MOOSE - A Montana climber fell about 800 feet to his death while attempting to traverse a snowy ridge in the Teton Range, Grand Teton National Park officials said.

Chris Pazder, 55, of Helena, Mont., died Saturday afternoon when he slipped while crossing the south side of Gilkey Tower between the South Teton and Cloudveil Dome peaks, according to a news release from the park.

Pazder was carrying an ice ax and wearing crampons on his boots, but he was unable to stop himself when he slipped on the 30- to 35-degree slope. He was climbing at an altitude of more than 12,300 feet.

"The slope was not a real steep slope, but he was not able to stop his sliding before he went over the edge and took the fall," park spokeswoman Jackie Skaggs said.

Rangers said Pazder slid about 150 feet on snow and then tumbled down a rock face. He landed on a ledge on the north side of Avalanche Canyon.

Skaggs said snowfields remain in the backcountry after last winter's heavy snowfall.

"Our rangers have told me that the snowcover is significant still, and it's pretty sloppy because of warming temperatures," she said. "It gets pretty soft and slushy and can give easily."

Pazder was climbing with three companions, two of whom had extensive experience, including climbing in the Tetons, Skaggs said. Pazder and another member of the group were described as having less experience, but were not novices, she said.

A ranger helped the rest of the climbing party descend to their camp Saturday evening.

Because of an incoming thunderstorm and the time of day, rangers waited until Sunday to attempt to recover Pazder. After spotting Pazder's body on the ledge Sunday morning, rescue personnel climbed 200 feet to reach the body and completed the recovery by Sunday evening.

Skaggs said Pazder was the second person to die while climbing in the Teton Range this summer, not an unusual number of fatalities for the popular climbing area.