A 19-year-old man who went missing last Friday was found this week buried in chest-deep snow in Montana’s Glacier National Park, according to the National Park Service.
Although we’re deep into spring, there are still wintry conditions at the upper reaches of the park’s Huckleberry Trail.
Glacier National Park is described by the NPS as a “showcase of melting glaciers, alpine meadows, carved valleys, and spectacular lakes,” that has 700 miles of trails. Before Matthew Read was found in the park at around 11 p.m. Monday by Two Bear Air, he had last been heard from on Friday afternoon. He was set to start his hike around noon that day.
“Reports indicate Read hiked the Huckleberry Lookout trail on Friday and reached the first saddle where he encountered a snowfield covering the trail,” said the park service. “He slipped into an unnamed drainage on the east side of Huckleberry Mountain. He descended into chest-deep snow, losing his phone, water bottle, and shoes. Upon determining that he could not make it back up to the trail, he started working his way down the drainage.”
Authorities were alerted on Sunday that he was missing, and his vehicle was located that day at the Huckleberry Lookout Trailhead. The trail was closed as a search for Read began.
“Rangers conducted a hasty search Sunday afternoon,” said the NPS. The following morning, the search was expanded to include a party of Park rangers, U.S. Border Patrol, the Flathead County Sheriff’s office and county search dogs. This search party dealt with rain, fog and overcast conditions.
Eventually, Two Bear Air picked up a thermal heat signature in a heavily forested area. Rescue personnel extricated Read via a 175 foot hoist.
He was flown out of the park and transferred to an Evergreen Ambulance in stable condition.
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