A deadly hike on Mount Baldy in Southern California has sent shockwaves through outdoor communities as authorities confirmed the bodies of three hikers were found after falling victim to extreme winter conditions and treacherous terrain.
On Monday, search and rescue crews from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department responded to a distress call after a 19-year-old man fell roughly 500 feet near the Devil’s Backbone Trail, a notoriously steep and narrow ridge on Mount Baldy. His hiking companion managed to hike out to an area with cellular reception to call for help.
As crews scoured the area by air and on foot, they located the injured teenager and nearby the bodies of two additional hikers who were not part of the original party. Officials stressed that this made the incident highly unusual, with three separate fatalities discovered in close proximity during a single operation. (ABC7 Los Angeles)
The 19-year-old has since been identified as Marcus Alexander Muench Casanova, a freshman at Santa Clara University and avid outdoorsman from Seal Beach California. His family described him as a kind and adventurous young man whose loss has devastated loved ones.
In the days that followed authorities confirmed the identities of the other two men found near the Devil’s Backbone area: Juan Sarat Lopez and Bayron Pedro Ramos Garcia, both residents of Los Angeles and originally from Guatemala.
Recovery efforts were complicated by severe winds and winter weather that curtailed aerial operations for much of the search. At one point powerful gusts prevented rescue helicopters from safely hoisting personnel, forcing teams to adjust tactics and delaying recovery until conditions improved.
The tragedy comes as part of a broader pattern of hazards at Mount Baldy. Officials have repeatedly warned that the rugged terrain and rapidly changing weather can turn familiar trails into dangerous environments. Between 2016 and 2025 at least 23 deaths have been recorded on Mount Baldy alone, according to local safety reports.
Due to public safety concerns the U.S. Forest Service temporarily closed several trails in the Mount Baldy area around New Year’s and has recommended that hikers exercise extreme caution especially in winter conditions where snow and ice can hide dangerous footing and gusting winds can make navigation deadly. (SFGATE)
Authorities continue to urge anyone planning a hike to respect trail closures and check weather conditions before attempting routes like the Devil’s Backbone, which attract thrill seekers but also pose real risks in cold and windy weather.
.jpg)
