Ravalli County Sheriff – Coroner Steve Holton confirmed that there was a fatality associated with an avalanche in the southern portion of Ravalli County yesterday afternoon. Sheriff Holton said that the avalanche was reported by people skiing northwest of the Lost Trail Ski area in Montana. Five people from Utah had been skiing in the area when the avalanche occurred early in the afternoon. The avalanche swept one of the skiers away, a 64-year-old male. Other members of the party were able to locate the victim and begin first aid, and were also able to notify emergency services by a satellite device. The Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office, Ravalli County Search and Rescue and Two Bear Air from Flathead County responded to the incident. Two Bear Air with the assistance of Ravalli County Search and Rescue were able to hoist the victim from the scene. Unfortunately, the victim had died due to injuries sustained in the avalanche prior to the helicopter’s arrival.
The victim was identified as David Macfarlane of Park City, Utah.
People participating in outdoor recreation are encouraged to check weather and avalanche conditions with the National Weather Service at www.weather.gov, avalanche.org, and Northwest Avalanche Center at nwac.us.
Lost Trail Ski are is located on the bottom left of the attached Google Earth Image for reference. The accident occurred at the pin marking the location to the north.
