Hiker dies in fall on Washington’s Sauk Mountain a day after missing hiker found dead
The victim fell approximately 800 to 1,000 feet from a switchback trail on Sept. 19, according to authorities.
Multiple large rocks were spotted crashing down and splashing in water near hikers in Morocco’s Akchour Gorge on July 27.
A hiker died after falling from a mountain trail in Washington state last week, just one day after another hiker was found dead after going missing.
Olympia resident Gary Idleburg, 66, fell approximately 800 to 1,000 feet after going over the edge of a switchback trail on Sauk Mountain on Sept. 19, according to a statement from the Skagit County Sheriff's Office. Hikers reported witnessing the fall at about 3:30 p.m. PDT and then directed responders to his location.
Emergency teams performed lifesaving efforts, but Idleburg was pronounced dead at the scene. Washington State Parks personnel and helicopter resources assisted Skagit County Search and Rescue due to the rough terrain and remote location, and rescue efforts concluded at 8 p.m.
File photo: Mount Shuksan and alpine meadows, North Cascades, Washington. (Photo by: Marli Miller/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The same week, hiker Peter Kalapaca, 78, was found dead after he went missing on the same mountain.
Kalapaca was reported missing on Sept. 17 and "was not prepared to remain in the area overnight," according to an initial report from the sheriff's office. Search and rescue teams worked to locate the hiker, who was found a day later by a helicopter crew in steep terrain inaccessible to ground teams. When the team reached Kalapaca, he was unresponsive and was declared dead.
Due to the challenging location, a helicopter from North Cascades National Park was used to recover Kalapaca's body.
"We also extend our deepest condolences to the Kalapaca family and loved ones," the sheriff's office said in an update. "While nothing can lessen the loss of a loved one, we are grateful for the extraordinary effort made by everyone involved, which allows some measure of closure for the family."
File photo: Sign 'Irregular Terrain - Falling Risk!' seen in Cusco on Friday, April 15, 2022, in Cusco, Peru. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Located north of Rockport State Park and the North Cascades Highway, Sauk Mountain reaches a peak altitude of 5,500 feet, according to the Washington Trails Association. A round-trip hike is about 4.2 miles, offering stunning views for visitors.
The association added that the trails can be steep and narrow, and multiple fatalities have occurred. Hikers should therefore be cautious and refrain from cutting the switchbacks, since they prevent erosion and damage to the trail.
Report a Typo
