A young Montana man who apparently tried to base jump from a cliff in Glacier National Park was killed in the attempt, according to park officials.
The park reported Monday morning that the body of 22-year-old Beau Weiher, of Missoula, was recovered from the north side of Mount Siyeh Sunday night at approximately 7 p.m.
The man's family had notified the park Saturday evening that he was overdue from a solo day hike in the Many Glacier area.
Early Sunday morning park rangers initiated a ground and aerial search. Information from Weiher’s family and friends indicated that Weiher’s intended route was probably a challenging hike in the Piegan Pass and Mount Siyeh areas, and may have included a base jump, a park release said.
"Park rangers found tracks that suggested Weiher might have been in the area below the summit of Mount Siyeh. The area included snowy terrain. At approximately 6 p.m. Sunday, personnel on board the Two Bear Air Helicopter spotted what they believed to be a parachute. The body of Weiher was found at approximately 7 p.m. Sunday night below the summit of Mount Siyeh," the release said.
The initial investigation indicates that Weiher attempted to base jump off an area of Mount Siyeh. In base jumping, participants jump from fixed objects and use a parachute to break their fall. Base jumping is prohibited in most National Park Service sites, including Glacier.