Three hikers, including a 19-year-old who fell approximately 500 feet, have been found dead on Mt Baldy, a mountain notorious for its climbing difficulties in Southern California.

The deceased was identified as Marcus Alexander Muench Casanova. Authorities from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department reported that two other hikers were discovered during the recovery efforts, though they had no known connection to Casanova.

Casanova fell while hiking with a friend on December 29. The friend managed to reach a location with cell service to alert rescue teams with their GPS coordinates. Fortunately, this companion was unharmed in the incident.

Due to high winds hampering rescue operations, the victims were not recovered by helicopter until the following Tuesday. In the week leading up to this incident, emergency crews had successfully rescued five other hikers from the mountain.

In a heartfelt statement, Casanova's family expressed their devastation over his loss, calling him an 'avid sailor and outdoorsman.'

Mt Baldy, rising to 10,064 feet in the San Gabriel Mountains, has claimed over 14 lives since 2020, including British actor Julian Sands earlier this year. The peak attracts both experienced and novice climbers, but authorities have strongly advised against hiking during unstable winter weather.

Authorities have temporarily closed trails on Mt Baldy following the tragic incidents, urging the community to heed safety warnings and avoid the hazardous terrain, especially on the treacherous Devil's Backbone trail.