Hiker's Body Found on Mt. Tam Trail Was Marin Man, UCSF Doctor

MARIN COUNTY, CA — A hiker found dead Wednesday on a trail near Phoenix Lake on Mount Tamalpais was identified Thursday by the Marin County Coroner's Office as a Kentfield man.

The body of Julian Thomas Parer, 81, was found about 50 feet down a ravine off Hidden Meadow Trail when another hiker came upon an unattended Australian shepherd dog and was trying to find its owner, authorities said.

The hiker spotted a man's body — later identified as Parer — down the ravine and called 911. Paramedics with Ross Valley Fire responded to the area and climbed down to where Parer was but found him unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at 5:58 p.m.

The Marin County Sheriff’s Office had also responded to the area to investigate the death. The Coroner Division positively identified the deceased as Parer, a resident of Kentfield.

Parer is listed on University of California at San Francisco's website as a doctor at its Women's Health Center at the Parnassus campus in San Francisco, specializing in maternal-fetal medicine and high-risk pregnancies.

"Mr. Parer frequented the area and was known to hike alone with his dog," Chief Deputy Coroner Darrell Harris stated in a news release.

Harris said Parer had left his home between 3 and 3:30 p.m. Wednesday and told his family he would be hiking near Phoenix Lake.

The coroner's initial investigation found no immediate indication of foul play. The cause and manner of death remain under investigation, with an autopsy scheduled.

"The results may take several weeks, dependent on any post mortem toxicology or other required testing, and review of medical records," Harris said.

— Bay City News Service contributed to this report; Image via Shutterstock