79-Year-Old Montana Skier Rescued After Surviving a Frigid Night

At any age and in any physical condition, this would likely be considered a bitter-cold, lonely, frightening ordeal.

That this hearty soul, passionate about his Montana skiing adventures, still had the presence of mind and wherewithal to survive his predicament is extraordinary. And thanks to those skills and a dedicated rescue team, he is safe.

The Flathead County Sheriff's Office tells us that on February 17, they were notified that a 79-year-old skier was missing from the Blacktail Mountain Ski Area just off Highway 93 between Polson and Kalispell. He was last seen at the top of one of the runs, but never made it to the bottom.

Friends reported him missing late in the afternoon and the Blacktail Ski Patrol contacted the sheriff's office for assistance. Flathead Search and Rescue was activated and Two Bear Air attempted to fly over the area. The air search had to be called off early the next morning due to poor visibility.

Then came over 6 hours of waiting to resume the search. The Blacktail weather tracker shows temperatures were subzero that night.

The search resumed after daylight on February 18. Late in the afternoon, nearly 24 hours after the skier's disappearance, Two Bear Air spotted him signaling for help. He was safely hoisted out and taken to the Blacktail Lodge for a medical check, and was cleared.

The skier said he had gone off trail and had become disoriented. This is where, even at the age of 79, very impressive survival skills kicked in. He spent the night in a tree well, using pine boughs to try to stay warm and building a small fire for additional warmth.

The Flathead County Sheriff's office praised his efforts to survive and the dedication of the rescue team.