WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash — A Canadian hiker was found dead Monday after embarking on a solo hike at Mount Baker several days prior.
The Whatcom County Sheriff's Office said deputies launched a search operation for the 39-year-old man on Sept. 29 at 7:30 a.m. The hiker, who is from Squamish, British Columbia, had failed to check in with family on the evening of Sept. 28.
Thick clouds kept rescue helicopters from getting too close to the location, and Bellingham Mountain Rescue volunteers were forced to turn back due to darkness, steep slopes and worsening weather.
The air and ground rescue teams resumed their search on Monday morning. The missing climber's body was eventually located in a bergschrund near a tracking device he had brought with him.
The Whatcom County Medical Examiner's Office has taken custody of the body and will determine the cause of death.
“We mourn with the family and friends of this intrepid climber,” said Sheriff Donnell “Tank” Tanksley in a news release. “It is a heartbreaking outcome, but we are honored to be able to bring him home.”
The sheriff's office also stressed the importance of bringing emergency devices that can track location when people go on hikes. Deputies say the search effort was made significantly less difficult because the man had a Garmin inReach with him.