It's not unusual to hear about falls leading to visitor deaths in mountainous parks, but those sad endings to a trip most often occur during activities such as mountaineering or even hiking. On September 18, an 18-year-old male died when he fell from an area along the famed Going-to-the-Sun Road at Glacier National Park.
According to information from a park spokesperson, an initial investigation determined that Brandon Luis Avalos, from St. Maries, Idaho, and three friends were visiting the park on Thursday night, September 18. At approximately 10 p.m. the group was traveling the scenic mountain road and stopped near the Big Drift area, east of Logan Pass.
Avalos got out of the vehicle, but did not return, and the friends later said they thought perhaps he was hiking back to Logan Pass. The friends stayed in the area overnight waiting for Avalos to return, and began looking for him Friday morning. They contacted park employees when they spotted his body on a steep slope below the road.
It is believed that Avalos climbed over the guard rails along the road and fell approximately 100 feet. The area where he fell is very steep with several cliff bands and large areas of rocks. Park rangers rappelled to the scene and confirmed that he had died. His body was recovered later that day.
The Glacier County Sheriff's Office has made a preliminary determination that the cause of death was an accidental fall.
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