Search and Rescue Member Killed by Rockfall

On Friday, July 14, Andrew Evans, 32, was killed by rockfall on Gardiner Buttress, a 350-foot 5.8 in Montana’s Beartooth Mountains. Park County Search Rescue (PCSAR) and Carbon County SAR were dispatched to provide assistance, but Evans died before they arrived. The incident was reported by Evans’s climbing partner, who was uninjured.

“In general the Beartooth Mountains are remote, often subject to intense afternoon thunderstorms and the rock quality is generally not great,” says Nick Gaddy, a SAR member who participated in the rescue. “Certainly not as good as other ranges in the area like the Tetons or Wind Rivers.” Due to the route’s location near Gardiner Headwall, a popular summer-skiing run, Gaddy believes it sees the occasional summer ascent but is not well-traveled. 

In 2016, Gaddy tried Gardiner Buttress himself but says he backed off after about 60 feet due to “poor rock and poor pro.” He added that Evans had not been on the route prior to the accident, and that he fell above Gaddy’s own highpoint.

Evans’s partner reports that he had been wearing a helmet. She heard him yelling “falling/rock” or “rock/falling” before he took a large fall, which was accompanied with falling boulders. She called his name but received no response. After lowering him to a ledge where she was able to reach him, she was not able to find a pulse. The coroner’s findings confirm he died instantly. 

“Andrew had moved to Red Lodge in 2018 and was the head brewer at our local brewery, Red Lodge Ales,” says Gaddy. “He was an avid outdoorsperson, enjoying climbing, snowboarding and splitboarding, mountain biking and running. He joined Red Lodge Search and Rescue in January 2022. He was an all around great guy and will be missed.”

The post Search and Rescue Member Killed by Rockfall appeared first on Climbing.