Amid a brutal winter storm that has turned Mount Baldy into a perilous landscape, a young woman from El Monte remains unaccounted for following her hike last Sunday. As reported by ABC7, 22-year-old Lifei Huang set out on a solo hike in the San Gabriel Mountains and has not contacted anyone since 4 p.m. that day.
According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, a search was launched in the early hours of Monday for Huang but has been intermittently halted due to extreme weather conditions. Search teams faced more than a dozen avalanches by midday Tuesday, complicating rescue efforts. As conditions on the mountain continued to deteriorate, the Sheriff's Department cautioned that "hikers who get lost may have to wait long periods before help is available," as reported by FOX LA.
Meanwhile, a glimmer of hope was seen in the rescue of three seasoned hikers who, according to the Sheriff's Department, became disoriented on the Bear Canyon Trail the subsequent day Huang went missing. After enduring a night exposed to the elements, the trio was found and escorted back to safety, taking solace in their preparedness with all three cleared by medical personnel after the harrowing experience.
The Sheriff's Department firmly stands by their warning for hikers to steer clear of the mountains this week, with the area being no stranger to tragedies, including past incidents where several individuals, such as actor Julian Sands, were found dead after attempting to navigate the trails in treacherous conditions. With Mount Baldy currently engulfed in snow and facing frigid weather, the risks are amplified, the department said, recognizing that even those highly skilled in hiking may face unexpected dangers.
