Hayden Klemenok, a Bay Area native, was found dead yesterday, after going missing on a hike in Yosemite National Park, according to a Mercury News article. Klemenok, originally from Santa Rosa, had ventured into Chilnualna Creek near the Upper Chilnualna Fall trail junction and was last seen at around 2 p.m. on July 2, as reported by Hoodline.
Park officials had reached out to the public for assistance in locating the missing backpacker, urging visitors who might have seen Klemenok or hikers off the trail in the area of Upper Chilnualna Fall to get in touch, according to Hoodline's previous report. After the family's initial search, Klemenok's body was found by responders on July 11 and removed from the area on July 12, with his sister, Taylor McKinnie, sharing details on social media.
McKinnie wrote, "Due to the complexity of the location, it took another 24 hours to formally recover him." The cause of Klemenok's death is presumed to be an accidental drowning, though a few further steps remain in the investigation, as McKinnie revealed in her post.
Before his tragic accident, Klemenok had studied at Santa Rosa Junior College and worked as a financial analyst at a realty company in San Diego, following his graduation from San Diego State University, per the Hoodline article.
In her heartfelt message, McKinnie spoke of the grieving process faced by Klemenok's family and friends, saying that they have a "long road ahead of us in our grieving as individuals as a family, and in our new lives without our irreplaceable, unforgettable brother and son whom we cherish and immeasurably miss." She also revealed the family's plans to keep the public informed about memorial service arrangements for Klemenok.
