Teen hiker who died after 500-foot fall from California’s Mount Baldy identified

Three hikers, including a 19-year-old who fell about 500 feet, were found dead on Mount Baldy, a looming snow-capped mountain known as one of the most dangerous to climb in Southern California.

Rescuers found Marcus Alexander Muench Casanova, 19, dead and discovered two other dead hikers during the search, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

The other two hikers were not hiking with the teen and it is unclear how long ago they died on the mountain.

Casanova went hiking Dec. 29 with a friend who was able to call for help after the teen fell. The friend had to walk away from the site of the fall, near the Devil’s Backbone Trail, to an area with cellular reception and provided his GPS location to rescue crews, authorities said. This companion was unharmed.

Due to strong winds, rescue teams were unable to carry out a helicopter recovery operation on Monday, but were able to recover the bodies on Tuesday.

The sheriff’s office said it had rescued five other hikers from the mountain over the previous five days.

“We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Marcus,” his family said in a statement Wednesday.

The release described the California native as an “avid sailor and outdoorsman.”

Rising to 10,064 feet (3,068 m) in the San Gabriel Mountains, Mount Baldy – officially known as Mount San Antonio – has become one of the deadliest peaks in the United States.

More than 14 people have died on the mountain since 2020, including British actor Julian Sands in January 2023, although his remains were not found until five months later. More than 100 people have been rescued from the mountain since 2020.

Proximity to Los Angeles means that Mount Baldy attracts both experienced and inexperienced climbers, and authorities have urged people to stay away from the mountain, especially during such unpredictable winter conditions.

“It’s one of the most dangerous trails we have here in our area,” Jenny Smith, a spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, said of the Devil’s Backbone Trail during a news conference. “We don’t want beginner hikers to go up and get hurt.”

Southern California was blanketed in rain and snow last week, but on Dec. 29, when the teen went hiking, the sun was shining and the sky was blue with unusually clear visibility across the entire region.

Mount Baldy was visible throughout Southern California, with breathtaking views all the way to Catalina Island.

Weather can change quickly on Mount Baldy and conditions can be dangerous with snow and ice. Climbers venturing along the Devil’s Backbone Trail are advised to wear crampons and ice axes.

The mountain trails were temporarily closed until the New Year following the deaths and repeated emergency interventions.