Culver City Hiker's Body Found

The body of 78-year-old Suek "Sam" Kim was found Tuesday on Mount Baldy. The Culver City man had been missing for three days. Eighteen search-and-rescue team members took to the mountain Tuesday morning, according to a San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department news release. Ten searchers were flown the summit to hike the trails down the mountain, while the rest hiked the upbound trails. His body was found slumped over at the 8,800 ft level just northwest of the 10,064 ft. mountain. He was located just after 2 pm. A sheriff's helicopter flew the body off the mountain. Kim has summited Mount Baldy almost 800 times and was known as an "avid and experienced hiker," according to the news release from the San Bernardino County Sheriff. Kim was attempting to best his record by hiking the mountain 1,000 times. He was a legend among local hikers who knew his simply as "Sam."Relatives contacted authorities Sunday morning after Kim didn't return home. Deputies located his car at Manker Flats, one of several trailheads to Mount Baldy. Kim had food, water and weather-appropriate clothing, the news release said. The weather at the 4,000-foot level has been chilly, with daytime temperatures in the 50s and nights in the mid-30s, and there was some light precipitation over the weekend, according to the National Weather Service. The summit of Mount Baldy, officially named Mount San Antonio, reaches to just over 10,000 feet. The San Bernardino and Los Angeles county sheriff's departments spent three days searching for him with helicopters. K-9 tracking dogs have gone out, and volunteer search-and-rescue teams have hiked up and down the mountain several times.

The cause of death has not yet been determined. CAPTION: Suek "Sam" Kim, 78, of Culver City was last seen by his family Friday, April 7 as he set out for a hike on Mount Baldy. He was reported missing Sunday. (Photo courtesy of San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department)