A hiker who was found dead on Mount Whitney after he failed to check out of his hotel, has been identified as a California lawyer.
Winston Chu, 49, of Santa Clara, was discovered dead Oct. 20 after motel staff in Lone Pine alerted authorities that he had left his belongings behind and missed his checkout the previous day.
“Staff reported he had planned to hike in the Mount Whitney area. His vehicle was later located at Whitney Portal, and a CHP helicopter located him along the Mountaineer’s Route on October 20,” the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office said.
“Recovery efforts were delayed due to a storm system that brought snow and hazardous weather conditions. On October 25, a CHP helicopter and Inyo County Search and Rescue team successfully recovered Chu from approximately 13,600 feet,” they added.
The Inyo County Coroner’s Office determined Chu died from “multiple traumatic injuries” sustained in a fall.
Before locating his vehicle and body, sheriff’s officials made multiple attempts to reach the 49-year-old, but their messages went unanswered.
Chu was an accomplished attorney who graduated from Georgetown Law in 2006 and spent more than eight years working as a patent attorney at Roche Molecular Solutions in Santa Clara.
He also previously worked at Shay Glenn LLP and at Jackson & Co., LLP, according to his LinkedIn.
Roche Molecular Solutions is part of Roche Diagnostics, a biotechnology and medical diagnostics company.
The Mountaineer’s Route is a particularly treacherous path up California’s tallest peak, featuring steep terrain, loose rock and icy slopes.
The route is recommended for climbers with “strong mountaineering skills, navigation experience, and appropriate gear,” according to AllTrails.
Mount Whitney towers 14,505 feet above sea level and is considered one of the most challenging climbs in the country.
Chu’s death comes less than a year after another hiker died on the mountain.
In January, a climber was found dead on Whitney’s north face after attempting to summit alone when his hiking partner decided to turn back.
His body was discovered just below the final 400 feet leading to the summit.
