Hiker on solo trip who disappeared in Northern California mountains is found dead

Daniel Komins, a hiker who went missing in Northern California's Trinity Alps. Daniel Komins, a hiker who went missing in Northern California's Trinity Alps. Photo: Trinity County Sheriff's Office Photo: Trinity County Sheriff's Office Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Hiker on solo trip who disappeared in Northern California mountains is found dead 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

Daniel Komins, a 34-year-old hiker who had gone missing in the Trinity Alps in Northern California, was found dead Sunday morning, the Trinity County Sheriff's Office said.

A California Highway Patrol helicopter found a backpack off the trail between L Lake and Mirror Lake. Search and rescue teams then found Komins' remains near the backpack, which they determined to be his.

"A preliminary investigation appears to indicate that Komins may have fallen in the steep and rocky terrain," the Sheriff's office said in a statement.

Komins, an emergency medical technician from Blue Lake in Humboldt County, had not been seen since August 11.

According to the Sheriff's office, Komins was an "experienced" hiker who embarked on a five-day solo trip to the Trinity Alps, about 75 miles northwest of Redding.

Komins was reported missing by his girlfriend on August 14 after failing to return home. Officials said Komins had a cellphone and GPS tracker with him.

He used his cellphone on August 11 to contact his girlfriend, but the device "has seen no activity" since then. The sheriff's office said his GPS tracker was "not presently operating appropriately" either.

Komins' unoccupied vehicle was found Thursday, and other backpackers in the mountains said they saw him on August 11.

Greg Keraghosian is an SFGATE homepage editor. Email: greg.keraghosian@sfgate.com