Kalispell man killed in avalanche

A 33-year-old Kalispell man died in an avalanche Saturday while snowmobiling in the Swede Creek area of the Whitefish Range near Olney.

According to a Flathead County Sheriff’s Office press release, three snowmobilers were riding together when one of them triggered the avalanche. Two were buried and one was able to self-extricate.

The survivors were able to locate the third individual with the help of an avalanche transceiver. He was dug out, but attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful. The survivors then rode out for help.

The victim’s name is being held until family is notified. Due to poor weather, extreme avalanche conditions and darkness his body was not recovered until Sunday. He was located and recovered by helicopter.

Avalanche specialists with the Flathead Avalanche Center were planning to visit the site Sunday to complete an accident investigation.

The avalanche danger in the Whitefish Range on Sunday was rated as considerable, with natural avalanches possible and human-triggered avalanches likely. Recent avalanche activity had been reported across the region.

This is the second avalanche death in Montana in the past week. A Yellowstone Club ski patrol member was killed in a slide Jan. 19 near Cedar Basin in southwest Montana.