James Udall | Senator's brother, 61

James "Randy" Udall, 61 - brother of Sen. Mark Udall (D., Colo.) - was found dead in the Wyoming wilderness Wednesday after taking a long backcountry hike from which he never returned. Foul play was not suspected, but an autopsy was planned.

Mr. Udall, an environmentalist and energy-efficiency, had told his family about his plans to take an extended hike through an obscure route in the Wind River Mountains of western Wyoming, which his family said was his "favorite mountain range in the world."

The 6-foot-4 hiker was a hardy outdoorsman, despite having suffered a previous hip injury, and embarked on a six-day solo hike through the range June 20.

His disappearance was first reported to the Sublette County Sheriff's Office last Friday, two days after he failed to return.

Several helicopters assisted in the search, and the sheriff's office reported finding his body lying on its side in open, rolling terrain. His sister, Dodie Udall of Boulder, told the Denver Post that he was still holding his hiking poles.

"Randy left this earth doing what he loved most," the family said in a statement.

The Udall family has long been active in politics. Mr. Udall's father was the late Rep. Morris "Mo" Udall of Arizona. New Mexico Sen. Tom Udall is a cousin. His uncle, Stewart Udall, was interior secretary in the 1960s. - Los Angeles Times