WEST GLACIER – A National Park Service investigation found that a 37-year-old man who was found dead at the base of an avalanche in Glacier National Park initially survived the slide, but succumbed to his injuries as he tried to hike out.
Brian C. Wright of East Glacier and Whitefish was found dead on the northeast face of Peak 6996, near Mount Shields. His body was recovered on April 1.
Investigators found blood-stained snow in the area of some sapling-sized trees at an elevation of 6,077 feet. Just below that, they found snowboard tracks traveling down about 200 vertical feet to where Wright’s snowboard was found. The victim was found face down at an elevation about 440 feet below the snowboard, with his head in the uphill direction.
The report says officials will never know for sure what happened because Wright was alone.
Patrick Suddath, branch chief of ranger activities, said the preliminary coroner’s report says Wright died of massive trauma.