International Courant
A lacking French pilot was discovered lifeless final week after officers say he fell 1,000 toes throughout a hike on Mt. Whitney at Sequoia and Kings Nationwide Park in California.
Tom Gerbier, a French Nationwide of Fontenay-sous-Bois, France, and pilot for Air France, had gone mountaineering early Tuesday morning from Whitney Portal, the gateway to Mt. Whitney, by way of the Mountaineering Route earlier than his return flight the subsequent day, the Nationwide Park Service stated Friday.
“Gerbier was described as an skilled mountaineer and extremely runner with the gear and talent to finish his meant route,” the Inyo County Sheriff’s Workplace stated.
When Gerbier failed to point out up for the flight on Wednesday, he was reported lacking.
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Mount Whitney is the tallest mountain within the contiguous United States, with an elevation of 14,505 toes. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Instances by way of Getty Photos, File)
The sheriff’s workplace instantly started rescue operations with fly-overs of Mt. Whitney, however discovered no indicators of the lacking hiker.
Floor groups have been deployed early Thursday morning and located clues {that a} hiker could have fallen off a cliff within the space generally known as “The Notch,” in line with rescuers.
The sheriff’s workplace described the realm as the place “the Mountaineer’s Route meets the steep and uncovered North Face of Mt. Whitney,” including that the terrain is “precarious.”
An NPS helicopter recovered the physique of Gerbier in an space generally known as “The Notch.” (Nationwide Park Service)
An NPS helicopter then flew over the realm and noticed a “immobile” hiker with clothes that matched Gerbier’s description, the company stated.
It appeared Gerbier had fallen about 1,000 toes, NPS stated. His physique was recovered by way of helicopter and transferred to Tulare County Sheriff’s Workplace, the place his identification was confirmed.
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Air France advised the San Francisco Chronicle in an announcement that it “regrets to substantiate the unintended demise of one in all its pilots, which occurred on October twentieth, 2023 whereas he was on a stopover in Los Angeles (California). The corporate provides its most honest condolences to his household and family members.”
The Mountaineer’s Route on Mt. Whitney is a technical climb that requires excessive mountaineering expertise and gear, the sheriff’s workplace stated. (Santi Visalli/ Getty Photos, File)
Mt. Whitney is the tallest mountain within the contiguous United States, rising 14,505 toes.
The sheriff’s workplace supplied condolences to Gerbier’s family members and warned that the Mountaineer’s Route on Mt. Whitney is a technical climb that requires excessive mountaineering expertise and gear.
“It’s not a hike and has claimed a number of lives in recent times,” the sheriff’s workplace stated. “Bear in mind, irrespective of how expert and ready you might be, accidents can occur to anybody.”
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Gerbier was the second fatality reported at Sequoia and Kings Canyon Nationwide Parks this yr, officers stated.
Air France pilot falls 1,000 toes to demise in California’s Sequoia Nationwide Park
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