KUNA, Idaho — The city of Kuna is mourning the loss of City Treasurer Jared Empey after authorities said the experienced climber is believed to have died in a fall while attempting to solo-summit Mount Jefferson in Oregon.
The Linn County Sheriff's Office identified the climber as 37-year-old Jared John Empey. Recovery efforts remain ongoing, but officials said Empey has not yet been located.
A GoFundMe page set up for Empey's family said, "Jared achieved a goal he had worked hard for by reaching the summit of Mount Jefferson in Oregon. His final text to his wife, Steffanie, simply read, 'Top of Jefferson.' Tragically, shortly afterward, Jared suffered a fatal fall."
According to the sheriff's office, dispatchers received a 911 call around 11:35 a.m. Friday from a caller relaying information from two climbers who reported seeing a climber fall down the mountain's west side into the Milk Creek Drainage.
The Oregon Army National Guard searched the area by helicopter and located a backpack and other climbing gear but did not find the climber.
On Saturday morning, deputies received a missing person report after Empey failed to make scheduled check-ins with his wife. Investigators later confirmed the gear found on the mountain belonged to him.
Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan told Idaho News 6 on Wednesday that recovery efforts are continuing, but crews have not yet been able to locate Empey's body.
Duncan said aerial resources are currently limited because helicopters are being used to battle wildfires across the region. As snow continues to melt on Mount Jefferson, she said search and recovery efforts will likely continue throughout the summer.
The sheriff's office has previously said the terrain where Empey fell is extremely steep and rugged, making recovery difficult.
On Wednesday, the city of Kuna shared a post mourning Empey, calling him a valued friend, co-worker and public servant whose dedication and professionalism helped shape the community.
City officials said Empey's knowledge, vision and kindness played a key role in advancing numerous projects and that his contributions will continue to have a lasting impact.
"Jared has been such an intricate part of our city family that this news is hard to process," Kuna Mayor Joe Stear said. "As City Treasurer he has brought us to levels that didn't seem possible. We are certainly going to miss everything about him. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers as they now have to move forward. Until we meet again my friend."
The GoFundMe page said Empey "found peace in the mountains," and found healing through hiking. "In memory of his late son, Joshua, Jared carried Joshua’s beloved Pete the Cat stuffed animal to every summit he climbed—a beautiful reminder that Joshua was always with him," the page goes on to say.
Empey is survived by his wife, eight children, and another child due in February.
