Joseph Brambila, 21, vanished from Mount Whitney after saying he would take a "short cut" during his Nov. 11 descent. A fellow hiker last saw him at Trail Crest; his family reported him missing days after his birthday. Heavy snowfall and icy terrain have forced authorities to suspend full ground searches, though aerial checks and specialized teams have been deployed. Volunteers and the Fowler-O'Sullivan Foundation plan GPR efforts when conditions allow.
21-Year-Old Hiker Joseph Brambila Missing After Saying He'd Take a 'Short Cut' on Mount Whitney; Search Hampered by Winter Storms
Joseph Brambila/YoutubeJoseph Brambila
Joseph Brambila, a 21-year-old hiker and YouTuber, was last seen on Mount Whitney on Nov. 11 after telling fellow hikers he planned to take a "short cut" on his descent. Brambila had posted footage in June of himself performing a glissade — sliding down a snowy slope — and returned to the mountain days after his 21st birthday. He has been missing since that November outing.
Last confirmed sighting and timeline
Fellow hiker Luis Buenrostro, who encountered Brambila on the summit, told investigators he last saw him at Trail Crest, the same location where Brambila filmed his June glissade video. Brambila’s family reported him missing shortly after. Authorities and family members now fear the worst because of hazardous winter conditions on the mountain.
Search efforts and challenges
Lindsey Stine, spokeswoman for the Inyo County Sheriff’s Department, said heavy snowfall from recent storms has made the terrain icy and unstable, forcing search teams to pause or limit ground operations for safety reasons. Officials have said recovery may not be feasible until snow and ice begin to melt and conditions improve.
Search resources deployed so far include California Highway Patrol helicopters, multiple search-and-rescue (SAR) units, Recco reflectors, and cadaver-detection K-9 teams. Aerial teams attempted visual checks, but storms and deep snow have repeatedly limited access.
George Rose/GettyStock image of a Sierra Nevada mountain range
Tips, reports and planned next steps
The Fowler-O'Sullivan Foundation, a nonprofit that supports families of missing hikers, reported that hikers contacted the family and authorities to say they saw what "appears to be a body roughly 1,000 feet below the cables." Aerial searches could not confirm the report. The foundation said volunteers hope to use ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and other tools when conditions permit.
“We are guiding and navigating the family throughout this nightmare,” Fowler-O'Sullivan founder Cathy Tarr told PEOPLE, adding that while volunteers plan to continue efforts, field searches are limited by safety concerns.
Background and safety context
Brambila's June glissade video — in which he admits uncertainty at times and notes the maneuver can gain speed quickly — highlights the risks of descending snowy slopes without full winter gear such as an ice axe and helmet. Friends and his girlfriend, Darlene Molina, have described him as an experienced, safety-conscious hiker who often records vlogs and sometimes turns his phone off during hikes.
Current status
Searches remain intermittent and dependent on weather and agency availability. The Inyo County Sheriff’s Office and local SAR teams continue to coordinate with volunteers and the Fowler-O'Sullivan Foundation. PEOPLE has contacted the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office for further comment.
