Glacier National Park, Montana – On Thursday, January 5, 2017 a 36-year-old man was killed in an avalanche while backcountry skiing on Stanton Mountain on the west side of Glacier National Park in Montana.
The man was backcountry skiing on the south aspect of Stanton Mountain when the avalanche occurred about 500 feet below the summit. He was caught in the “large avalanche” and was partially buried. His companion was not caught in the slide. A third skier was lower on the mountain and was “away from the avalanche path.” The experienced group of backcountry skiers all had the necessary avalanche safety gear with them.
The companion called 911 and reported the avalanche at approximately 3:15pm. According to the FlatheadBeacon.com, the companion located his partner by voice and found him partially buried and in critical condition. The companion gave medical care and kept the injured man warm while awaiting rescue.
Two Bear Air Rescue and Glacier Park Rangers arrived on scene by helicopter at approximately 4pm They found the man “conscious and responsive but had experienced severe trauma.” Unfortunately, the man was “pronounced dead during the course of the rescue operation” (FlatheadBeacon.com).
On January 5, 2017 Flathead Avalanche Center rated the avalanche danger for the Flathead Range and Southern Glacier National Park as “Moderate.” This accident occurred outside of the forecast zone. The Flathead Avalanche Center will visit the accident site on Friday.
DailyInterLake.com identified the avalanche victim as Benjamin Parsons, 36, a firefighter at the Whitefish Fire Department.
Stanton Mountain is located in Glacier National Park. The 7750’ peak sits on the shore of Lake McDonald.
Find the CAIC Avalanche Accident Report here.
Update 1/7: Learn more about Ben Parsons in this article from FlatheadBeacon.com. Feel free to donate to this GoFundMe page to help support the family that Ben left behind. RIP.
Update 1/10: The Flathead Avalanche Center published their preliminary report about the Stanton Mountain avalanche accident. The full report can be found here. The avalanche occurred outside of their forecast zone. The soft slab avalanche was 12-30 inches deep on and was triggered by the skier on a wind loaded slope above treeline on a SW aspect on a 35 degree slope. Please visit the report for photos from their site visit.
Update 1/18: More details about the accident in this post from the FlatheadBeacon.com.
Here is a video from the Flathead Avalanche Center about the accident:
We will update this post when more information becomes available.
This is the 2nd avalanche fatality in Montana during the 2016/2017 winter season:
- 20161211 – Henderson Mountain, Montana
