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According to a statement from the National Park Service, the 36-year-old Visalia hiker was found on Sunday, July 13th in rugged terrain under Sawtooth Peak in Secoia National Park.
The hiker, identified as Drew Hall, was described as fit and active by park officials, but was separated from his group earlier that day on Saturday. He had planned to reconnect with them later, but was unable to return within the expected time, prompting the family to report it missing that night to park authorities.
Search and rescue operations began early Sunday morning. Hall’s body was located by friends and family who were searching the area on foot around 3pm, officials said.
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“It’s been a challenging year for the search and rescue team,” said ranger chief David Fox in a news release. “Our minds go to hikers’ family and friends. We encourage people to take extra precautions and stay vigilant while enjoying the beauty of these national parks. Safety must always come first.”
The National Park Service noted that this marks the fifth fatality within Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks this year.
So far, in 2025, paramedics responded to 60 search and rescue incidents, including five over the past weekend alone.
The incident is under investigation. All information was provided by Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park.
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