A Portland, Oregon man died in the Sierra mountains in the Mt. Whitney area this week. Reports indicate he fell some 200 feet to his death.

According to the Inyo Sheriff’s Department, 37-year-old Christian Meining of Oregon spent Thursday night at Lower Boy Scout Lake in the Mt. Whitney area. Officers said the next morning, Meining told a group of hikers that he was heading back down the trail. That was the last contact with the man.

Members of the Inyo Search and Rescue team began to look for the missing hiker on Monday. He was found deceased in the mountains Tuesday. Inyo Sheriff’s Corporal Terry Waterbury, Search and Rescue Coordinator, said that it appeared the hiker had fallen some 200 feet.

A recovery effort was expected to take place Wednesday. A CHP helicopter has assisted the Inyo Search team on this mission.