Endurance Athlete Fred Zalokar Found Dead In Yosemite National Park At 61

An accomplished endurance athlete, known for his impressive abilities with marathon-running, was found dead in Yosemite National Park after failing to return home from a hiking trip.

The body of Nevada native Fred Zalokar, 61, was recovered on Tuesday close to the summit of Mount Clark. The park said that he had originally set out for a day hike on July 17, making the trek from Happy Isles to the summit of 11,522-foot Mount Clark via an off-trail route from Bunnell Point. Zalokar planned on returning to Yosemite Valley by the end of the day.

The athlete and adventurer’s website is full of photos of all the peaks he’s climbed and the marathons he’s competed in. There’s even a list of countries Zalokar visited throughout the duration of his career, an impressive 137. He kept a blog, detailing all aspects of his trips, the highs and lows, the wins and the losses. On his “About” page, the runner said that his primary interests were “running, climbing & traveling,” which he participated in with the support of “family & friends.”

In a statement about his death, the park said, “This incident remains under investigation. No additional information is available. Our condolences to his family and friends.”

Zalokar wrote that he never let his age stop him from pursuing his passion of seeking new horizons, adding, “whether it’s running, skiing, tennis, or whatever their passion is! I want to inspire people to dream big, and then go out there and make it happen!”

According to his website, Zalokar is survived by his wife and son, both of whom shared his love for adventure and fitness.