A 53-year-old man died in avalanche Saturday above the Hungry Horse Reserve near Beta Lake, according to Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry.
Bruce Lee Jungnitsch, of West Glacier, was one of two snowmobilers buried by an avalanche triggered at about 2:30 p.m. The other members of the party were able to dig out both of snowmobilers. One made it out alive, but Jungnitsch did not survive the slide, according to the sheriff’s office. All of the members of the party were equipped avalanche receivers
There were multiple reports of avalanches in the area Saturday, including a separate slide in the Lost Johnny drainage that buried two snowmobilers. In that case, both of the snowmobilers were successfully rescued by members of their own party.
Authorities are urging extreme caution in the backcountry due to existing snow conditions. Curry pointed out that the fatal avalanche occurred in an area most snowmobilers would not consider hazardous. For more information about the current conditions, visit glacieravalanche.org.