Climber Dies After Falling From 13,000-Foot California Peak
Brian Seibert, 53, was found deceased on Mount Morgan North after officials launched a search following his disappearance.
A climber has died after falling from a treacherous 13,000-foot peak in California. Brian Seibert, 53, was found dead on Mount Morgan North in Mono County on Tuesday, according to the Mono County Sheriff's Office. He had apparently fallen from a cliff as he descended the mountain.
Officials had declared Seibert missing on Sunday after he failed to return home and friends reported his disappearance. The Mono County Sheriff’s Office initiated a search Monday, utilizing scent-sniffing dogs and helicopters. The search team determined Seibert had reached the summit via the north ridge and signed the summit registry. Cellphone data was used to track his descent, but the search concluded Monday with him still missing.
The search resumed Tuesday, with a Cal Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter deploying rescuers at an elevation of 12,500 feet. The helicopter crew identified an anomaly near the base of Grand Central Couloir, a gully descending from the summit.
Rescuers reached the location and discovered Seibert had sustained an “unsurvivable fall from a cliff band at the base of the couloir,” officials stated. His body was recovered early Wednesday morning, as there was insufficient daylight remaining for a safe extraction on Tuesday.
The Mono County Sheriff’s Office extended condolences to Seibert’s family and acknowledged the assistance of various local and state partners. Friends of Seibert remembered him on social media, with one writing, “We sure had some good times with that big mammoth family…the world is gonna miss you…rest easy, brian.” Another friend added, “Thank you for all your efforts to get our friend back to his loved ones!”
The hike to Mount Morgan’s summit is considered highly challenging, involving a 10.4-mile trek with an elevation gain of 4,061 feet. Mai