Search and rescue operations in Skagit County came to a tragic conclusion after the missing 78-year-old hiker, identified as Peter Kalapaca of Edmonds, was discovered dead on the rugged slopes of Sauk Mountain.
Kalapaca was first reported missing on Thursday after separating from his hiking group along the trail. In response, the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office temporarily shut down public access to the Sauk Mountain Trail, launching a comprehensive search effort across the steep terrain using aerial helicopter units and trained search dogs.