Calgary man dies while snowcat skiing

A 54-year-old Calgary man died of a heart attack Feb. 2 while backcountry snowcat skiing near Olney north of Whitefish.

Alex Douglas and a group of nine friends were skiing a powder run with Great Northern Powder Guides when he collapsed in the snow halfway down a run in the Stillwater State Forest.

A guide with the snowcat skiing outfit found Douglas unresponsive and immediately began administering CPR and first aid. The ALERT rescue helicopter was dispatched to the scene, and an emergency snowcat and other guides were called to the area.

The guide performed CPR for about 45 minutes until two snowmobilers in the area met the helicopter and helped transport ALERT emergency personnel and gear up the mountain. Douglas reportedly died at the scene.