A hiker has been found dead on Mt. Whitney, marking the third fatality this season on the highest peak in the contiguous United States. The individual was reported missing after failing to return from a solo ascent. The body was recovered from the north face of Mt. Whitney, below the 'final 400' stretch, a steep and challenging section particularly treacherous in winter. Inyo County Search & Rescue officials have highlighted the dangers of winter ascents, emphasizing that these are serious mountaineering endeavors with little margin for error. Recent fatalities on Mt. Whitney and Mt. Baldy underscore the risks associated with climbing these peaks during winter months.