Polson Hiker Dies From Cliff Fall

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — A 71-year-old Polson man has died after he fell from a cliff while hiking along a trail in the Mission Dam Reservoir area.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office says Ted Smith was hiking with relatives near the Garden Walls Saturday outside St. Ignatius.

The Associated Press reports Smith fell 250 to 300 feet to the base of the cliff.

The sheriff's office says emergency officials located Smith's body and concluded that he had died. Tribal, sheriff's, fire and search and rescue officials spent the night cutting through downed trees and thick brush to recover the man's body.