One Dead in Fall on Glacier Park’s Mount Jackson
Father and son were descending one of park’s highest peaks at time of fall, which killed the elder climber
By Tristan Scott
A climber died Aug. 30 in a fall on Mount Jackson in Glacier National Park, while his injured son hiked out to a nearby campground to notify the authorities.
The father-and-son duo slipped and fell while descending the east face of Mount Jackson, according to park officials. The son managed to stop his fall by self-arresting on a snowfield, sustaining minor injuries, but the father died in the fall of 80 to 100 feet.
Unable to locate his father, the son hiked back to Gunsight Campground where the incident was reported to park dispatch at 11:08 p.m. He was later transported via helicopter to West Glacier and then transported via Three Rivers Ambulance to North Valley Hospital.
Park rangers worked with Two Bear Air and Minutemen Aviation to locate the body of the father on Aug. 31. A technical rescue team worked with Minutemen Aviation to recover the body on Sept. 1.
The incident is currently under investigation.
Tim Rains, a Glacier Park spokesperson, could not confirm the age of the victim or where he was from, but said more information would be provided when the next of kin is notified.
“Our condolences go out to the friends and family during this time of grief,” Rains said. “This is an extremely tragic situation.”
Jackson Peak is one of the tallest peaks in Glacier National Park at 10,052 feet, and the climbing route varies from Class 3 to Class 4 depending on the route and the amount of snow and ice. The climbing routes are considered arduous with an approximate elevation gain of 4,800 vertical feet, high amounts of loose scree, and a significant amount of exposure on narrow ledges with steep drop offs.
Falls are one of the leading causes of death in the park.