Brian Seibert sent a message saying he was returning before rescuers found him dead on California’s Mount Morgan.
The 53-year-old climber last made contact around 7 p.m. on October 4, 2026. Searchers found him on October 6 near the bottom of Grand Central Couloir, a steep gully descending from the summit, according to the Mono County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team.
Rescuers determined that Seibert had suffered an unsurvivable fall from a cliff band. A helicopter crew recovered his body the following morning.
The mountain rises above 13,000 feet, but that figure describes its elevation, not the distance he fell. The rescue report does not specify the fall’s height or exactly when it happened.
Final Message Said He Was Returning
Seibert had set out to climb Mount Morgan’s northern peak in Mono County, south of Mammoth Lakes. The San Francisco Chronicle identified him as a 53-year-old solo hiker.
The search and rescue team received the overdue-climber report at approximately 11:30 a.m. on October 5. Investigators used cellphone data, photographs matched to mountain terrain and a search dog working from his vehicle to help establish his route.
A ground team reached the summit and found Seibert’s entry in the summit register, confirming that he had made it to the top.
Helicopter Crew Spotted Clue in Steep Gully
The search continued on October 6, when a California National Guard Chinook helicopter deployed rescuers at approximately 12,500 feet.
Shortly after 2 p.m., the helicopter crew spotted something unusual near the bottom of Grand Central Couloir. A ground team following a single set of tracks down the gully reached the location and found Seibert.
Difficult Terrain Delayed Recovery
Rescuers determined that the steep terrain between Seibert’s location and the nearest landing zone would prevent them from safely completing the recovery that day.
Early on October 7, Yosemite National Park helicopter 551 and Yosemite search and rescue personnel recovered his body.
The Mono County rescue team extended its condolences to Seibert’s family, friends and the local community.