Two skiers survive avalanche near Marias Pass

Two skiers survived an avalanche in Glacier National Park that partially buried one of the men Tuesday afternoon.

The avalanche occurred near Elk Mountain, several miles west of Marias Pass. Park dispatch received a call at about 4:15 p.m. reporting the incident, prompting park rangers and local emergency personnel to respond.

Rangers found the skiers at about 6:30 p.m. and transported them to a nearby trailhead, where a Glacier County ambulance was waiting, transporting the injured skier to a medical facility for treatment, according to Glacier Park spokeswoman Denise Germann.

The man reportedly had a cut to the head and a shoulder injury.

The two local men, ages 34 and 35, were on a ridge of Elk Mountain when one of them triggered the avalanche. The skier was carried with the slide and partially buried. The other skier was downslope and was able to escape the avalanche slide path before assisting his companion.

Also responding to the incident were personnel with Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services, Glacier County Sheriff’s Office, Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, Flathead County Search and Rescue and North Valley Search and Rescue.

The Flathead County Avalanche Center issued an advisory Tuesday at 8 a.m. rating avalanche conditions as “considerable,” with natural avalanches possible and human-triggered avalanches likely for the region.

The center issues regular advisories and other information on its website at: http://www.flatheadavalanche.org