A body recovered Tuesday from Mount Rainier, Washington has been identified by the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office as that of Mark Vucich from Agoura Hills, according to a report in the TheNewsTribune.com. The cause of death has not been determined, said the report.
The 37-year-old local resident and Michelle Trojanowski, 30 of Atlanta, were reported missing Jan. 15 after they failed to return from a planned snow camping trip on the Muir Snowfield, reports the website.
Also reported missing at the same time were climbers Sork “Eric” Yang of Springfield, Ore., and Seol Hee Jin of Korea, both 52, said the site.
Though the four began their adventures in good weather conditions, a major storm swept over the mountain with snow and high winds, delaying any attempt to mount a major search for a week, said the Tribune.
According to the report, Vucich’s body was discovered on the lower Muir Snowfield at the 8,000-foot level, about ½ mile above Pebble Creek, said the report. The body was within sight of the trail between Camp Muir and Paradise.
No other evidence or bodies were found in the area, said the report.
“Warm weather is expected to continue rapidly melting snow in the area over the next month or two which may uncover evidence related to the four missing climbers,” park spokeswoman Patti Wold told the Tribune.
The search for the three missing people is ongoing, she said.
