Students recovering after cornice collapse

One student fractured a femur and a second student sustained a concussion after falling about 8 to 10 feet when a snow cornice collapsed during a Bigfork High School field trip in the Marias Pass area of Glacier National Park on Tuesday.

The injured students were airlifted by ALERT and Two Bear Air to Kalispell Medical Center after a teacher called in the emergency. The student who sustained the concussion was released from the hospital Tuesday evening according to Bigfork School District Superintendent Matt Jensen. The student with a fractured femur had surgery to repair the break and hopes to go home Thursday, he said.

“I’m praying for a speedy recovery for both of those kiddos,” Jensen said.

The group — composed of seven freshman English and Earth Science students, teachers and chaperones — were snowshoeing near the edge of Glacier National Park, roughly half a mile from U.S. 2, when the cornice broke, according to Jensen and Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry. According to Glacier National Park Management Assistant Lauren Alley, the incident took place near Three Bears Lake. Park rangers are conducting interviews to learn more about what occurred.

The students were learning about winter survival skills on the field trip, but were not trying to put themselves in a dangerous situation when the fall occurred, according to Jensen.

“It’s an unfortunate accident. We’re thankful for the first responders getting there quickly and the kids getting the help they needed,” Jensen said.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.