Death Of Hiker On Wheeler Peak

A visitor called the park via cell phone on the morning of July 10th to report that he’d come upon the body of a man on the upper portion of the Wheeler Peak trail, about a half-mile from the summit (13,063 feet). A protection ranger and a park EMT headed up the trail to the location and confirmed the report. A litter team comprised of 14 members of the park staff recovered the body and turned it over to a representative from a mortuary who was acting on behalf of the deputy coroner. The death was evidently caused by some sort of catastrophic medical problem. A hiker reported passing the 53-year-old man earlier that morning. He appeared to be having problems, but said that he was okay. When the hiker returned, he found the man lying along the trail. The White Pine County Sheriff’s Office is the lead investigative agency.