Hiker Found (Dead)

Zombie Zeke

Zombie Zeke

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Authorities: Missing Mt. Baldy Hiker Found Dead

The body was found Wednesday night in the Fish Fork area, 2,100 feet down the side of a cliff.
Watch Jaime Chambers' report

KTLA News

4:48 AM PST, December 9, 2010

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MT. BALDY ( KTLA) -- San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputies tell KTLA they found a body believed to be that of missing 49-year-old Michelle Yu who disappeared while hiking near Mt. Baldy in the Angeles National Forest.

The body was found Wednesday night in the Fish Fork area, 2,100 feet down the side of a cliff.

Yu, described as an experienced hiker, was reported missing Sunday after she failed to return from a hike a day earlier.

Yu's vehicle was found at Mt. Baldy and Falls roads.

Authorities initially feared that she may have fallen and injured herself after they were unable to reach her on her cell phone.

Some hikers reported hearing a woman screaming from a canyon around 6 p.m. Sunday, but couldn't determine exactly where the voice came from.

Search-and-rescue crews and a helicopter scoured the area for any signs of Yu.

Sheriff's spokeswoman Arden Wiltshire says Yu had food and water with her, but was planning only a one-day hike.

Wiltshire also says she wasn't dressed for the storm that hit the mountain with rain, wind and snow Sunday night.

Rescue crews say conditions on the mountain were miserable and at one point even forced them to hunker down as strong winds blew rain sideways along the trails.

During her hike, Yu had been carrying a 40-pound bag of rocks on her back to train for an upcoming extreme hike in the Andes Mountains.



RIP
 
That is too bad and prayers are outbound for those she left behind.
Now the shoulda/woulda will ensue.
 
They believe it to be her? Sounds like she fell a ways or was eaten by somethings...
 
I first heard of this a few days ago in Whine and Cheese of all places...

I was hoping I wouldn't have to read about a recovery and was looking forward to a rescue. Perhaps she lost footing somewhere and fell? That would have explained the scream that other hikers heard :confused:
 
^ wonderful- just what SAR would want- three bumbling, unprepared folks heading up the mountain to "help"- sounds like it was only a miracle there wasn't four missing hikers :thumbdn:

my condolences to the Yu family
 
Sorry to hear this, my sympathy to her family.
I know the carrying 40 pounds of rocks is a training thing but still 40 pounds of survival/first aid/signaling gear would have made more sense, especially if she survived the fall and was stranded waiting for rescue.
That would be horrible to fall, survive but be injured and immobilized and then die from exposure right next to a useless 40 pound bag of rocks.
 
So very sad. Other hikers said they heard someone, but was it screaming, as if the person was falling, or yelling for help? If it was the latter, her life might have been saved by a $2 whistle. Tragic.
 
I was hoping for a rescue as well, not a recovery. Now the family has closure at least. Prayers to her family for this tragedy.
Be safe.
 
Poor girl. I can only guess what it would be like in the mountains when the weather turns.
 
Prayers up for her family! I always hate hearing about lost/injured/dead hikers. I think these stories hit close to home for a lot of us...
 
2100 foot drop, and three days in the elements at least post mortem.

It was a tough one for SB SAR, the place where she was found was gone over a couple of times. The only thing I haven't heard or read was whether or not she had crampons equipped, it gets really slick up there.

*I am surprised more people don't go missing it's Disneyland for the unprepped up there. (Not in the case of Ms Yu, just a general observation)
 
Too bad she had to go out like that... A 2100 foot drop... my god. They said they found her down there.. but the didn't indicate whether or not she actually fell down the cliff. The weather was awful too.
 
BlackMamba426 said:
Yea here is another take on the whole incident. Apparently this guy tried looking for her as well, and wrote a blog about it.

It's a very interesting read.

http://exempt.wordpress.com/2010/12/09/mt-baldy-missing-hiker-update/

and here is pics and some video from the same guy

http://exempt.wordpress.com/2010/12/09/pics-and-video-from-mt-baldy-search/
Click to expand...

I'm glad that guy made it out ok, though he and his buddies were nearly the next S&R mission. It's noble that he wanted to help, but it's not too helpful when you go out unprepared, and refuse to acknowledge the fact.

Things like pushing on in icy conditions despite a lack of crampons/axes, not having sufficient clothing for the conditions, and not having a backup light (or at least one reliable one) are exactly the things that get people in trouble in these conditions.

I also thought him lying about how far they had to go was pretty disgusting, too.

Good reminders on what NOT to do, anyway!
 
Sad indeed.
Mt Baldy's where I spent most of my outdoors time.
A tragic and unnecessary reminder of how dangerous the mountain can be.
Condolence to those she left behind.
 
Mountainman38 said:
I'm glad that guy made it out ok, though he and his buddies were nearly the next S&R mission. It's noble that he wanted to help, but it's not too helpful when you go out unprepared, and refuse to acknowledge the fact.

Things like pushing on in icy conditions despite a lack of crampons/axes, not having sufficient clothing for the conditions, and not having a backup light (or at least one reliable one) are exactly the things that get people in trouble in these conditions.

I also thought him lying about how far they had to go was pretty disgusting, too.

Good reminders on what NOT to do, anyway!
Click to expand...

That guys blog made me raise my eyebrows. You'd think an ex-spec ops soldier would bring the right things for a outing like this. Like the correct clothes, extra batts/lights, ice axe, and making sure the rest of his outfit was kitted out properly too.
 
Wow, no kidding... I saw the SAR Helicopter flying around too, I had a feeling something bad was going on up on the Mountain. Shame. Too close to home.
 
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