Two Hikers Die on Sauk Mountain in Separate Incidents Over One Weekend
Authorities confirmed the deaths of two men on the same Washington state mountain within a 24-hour period.
A man died after falling an estimated 800 to 1,000 feet from a trail on Sauk Mountain in Washington state last Saturday, according to the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office. The victim was identified as 66-year-old Gary Idleburg of Olympia.
Witnesses observed Idleburg fall from a switchback trail. Emergency responders were unable to save him, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Just one day prior, on Friday, a second hiker, 78-year-old Peter Kalapaca, was found dead on the same mountain. Kalapaca had been reported missing the previous day.
Both men were found in difficult-to-access terrain. The search for Kalapaca involved ground teams, air resources, K9 units, and mountain rescue personnel.
The sheriff's office extended condolences to Kalapaca's family, stating they were grateful for the efforts made to bring closure. Idleburg's death marks the second fatality on Sauk Mountain within two days.