Missing Chula Vista Hiker Found Dead In Riverside County

WHITEWATER, CA ? A 61-year-old San Diego County man who went missing while hiking the Pacific Crest Trail was found dead last week in a ravine south of Whitewater in Riverside County, with no evidence of foul play, authorities announced.

The body of Hantae Kim of Chula Vista was discovered Wednesday adjacent to a dry wash at the bottom of a canyon in the vicinity of Snow Creek, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

Deputies received reports shortly before 11 a.m. Sunday that Kim had vanished during an excursion near Fuller Ridge, roughly two miles northeast of Idyllwild, in steep mountainous terrain.

Since July 5, much of Riverside County has been under an excessive heat warning. At the time of Kim's disappearance, temperatures in the area soared to well over 100 degrees.

It's not clear whether Kim was a solo hiker. He last sent photos to his family July 6 from the Fuller Ridge Trailhead area. According to authorities, he was slated to return home by July 7 but never showed up.

His phone went silent on the morning of July 6.

Sheriff's personnel initiated an air-and-ground search, utilizing the department's Rescue 9 helicopter to try to spot Kim. Search-and-rescue efforts continued daily with the assistance of additional search groups and law enforcement agencies, officials said.

Parties trekking through the ravine near Whitewater came upon Kim's remains Wednesday.

An autopsy was pending.