Stanford Student Killed In Sierra Nevada Mountain Climbing Accident
BEAR CREEK SPIRE, Inyo County (KCBS) -- A Stanford University medical student was killed in a steep fall while mountain climbing in the Sierra Nevada mountains over the weekend.
The Mercury News reports that 26-year-old Maria Birukova was climbing near Bear Creek Spire on Sunday when she reportedly lost her footing and fell between 800 and 1,000 feet.
The Inyo County Sheriff's Office says her climbing partner saw the fall and found her body. An initial recovery effort was stalled on Monday by heavy winds. Birukova's body was recovered yesterday.
The Sheriff's Office said the terrain where she fell was accessible only to experienced climbers and Birukova was described by the school as an "avid mountaineer and climber."
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