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A contractor who starred on a HGTV pilot died on Monday while hiking one of California's most dangerous mountains.
Kalem Peter Kazarian, 52, who worked on a home featured in a May 2019 episode of Go Big or Go Home, died in Sequoia National Park, with local reports claiming he was hiking the 14,505 foot-high Mount Whitney when he passed.
A cause of death for Kazarian, who worked in the Fresno, California, area has not yet been released by The Tulare County Coroner’s Office, per The California Post.
Kazarian was from Fowler, a few miles south of Fresno, and had three children with his wife, Jonelle.
Over the summer, the pair posted a snap after climbing California's White Mountain, which is 14,252-foot high.
The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for HGTV and The Tulare County Coroner's Office for further comment.
The death comes nine months after a hiker died alone climbing the mountain after their friend turned back because of the treacherous conditions.
A contractor who starred on a HGTV pilot died on Monday while hiking one of California's most dangerous mountains - pictured Kalem Peter Kazarian
Kazarian, 52, who worked on a home featured in a May 2019 episode of Go Big or Go Home, died in Sequoia National Park, with local reports claiming he was hiking the 14,505 foot-high Mount Whitney when he passed. - pictured summiting White Mountain Peak in the summer
The Inyo County Search and Rescue (SAR) started searching for the unnamed hiker on Mount Whitney in January after a report came in stating they failed to return.
The agency, which works under the authority of the local sheriff's office, said two hikers started climbing the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States around 11.30pm.
By 3.30pm the following day, while near the 12,500ft elevation, one of the hikers turned around and descended after determining the conditions were too dangerous.
The second person remained on the journey, ascending toward the summit, the SAR said in a Facebook post.
But when that hiker failed to return the next morning, someone reported them to the Inyo County Sheriff's Office.
The person was pronounced dead at the scene and a second rescuer was flown in to assist with recovery operations.
The identity of the deceased hiker and their companion has not been released.
The SAR stressed how dangerous Mount Whitney can be, as there have been multiple recent fatalities there and at California's Mount Baldy.
In January a hiker died on the mountain, the peak of which stands at an elevation of 14,505 foot and is the highest point in the contiguous United States - pictured
Kazarian was from Fowler, a few miles south of Fresno, and had three children with his wife, Jonelle - pictured hiking White Mountain in the summer
Internet star Joseph Brambila, 21, was found dead during a hike up Mount Whitney in December
The death came a month after internet star Joseph Brambila, 21, was found dead after going missing while climbing the snowcapped peak.
Brambila was reported missing on November 12, and police said a 'deceased individual' was uncovered in mid December.
Brambila failed to return home after a birthday trip to Mount Whitney in the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
Hiker Luis Buenrostro is believed to have been the last person to see the missing adventurer and YouTube star on the 14,500-foot peak.
He told the Los Angeles Times he believed Brambila was planning to take a shortcut to save time by glissading down the slope, which may have caused his death.
By glissading – sliding down steep snow or ice on their behinds – hikers can safely shave an hour off a treacherous mountain descent, if done in the right spot.
But the practice is fraught with potentially deadly dangers and remains one of the leading causes of serious injury and death among mountaineers, according to the American Alpine Institute.
Mount Whitney's peak is the highest point in the contiguous United States.
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