A hiker was found dead after he soldiered on to climb the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States — while his partner turned back.
The Inyo County Search and Rescue (SAR) team — a volunteer group operating under the local sheriff’s authority — located the hiker’s body Monday morning on Mount Whitney’s north face, below the “Final 400” feet of the 14,505-foot summit, CBS reported.
The hiker and his partner had initially set out late Saturday night, continuing into Sunday. At 3:30 p.m., the hiker — whose name has not been made public —went off alone.
SAR launched a search with six rescuers and assistance from a California Highway Patrol helicopter after the hiker failed to return Monday.
The hiker was discovered within Tulare County jurisdiction, and the sheriff’s office was alerted.
