Who was Joseph Brambila? Missing YouTuber Found Dead at Mount Whitney

Authorities have confirmed that the body found on December 15 at Mount Whitney, the highest peak in California, belonged to missing YouTuber Joseph Brambila.

The identification was confirmed by the Inyo County Coroner’s Office, ending weeks of uncertainty surrounding the young hiker’s disappearance.

The Inyo County Sheriff’s Office said the body was found in an area known as the 99 Switchbacks, one of the most dangerous and steep sections of the Mount Whitney Trail.

Officials believe Brambila suffered a serious fall. No personal belongings were found at the site, which delayed identification.

Who Was Joseph Brambila?

Joseph Brambila was a 21-year-old hiker and YouTuber from southeast Los Angeles. He was known online for documenting his hiking and adventure trips.

Brambila had attempted to climb Mount Whitney four times before succeeding for the first time in June 2024. His earlier attempts, starting in April 2024, were shared on his YouTube channel.

He returned to the Sierra Nevada mountain range in November as part of a birthday trip and planned another solo hike.

Brambila began his solo hike on November 11, a period known for unpredictable weather at Mount Whitney.

He was reported missing on November 12, prompting a search by local authorities. Severe weather and storms made rescue efforts extremely difficult.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Brambila was last seen by another hiker, Luis Buenrostro, at a location called Trail Crest.

Later, several hikers reported seeing a body on a slope descending from the same area.

Buenrostro told the newspaper that Brambila appeared to plan a glissade, a method where hikers slide down snow-covered slopes to descend faster.

Buenrostro said Brambila was carrying a gardening hatchet instead of a proper ice axe, which is normally used for glissading safely.

He said he hesitated to interfere with Brambila’s decision.

“I didn’t want to be that person to Joseph,” Buenrostro told the newspaper. “He said he was going to be good, so I thought he would be fine.”

The Sheriff’s Office said recovery efforts required extensive planning due to the mountain’s remote location, technical terrain, and multiple storms after the initial report.

After several helicopter-assisted and ground operations, Brambila’s body was finally recovered on December 15.

Officials extended condolences to Brambila’s family and thanked the public for its patience.

Brambila’s girlfriend, Darlene Molina, previously told SFGate that he was not reckless.

She said he usually knew when to turn back if a situation felt unsafe.