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Olympia, WA Man Dies After Falling During Hike on Sauk Mountain
Emergency crews recovered Gary Idleburg after the 66-year-old fell about 1,000 feet, and officials said it was the second hiker death in a week.
- On Saturday, 66-year-old Gary Idleburg from Olympia died after falling 800 to 1,000 feet from a switchback trail on Sauk Mountain in Skagit County, according to the Skagit County Sheriff's Office.
- At 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Skagit 911 received multiple emergency calls from hikers who witnessed the person fall from the trail edge, with witnesses later directing first responders to his location.
- Due to the steep, remote terrain, Washington State Parks and helicopter resources assisted Skagit County Search and Rescue with the recovery operation, which concluded at approximately 8 p.m. Saturday.
- This incident marks the second hiking fatality in three days on the trail, following the recovery of 78-year-old Peter Kalapaca, who was found dead Friday after being reported missing Thursday.
- Idleburg's death is at least the fifth on the steep Sauk Mountain Trail, which gains 1,200 feet of elevation over two miles, highlighting the trail's hazardous terrain.
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Olympia, WA man dies after falling during hike on Sauk Mountain
A 66-year-old man from Olympia died on Saturday after he fell while hiking on Sauk Mountain in Skagit County, according to the Skagit County Sheriff's Office. Witnesses say the man fell between 800 and 1,000 feet after he went over the edge of the trail.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources11
Leaning Left3Leaning Right0Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution57% Center
Bias Distribution
- 57% of the sources are Center
57% Center
L 43%
C 57%
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