The three hikers who died on Mt. Baldy on December 29, 2025 have been identified as 19-year-old Marcus Alexander Muench Casanova of Seal Beach, and Juan Sarat Lopez, 37, and Bayron Pedro Ramos Garcia, 36, both Guatemalan nationals said to be residing in Los Angeles.

Search and rescue crews from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department responded to an 11:30 a.m. December 29 request from a friend of Casanova’s who “hiked to an area with cellular service and provided GPS coordinates to assist rescuers,” according to a December 30 sheriff’s department news release.

“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 on December 31 were successful.

Authorities believe the hikers fell from Devil’s Backbone Trail.

U.S. Forest Service closures of several trails at Mt. Baldy remained in effect through midnight Wednesday, January 7. Affected trails included Devil’s Backbone, Mt. Baldy, Mt. Baldy Bowl, Three Ts, Icehouse Canyon, Chapman, and Ontario Peak. For up to date closure information go to fs.usda.gov/r05/angeles and search “Mt. Baldy trail closure.”

“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.”

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.

A GoFundMe page for Casanova has been established. “Marcus was a sailing instructor and had a natural way with kids: patient, encouraging, and generous with his time,” reads the GoFundMe description. “Helping young people discover confidence, freedom, and wonder through outdoor experiences mattered deeply to him. In Marcus’s name, we are creating a nonprofit to carry that spirit forward. Its mission is to provide scholarships for underserved youth to experience the outdoors — opportunities they might not otherwise have to hike, sail, learn, explore, and discover the sense of possibility that meant so much to Marcus.”

Go to gofundme.com/f/MarquitosAdventureClub to learn more.

This story was updated January 8.