Snowmobiler killed in avalanche identified

The man who was killed in an avalanche Saturday in the Swan Mountains near the west side of the Hungry Horse Reservoir has been identified as David Cano, 59, of Kalispell.

According to a preliminary report, several snowmobilers were caught in the slide and Cano was buried and killed.

Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino said Cano was with a group of friends who had ridden in from the Hungry Horse Reservoir side up the Wildcat Creek drainage.

His friends dug Cano out and tried CPR without success. Heino said they rode out and called 911 at about 3 p.m. Saturday.

Two Bear Air, North Valley Search and Rescue and Sheriff’s Office snowmobile teams tried to get to the location, but severe weather conditions prevented a recovery until Sunday.

The cause of the slide is still under investigation, but the avalanche danger was listed as high as a major winter storm blew in Saturday with high winds and the coldest weather the region has seen since October, making for prime avalanche conditions.

The avalanche warning has been extended through Tuesday, as Monday is seeing more high winds, snow and temperatures in the single digits.

A Gofundme campaign has been set up for Cano at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-david-canos-family-in-a-time-of-need