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Sequoia National Park Hiker Dies In Apparent Fall From 300-Foot-Tall Waterfall

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By NPT Staff - May 13th, 2016

A backcountry hiker in Sequoia National Park in California, apparently trying to fill his water bottles, died when he fell from the top of a roughly 300-foot-tall waterfall along the Middle Fork Trail.

Park officials said the body of the 53-year-old man was recovered at the base of the unnamed waterfall along Panther Creek on Thursday afternoon.

"The search began after another group of hikers he had passed on the trail reported by satellite phone that his backpack was found unattended near the campsite and two water bottle lids were found at the top of a waterfall," said a park release sent out Friday. "The NPS swiftwater rescuers donned wetsuits and located the body underwater at the base of the waterfall."

According to park staff, the unidentified man "was backpacking alone on a trail where the temperatures exceeded 90 degrees. It appears the hiker had run out of water and was very tired upon reaching his potential campsite, according to other hikers that had seen him earlier on the trail."

Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks have experienced drought for the past three years. This year, with increased precipitation, creeks and rivers are running higher.

Comments

Submitted by Ron on June 18, 2016 - 7:43pm.

i camped at panther creek 4 times in the last couple years and after reading this I felt obligated to share my experience in this exact spot. 2nd trip at Panther gap, the 1st morning I wake up early and decide to get some water and start coffe before my gf wakes up. I grab the bottle and head down to the pool (which is the top of the water fall) to fetch the water as I get close i step on the last rock which is where I'm going to anchor my foot to bed down and out goes my foot from under me and I'm in  the water before I knew it. Luckily my hand  grabs the very rock on the way in and I'm able to pull myself out. I knew right there that my life was a hand from ending. This place is super dangerous and the rocks are extremely slick even when they look dry. I'm surprise that more people don't fall of of the look out because it's extremly slick and straight down yet everyone goes out on it and walks like its a sidewalk. i feel sick everytime I think of my experience and this guy lived this story to his death its sad


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