GALLATIN COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT
On Sunday at 1 p.m., the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office received an emergency call regarding an injured skier in the area of Beehive Basin near Big Sky. Sheriff’s Deputies along with members of Sheriff’s Search and Rescue from Big Sky and the Big Sky Fire Department responded.
They found that a backcountry ski group had been working their way up a trail in the Beehive Basin drainage and triggered an avalanche. A 35-year-old female from Bozeman sustained a leg injury when she was pushed into a tree by the avalanche and partially buried. Two members of the group quickly located the victim and were able to dig her out with their shovels. The victim was brought out of the backcountry by search and rescue personnel on skis and snowmobiles utilizing a specialized rescue sled. The patient was treated and released by Big Sky Fire Department.
It is important to know your snow conditions especially while backcountry skiing this time of year. Working cell phones with each person is recommended and would have saved a lot of time with this particular incident.
