Two Hikers Die on Sauk Mountain in Separate Weekend Falls
A Washington state man fell 800 to 1,000 feet to his death on Sauk Mountain last Saturday, one day after a missing hiker was found dead on the same peak, authorities said.
A Washington state man fell 800 to 1,000 feet to his death while hiking on Sauk Mountain in the Northern Cascades last weekend, one day after a missing hiker was found dead on the same peak, according to the Skagit County Sheriff's Office.
Gary Idleburg, 66, of Olympia, fell while navigating a switchback trail on the mountain northeast of Seattle last Saturday, the sheriff's office said. Witnesses reported the fall, and emergency responders attempted life-saving efforts, but Idleburg was pronounced dead at the scene. He was reportedly found in difficult terrain.
The death came just a day after a missing hiker was found dead on steep terrain on the same mountain. He was identified as 78-year-old Peter Kalapaca, who had been missing for a day before searchers located his body.
The search operation for Kalapaca included ground teams, air resources, air-scent K9 units and mountain rescue personnel who worked into the evening, the sheriff's office said. Witnesses later directed rescuers to the location where Idleburg was found after he fell.
The sheriff's office extended its condolences to the Kalapaca family and loved ones. «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,» the office said.
Sauk Mountain is a popular hiking destination in Skagit County, known for its wildflower displays and views of the surrounding North Cascades. Its switchback trails climb steep terrain, and the mountain has seen fatal falls in the past.
The two deaths in a single weekend underscore the risks that can accompany hiking in the rugged terrain of the Pacific Northwest, where steep trails, loose rock and rapidly changing conditions can turn a routine outing dangerous. Authorities have not said whether the two incidents were connected beyond occurring on the same mountain on consecutive days.
Both cases remain under investigation by the Skagit County Sheriff's Office, which has not released additional details about the circumstances of either fall. The identities of the hikers were confirmed by authorities, and families of both men have been notified.
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