The grieving family of a former state park ranger has warned that no one can take his safety for granted after it took nearly three weeks to find his body in the Yosemite wilderness.
Kirk Thomas Olsen, 61, was an experienced backpacker and former staff member at Hearst San Simeon State Park in California.
But she disappeared during a four-day solo hike on Yosemite’s Ostrander Lake Trail on Aug. 27, after straying off the path.
More than 160 people have died in the park’s 1,187 square miles since 2007, many of them while traveling alone.
“Take all the precautions you can because even with all the experience in the world, sometimes your safety is not guaranteed,” said her niece Holly Leeson.
Kirk Thomas Olsen, 61, pictured with his niece Holly Leeson, was found dead in Yosemite on Saturday, nearly three weeks after setting out on the Ostrander Lake Trail.
The 11-mile trail has an elevation gain of 1,500 feet and is described by the NPS as “strenuous.”
Olsen had driven to the park from her home in San Luis Obispo for a five-day hiking trip on Aug. 23.
She left a note on his car saying she expected to return to him on August 27, but alarm bells went off when he failed to appear.
He had set out to tackle the challenging hike to Ostrander Lake, which offers views of the granite domes that crown Mount Starr King and the Clark Range.
Olsen was 6’11” and 190 pounds and was an experienced backpacker.
Investigators believe he may have strayed off the trail and gotten lost trying to find his way back.
But the 11-mile trail has a 1,500-foot elevation gain and is described by the National Park Service as “strenuous.”
“There is no potable water available along this route,” it warns on its website. “Potable water is available seasonally at Glacier Point, shortly after the route opens in the spring and through early fall.”
Days earlier, hikers Ana Rodarte, 40, and Miguel Delgado, 63, had gone missing during what was expected to be a two-hour hike to Ostrander Lake.
But it took four search teams with dogs, 64 ground searchers and a plane over 48 hours to find them alive in the scorching heat.
In late July, the park claimed the life of 20-year-old Grace Rohloff, who fell 200 feet down its famous Half Dome after losing her balance while descending cables on the cliff.
She and her father, Jonathan Rohloff, were experienced hikers, but they had slowed their descent to accommodate less experienced climbers and ended up caught in a rainstorm.
He immediately ran after her, but was unable to get down the steep mountain to the spot where the University of Arizona student had rested.
It was an agonising three-hour wait until rescue teams were able to reach Grace, who had suffered a catastrophic head injury.
“It was one of the most heartbreaking things I’ve ever seen in my life,” said hiker Erin McGlynn.
McGlynn, 20, was among the other hikers who encountered Rohloff as she frantically prayed for her daughter’s safety.
“It was also one of the bravest things I’ve ever seen. He was able to pull himself together, just in case he could offer her some comfort. He did everything he could,” she added.
Hundreds of people joined the search for Olsen when the alarm was raised and fears grew for her safety.
“He’s a wonderful person and I find him very insightful and informative, extremely personable,” said one former visitor to San Simeon, where he worked as an interpreter and led tours to see elephant seals.
In late July, the park claimed the life of 20-year-old Grace Rohloff, who fell 200 feet down its famous Half Dome while climbing with her father Jonathan
Since 2006, at least six people, including the student, have died after storms made Half Dome’s surface slippery (pictured).
Grace and her father were experienced hikers, shown in the last photo of them taken on their ascent, but they were caught in a rainstorm while waiting for slower hikers to descend.
“He is an experienced hiker and former park ranger and as a family we are struggling to understand what has happened to him,” Leeson wrote on Facebook.
But her body was found Saturday morning by investigators, who believe she may have strayed off the trail and gotten lost trying to find her way back.
“I would like to sincerely thank Yosemite National Park for their diligent efforts in finding him, and this community for their support,” his niece wrote.
“He was not only passionate about enjoying nature, but also about educating others about the world and his environment,” she added. “He loved sharing that kind of information with people.”
‘Unfortunately, Mother Nature in all her glory does not take into account past experiences and hiking alone is never a risk-free activity.
‘Please travel with a companion whenever possible and be careful.
‘The Earth is beautiful and I myself will always support our National Park system and the opportunities they provide to see nature in all its glory, but please take necessary precautions and be safe in all your endeavors.’