Missing Women
The body of 22-year-old hiker, Lifei Huang, has been retrieved from the mountains of Southern California, after a week-long search in difficult winter weather, authorities announced on Sunday.
Lifei Huang went missing, on February 4 at around 2:30 p.m., after going hiking alone in the Mount Baldy area of the San Gabriel Mountains. Just as an atmospheric river was about to shower the region. The unprecedented storm dumped snow on the slopes, and the harsh weather and avalanche dangers obstructed search operations.
Furthermore, the body of the El Monte resident was first spotted by a civilian drone. However, high winds prevented search and rescue workers from recovering it that day. According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office,
Search and rescue team members stayed the night near the location to preserve the scene.
After a long waiting period on Sunday morning, a helicopter crew retrieved Huang’s body from the upper San Antonio Creek Falls section of the mountain.
Critical Information For Hikers
Mount Baldy, climbs to more than 10,000 feet and is located around 40 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles. This mountain is also one of the most popular hiking destination. However, the location can be dangerous, especially in the winter. For this reason, the mountain has been dubbed one of the deadliest summits in the United States.
Moreover, on February 4, the same day Huang went missing, a group of three other hikers encountered difficulties while attempting to climb the mountain. The Sierra Madre Search and Rescue team stated that the group was unable to identify the trail due to “significant snowfall” and required rescue. The hikers, who were “well-equipped with appropriate gear for conditions,” had to stay overnight, before receiving assistance the next morning.
This is not the first time Mt. Baldy has claimed a life. Moreover, Julian Sands, a British actor and expert mountain climber, was also discovered dead on the peak in 2023, months after he went missing. Sands was one of 15 hikers injured or killed on Mount Baldy alone. With at least two more dying the same month. Some officials have considered restricting the peak to hikers during the winter months. Unfortunately, those actions have not taken place.
“The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department strongly urges everyone to stay away and refrain from mountain activities during this inclement weather,” the agency said Sunday.
The weather has effectively buried the mountain in snow and it is highly likely hikers will get into trouble.
An Unfortunate Lost
Huang, who lives in the Los Angeles County community of El Monte, was described by her friends as an ambitious and adventurous solo hiker. On Sunday, the day she went missing, she had emailed her group of friends to inform them of her plans. Additionally, she also shared a video of the region as she started her journey with her partner. Also, Huang had posted a video on social media of her humming a song. This video was posted while she was on a frosty trail as the rain started to fall.
Overall, this small mention of her actions before her death, just goes to show how Huang was a loving, caring and adventurous person. Everyone around her loved her and no one wanted the possibility of her dead to turn into a reality. Prior to the discover of Huang’s body, her friend, Cherry Li, stated:
We just want her to come back home safe.
This are only a couple of words but only further demonstrate how her friends and the people that loved her wanted Huang to “come back home.”
Written By Nohemi Sanchez
Sources:
CBS NEWS: EL Monte women missing after hike on Mt. Baldy found dead
SFGATE: Body of missing California women found by civilian drone on Mountain Baldy
The Guardian: Hiker missing for days on California’s Mountain Baldy found dead
Featured Image Courtesy of Richard Lehnert Flicker Page – Creative Common License
Inset Image Courtesy of fawke Flickr Page – Creative Common License
