A 22-year-old woman has been found dead nearly a week after she went missing on Mount Baldy after going on a hike Feb. 4, shortly before an atmospheric river storm hit the region, authorities said Feb. 11.
Lifei Huang, of El Monte, was reported missing at 11:14 p.m. Feb. 4 in the Mt. Baldy area of the San Gabriel Mountains after she embarked on a solo hike at around 2 p.m. that day, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
Members of the department’s search and rescue team began searching for Ms. Huang at about 2:30 a.m. Feb. 5, but could not locate her, the department said.
On Feb. 10, the U.S. Forestry Department told authorities that a citizen flying a drone may have spotted Ms. Huang.
Deputies and rescue crews rushed to the upper San Antonio Creek Falls area, but unsafe conditions on the mountain prevented them from hiking to the location where Ms. Huang was believed to be, the department said Feb. 11. High winds also prevented sheriff’s aviation crews from performing an aerial search Feb. 10.
Crews stayed the night near the location and hoisted medics to the location around 7:45 a.m. Feb. 11 and recovered Ms. Huang’s body.
“We would like to thank all our personnel and volunteers that aided in the search, as well as the citizen that alerted U.S. Forestry,” the department said.
Ms. Huang was described on KTLA5 as an adventurous hiker who often hiked solo. Before embarking on her hike, she texted a group of friends to inform them of her plans for the day, according to Cherry Li, a friend.
On the day of her hike, at 1:59 p.m., she sent a video to her boyfriend, depicting her arrival at the trail parking lot as she prepared to ascend the mountain, KTLA5 reported.
She also shared several videos on her social media page, capturing the frosty trail and rain showering down as she hummed a song during her hike, according to KTLA5.
Mt. Baldy’s popularity among hikers is matched by its dangers, particularly in winter. Search and rescue teams are frequently called to locate missing hikers and outdoor enthusiasts amidst its treacherous terrain.
Three hikers were rescued by local search and rescue teams of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Feb. 5 after getting lost on their way to the top of Mt. Baldy, coinciding with the day of Ms. Huang’s hike.
Rescuers evaluated their medical conditions and provided care before descending with the hikers.
