Townsend Avalanche Victims in Wilderness Study Area

By Lucia Stewart, 2-23-07

An article in the Billings Gazette yesterday noted that the two deaths of Townsend snowmobilers in Helena National Forest on Saturday were in a Wilderness Study Area, an area off-limits to motorized travel.

A few have commented that traveling into wilderness is the reason for their deaths. And others say that this type of activity is what gives snowmobilers a bad name.

The forest service has not decided whether they will be issuing a citation for the illegal activity. In Flathead Ranger District near Missoula, rangers have been slapping $5,000 fines on snowmobilers in barred areas.

The avalanche report released the morning of the incident for Northern Bridger mountains, approx. 50 miles away, on the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center read:

“Several natural avalanches released on steep wind-loaded slopes in the Bridger Range yesterday… The Big Sky Patrol triggered several wind-loaded slopes yesterday.  They also reported several large natural avalanches in the surrounding backcountry, which released near the ground. The GNF Snow Rangers were on Buck Ridge yesterday.  They saw 7 avalanches, all on wind-loaded slopes.  Five of the avalanches were natural and 2 were human-triggered.

Today, the avalanche danger in the Bridger, northern Gallatin and northern Madison Ranges is HIGH on all slopes steeper than 35 degrees.  A CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger exists on less steep slopes.”