Tragedy Strikes as French Pilot Tom Gerbier Found Dead After Falling 1,000 Feet off a Cliff at Sequoia National Park

A French pilot, Tom Gerbier, was found dead after falling 1,000 feet off a cliff at California’s Sequoia National Park. Gerbier had been reported missing Wednesday after failing to appear at work to pilot a commercial flight.

Gerbier had started out at Whitney Portal near the town of Lone Pine early Tuesday. The National Park Service, Inyo County Sheriff’s Office, Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, Inyo Search and Rescue Team, and the climbing community all collaborated to find Gerbier.

Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States, rises 14,494 feet on the eastern border of Sequoia National Park. It is a difficult but popular hike.

Gerbier, from Fontenay-sous-Bois, France, was a pilot for Air France. The National Park Service expressed their condolences to Gerbier’s family and friends.

The National Park Service urges hikers to be aware of the risks associated with hiking in the area and to always be prepared. They also recommend that hikers let someone know where they are going and when they plan to return.