The student-led initiative first opened in 2022; this winter’s lack of snow kept the park closed until mid-February
By Jack Reaney ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Always important, and especially during a winter with a “remarkably weak snowpack,” Big Sky locals can practice flipping their avalanche beacons into search mode at a free public installment. Eight transmitters are buried in the snow in a softball field at Big Sky Community Park, connected wirelessly to a Backcountry Access practice system.
The park was first imagined in 2020 by Laney Smith, then a Lone Peak High School senior, for her International Baccalaureate creativity, action and service project. The concept was backed by Andy Dreisbach, a local search and rescue volunteer and owner of Cornerstone Management Services, which sponsored the park.
After the park’s initial installment in January 2022, the Big Sky Community Organization stepped in to manage and fund the facility, according to Marco DelGuidice, BSCO parks, trails and facilities maintenance manager.
For this winter, DelGuidice said it’s unfortunate how long it took to install—it was set up in mid-February due to lack of early season snow. In past years, the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center has hosted free training clinics, but that is unlikely to happen this year, he said. The beacon park will remain open as long as snow coverage allows, typically in late April or early May.
“I think it’s a valuable asset for our community, especially in poor snowpack years like this one… I try to get out there at the start of every season. But it’s good practice, everybody should probably be out there at least once a winter, to refresh,” DelGuidice said.
The park is now open to the public, although users must bring their own avalanche transceiver and probe. Beacons can be rented at a few local shops including Gallatin Alpine Sports. Users are discouraged from using shovels inside the park, so that the targets remain properly buried, but probing is necessary to locate the targets.
On the fence behind the softball field’s home plate, a control board contains switches to activate any number of the eight sensors—the facility is designed to simulate multiple burials. The sensors are buried around the softball field, each housed in a rugged box and covered with a piece of plywood attached to a sensor. The entire system is powered by batteries.
“When you strike the plywood, it notifies the control board and lights up,” DelGuidice said. He noted that it’s best to go with a partner who can monitor the control box and shout when the sensor is probed.
DelGuidice sees people using the park a couple times per week.
“I think it would be nice if more people used it, just because of how valuable it is as an asset if you are going into the backcountry, just to have your skills refreshed,” he said.
DelGuidice also said he hopes local dog-walkers will avoid that field.
“[Dogs] have a tendency to dig up targets,” he said. In addition, a BSCO social media post pointed out that it’s best for park participants to not be probing through dog droppings.
“We hope that most people are cleaning up after their dogs, but we know that some people don’t,” he lamented.
Aside from practicing with a beacon and probe, backcountry users should always read the avalanche forecast before venturing in the mountains. Near Big Sky, Bozeman, West Yellowstone and Island Park, Idaho, daily forecasts are provided by the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center. Traveling with one or more trusted partners, emergency supplies and adequate communication devices will also help mitigate emergencies in the backcountry.
