Montana, Glacier National Park, “Going-to-the-Sun” Mountain. The absence of David P. Wilson (21) was reported on the morning of 21 July when he did not appear for work. After waiting for him to return, it was decided to initiate a search at 10:00 A.M. on the 23rd. The first day’s search included a two man hasty search, a six man line search, and fixed wing aircraft with observer. The following day the aircraft continued searching, and five teams searched the summit, the west face, the north area, the south slope, and the east flank. On the third day a helicpoter with observer joined the search, and teams combed the base of the east face. The chopper and ground teams continued on the fourth day, and the organized search effort was concluded on the fifth day following an extensive string-line search of the entire large west basin. Throughout these five days, an extensive radio net was used for coordination.

The summit area was again searched in mid-August, and the diagonal (Snow Column) route was searched after the last snow had melted out at the end of August. The air search was continued on August 14, 16, 17, and 19. To date no trace of the missing man has been found.

Source: District Ranger Robert N. Frauson.

Analysis: The search was complicated by failure of the victim to heed two elementary rules; he did not check out for the climb, and he climbed alone. The result might have been far different if either one of these principles had been followed. The search was well-conducted, thorough, with adequate skilled man-power, and radio coordination between air search and ground teams.