Hiker, 64, dies on trail in Japatul Valley area

A 64-year-old man died while hiking on a trail in the rural East County community of Japatul Valley on Saturday, authorities said.

The man’s name was not released. His death was not considered suspicious, a sheriff’s official said.

The Sheriff’s Department was asked shortly before 2 p.m. to assist with the hiker, who collapsed on a trail in Horse Thief Canyon off Lyons Valley Road, officials said.

Cal Fire and medics got there first and found the man unconscious and not breathing, sheriff’s Lt. Damon Blankenbaker said in a statement.

Because of the heat and the rugged terrain, Blankenbaker said, a sheriff’s helicopter crew was enlisted to hoist the man’s body out of the canyon.

The entire recovery operation was completed about 5:50 p.m.

The National Weather Service website showed that temperatures hit around 90 degrees in the backcountry east of Alpine on Saturday.

pauline.repard@sduniontribune

Twitter: @pdrepard