Two Skiers Injured on “The Great One” Near Bozeman

If you're a backcountry skier in Montana, let this be a warning to you. Snow continues to melt at high elevations in the state, and conditions are extremely dangerous. Two skiers were recently rescued while skiing "The Great One" near Fairy Lake in the Bridger Mountains.

Two Skiers Injured in Bridger Mountains Near Bozeman

On Sunday, June 16, two skiers were injured while skiing “The Great One” couloir southeast of Sacagawea Peak, according to Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue. Due to the extent of the injuries, the skiers were unable to continue down the couloir safely.

Gallatin County 911 received a call regarding the injured skiers on Sunday at 11:23 a.m. Gallatin County Sheriff's Office Deputies and GCSSAR Volunteers responded and determined that a helicopter was the best option for rescuing the injured skiers. An ambulance was waiting near the Battle Ridge Trailhead.

Intermittent cell phone reception caused some initial communication issues, but an uninvolved individual further uphill was able to yell down and relay information to emergency responders.

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One injured skier was transported by AMR ambulance to Bozeman Health Deaconess Regional Medical Center to be treated for their injuries, while the second was given a courtesy ride by Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office deputies to the same hospital.

Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer has an important message for backcountry enthusiasts in Montana. Cell phone reception is not always available; and the ability to contact emergency services is crucial. A GPS paging capability like a Garmin inReach or similar is strongly encouraged. Furthermore, this is a reminder that it is not a good idea to recreate alone, having a friend around to call for help can save your life.