MOUNT BALDY, Calif. (KABC) — A 19-year-old hiker who was found dead on Mount Baldy has been identified as a Seal Beach resident.
Marcus Alexander Muench Casanova was one of three hikers who were found dead on the mountain earlier this week, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. The other two hikers have not been identified.
Casanova’s body was found on Monday, but dangerous winds delayed recovery efforts until Tuesday. Friends say he fell about 500 feet near Devil’s Backbone, a trail that lures thrill seekers to the snow-capped San Gabriel Mountains’ highest peak.
The teenager’s family issued a statement Wednesday, calling him “an incredibly sweet and empathetic young man.”
“We are destroyed by the loss of our beloved Marcus. He was a graduate of Los Alamitos High, a freshman at Santa Clara University’s business school, and an avid sailor and outdoorsman… It is difficult to explain the pain and anguish we are going through and ask for privacy as we try to find our way,” the statement reads.
In Jan. 2023, the famed actor Julian Sands died along the very same trail. It took rescuers months to recover his body.
The deaths on the mountains prompted the closure of trails on Mount Baldy.
The U.S. Forest Service announced a temporary closure and prohibition order on Tuesday for a portion of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, including Mount Baldy.
The order will remain in effect until Wednesday at 11:59 p.m.
“The tragic loss of life on Mt. Baldy and repeated rescue responses highlight how dangerous current conditions are, even for experienced hikers,” said San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus in a statement about the closure. “Weather and terrain conditions remain extremely dangerous and unpredictable, posing a significant risk to both the public and Search and Rescue personnel. 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 sheriff’s department says violators could face a fine of up to $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization. The department is asking everyone to stay away from the Mount Baldy area for the duration of the closure.
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