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Two snowmobilers die in Montana avalanche

Rescuers recovered the bodies Sunday of two snowmobilers who disappeared a day earlier in an avalanche west of Glacier National Park, officials said.
/ Source: The Associated Press

Rescuers recovered the bodies Sunday of two snowmobilers who disappeared a day earlier in an avalanche west of Glacier National Park, officials said.

Flathead County Undersheriff Mike Meehan identified them as Christopher Schmalz, 21, and Danelle Bloom, 22, both of Kalispell.

Authorities were alerted to the avalanche by a third snowmobiler, Dan Kenfield, 20, of Kalispell, who was rescued by other snowmobilers in the area after being buried under a few feet of snow, officials said.

Kenfield and his rescuers later found the body of Schmalz, who was wearing an emergency beacon, officials said. Bloom did not carry one.

The recovery effort had been suspended overnight because of “extreme avalanche danger,” Meehan said.