On April 13, 2012, at 2:49 p.m., The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue responded to the report of an injured skier in the Frazier Lake area in the Bridger Mountains north of Bozeman. The 22-year-old Bozeman man was injured when he fell off a steep slope and was complaining of multiple injuries. The victim was unable to move from the slope after the crash and was stuck on the mountain.
30 volunteers from the Gallatin County Search and Rescue Team responded, several of which were inserted by helicopter to access the skier. No landing zones were available near the skier so rescuers had to climb to him and have medical gear lowered to them from helicopter.
Other Search and Rescue volunteers skied and hiked into the victim and provided immediate medical care. Summit Air Ambulance was called in and transported the victim to Bozeman Deaconess Hospital.
Sheriff Brian Gootkin wants to remind skiers that with the ski hills closing for the season the temptation for backcountry skiing increases but it comes with more personal responsibility. Know the terrain, respect the conditions and be prepared.
