Fremont teacher found dead in Kings Canyon

KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARK,Calif. (KGO) -- Missing 46-year-old Fremont teacher Gregory Muck was found dead Wednesday afternoon by search crews in the Sierra.

Muck brought his love of the outdoors into his second grade classroom at John Gomes Elementary. He was supposed to pick up the key to his new room at a new school on Monday, but he didn't come home from his hike through Kings Canyon National Park.

"Greg seemed to just really relate to kids and be able to work with them," said Principal Doug Whipple.

"He left a very detailed itinerary of where he was going to go and he would stick to that because he knows he's out there by himself," said his brother-in-law Mike Brophy.

With a full beard and long hair, Muck looked at home in the mountains.

"Greg is an avid, experienced hiker. He's been backpacking hiking 20 years. He usually does a solo trip once a year, a seven day trip," said Brophy.

Muck's family set up a Facebook page to share information and offer support, especially to his wife and 5-year-old daughter.

Muck was last seen in an area the National Park service describes as rocky, steep and rough terrain. The elevation soars from 6,000 to 13,000 feet.