Tribute for fallen climber held at Whitefish market
Grant Marcuccio helps a customer at the Columbia Falls Community Market earlier this summer. He was killed in a climbing accident.
By TAYLOR INMAN
For the Hungry Horse News
Friends gathered Aug. 27 at the Whitefish Farmer’s Market to celebrate the life of organic farmer and outdoor enthusiast Grant Marcuccio.
Marcuccio, 32, of Whitefish, died from an apparent fall while climbing McPartland Peak in Glacier National Park on Aug. 18. His body was recovered Aug. 25.
Marcuccio was business partners with Chris Bickford, who started an organic farm in Kalispell about two years ago. Bickford said Marcuccio worked part of the land previously with the former owner. After they got to know each other, they decided to embark on a project together and opened WhiteStar Organics.
“Super hard-working fella. We worked 80 to 100 hours a week together, and you get to know each other really, really well when you’re working that closely on a project together. I wouldn’t have taken on a project with any other fella,” Bickford said. “It’s an ambitious project. We work about 7 acres of land — just the two of us and some volunteers. So it’s a lot to take on.”
He said Marcuccio got involved with the project in 2023, but this year they went “whole hog.” WhiteStar Organics is present at local farmers markets across the valley.
Bickford organized the tribute to Marcuccio on Tuesday at the Whitefish Farmer’s Market where family and friends passed out flowers, shared memories and wrote notes to Marcuccio.
Bickford said Marcuccio was passionate about organic farming and was a member of the Montana Organic Association. As an organic farmer of 20 years, he was excited to see someone young like Marcuccio interested in the work.
“He was the kind of guy that made you think about positive things for the future,” Bickford recalled.
Marcuccio was “an optimist, a friend to all, and was known for infectious smile and warm heart” as described in his obituary with Columbia Mortuary.
He grew up in Wethersfield, Connecticut, where his love for the outdoors was cultivated at an early age. He spent the last decade in Montana and called Whitefish home.
His hiking accolades included 197 completed summits, 90 of which were in Glacier National Park, according to the obituary. He also climbed in the Himalayas.
Marcuccio was climbing Heaven’s Peak in Glacier National Park on Aug. 18 when he separated from his party to summit nearby 8,413-foot McPartland Peak alone. He planned to rendezvous with his hiking partners at a designated location.
Rangers were alerted by the hiking party that evening that Marcuccio never made it to the rendezvous spot, according to a release from park officials.
Two Bear Air and ground teams began searching on Monday, Aug. 19. Forest Service also flew over the area and dropped off ground searchers.
After a week of intense searching, his body was found Aug. 25, when Two Bear Air spotted him from the air. Park officials said he was found one-third of a mile east of 8,413-foot McPartland Peak below the ridgeline between Heaven’s Peak and McPartland Peak.
The area is west of Going-to-the-Sun Road on the park’s west side.