Two hikers die on Washington mountain trail after steep falls
A 66-year-old hiker, Gary Idleburg, died after falling up to 1,000 feet on a Washington State trail, following the death of 78-year-old Peter Kalapaca on the same path the day before.
Gary Idleburg, 66, of Olympia, died after a plunge of up to 1,000 feet on a mountain trail in Washington State. The Skagit County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that rescuers used a helicopter to recover his body due to the hazardous, rocky conditions at the fall site. This incident comes just one day after another hiker, 78-year-old Peter Kalapaca, also died on the same trail, prompting a similar helicopter-assisted response.
Kalapaca’s son, Andy, expressed his condolences in a comment on a police Facebook post, noting that his father’s final moments were spent doing something he loved. Idleburg’s family has not yet issued a public comment. Both fatalities highlight the dangers of the trail’s terrain and the challenges faced by emergency crews in the area.
