The State - News from Aug. 16, 1988

A rock climber killed in a 150-foot fall in the back country of Kings Canyon National Park was identified as a Merced resident. Park officials said Mark Hoffman, 28, and a companion were climbing near Devil’s Crag near the middle fork of the Kings River when Hoffman fell. His companion hiked for eight hours to reach a ranger station to report the accident. Hoffman was dead by the time rangers reached him by helicopter.