Fatal Ice Climbing Accident Claims Montana Man in Custer Gallatin National Forest, Confirm Authorities

A Montana man named Kyle Allen Rott, 36, tragically passed away over the weekend after falling while ice climbing in the Custer Gallatin National Forest, as confirmed by authorities. The victim was known as a resident of Montana and a passionate ice climber.

Authorities were alerted to an incident near Grotto Falls in Hyalite Canyon on Saturday afternoon following two separate 911 calls. The canyon is located within a national park spanning over 3 million acres just north of Yellowstone National Park. The initial call was received from a GPS device monitoring service after one of their devices was triggered near the falls.

Another 911 call was received from a witness reporting that an ice climber had fallen and been injured, according to the news release.

Following the call, two helicopters and five search and rescue teams, which included volunteers, were dispatched to locate and assist Rott. He was later airlifted to a hospital by a medical helicopter, where he succumbed to his injuries, as stated in the news release.

The officials reported that the individual had suffered blunt force trauma to the head, and his death was determined to be accidental by the sheriff's office coroners. In a news release, Sheriff Dan Springer extended his condolences to Mr. Kyle Rott's family in South Dakota and his friends, and also expressed gratitude to all the committed search and rescue members who promptly responded to the situation.