Hiker Dies on Mount Whitney After Falling Off a Cliff in Winter Conditions

October 29, 2025

A hiker died on Mount Whitney, California’s tallest peak, on October 25 after toppling down the 99 Switchbacks section of the route and sliding over a cliff. The 99 Switchbacks is a 2.2-mile section of the route that gains 1,800 feet of elevation as it quickly zig zags upwards. Recent snow made this part of the mountain particularly perilous over the weekend. In addition to the peak’s recent precipitation, earlier weather conditions also featured hazardous winds. Outside