A 19-year-old teen fell while hiking in Southern California’s Bald Mountain and two other people were found dead during a search and rescue operation, authorities said.
The recovery of three hikers who died is ongoing, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said Tuesday.
The Sheriff’s Department said Tuesday afternoon that Bald Mountain is now closed until New Year’s Day to “protect natural resources and ensure public safety” due to dangerous conditions.
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“The tragic loss of life and repeated rescue efforts on Bald Mountain underscore how dangerous the current situation is, even for experienced hikers,” San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus said in a statement about the temporary closure of Bald Mountain. “Weather and terrain conditions remain extremely dangerous and unpredictable, posing significant risks to both the public and search and rescue personnel.”
The search for the teen began around noon Monday after a search and rescue team responded to a call for the hiker who reportedly fell about 500 feet near Devil’s Backbone Trail, the Sheriff’s Department said.
A friend who was hiking with the teen “hiked to an area with cell service and provided GPS coordinates to assist rescuers,” the Sheriff’s Department said in a news release.
Matthew Micah Wright/Getty Images, FILE – PHOTO: In this undated file photo, Bald Mountain is located in California’s San Gabriel Mountains.
During an aerial search, deputies found the teen and two unidentified people nearby, but high winds prevented a helicopter from completing the rescue, authorities said.
A hoisted air medic confirmed late Monday night that all three hikers were dead, authorities said. Due to strong winds, the helicopter was still unable to safely recover them.
The Sheriff’s Department said Tuesday that recovery efforts are ongoing.
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The teen’s name has not been released. The two unidentified hikers found near him were part of a separate group and were discovered by chance during the search for the teen, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
Bald Mountain is located in the San Gabriel Mountains outside of Los Angeles.
The Sheriff’s Department will remain closed until 11:59 p.m. local time Wednesday, and the public is urged to comply with the order and avoid the area, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
“The temporary closure of the Bald Mountain Trail is necessary to prevent additional emergencies and protect lives,” Dicus said.
The Sheriff’s Department said those who violate the closure order may be fined up to $5,000 and/or jailed for up to six months.
ABC News’ Jenna Harrison contributed to this report.
