Three hikers have been found dead on Bald Mountain, including a 19-year-old climber who fell about 500 feet (150m). Bald Mountain is a looming snow-capped mountain considered one of the most dangerous climbs in Southern California.

Rescuers found 19-year-old Marcus Alexander Muench Casanova dead and discovered the bodies of two other hikers during the search, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

Two other hikers were not hiking with the teen, and it was unclear how long they had been on the mountain until their deaths.

On Dec. 29, Casanova went hiking with a friend who asked a friend for help after the teen fell. The friend had to hike away from the fall site near Devil’s Backbone Trail to an area with cell phone coverage and provide a GPS location to rescuers, authorities said. The companion was safe and sound.

Emergency crews were unable to complete a recovery operation by helicopter on Monday due to high winds, but were able to recover the body on Tuesday.

The Sheriff’s Office said it has rescued five other hikers from the mountain in the past five days.

“We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Marcus,” his family said in a statement Wednesday.

The statement described the Californian as an “avid sailor and outdoor enthusiast.”

With an elevation of 10,064 feet (3068 m), Mount Baldy (formally known as Mount San Antonio) has become one of the deadliest mountains in the United States.

More than 14 people have died on the mountain since 2020, including British actor Julian Sands in January 2023, although his remains were not discovered until five months later. Since 2020, more than 100 people have been rescued from the mountain.

Mount Bald’s proximity to Los Angeles means Mount Bald attracts both experienced and inexperienced climbers, and authorities urge people to stay away from the mountain, especially during such unpredictable winter weather.

“This is one of the most dangerous trails in our area,” San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Jeanne Smith said of the Devil’s Backbone Trail at a news conference. “We don’t want novice hikers to get hurt while going up the mountain.”

Southern California had been covered in rain and snow for the past week, but when the teen went hiking on December 29, the sun was shining brightly, the sky was blue, and visibility was unusually clear across the region.

Bald Mountain can be seen throughout Southern California, with stunning views from Catalina Island in the distance.

The weather on Bald Mountain changes rapidly, and ice and snow are very dangerous. Climbers venturing along the Devil’s Back Trail are advised to carry crampons and an ice axe.

Following the fatalities and multiple rescue operations, trails on the mountain have been temporarily closed until the New Year.