Park rangers respond to Mt. Sinopah incident

Glacier National Park Rangers responded to two serious incidents over the weekend involving an injured hiker and a capsized canoe.

On Friday, June 15, eight individuals were climbing Mount Sinopah near Two Medicine Lake. At about 6 p.m., a 21-year old female climber fell on a snowfield and was unable to self-arrest with a ice ax.

She slid about 200 feet across the snow and down a 10-foot cliff band. The climber was only carrying general day-hiking gear. Two other climbers hiked out to the Glacier Park Boat Co. office on Two Medicine Lake to report the incident.

Park rangers responded and encountered the injured climber and the rest of the party below Mount Sinopah. Rangers assessed the injuries and transported the injured climber by boat to a waiting ambulance. The climber had minor injuries.

The next day, Glacier Park Boat Co. employees reported a capsized canoe and two people in Lake McDonald. The employees rescued the individuals from the water and transported them to Lake McDonald Lodge, where rangers assessed their condition and transported them to their vehicle. The rangers also retrieved the canoe. The boaters were wearing life jackets.

Hikers and climbers visiting higher elevations in the Park should expect to run into snow and ice and should be prepared for changing weather conditions. Rangers advise climbers to have an ice ax and crampons and know how to use them when traveling on snow.