After fall, park employees rescued above Avalanche Lake

About 40 Glacier National Park and local searchers spent most of Monday and part of Tuesday morning looking for two of their own employees after they were hurt on a cliff face above Avalanche Lake.

The two hikers names were not released, but were identified as two female hikers that worked in the Science and Resource Management Division at Glacier National Park.

The Two Bear Air Rescue helicopter hoisted the two injured hikers out of the area at approximately 7 a.m. Tuesday morning, once daylight had arrived and the weather had improved. Both hikers had sustained a leg injury as a result of a fall. Park staff provided initial treatment.  The hikers were then transported to the hospital. 

A friend of one employee and a family member of the other employee both contacted park staff to report the overdue hikers early Monday morning after the two had not returned from from doing the off-trail Floral Park traverse Sunday night as planned.

The search centered on the area between Logan Pass and Sperry Chalet.

This high alpine area includes treacherous country filled with rock cliffs, water falls, wet and slippery rocks and boulders, and dense vegetation.  A storm had moved through the area Sunday evening, resulting in inclement weather and limited visibility.??

Several National Park Service ground search teams responded.  The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Forest Service provided valuable aerial support. A park incident management team was organized to manage the search and rescue.

The two hikers had planned for adverse conditions and had left an itinerary with friends when they left on Sunday.

All visitors are encouraged to use a voluntary day trip plan form, available on http://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/hikingthetrails.htm, which can be used to help search personnel concentrate search efforts along your intended route, saving critical time and possibly reducing risks to responders. Additional backcountry planning tips are available in the Glacier National Park Backcounty Guide, available on http://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/backcountry.htm.