Popular Professor's Body Found Following Hiking Tragedy

CLAREMONT, CA — A Claremont man was reported overdue from a solo wilderness trip into the Sierra Nevada Mountains and reported missing was located on Tuesday this week. His body was located on Tuesday afternoon.

Alfred Kwok, a 50-year-old Claremont resident and professor at Pomona College had logged his hiking trip from Onion Valley in Inyo National Forest to Kings Canyon National Park according to report from the Inyo County Sheriff's Department.

The Kings Canyon National Park dispatchers were notified of the missing man on Tuesday morning, Sept. 20, when he did not exit the park as planned on Sunday, Sept. 18.

"Based on interviews with people who had knowledge of his itinerary and information on his wilderness permit, Mr. Kwok, was planning on hiking from Onion Valley in Inyo National Forest into Kings Canyon National Park via Kearsarge Pass," Zach Behrens, Public Information Officer for the National Park Service said in his report. "He was then going to climb Deerhorn Mountain and return the same way."

A helicopter searching the upper southwest face of Deerhorn Mountain spotted a man’s body on the upper southwest face of Deerhorn Mountain at approximately 3 p.m. Tuesday. Kwok's remains were transferred to Tulare County Coroner's Office where he was identified, Behrens said.

Deerhorn Mountain, at 13,270 feet, is an alpine peak in the rugged back country of the southern portion of Kings Canyon National Park.

"It is located about two miles west of the Pacific Crest and John Muir trails," Behrens stated. "The cause and circumstances of his death remain under investigation. A total of 16 park staff assisted with the search and recovery operations."

Students and fellow faculty at Pomona College were saddened by the loss. Kwok was listed as an associate professor of Physics and Astronomy at the college, and the chair of Physics and Astronomy. An impromptu remembrance story about the beloved professor drew tears and laughter according to the university which stated that Kwok took part in outdoor education trips and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

"An avid climber, he loved being in the mountains and sharing his love of the outdoors," the University said. Whiteboard comments and notes about Kwok were summed up with this note:

“Anything he loved in life, he always wanted to share, whether it was physics or food or hiking. His joy in life always bubbled over.”

This is a developing story, and will be updated as more information is released. Please refresh this page for the latest updates.

University of Pomona Picture of beloved Astronomy & Physics Chair, Alfred Kwok