Climber and Famed Runner Fred Zalokar Found Dead in Yosemite
He held many running records and had climbed some of the biggest mountains in the world
An accomplished climber and runner has been found dead in Yosemite National Park a few days after he went missing. The body of Fred Zalokar, 61, was recovered Tuesday near the peak of California’s 3,512-metre Mount Clark.
Zalokar went on a hike Saturday using an off-trail route and did not return, National Park Service officials said in a statement. “This incident remains under investigation,” park officials said. “No additional information is available. Our condolences to his family and friends.”
Zalokar, of Reno, Nevada, was reported missing late Sunday after not returning to Yosemite Valley from his solo trip. Park officials didn’t indicate how he died, but a friend told the New York Times Thursday he had fallen over 200 metres.
“Fred would be the one to climb up on the technical part and throw a rope down to the rest of us,” Sean Crom told the newspaper of Zalokar, the two were old climbing friends. “He was very adventurous. He’d kind of pick a goal and go after it hard.”
Zalokar’s website says he had attempted six of the Seven Summits — the highest peak on each continent — and summited five. “He didn’t make it up Mount Everest, but he tried it,” Crom said.
Zalokar also reportedly climbed every mountain over 14,000 feet in California and ran the New York City Marathon at age 55 in 2:43:10, winning his age group. He was also the first runner to win his age group in all six Abbott World Marathon Majors – races in Berlin, Boston, Chicago, New York, London and Tokyo.
“Throughout my running, I have maintained a passion for travel & climbing, and combine them all whenever I have a chance,” Zalokar wrote on his website. “I want to inspire people to dream big and go out there and make it happen!”
Mount Clark is located at the north end of the Clark Range in the southern half of Yosemite National Park. It’s one of 33 Mountaineer Peaks in the Sierras, with all routes offering a challenge and the Northwest Arete being a classic. It’s visible from nearly every other peak in the park.
Crom said that if Zalokar summited Mount Clark prior to his death, that you’d be able to find out by checking the log book. “Fred always signs in to the log book,” Crom said. Our condolences to Zalokar’s family and friends.
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