CA CA - Hantae Kim, 61, hiking, Fuller Ridge Trailhead, Riverside County, 06 July 2024

[mlhenn]

Search Underway for Missing PCT Hiker Amidst California Heat Wave - The Trek

earch and rescue efforts are currently underway for 61-year-old Hantae Kim, who was reported missing while section hiking the Pacific Crest Trail near Fuller Ridge Trailhead in the San Jacinto Mountains. The Chula Vista resident left home at 5 a.m. on Friday and was expected home by 2 a.m. on...

thetrek.co

left home at 5 a.m. on Friday and was expected home by 2 a.m. on Sunday. Family members reported him missing when he failed to return.

reportedly sent photos to his family from locations along the trail, and was last heard from on the morning of July 6.

Search and rescue efforts are currently underway for 61-year-old Hantae Kim, who was reported missing while section hiking the Pacific Crest Trail near Fuller Ridge Trailhead in the San Jacinto Mountains.

 

[mlhenn]

Search Underway for Missing PCT Hiker Amidst California Heat Wave - The Trek

earch and rescue efforts are currently underway for 61-year-old Hantae Kim, who was reported missing while section hiking the Pacific Crest Trail near Fuller Ridge Trailhead in the San Jacinto Mountains. The Chula Vista resident left home at 5 a.m. on Friday and was expected home by 2 a.m. on...

thetrek.co

Kim, whose car was discovered at the Fuller Ridge Trailhead, intended to hike to Snow Creek and back, a trail he had mapped on his AllTrails account.

Kim is described as five feet, eight inches tall, weighing 170 pounds. According to photos, he is wearing a gray Columbia jacket, hat, and is carrying a small orange Osprey backpack.

 

[mlhenn]

https://fox5sandiego.com/news/local-news/chula-vista-man-missing-while-hiking-in-riverside-county/

He was last seen in the area of Fuller Ridge Trailhead off Black Mountain Road in Whitewater, west of Palm Springs, authorities said. The Fuller Ridge Trail is part of the Pacific Crest Trail.

 

[dulcinea]

It has been scorching out here. Palm Springs just hit a record 124 degrees. Whitewater is only a few miles from Palm Springs.

 

[GraceG]

The report stated he had just a small backpack. With the temperatures in the area, a small backpack wouldn't hold enough water for a 3 day hike. Pine Wood was a close weather.com reporting station and they are showing 90's still in the day under a heat advisory. https://weather.com/weather/alerts/...ificance=Y&areaid=CAZ056&office=KSGX&etn=0005
Did he have a cache set up of water along the trail or is there water available? I couldn't see any creeks or bodies of water big enough to show up in the google map of the area. Fuller Ridge Trailhead · PCT Segment BF, Whitewater, CA 92282

 

[dulcinea]

None of the trails I've been on up there have water available (such as a fountain or bathrooms with running water). Some of the trails might follow a creek, but most of them are dry this time of year. All mountain snow has long since melted. I think I saw that the trail head is at 7600 feet. It's still hot, but at least it's not the scorching desert floor. If he is not accustomed to that altitude, that combined with the heat could make for a bad ending. Many of the trails climb the mountain, so he'd be exerting a lot of energy, too.

 

[slowpoke]

This appears to be his Alltrails activity maps page. I don’t have an account here, just came upon it while googling. He seems very active and therefore must be pretty experienced.

Anyone familiar with Alltrails and hiking to garner any insights?

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/members/hantae-kim-1/recordings?b_tl_lat=45.87941244407264&b_tl_lng=-122.87388320754687&b_br_lat=23.991331206946086&b_br_lng=-109.0128167924524

 

[mlhenn]

Missing 62-year-old hiker last seen on July 7 near trailhead in Whitewater - KESQ

Authorities are asking for the public's help in locating a missing 62-year-old hiker last seen near a trailhead in Whitewater. Hantae Kim was reportedly last seen just before 11 a.m. on Sunday, July 7 near the Fuller Ridge Trailhead off of Black Mountain Road in Whitewater. The Riverside County...

kesq.com

This link provides a map of the area.

 

[dulcinea]

Every few years someone goes off trail in the San Jacinto Mountains. I don't know quite how this happens. Several years back a couple went off trail and got lost. They came across another missing hiker's gear and started a fire and were found.

 

[mlhenn]

Every few years someone goes off trail in the San Jacinto Mountains. I don't know quite how this happens. Several years back a couple went off trail and got lost. They came across another missing hiker's gear and started a fire and were found.

I live in southeast Arkansas which means flat farm land for miles. I have very little knowledge of what all hiking entails, but I do respect it.

 

[dulcinea]

We've got a little bit of everything in this area of So Cal: mountains, forests, deserts, etc. Each terrain has its unique challenges. Even flat farmland can present its own difficulties. (I grew up in cows and corn fields. )

 

[mlhenn]

https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/article289961099.html

In the initial hours on the trail, Kim sent photos to his family, The Trek reported. He had started off in the San Jacinto Mountains near the Fuller Ridge Trailhead, part of Riverside County east of Los Angeles. In the morning of July 6, he sent one more message. Then, he went quiet.

 

[mlhenn]

https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/article289961099.html

**Last known coordinates can be found with this article.

 

[slowpoke]

The Fowler-O’Sullivan Foundation provides assistance to families of missing hikers across the US.
Page · Nonprofit organization
Menifee, CA, United States, California

This organization’s FB page is reporting in a July 9 at 8:00 AM post:
(LINK)
“Update: The family of Mr. Kim has reached out to say their beloved father, Hante Kim, was located deceased yesterday.”

 

[slowpoke]

61-year-old hiker found dead in Whitewater days after going missing

A hiker went missing last weekend in the soaring heat. Days later, he was found dead in a ravine.

www.desertsun.com

“It’s unclear when Kim died or when he was injured, according to a coroner’s report released Thursday.”

===

Does being found in a ravine suggest that he fell?

Mr. Kim seemed passionate about hiking (I base this on perusing his AllTrails), so I hope his family takes small solace that he was doing what he loved.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Update: Hantae Kim’s body was found in a ravine in Whitewater Preserve on July 10, according to a July 11 press release from Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.

https://www.kentucky.com/news/nation-world/national/article289961099.html