Udall, 61, had left June 20 for the solo backpacking trip. Udall family: Live like Randy did

James “Randy” Udall, the brother of Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) and an avid hiker who had gone missing in Wyoming, was found dead by a search and rescue team Wednesday, the family announced. He was 61.

The Udall family said an autopsy is pending, but Randy Udall appears to have died of natural causes. Foul play is not suspected, according to the Sublette County (Wyo.) Sheriff’s Office.


“Randy left this earth doing what he loved most: hiking in his most favorite mountain range in the world,” the Udall family said in a statement issued Wednesday night. “He appeared to be on the obscure, off-trail route that he had proposed to his family.

“The entire Udall family is touched beyond words by the tremendous outpouring of support from people around the country. Randy’s passing is a reminder to all of us to live every day to its fullest, just as he did.”

Randy Udall’s body was located in a remote section of the Wind River Range, located in western Wyoming, shortly after 2 p.m. MT Wednesday, according to his family and the Sublette County Sheriff’s Office.

The well-known environmentalist and alternative-energy advocate was due to return home to Colorado last Wednesday. Search and rescue teams had since combed through hundreds of miles in the Wind River Range to find him.

He was also a cousin of Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.).

“Our family is extremely grateful to Sublette County Sheriff Dave Lankford, his staff, Tip Top Search and Rescue, the United States Forest Service, Wyoming Air National Guard, and all others involved for their tireless efforts over the past several days,” the Udall family said.

This article tagged under: Mark Udall

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