Mount Baldy Hiker Perished On Mountain He Loved

SAN DIMAS, CA — A body discovered on the northern slopes of Mount Baldy was that of missing famed hiker Suek "Sam" Kim. According to reports, the 78-year-old Culver CIty hiker had successfully made that climb over almost 800 times. In December of 2016, the Los Angeles Times followed Kim upslope to the summit of Mount Baldy, also known as Mount San Antonio.

According to reports, Kim went hiking Friday and never returned home. An extensive search and rescue operation was underway over the weekend both on foot with hikers and K-9 units as well as in the air with search and rescue helicopters. Kim's body was located at approximately 2:15 p.m. Tuesday by a San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department flight crew.

Kim's remains were in discovered in Los Angeles County, on the north side of the 10,064-foot mountain, and were identified by the Los Angeles County coroner's office.

“This is definitely out of the ordinary when we have someone who is so experienced,” said San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Cindy Bachman. She stated that most department rescues of hikers result from hikers entering hiking areas where they are inexperienced, whether not bringing the right equipment, or not being familiar with the trails or understanding their own limitations.

According to the National Weather Service, weather at the Mount Baldy 4,000-foot level had daytime temperatures ranging in the 50s and overnight temperatures in the mid-30s. Light precipitation also occurred over the weekend, the NWS said. Mount Baldy's summit, officially named Mount San Antonio, is over 10,000 feet, where temperatures would have been even colder.

The investigation into Kim's death was being handled by the sheriff's San Dimas Station.

Eighteen search-and-rescue teams had been searching for Kim, who was described as an avid and experienced hiker.

After he was reported missing Sunday morning, San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies found his car at Manker Flats, one of several trailheads to Mount Baldy.

Kim had a reputation for being irrepressible on the trail, handing out jelly beans and Doritos, demanding other hikers pose for selfies and chatting with everyone he met, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Fellow hikers claimed that he must live on the mountain, as Kim always seemed to be there.

Speaking to a Times reporter while climbing the mountain in December, Kim said: "I'm feeling God's embrace. This is better than church."

Kim and his family moved from South Korea to Southern California in 1981.

"Peaceful, happy this way," he said upon reaching the summit. To all who knew and enjoyed seeing Kim along the Mount Baldy trails, his presence will be missed.

Photo, courtesy San Bernardino Police Department