Marine missing in California mountains is presumed dead
Authorities say a 24-year-old Camp Pendleton based Marine who went missing in California's Sierra Nevada more than a month ago probably has died.
The Orange County Register reports the Marine Corps concluded that First Lt. Matthew Kraft probably was overcome by severe weather during winter storms.
Kraft is from Washington, Connecticut. He set out in late February on a planned 10-day solo ski trek covering the 195-mile Sierra High Route through the mountains.
The north-south route runs is mostly back country but also runs through Yosemite and Sequoia-Kings Canyon national parks.
Kraft's father reported him missing in early March after he missed his return date.