A California contractor who once appeared on HGTV has died while hiking Mount Whitney, the towering Sierra Nevada peak that stands as the highest point in the contiguous United States.
Kalem Peter Kazarian, 52, died Monday, October 5, while hiking on Mount Whitney in Sequoia National Park, according to the Tulare County Coroner’s Office.
Authorities have not yet announced what caused his death, and details about exactly where he was found or what happened during the hike have not been publicly released.
Kazarian was a Fresno-area custom home builder who appeared in the 2019 HGTV pilot “Go Big or Go Home,” working alongside hosts Koko and Nick Chandler.
Outside television, he was best known in California’s Central Valley for his construction business, Kazarian Custom Homes, and his involvement in charitable building projects.
Kazarian also traveled to Yerevan, Armenia, where he helped construct homes through Habitat for Humanity Armenia.
His Armenian heritage was an important part of his family’s history. The experiences of his grandfather and relatives fleeing Armenia helped inspire Joan Schoettler’s award-winning book “The Honey Jar: An Armenian’s Escape to Freedom.”
Kazarian had written about the lasting impact of that story on his family, describing the memories of loss and survival as something passed down through generations.
He was also an avid hiker and frequently shared outdoor adventures with his wife, Jonelle. The couple had recently celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary.
Kazarian leaves behind his wife and their three children, Judi, Peter and Frank.
A memorial service is expected to be held later this month.
His death is the latest tragedy connected to Mount Whitney, one of the most popular but demanding high-altitude destinations in California.
The summit rises approximately 14,500 feet above sea level and sits along the boundary between Sequoia National Park and Inyo National Forest. It is the highest mountain in the contiguous United States.
The most popular route begins at Whitney Portal and climbs more than 6,000 vertical feet on the way to the summit. Hikers entering the Mount Whitney Zone are required to obtain permits, and conditions can change dramatically at high elevation.
Although the main trail does not generally require technical climbing equipment during the heart of summer, the National Park Service warns that snow and ice can require specialized equipment at other times of the year.
Kazarian’s death comes after several other fatal incidents on the mountain.
In January, rescuers conducting an aerial search found a hiker dead on Mount Whitney’s north face after the person became separated from a hiking companion and failed to return.
The body was located below an area climbers call the “Final 400,” a steep section that can become particularly hazardous in winter conditions.
In December 2025, rescuers recovered the body of a 21-year-old hiker following a search that lasted several weeks.
Another hiker died following a fall on Mount Whitney in October 2025 shortly after early-season snow reached the mountain. Both of those hikers were found near the challenging 99 Switchbacks section of the route.
Officials have not indicated that weather, altitude, a fall or any other specific factor caused Kazarian’s death.
The Tulare County Coroner’s Office is continuing to investigate, and an official cause of death remains pending.
The headline said the tallest mountain in America. That would be Mt. McKinley in Alaska, but in the article, it said in the contiguous states. Get your facts right.
Why is this goy a star? He appeared on TY once? I know plenty of people who have appeared on TV more than once, none of whom are considered “STARS” What makes this guy or anyone else Special?