Two local climbers found deceased in Glacier National Park
Dusty Star is an iconic mountain in Glacier National Park above St. Mary Lake. It's the farthest peak on the left side of the photo. Just to to the left of Fusillade, which is the the middle. (Chris Peterson/File photo)
The bodies of two local mountain climbers have been found deceased in Glacier National Park.
The climbers were a 67-year-old male from Columbia Falls and 67-year-old male from Kalispell. The names of the climbers are being withheld until family members can be notified.
The men were climbing Dusty Star Mountain and initiated the trip on July 21 with the plan to hike out July 22 from Virginia Falls. They were reported missing on July 24 and park rangers located their vehicle at the trailhead on the same day.
An air search began on July 24 in the Dusty Star Mountain area on the east side route of approach where vegetation is extremely dense with potentially dangerous terrain. Two Bear Air flew on July 24 in daylight and darkness. Minuteman Aviation took over this morning and located the bodies of the climbers. A plan is underway for recovery of the bodies and the climbers’ belongings, Glacier National Park officials said in a release.