Yesterdays: Man dies skiing on Sperry Glacier

70 years ago

Aug. 17, 1951

The Rocky Mountain Riders O-Mok-See drew 1,000 people and there were 172 horses entered into the games. There was also a parade through town before the event. High point winner was Ethel Ogilivie of Stevensville.

60 years ago

Aug. 18, 1961

F, K & L was building a new mill in Martin City. At the time, there were 28 men working in two shifts. Glacier Park was avoiding wildfires as light showers fell over the park. Thunderstorms had sparked fires in other parts of the state, as there were 300 wildfires reported after lightning storms.

50 years ago

Aug. 20, 1971

Ronald Bruce Matthews, 32, of Whitefish was killed skiing on Sperry Glacier. He fell into a crevasse and plummeted down about 40 feet. His body was recovered and a Johnson Flying Service helicopter flew him off the mountain. The helicopter pilot was able to land the craft right on the glacier.

40 years ago

Aug. 6, 1981

The Glacier Mountaineering Society was formed, with about 75 members. Founders included Dennis Twohig of Whitefish, Rolf Larson and Terry Kennedy. Most people at the hearing before Congress supported Glacier Park’s bear management plan, which looked to study the bruins further and take steps to keep people and bears out of harm’s way. Renowned biologist Chuck Jonkel described the previous bear management of the park as “a legacy of lousy management.” Today Glacier has more than 300 grizzlies and twice that many black bears.

30 years ago

Aug. 15, 1991

Researchers spotted at least seven wolf pups from the air in Glacier National Park. It was the second successful pack in the park since the Magic Pack of 1986 and 1987. The pups were part of the Camas pack.

20 years ago

Aug. 16, 2001

There was a fire near Werner Peak that was caused by lightning. It was about 100 acres — a frequent place for fires, as this year also saw a fire in the same general location. Glacier Park officials were asking the public for help in finding Patrick Whalen. Whalen had disappeared on the east side. Rangers found his camp, but never found him.

10 years ago

Aug. 17, 2011

A film crew from the Discovery network was filming in the Flathead and the Bob Marshall Wilderness doing a piece on Noah Pippin, a soldier who was camping in the Bob Marshall Wilderness and disappeared. Pippin’s remains were later found in 2012 and it’s believed he died of exposure during a snowstorm.