a companion hiked to find cell service and relayed GPS coordinates.
- Helicopter crews located the injured teen and two nearby individuals, but dangerous gusts prevented a hoist operation.
- An air medic was lowered around 7:30 p.m. and confirmed all three were deceased as winds continued to block recovery.
- The two additional hikers were not part of the teen’s group and were discovered by chance during the aerial search.
- Identities and causes of death have not been released, and officials have temporarily closed Mount Baldy trails as recovery continues in hazardous conditions.