Yes, Hank Williams Jr. Nearly Died 50 Years Ago in Montana

When Hank Williams Jr. fell from a Montana mountain, it wasn't his first brush with death. In fact, that wasn't even his first brush with death that year! The country outlaw was struggling with some major issues that almost ended his career and life before he really got started.

Read More: You Think You Know Hank Williams Jr.? |

 

Rolling Stone had this back in 2015: "On August 8th, 1975, he fell close to 500 feet while climbing Ajax Mountain in Montana. Suffering multiple skull and facial fractures, he faced a long road to recovery — and traveled it as well as he could have, with a little help from his friends."

Neither of the sources above give us too many details, but Grok had this compilation with some more Montana specifics.

While climbing Ajax Peak in the Beaverhead National Forest near Dillon, he fell 500 feet down a steep, icy chute after the snow gave way. The fall severely injured his face and head, splitting his skull and breaking multiple bones, including his nose and jaw. His brain was exposed, and he lost significant blood. His friend Dick Willey and others, including a rescue team with Dr. Ken E. MacArthur, worked to save him. After initial treatment at a Dillon hospital, he was flown to Missoula for extensive surgeries.