On Tuesday, May 7, two mountain climbers on an “experts only” climbing route atop Mt. Whitney in California were reported missing. Their bodies have been discovered.
The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) announced on Thursday, May 9, that the climbers were Andrew Niziol of South Lake Tahoe and Patty Bolan, according to The Sacramento Bee.
The Los Angeles Times stated that Niziol, 28, and Bolan, 29, lost contact with their companion Ethan Michael Cannaert while ascending the mountain in Sequoia National Park on the “experts only” Mountaineer’s Route. After reaching the 14,500-foot top, the group split up and descended.
According to the publication, Cannaert stated in a post to a Mt. Whitney Facebook group that he anticipated meeting the two at a location known as “The Notch,” a level area that climbers frequently utilize as a rest stop.
According to The Los Angeles Times, Cannaert said in the post, “I waited there for over an hour and was forced to move down the chute to escape the cold wind, but never saw them.”
The climbers’ deaths were confirmed by the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office (ICS0) on Thursday, May 9. Despite not naming Niziol and Bolan, the post was made on Facebook.
Around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Cannaert called ICSO to report his buddies missing, according to the sheriff’s office.
“Inyo County Search & Rescue initiated a search utilizing a helicopter and foot teams to search the area,” the department added. “Tragically, both hikers were later discovered deceased.” The bodies were found in Tulare County and identified by the Tulare County Coroner.
In his final Instagram post on May 5, Niziol conveyed his appreciation for his adventurous and climbing life.
“If I could go back in time and show 12 year old me what my life is now, I’d make myself so proud 🥹,” he captioned a photo on Instagram posing with Bolan, whom he called “the most fun person” he’s ever met.
“This is the kind of living I’ve dreamed about for 15 years. I’ve finally surrounded myself with people to share these types of experiences with and I couldn’t be more thankful,” he continued.
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