Conroe man dies after falling while hiking mountain in California

CONROE, Texas (KTRK) -- A Conroe man is dead after California authorities said he fell while trying to hike Mt. Whitney.

Authorities with Inyo County, California said 36-year-old Saulo Sifuentes Escalante from Conroe arrived at Whitney Portal on April 15. They said Escalante had intentions of hiking Mt. Whitney as a day climb.

The Inyo County Sheriff's Office said it received a call three days later, on April 18, about Escalante being overdue from his hike. A search and rescue team looked through the area on April 19, but were not able to find him.

After getting a warrant to review Escalante's cell phone data records, a multi-crew search found his body just south of the main Whitney trail on April 20 at 11 a.m. The Inyo County Sheriff's Office said Escalante was found at an 11,600' elevation in a steep, snowy north-facing chute.

Authorities believe Escalante had been ascending his chute when he slipped and fell.