rescue teams recover body believed to be missing hiker

Oh man. Search crews have recovered what is believed to be the body of missing hiker Michelle Yu on Mount Baldy. Clothing and physical descriptions appear to be a match, though positive identification and cause of death will be determined later by the Los Angeles County Coroner's office: Body believed to be missing hiker Michelle Yu to be retrieved from Mount Baldy area.

Crews found the body early Wednesday afternoon at 7,900 feet in a very steep and icy terrain. Although clothing and physical descriptions match Yu, a positive identification and cause of death will be determined later by the Los Angeles County Coroner's office, Miller said.

Search and rescue crews have speculated that poor conditions at the peak might have confused Yu.

"Because of fog, she could have got to the summit and turned in the wrong direction, and then slipped and fell," Miller said.

The retrieval team plans to put the victim in a rescue basket and fly the body out the area, Miller said.

"They are not able to walk," she said. "The terrain is not safe enough."

Yu was described as an experienced hiker who knew the conditions she would be dealing with. But who knows what could have happened? It's terribly tragic news. More here: Body found on Mt. Baldy may be missing hiker.