An 18-year-old man from Idaho died from an accidental fall in Glacier National Park on Friday afternoon.
Park rangers recovered the body of Brandon Luis Avalos, from St. Maries, Idaho, on Sept. 19 in the Big Drift area east of Logan Pass, according to the National Park Service.
An initial investigation indicates that Avalos climbed over the guard rails along the Going-to-the-Sun Road and fell approximately 100 feet. The area he fell from is very steep with several cliff bands and large areas of rocks.
Park employees were notified by friends of the victim at about 11 a.m. that Avalos had fallen in an area along the Going-to-the-Sun Road east of Logan Pass. Park rangers rappelled to the scene and found the body of Avalos.
Avalos and three friends were visiting the park late Thursday night, Sept. 18. At approximately 10 p.m. Thursday, the visitors were traveling the Going-to-the-Sun Road and stopped near the Big Drift area east of Logan Pass when Avalos exited the vehicle. Avalos did not return, and the friends thought he was hiking back to Logan Pass. The friends stayed in the area overnight waiting for Avalos to return. They began looking for him Friday morning, and contacted park employees when they found his body.
Officials with the Glacier County Sheriff’s Office determined the cause of death to be an accidental fall. Park rangers recovered the body at approximately 4 p.m. Friday, and it was transported to a local funeral home.