Missing Bay Area Hiker Found Dead in Yosemite National Park

National Park Service rangers found the body of a missing Bay Area hiker earlier this week in Yosemite National Park, park officials said Thursday morning.

Rangers found Burlingame resident James Millet Jr., 39, on Tuesday in the area of North Dome, one of the park’s granite domes and the southernmost summit of Indian Ridge, according to park officials and the Mariposa County coroner’s office.

As far as park officials know, the last known contact anyone had with Millet was on Aug. 11, Yosemite National Park spokeswoman Jodi Bailey said.

Bailey said it appears Millet was hiking alone.Rangers discovered Millet’s car Sunday at a popular trailhead and
began investigating whether someone abandoned it or was on an extended backpacking trip, park officials said.

His car had been at the trailhead for a long time, according to park officials.

Rangers determined neither was the case and authorities began searching by air for Millet on Monday in an area of rugged terrain leading to Yosemite Falls, according to park officials.

Millet, an experienced traveler, left a note in his car indicating he planned to hike to the falls, Bailey said.

Authorities narrowed the aerial search on Tuesday based on additional information and found Millet, then airlifted his body out of the area, according to park officials.

--Bay City News Service, photo courtesy of the Yosemite National Park