Two hikers died on Sauk Mountain in Washington state within a 24-hour period, according to the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office. Gary Idleburg, a 66-year-old from Olympia, fell between 800 and 1,000 feet to his death while navigating a switchback trail on Saturday. Witnesses reported the fall, and emergency responders attempted life-saving efforts at the scene before pronouncing him dead.
Idleburg was located in difficult terrain on the mountain, which is situated in the Northern Cascades northeast of Seattle. Just one day prior, authorities found the body of Peter Kalapaca, a 78-year-old hiker who had been missing for a day. Kalapaca was discovered on steep terrain on the same mountain.
The search for Kalapaca involved ground teams, air resources, air-scent K9 units, and mountain rescue personnel who worked into the evening. The Skagit County Sheriff’s Office extended condolences to the Kalapaca family, stating that they are grateful for the effort made by everyone involved in providing some measure of closure.