Glacier NP Searchers Locate Body of Missing Climber

Glacier National Park searchers say they've recovered the body of a 32-year-old Whitefish climber who vanished while on a trip up Heaven's Peak a week ago.

Searchers with Two Bear Air located the body of mountaineer Grant Marcuccio on the slopes of the mountain around 2 pm on Sunday.

The park says the cause of death is still under investigation, but given the "traumatic injuries and location of the body" searchers believe he died from a fall.

Get our free mobile app

It had been a week since Marcuccio became separated from his party when he failed to show up at a rendezvous point after he was going to try submitting the 8,991-foot peak on the west side of the park.

Where the climber was located

GNP authorities say the Two Bear team spotted Marcuccio one-third of a mile east of McPartland Peak, below the ridgeline that connects McPartland and Heaven's Park.

His body was taken off the mountain and down to Apgar to meet the Flathead County Coroner, who will investigate the official cause of death.

Completion of an exhausting search

Searchers had started searching Monday after Marcuccio was reported overdue. The U.S. Forest Service also flew into the remote site and dropped off ground searchers.

The park is thanking the team of organizations who helped, including the North Valley and Flathead County Search and Rescue teams, USFS, the U.S. Geological Survey, Two Bear Air Rescue, the Flathead County Sheriff's Office, NPS staff, and the many people who provided tips and information.

The park is also expressing "sincere condolences" to Marcuccio's family.