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Updated: Two Ice Climbers Die in Fall Into Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

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Silver Cord Cascade is located on the south rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone downstream of Artist Point. NPS map.

The bodies of two Montana men who died in a fall while ice climbing in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone in Yellowstone National Park were recovered from the canyon late Tuesday afternoon, park officials said.

Despite poor weather conditions and melting ice that created dangerous conditions, rangers were able to recover the remains of Mark William Ehrich, 28, and Michael Alan Kellch, 29, of Bozeman, Montana, the park said in a release. Both have immediate family members who live in Wyoming.

The two, who reportedly had several years of ice and mountain climbing experience, entered the park Sunday after telling friends they planned a day hike from Artist Point. When they had not returned by Monday, friends contacted the park.

It was later discovered the two men had actually arrived in the park Saturday, and intended to ice climb Silver Cord Cascade. This series of waterfalls begins at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, northeast of Artist Point, dropping several hundred feet to the canyon floor and into the Yellowstone River.

Members of the park’s technical rescue team, the wildland fire crew, three climbing rangers from Grand Teton National Park, and a helicopter were all involved in the rescue and recovery effort.

A rescue team member rappelled into the canyon as darkness fell Monday evening, and found the two dead on a rock ledge. Initial observations of the scene and gear configuration indicate that the fall was likely due to collapse of the ice column during the men’s ascent.

One victim was removed from the canyon early Tuesday afternoon. Melting ice near the rock ledge where the two men were discovered 300 feet beneath the canyon rim threatened to halt the recovery effort until Wednesday morning. However, use of a helicopter permitted the safe recovery of the second victim late Tuesday afternoon.

The accident remains under investigation.

All hiking and climbing in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is prohibited from Brink of the Upper Falls down river up to, but not including, the Silver Cord Cascade drainage. Rangers believe climbers attempt Silver Cord Cascade one to three times a year.

These are the first accident fatalities in Yellowstone since a drowning in the southwest corner of the park last September.

Comments

ditto on rich and now's not the time to talk about taxes or who's paying what for what we all pay taxes too. two young men died for god's sake!!!


Climbing has huge risks associated with it whether it is rock, mountain or ice climbing. It is very sad that the young men fell as they did and their families, friends, and others will miss them dearly.

Registering for climbing as a general requirement is totally unneccessary. Most, not all will leave word with family as these young men did, or will stop by a ranger station and leave word where they are going. Unless the climb/hike is restricted for number purposes such as Mt Hood, Rainer, The Subway in Zion or someother similar outing; registering is just adding to the required load of paperwork the NPS/NFS already deals with seems unreasonable.


These were 2 great guys doing what they loved. RIP fella's, you will be missed.


Peace be with them and their families. And I thank SAR people (everywhere) for the great job they do -- no matter who they are rescuing or, sadly, recovering. They too put their lives at risk, in the service of others.


How sad-- but how could you ask for a more beautiful place to leave this world??


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