Two Tragic Deaths on Sauk Mountain

A man from Washington state tragically died after falling between 800 to 1,000 feet while hiking on Sauk Mountain, northeast of Seattle. The Skagit County Sheriff’s Office reported that Gary Idleburg, 66, lost his life while navigating a switchback trail last Saturday. Witnesses observed the Olympia native’s fall, and despite emergency responders’ efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

In a separate incident, a missing hiker, identified as 78-year-old Peter Kalapaca, was found dead in steep terrain on the same mountain just a day earlier. He had been missing for a day before authorities discovered his body.

The sheriff’s office expressed their condolences, stating, “We extend our deepest 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 search for Kalapaca involved ground teams, air resources, K9 units trained for air scent, and mountain rescue personnel who worked diligently into the evening. Both men were located in challenging terrains, highlighting the difficulty rescue teams faced during their retrieval efforts.

Witnesses assisted rescuers in locating Idleburg after his fall, pointing to the difficult terrain where he was found.