fbpx

Officials ID Skier Who Died in Tree Well on Big Mountain

By Beacon Staff

MISSOULA — Officials in northwestern Montana have identified the California skier who died when he fell into a tree well at Whitefish Mountain Resort over the weekend.

Flathead County Undersheriff Dave Leib said the victim was 54-year-old Douglas Spring. Leib said he did not know Spring’s hometown.

Officials have said Spring and his son were skiing in an ungroomed forested area on the mountain’s north side Saturday when Spring fell into a tree well.

The son didn’t realize his father wasn’t with him until he reached the bottom of the run. He re-traced their route and found his father’s skis sticking out of the snow at the bottom of a tree. Efforts to resuscitate him failed.

Spring is the third person to die after falling in a tree well at Whitefish Mountain since December 2010.

RELATED: An Unsung Hazard