Mark Smythe, a celebrated New Zealand composer known for his work in film and concert music, has died after collapsing on one of Southern California’s most dangerous hiking routes.
The 53-year-old was found unresponsive May 9 on the Mount Wilson Trail near Rescue Ridge in Sierra Madre, a foothill community at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains known for its steep and challenging hiking terrain. The trail, which climbs more than 4,500 feet toward Mount Wilson, has long been considered one of the region’s most grueling hikes and has been the site of multiple rescues and fatalities over the years.
Sierra Madre is located in Los Angeles County at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. The closest major city is Pasadena, which borders Sierra Madre to the west and is only a few miles away. Other nearby cities include Arcadia and Monrovia.
According to the Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team, Smythe’s friends and family were performing CPR when emergency crews arrived. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene, per the New York Post.
The tragedy marks the second deadly incident on the trail this month after another hiker reportedly fell to his death days earlier. Officers from the Sierra Madre Police Department and Arcadia Police Department also responded.
Smythe was widely respected in the entertainment world and served as chair of the Composing for Visual Media Department. He also earned recognition for his score on the Hulu thriller The Reef: Stalked, which received a nomination from the Society of Composers & Lyricists.
His friend Gordy Haab posted a tribute on Facebook, “I’m completely gutted and trying to wrap my head around the loss of my good friend, Mark Smythe. Seems like literally days ago that we were laughing together, talking music and giving each other hell about who looked older vs who ‘was’ older. Mark was a fantastic composer and beloved throughout the entire composer community. I’ve always felt privileged to call you my friend and I’m going to miss you, bud.
Another friend, Jeff Beal, remembers Smythe as a ‘sweet and thoughtful soul’ in a heartfelt Facebook tribute.
