NPS Identifies Indiana Hiker Killed on Mount Jackson
56-year-old Indiana man died from a fall while hiking with son in Glacier Park
By Beacon Staff
The National Park Service has identified the climber who died in a fall on Mount Jackson earlier this week in Glacier National Park.
Dann R. Pilipow, 56, of Indiana, was reportedly descending the park’s fourth-highest peak Aug. 30 when he slipped on a snowfield and fell approximately 100 feet.
Pilipow was hiking with his son, who also fell but was able to stop himself by self-arresting on the snowfield. He sustained minor injuries.
Unable to locate his father, the son hiked down the mountain 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 remains under investigation.
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.