2 Hikers Found Dead On Dusty Star Mountain In Glacier National Park

ST. MARY, MT — The bodies of two overdue hikers were found on Dusty Star Mountain in the Lewis Range of Glacier National Park.

A park news release obtained by Patch said rescuers were called to the area for two local men who were reported overdue from a climb on Dusty Star Mountain.

The search ended Monday morning when Minuteman Aviation found the bodies of two 67-year-old men, one from Columbia Falls and the other from Kalispell. Their names weren't immediately released.

The hikers planned to start climbing the mountain Friday. They were reported missing Sunday, and park rangers found their vehicle at the trailhead that day. An aerial search was conducted on the east side route of the mountain, where vegetation is extremely dense with potentially dangerous terrain.

Authorities are still devising a plan to recover the bodies and belongings.

"Park staff would like to express their deepest condolences to the families and ask that the public respect the families' privacy," the park said.

The hiking deaths come after a 19-year-old man from Columbia Falls died in a fall while trying to climb Mt. Brown in June.

Last week, authorities said Derick Madden drove into a family at the park, then fired a shotgun at them, killing a father and his toddler daughter.