In a tragic chain of events three people in Montana were killed this week when three separate avalanches claimed their lives.

The first avalanche claimed the life of 44-year-old David Lee Gaillard while he was skiing with his wife on Saturday afternoon just southwest of Cook City. His wife called for emergency responders after she couldn’t find his body but it was tragically too late.

The second death occurred only two hours later and just north of Cooke City when 46-year-old Jody Ray Verhasselt was buried alive for 12 minutes. Two companions who were also on snowmobiles managed to pull Jody from the avalance but it was too late and she was pronounced dead.

The final death to a 20-year-old man who’s name hasn’t yet been released occurred when he was snowmobiling east of Red Lion and his own snowmobile triggered the avalanche that caused his eventual death.

Speaking about dangerous conditions around the areas mountains Granite County Sheriff Stephen Immenschuh says unstable snow in the mountains have created dangerous conditions in which avalanches are easier to start.

Authorities are urging everyone to stay off the slopes and check local conditions if you insist on taking out your snowmobile, skis, snowboards and other products.

3 Separate Avalanches In Montana Claim Three Separate Lives is a post from: The Inquisitr

There are Lord of the Rings fans and then there are fans that go the extra mile as Steve and Christina Michaels, a couple in Montana, that love the world created by J.R.R. Tolkien so much that they have recreated a slice of the Hobbit world that includes a Hobbit home that their friends can stay in when they come to visit, or you can rent by the night.

Along with the Hobbit House the Michaels’ have created an entire miniature Shire to go along with the experience. The project has cost the couple $410,000 but you can rent the Hobbit House for the wizardly price of $245 a night; but don’t expect some rustic experience as the Hobbit Home includes a handcrafted kitchen with Wi-Fi, HDTV, Blu-ray players and XM Radio.

Here are a couple images from the miniature Shire.

via DVICE

Hobbit home discovered in Montana and we have the pics! is a post from: The Inquisitr

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has reported that 17 people have died in a plane crash in Butte, Montana.

The aircraft is believed to be a single engine turboprop plane that departed from Oroville, California at about 11 a.m. local time, heading to Bozeman.

The plane crashed about 500 feet from the airport while attempting to land and caught fire.

Update: the plane crashed into the Holy Cross Cemetery in Butte. Eyewitness reports say that the plane was doing steep angle turns and then went into nose dive.

Update 2: the aircraft was a Pilatus PC-12, a single-engine turboprop passenger and cargo aircraft manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. The only operator of the aircraft in the area is SeaPort Airlines.

Update 3: the registered owner of the aircraft, Eagle Cap leasing is based in Oregon along with SeaPort. SeaPort airlines doesn’t fly to the destinations though in this crash, so it may have been a charter.

Update 4: added pic c/- Montana Standard. Also the plane may have been carrying several young children who may have been heading for a ski vacation.

17 people dead in Montana plane crash is a post from: The Inquisitr