Girl dead, boy injured - Lake McDonald, Glacier National Park

[DandyDon]

I came by looking for more info. Nothing yet it seems.

We can only hope that someone in the group comes forward I am afraid. Maybe a subsequent news story will tell more, if we're lucky.

It's a deep lake in places, a maximum depth of 472 feet. I have no idea what happened to the girl but from the limited information given I suspect the boy incurred a lung injury bringing her up since he was flown to a chamber.

 

[Jack Hammer]

Not sure if elevation is a contributing factor or not. I've been to the general area and it is somewhat hilly, no idea how close to the mountains it is. Regardless, sad news. I hope he fully recovers.

 

[DandyDon]

Not sure if elevation is a contributing factor or not. I've been to the general area and it is somewhat hilly, no idea how close to the mountains it is. Regardless, sad news. I hope he fully recovers.

Surface elevation 3,153 ft. I don't think of that as much of a factor as I live higher than that, but yes - it could be.

 

[dorsal]

It’s interesting the article title makes them sound much younger than 18 and 22. It’s still sad the young woman lost her life while diving.

 

[Doc Harry]

What is the altitude there?

 

[dewdropsonrosa]

[Paragraph about lake depth removed for fact-checking.]

The official Parks Service page suggests that this lake is nearly 500' deep (150 m) Glacier National Park lakes rarely exceed 50° F (10° C). It's late fall and this park is pretty far north, so I would be prepared to bet that the water is much closer to 40° F (4° C), if not even lower. In-water visibility in these parks is said to exceed 30 ft (9 m) regularly, but I cannot find current conditions.

I would describe these conditions as challenging, even for local divers who are accustomed to similar environments. My guess -- other than bad gas, which has been speculated -- is that a stressful situation may have turned into panic and/or a deep OOA. We'll have to wait for the surviving diver's account (and if he's in any condition to share it).

 

[San Diego Climber]

3153'. Didn't find a bathymetric chart for the lake but at its deepest it's 427'

 

[rsingler]

What is the altitude there?

3,150'

 

[San Diego Climber]

[Paragraph about lake depth removed for fact-checking.]

The official page suggests that Glacier National Park lakes rarely exceed 50° F (10° C). It's late fall and this park is pretty far north, so I would be prepared to bet that the water is much closer to 40° F (4° C), if not even lower. In-water visibility in these parks is said to exceed 30 ft (9 m) regularly, but I cannot find current conditions.

I would describe these conditions as challenging, even for local divers who are accustomed to similar environments. My guess -- other than bad gas, which has been speculated -- is that a stressful situation may have turned into panic and/or a deep OOA. We'll have to wait for the surviving diver's account (and if he's in any condition to share it).

Different lake, that's the Lake McDonald in Minnesota, not Montana

 

[dewdropsonrosa]

Different lake, that's the Lake McDonald in Minnesota, not Montana

Fixed now! I was looking at another source for different information and realized the error.