California Highway Search Efforts Halted Due to Life-Threatening Weather

Authorities in southern California are frantically searching for a 22-year-old woman, Lifei Huang, who went missing while hiking alone in the Mount Baldy area of the San Gabriel mountains on Sunday. The intense atmospheric river that battered the region made conditions extremely treacherous, forcing search teams to suspend their efforts on Tuesday due to the intense weather and avalanche risks.

According to the San Bernardino county sheriff’s department, Huang set out on her hike at 2 pm on Sunday and was last heard from around 4 pm. The search and rescue team began looking for her at 2:30 am on Monday, but were unable to locate her. The drastic weather conditions and perpetual threat of rockslides and mudslides have made it impossible for crews to resume the search.

Mount Baldy is notorious for being a popular yet perilous hiking spot, especially during winter conditions. Last year, renowned British actor Julian Sands, an experienced mountain climber, was found dead on the mountain after he had gone missing. In January 2023 alone, at least 15 hikers were hurt or lost on Mount Baldy, with two fatalities reported.

The freezing rain and ice that descend in winter drastically alter the experience of hiking on Mount Baldy, rendering it a significantly more hazardous endeavor. As the storm that hit southern California left a trail of destruction, officials warned residents to avoid driving into mountainous areas where the risk of rockslides and mudslides remains high.

The sheriff’s department urged the public to refrain from mountain activities during this inclement weather, stating that the weather has effectively buried the mountain in snow and it is highly likely hikers will get into trouble. Moreover, resources are stretched to their limits, and hikers who get lost may have to wait long periods of time before help is available.

Cherry Li, a friend of Huang, described her as an adventurous solo hiker who texted a group of friends on Sunday to let them know of her plans. She sent her boyfriend a video of the area as she began her hike and posted videos to social media before she disappeared. “We just want her to come back home safe,” Li said.