A 59-year-old man died Labor Day weekend while climbing North Palisade, a rugged 14,249-foot peak in a remote section of Kings Canyon National Park, a park spokeswoman confirmed Monday.

The man was climbing Sept. 1 unroped around a bulging ledge when he fell several hundred feet and died instantly, park spokeswoman Dana Dierkes said Monday. The fall was witnessed by his two climbing partners.

The park's search and rescue team reached the body by helicopter on Sept. 2, Dierkes said. Officials have not released the man's name or hometown.