A 49-year-old man from Santa Clara, California, died after falling while climbing Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous United States, authorities said.
Winston Chu died from “multiple traumatic injuries” caused by a fall, the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office said in an Oct. 30 news release. His body was found along the mountain’s Mountaineer’s Route on Oct. 20, and his next of kin have been notified.
Authorities began searching for Chu after motel staff in Lone Pine, California, reported on Oct. 19 that he had failed to check out and left personal belongings behind. Staff told deputies that he had planned to hike in the Mount Whitney area.
The following day, deputies located Chu’s vehicle at Whitney Portal, a trailhead area at the base of the mountain. After consulting with the U.S. Forest Service, they confirmed that he had a permit for the Mountaineer’s Route dated Oct. 18, according to a local media outlet, the Fresno Bee.
A California Highway Patrol helicopter (CHP) located Chu’s body on Oct. 20, the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office said. However, a storm brought snow and hazardous weather conditions, delaying recovery efforts for several days.
On Oct. 25, a CHP helicopter and an Inyo County Search and Rescue team recovered Chu from an elevation of about 13,600 feet.
“The Inyo County Sheriff’s Office extends its sincere condolences to Winston Chu’s family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time,” the release says.
At 14,505 feet above sea level, climbing Mount Whitney can be challenging and perilous. According to popular hiking website AllTrails, the strenuous 22.1-mile standard round-trip trail gains 6,564 feet in elevation and typically takes 13.5 to 15 hours to complete. The route features rocky switchbacks and steep cliffs, and hikers need experience navigating off-trail terrain and snow. The high altitude can also cause altitude sickness, making proper acclimatization essential.
Chu’s death followed another fatal incident involving a California climber on Mount Whitney earlier in October. Kalem Peter Kazarian, a 52-year-old Fresno builder, died while climbing the mountain, according to the Fresno Bee.
The Fresno Bee reported the death of another climber, 21-year-old Joseph Brambila, who went climbing the mountain to celebrate his birthday. He was found dead in December last year, after missing for weeks.
“Reaching the summit of Whitney is an incredible accomplishment, but the journey is sure to challenge even the fittest of hikers,” AllTrail states.
Xia Yu contributed to this report.
