SALT LAKE CITY — Crews recovered the body of a missing backpacker from Boise in the High Uintas Sunday, ending a four-day search, the Summit County Sheriff’s Office said.
Search and rescue teams found the body of 25-year-old Kyle Wimpenny about 2:30 p.m., discovering he had fallen roughly 1,000 feet while attempting to summit King’s Peak.
“Our hearts are broken for the Wimpenny family and friends,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “We offer our most sincere condolences as they mourn the tragic loss of Kyle. Hug your family members and friends often.”
Wimpenny’s roommate in Idaho reported him missing when he didn’t return home as planned on Wednesday. He had set out for Utah three days earlier.
Early on Thursday, deputies spotted Wimpenny’s vehicle at the Henry’s Fork trailhead and began searching for him on foot, horseback and by helicopter.
At more than 13,500 feet, King’s Peak is the state’s highest point. The strenuous trek is about 25 miles roundtrip but varies depending on the route.
A Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter helped to airlift Wimpenny’s remains to Kamas for transport to the Utah Medical Examiner’s Office.
Several entities helped in the search, including search crews from Summit, Uintah and Duchesne counties; the Utah National Guard; and K-9 teams from Utah and Idaho. Intermountain Healthcare’s medical helicopter also aided in the effort.