Champion Ultramarathon Runner Found Dead in Yosemite National Park
The search for a lost ultramarathon runner in Yosemite National Park ended tragically on Tuesday, when search and rescue officials announced they found the body of 61-year-old Fred Zalokar. He had been missing since July 17.
Zalokar was day hiking on Saturday, July 17, from Happy Isles to the summit of Mount Clark using an off-trail route from Bunnell Point. He did not return to Yosemite Valley as planned and a search commenced. Officials discovered his body near the summit of Mount Clark.
Known as a champion runner featured in Runner’s World magazine, Zalokar continued to push himself to new heights in the wilderness even as he got older.
“I just want to keep going, trying to get faster, stronger and do the best every day, every mountain, every race,” Zalokar said of his goals to set a 55-to-59 age group marathon record in a 2017 interview with Runner’s World.
The cause of death is still under investigation.