Missing Hiker Found Deceased on Flanks of Mount Whitney in Sequoia National Park

Published Date

October 31, 2009

A 73-year-old hiker missing on Mount Whitney in Sequoia National Park since earlier this week was found dead Saturday, park officials said.

The body of Kenneth Wade Brunette was found shortly before 1 p.m. Pacific Coast time by a dog team on the eastern slope of the 14,494-foot mountain.

The search for Mr. Brunette began on Tuesday after he failed to return from a day hike to the summit of Mount Whitney, the tallest peak in the contiguous United States. Search efforts were complicated by extremely windy, cold conditions during the early part of the week, park officials said. The cause of the man's death is under investigation.

Approximately 100 people, including dog teams and ground searchers, and four helicopters, participated in the search.

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Missteps in the Parks

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Comments

Submitted by admin on November 4, 2009 - 9:13am.

Kurt,
I agree with your comment re a lot of unnecessary anger and bitterness, but I don't read in this article anything to indicate "he obviously wasn't a rookie".
Neither is there anything here to state whether "this man was warned of the danger he faced" or if "he had sought the expertise of the men and women who searched for him if he had asked for their help before going it alone", as Anonymous put it.
I certainly agree that the folks from SAR deserve a salute for all they do.
Nevertheless, when it's time for me to go, I hope it's doing that "full-body slide" and holding my last dollar high in my hand!

Rap

Submitted by Kurt Repanshek on November 4, 2009 - 9:19am.

Rap, a 73-year-old does not idly go out for a day hike up Mount Whitney....

Submitted by y_p_w on November 4, 2009 - 12:28pm.

Several articles on Mr Brunette describe him as experienced. I'd think he had a permit and traveled from Washington. He was supposedly overdue, which indicates that he left his plans with someone else. The most likely thing was that he slipped and fell. That can happen even with people who are extremely well prepared if there's any kind of exposure - especially if winds started kicking up.

Search Crew Finds Body of Missing Hansville Climber
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/nov/02/search-crew-finds-body-of-miss...

Investigators are looking in to what happened to Brunette.

He began a solo attempt at the 14,505-foot summit, the tallest in the Lower 48, on Oct. 25. He was reported overdue the following day.

The search was hampered by high winds that prevented searchers from using helicopters to search the remote terrain.

Brunette was described as an experienced mountaineer.

Submitted by admin on November 4, 2009 - 7:30pm.

Kurt, thank you so much. I am obviously a relative of Wades and was very distressed about the person blogging about warnings, etc, it made me very suspicious about him vs. Wade's fate. We may not even know what happened after the autopsy results are released. I am just a niece, but I can tell you he leaves behind a wonderful wife, children, grandchildren, brother nieces, nephews, and tons of in laws = etc so many people that care about him. He was a Dr. and would have never intentionally put anyone in harms way, his life was to diagnose problems to keep people living longer. He loved climbing, sailing, his family, helping people and I wish we would all have 1/2 of his zest for life as our lives would be much better. The family's request for his memorial is to donate to the SAR that assisted in trying to find him. I guess the negativity of some people just got to me; his family has enough to deal with without having to read the negativity toward him when they just lost him and have no answers. The anonymous, angry blog made me wonder if this man met him on the mountain confronted him and did him harm. My apologies to you. Thank you so much for being to kind and a good mediator.

Submitted by admin on November 28, 2009 - 9:14pm.

There was a group of us that hiked Whitney on Oct.11. Just a few weeks before Mr. Brunette. We trained for months before the BIG hike. Kurt hands down is correct! A 73 yr old man does not idly go out for a day hike up Mt. Whitney. He was obiviously an experience hiker and he knew what risks he was taking just like every hiker does before they set out on a hike of this magnitude. I just hope that when I'm 73 yrs old I still take on awesome adventures as he did. My heart goes out to the family and friends of Mr. Brunette ,And to Judy I'm sorry for all the insensitive remarks made from people who will never take on adventures like your Uncle (who was probably an awesome man and a blast to be around) I'm hiking Whitney again In July 2010 for my sisters 40th Bday. I will have with me a keep sake to put in the metal box at the summit in remembrance of Kenneth Wade Brunette.

The Timm Family

Submitted by admin on January 9, 2010 - 10:46pm.

To The Timm Family: Thank you so much for your sensitivity. I have not been on this site for a long time, but I hope you receive this message. Wade was a hoot, full of life and to look at him you would never know he was 73. He died, doing what he loved. He would never put anyone in harms way. I am not a climber, and will never be one, but hats off to you who can. His Wisconsin Memorial service had to be canceled due to 14.5 inches of snow, but those of us who still made the trip were in awe of his spirit. I wish you and your family a very safe climb in July, and God Bless You for putting a keep sake in the box for him. He would truly be devastated that people put their selves in harms way to try to find him. I shiver thinking about [his death], but at least it was on the mountain!! God Bless and keep you safe Judy

Submitted by admin on February 23, 2010 - 8:12pm.

this is why you hike with someone!

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