During the summer months, Devils Backbone remains a treacherous hot spot  to Mt. Baldy summit because of steep drops on both sides of the trail. Courier photo/Peter Weinberger

Three hikers were found dead at Mount Baldy Monday.

Search and rescue crews from the sheriff’s department responded to a request at 11:30 a.m. Monday to locate a 19-year-old male hiker who had fallen some 500 feet near the Devils Backbone trail. The request was made by an unidentified friend of the victim who “hiked to an area with cellular service and provided GPS coordinates to assist rescuers,” according to a SB County Sheriff’s Department news release.

The bodies of the missing 19-year-old and two other hikers were found Monday during a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department aerial search, but efforts to recover the bodies have been hampered by high winds.

“At approximately 7:30 p.m., an airship from Los Angeles County assisted in the effort,” read the news release. “High winds again prevented a hoist operation; however, an air medic was hoisted down and confirmed all three individuals were deceased. Due to severe winds, the helicopter was unable to safely complete the rescue.”

Retrieval efforts continued Tuesday.

Since 2020, at least 14 people have died while hiking Mt. Baldy, and more than 100 have been rescued. Lee Fay Wang, 22, died in February 2024 and Crystal Paula Gonzalez-Landas in January 2023. Actor Julian Sands went missing at Mt. Baldy in January 2023. His remains were recovered six months later.

The SB County Sheriff’s Department announced the temporary closure of some roads leading to Mt. Baldy through midnight New Year’s Eve.

“The tragic loss of life on Mt. Baldy and repeated rescue responses highlight how dangerous current conditions are, even for experienced hikers. Weather and terrain conditions remain extremely dangerous and unpredictable, posing a significant risk to both the public and Search and Rescue personnel,” wrote SB County Sheriff-Coroner Shannon Dicus in a press release. “The temporary closure of Mt. Baldy trails is necessary to prevent additional emergencies and protect lives. The public is urged to respect the closure and avoid the area until it is safe to reopen … The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department advises all subjects to refrain from traveling to or recreating in the Mt. Baldy area for the duration of the closure. Public cooperation is essential to ensure the safety of visitors and rescue personnel and to support ongoing public safety operations.”

Check local.nixle.com/sbsd—headquarters for updates from the SB County Sheriff’s Department.

Those with information are urged to call the SB County Sheriff’s Department at (909) 356-6767 or (909) 387-8313. Anonymous tips can be phoned to (800) 782-7463 or sent to wetip.com.