Beat the heat safely this summer

Summer is in full swing across Northwest Montana, and the region's many lakes, rivers and parks are filling up with people eager to beat the heat and get in a little sightseeing. But a spate of tragedies in recent weeks has underscored the importance of staying safe whether you're cooling off or enjoying summer fun.  

On June 23, a Pennsylvania woman slipped and fell into Virginia Creek between St. Mary and Virginia falls in Glacier National Park. Despite efforts to save her by bystanders, the 26-year-old died. On June 26, a woman kayaking the Kootenai River between Libby and Troy vanished. Authorities recovered her body on June 30. That same week a boater on Flathead Lake went missing. Officials found his body about 75 feet below water just north of the Narrows on July 3.  

Then, over the Fourth of July weekend, two men drowned in Glacier National Park. One, a Nepalese man, began struggling while swimming with friends in Lake McDonald near Sprague Creek Campground. Authorities later recovered his body about 30 yards offshore. The other man, a 28-year-old from India but living and working in California, likely slipped and fell into Avalanche Creek. He resurfaced briefly before being swept by the current into Avalanche Gorge. 

While the circumstances vary, taken together the tragedies serve as a reminder to recreate safely this summer. 

Dillon Tabish, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks spokesperson for Region 1, told the Inter Lake that when it comes to moving water, his agency recommends people always keep a close eye on children and avoid debris, like trees, in the water as well as bridge pilings. Downed trees, he said, are known as "strainers" and are "extremely deadly." 

Despite the summer heat, water temperatures can remain cold, Tabish said. Hypothermia and cramping are still a risk.  

Lifejackets, he said, are the No. 1 way to reduce tragedies in the water. 

Remaining cautious around water is key, from the state agency's perspective. It can be easy to let the guard down and go after that photo or just soak up the scenery, but "Montana's wild places need to be respected," Tabish said. 

Lincoln County Sheriff Darren Short offered a similar sentiment in a social media post made after the death of a kayaker in June, noting the Kootenai’s swift and unpredictable current rife with undertows.  

Those meandering the shoreline need to keep an eye out for slippery rocks, Short wrote. Anyone taking to the water, whether for a swim or a float, should don a life jacket.  

“Every year, the Kootenai River claims victims," he wrote. “I do not want you to be the next victim.” 

Gina Icenoggle, spokesperson for Glacier National Park, told the Inter Lake that signs posted near Avalanche Creek, which has claimed two lives over the past two summers, issue warnings to those hiking the trail, but individual responsibility also comes into play. 

"Human behavior also plays a role, and decision-making is involved regarding whether or not to observe warning signs when posted," she said.

So take a moment and heed those warnings. Remember to treat water with a healthy dose of respect.