One minute, a 66-year-old mountain bicyclist was enjoying a spring day and kibitzing with an Auburn State Recreation Area ranger at the start of a popular but challenging trail. A couple of hours later, Granite Bay resident Kenneth Mutch was in severe distress after cresting a hill on his bike with his wife, Meg.
Mutch was reported this week by State Parks to have died on the trail in what is considered a rare occurrence in a park that attracts hundreds of mountain bikers on many of its busiest days.
Supervising Ranger Scott Liske said he was in contact with Mutch the day of the incident, when the two were at the Foresthill Divide Loop trailhead off Foresthill Road between Auburn and Foresthill.
“I talked to him at the trailhead and we discussed the great weather,” Liske said. “A couple of hours later we received the report of a medical emergency.”
The 12-mile loop trail is considered challenging for cyclists but Liske said he can’t remember a cyclist collapsing in a similar condition in his 15 years patrolling the recreation area.
Mutch was pronounced dead at the scene of his collapse March 27. Meg Mutch started CPR and other cyclists who came on the scene also assisted but they were unsuccessful in reviving him.
In a blogpost, Justin Wages quoted one of the mountain bikers at the incident saying that firefighters using a defibrillator but couldn’t get Mutch’s heart started.
“It was an incredibly emotional experience for everyone there and absolutely heartbreaking for the woman that had started this 12-mile loop with her husband and would be going home without him,” Wages quoted the cyclist as saying.
CLICK HERE to see the original article in the Auburn Journal newspaper.
Obituary for Kenneth Freeman Mutch.
Kenneth Freeman Mutch passed away suddenly at Foresthill, California on March 27th at the age of sixty-six.
Kenneth is predeceased by his parents Nancy and Freeman Eugene as well as his brother John. He is survived by his loving wife of thirty three-years, Meg, and their three children Peter, Jeannette and Christopher.
Kenneth and Meg were married in Tiburon, California on October 12th, 1984. Kenneth is lovingly remembered by his step-mother Anna, uncle John, sister-in-law Jane, sister Karen, nephews John and Robbie, nieces Natalie, Heidi and Sarah, cousins George, John and Barb Rentschler and many grand-neices and nephews.
Kenneth was born in Chardon Ohio on December 18th 1951. He graduated from Brecksville High School in 1970 and was still in touch with many classmates. He went on to study psychology at Ohio Wesleyan University, graduating with a BA in 1974. He received his Masters Degree at Alfred University in 1978 and worked as a school psychologist for forty years.
Ken loved outdoor sports, his friends and family.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, at www.bbrfoundation.org Condolences and memories may be offered online at chapelofthevalley.com under “Current Services”. A Celebration of Life will be planned for a future date which will be placed on the above web site."
Mutch was reported this week by State Parks to have died on the trail in what is considered a rare occurrence in a park that attracts hundreds of mountain bikers on many of its busiest days.
Supervising Ranger Scott Liske said he was in contact with Mutch the day of the incident, when the two were at the Foresthill Divide Loop trailhead off Foresthill Road between Auburn and Foresthill.
“I talked to him at the trailhead and we discussed the great weather,” Liske said. “A couple of hours later we received the report of a medical emergency.”
The 12-mile loop trail is considered challenging for cyclists but Liske said he can’t remember a cyclist collapsing in a similar condition in his 15 years patrolling the recreation area.
Mutch was pronounced dead at the scene of his collapse March 27. Meg Mutch started CPR and other cyclists who came on the scene also assisted but they were unsuccessful in reviving him.
In a blogpost, Justin Wages quoted one of the mountain bikers at the incident saying that firefighters using a defibrillator but couldn’t get Mutch’s heart started.
“It was an incredibly emotional experience for everyone there and absolutely heartbreaking for the woman that had started this 12-mile loop with her husband and would be going home without him,” Wages quoted the cyclist as saying.
CLICK HERE to see the original article in the Auburn Journal newspaper.
Obituary for Kenneth Freeman Mutch.
Kenneth Freeman Mutch passed away suddenly at Foresthill, California on March 27th at the age of sixty-six.
Kenneth is predeceased by his parents Nancy and Freeman Eugene as well as his brother John. He is survived by his loving wife of thirty three-years, Meg, and their three children Peter, Jeannette and Christopher.
Kenneth and Meg were married in Tiburon, California on October 12th, 1984. Kenneth is lovingly remembered by his step-mother Anna, uncle John, sister-in-law Jane, sister Karen, nephews John and Robbie, nieces Natalie, Heidi and Sarah, cousins George, John and Barb Rentschler and many grand-neices and nephews.
Kenneth was born in Chardon Ohio on December 18th 1951. He graduated from Brecksville High School in 1970 and was still in touch with many classmates. He went on to study psychology at Ohio Wesleyan University, graduating with a BA in 1974. He received his Masters Degree at Alfred University in 1978 and worked as a school psychologist for forty years.
Ken loved outdoor sports, his friends and family.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, at www.bbrfoundation.org Condolences and memories may be offered online at chapelofthevalley.com under “Current Services”. A Celebration of Life will be planned for a future date which will be placed on the above web site."
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