Kalem Peter Kazarian, a contractor who appeared on an HGTV pilot, died Monday while hiking Mount Whitney, one of California's highest and most challenging peaks. Kazarian, 52, was hiking the 14,505-foot mountain in Sequoia National Park when he passed away. The Tulare County Coroner’s Office has not yet released a cause of death. Kazarian, who resided in the Fresno, California area, was married and had three children. This summer, he and his wife had posted a photo from their climb of California's White Mountain, which stands at 14,252 feet.
Mount Whitney has been the site of several recent fatalities. In January, a hiker died on the mountain after their companion turned back due to treacherous conditions. The Inyo County Search and Rescue reported that two hikers began the ascent late at night, but one descended near the 12,500-foot elevation the following afternoon due to dangerous conditions. The second hiker continued toward the summit but failed to return the next morning, prompting a report to the Inyo County Sheriff's Office. The individual was pronounced dead at the scene.
In December, internet personality Joseph Brambila, 21, was found dead on Mount Whitney after going missing during a birthday hike. Brambila had been reported missing on November 12. His death is believed to be related to glissading, a technique of sliding down steep snow or ice on one's behind, which can significantly reduce descent time but carries substantial risks. The American Alpine Institute notes glissading is a leading cause of serious injury and death among mountaineers. Mount Whitney is the highest peak in the contiguous United States.