Washington Hiker Gary Idleburg Dies in 1,000-Foot Sauk Mountain Fall

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 27

Gary Idleburg, 66, of Olympia, Washington, died after falling 800 to 1,000 feet from Sauk Mountain while navigating a switchback trail last Saturday, the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office said.
Witnesses reported the fall and directed rescuers to Idleburg in difficult-to-access terrain, where emergency responders attempted life-saving measures before pronouncing him dead at the scene.
The death came a day after another hiker, 78-year-old Peter Kalapaca, was found dead on steep terrain on the same mountain after being missing for a day.
Kalapaca’s recovery involved ground teams, air resources, air-scent K9 units and mountain rescue personnel, underscoring the hazards and access challenges on Sauk Mountain in Washington’s Northern Cascades.