Hiker's Final Text Sent Hours Before Fatal Fall on California Peak
Brian Seibert, 53, was found deceased after falling from Mount Morgan, a 13,000-foot summit.
A California hiker, Brian Seibert, 53, died after an unsurvivable fall last week while descending Mount Morgan, a 13,000-foot peak. Seibert had sent a final text message around 7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 4, indicating he was on his way down from the summit.
His body was recovered early Wednesday morning by a Yosemite National Park shorthaul-capable helicopter and crew. Seibert's death occurred after he fell from a cliff ledge at the base of Grand Central Couloir.
The Mono County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team was alerted on Monday, Oct. 5, after Seibert failed to return as expected. Search efforts commenced on Monday, with rescuers deployed by a Cal Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter to an altitude of 12,500 feet. Investigators utilized photo topographic matching, cell phone forensics, and a K-9 search to piece together evidence.
On Tuesday, Oct. 6, the Schooner crew identified an anomaly from the air near the bottom of Grand Central Couloir, which is a prominent east-facing gully off the summit. A ground team following a set of tracks descending the couloir reached the anomaly, confirming it was Seibert. Due to the hazardous terrain, recovery efforts were postponed until Wednesday morning.