> news:c1a101cd-a6f6-4a32-90c6-cfca1449e0c0@v25g2000yqk.googlegroups.com...http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/20091030/NEWS01/91030007/100...
> UPDATE: Search expands for missing Mount Whitney hiker
> Staff Reports
> Visalia Times-Delta
> October 30, 2009

> Authorities are expanding their effort to find a 73-year-old
> Washington state man who has not returned from a solo day hike Sunday
> up Mount Whitney.

> Kenneth “Wade” Brunette, of Hansville, Wash. was last seen by a group
> of hikers about 3:45 p.m. Sunday a mile and a half shy of the 14,494-
> foot summit on the east side of Sequoia National Park, according to
> the National Park Service.

> Brunette had set off from on the trail from Whitney Portal to the peak
> at dawn that morning, but may not have reached the summit because he
> appeared not to have signed the peak’s logbook, according to Adrienne
> Freeman, a spokeswoman for the national park.

> Brunette’s family reported him overdue Monday afternoon and the search
> for him began Tuesday. Officials described Brunette as an experienced
> and fit hiker. He was last seen wearing a royal blue jacket and tan
> pants, they said.

> About 50 rescue personnel, including dog teams and a pair of
> helicopter crews were involved in the search, which began Tuesday and
> has been expanded to the east and west side of Sierra crest.

> Those who were in the backcountry this week around the Mount Whitney
> summit or areas of Sequoia National Park around Crabtree Meadow or
> Mount Russell are asked to contact investigators if they saw someone
> matching Brunette’s description.
> ========================
> Shame. Wonder if he had a heart attack? (Still could be foul play, so no
> OT.) jc

> Missing Hiker Found Deceased
> 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.

> http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2009/10/missing-hiker-found-dece...