Two Hikers Die Within 24 Hours on Washington's Dangerous Sauk Mountain Trail
Two hikers died on Sauk Mountain in Washington state within 24 hours of each other in late September 2026. Gary Idleburg, 66, fell approximately 800 to 1,000 feet on Saturday, Sept. 19, after Peter Kalapaca, 78, was found dead on the same trail the previous day. Both incidents occurred on the steep, narrow switchback trail, which has seen multiple fatalities in recent years.