Wilderness dangers: Two dead, two injured in Sequoia-Kings Canyon incidents

Two people died in separate incidents while hiking in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, the Park Service said Monday.

Additionally, two others were rescued in different incidents.

On Aug. 14, a hiker died on the John Muir Trail in Kings Canyon National Park. Passing hikers sent an emergency text message via a satellite communications device, which was relayed to park rangers.

The death occurred on a section of switchbacks known as the Golden Staircase, northwest of Mather Pass. Park staff was flown to the area and recovered the body the next day.

The hiker was identified as Scott Davis, 62, of Ridgecrest, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office said. On Tuesday Park Service authorities said Davis fell in the switchbacks, injuring his spine and causing him to die immediately. His son was hiking behind Davis and found him.

Saturday, a solo hiker fell about 25 feet in the Alta Peak area above Pear Lake. Rangers tried to reach him, but were stopped by steep, rugged terrain and darkness. They found him Sunday morning and performed CPR, but were unsuccessful at saving his life. The hiker was 37. On Tuesday authorities identified him as Jeffrey Brown of San Juan Capistrano.

Sunday morning, a 44-year-old man in the Mount Whitney area suffered a diabetic emergency with critical altitude sickness. He was flown to park headquarters and transferred to an air ambulance. No update on his condition was given by park officials.

Then Sunday afternoon, a 40-year-old man kayaking on the middle fork of the Kings River went over a 40-foot-tall waterfall and dislocated his shoulder. He was flown to park headquarters at Ash Mountain and taken by ambulance to a hospital.

This story was originally published August 21, 2017 at 3:59 PM with the headline "Wilderness dangers: Two dead, two injured in Sequoia-Kings Canyon incidents."