MADERA  (AP) — Authorities in central California say a hiker fell about 300 feet to his death while hiking near Iceberg Lake in Madera County.

The Madera County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday 53-year-old Terrence Casey, of Glendora, was crossing a ridgeline above the lake Sunday when he lost his footing and fell down the snow-covered mountainside.

The office says Casey didn’t have safety equipment needed to stop his fall and fell about 200-300 feet.

Officials say Casey’s hiking partner tried to help him but also fell down the mountainside. When the hiking partner was able to reach Casey, he discovered he was dead.

They say Alpine Search and Rescue Members from the Mono County Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol Helicopter responded to the incident and were able to recover Casey’s body.