Glacier National Park has identified the victim of a climbing accident in the Logan Pass area from Tuesday evening.
Josh Yarrow, 20, of Wichita, Kansas, died when mountain climbing off trail in the Dragon's Tail area, southwest of Mount Reynolds. Yarrow was attempting to retrieve a fallen backpack at the time of the accident.
Yarrow fell approximately 500 feet which was witnessed by another climber who then went for help. Glacier National Park rangers received the report of the accident at 7:46 p.m. and immediately initiated a search and rescue operation.
Two Bear Air’s rescue helicopter was able to get to the victim and confirm that he had died. The body was recovered by Two Bear Air.
Yarrow was spending the summer working for a local business in the West Glacier area.
Glacier National Park officials remind visitors that off-trail hiking and mountain climbing are inherently dangerous activities due to extremely rugged and steep terrain. Hikers and climbers will encounter steep snowfields and loose rocks along many of the climbing routes within the park.
This incident was the second rescue mission in the Logan Pass area within the past week. On Wednesday, July 16, a climber was injured after sliding down a snowfield near the saddle on Mount Oberlin. Falls while hiking and climbing, along with drowning, are the leading causes of accidental death in Glacier National Park.
