On Tuesday, March 19, 2024, just before 1:00 PM, a pair of backcountry skiers were ascending the northern ridge of Mt. Blackmore near Hyalite Reservoir when they triggered a substantial avalanche. One individual was able to escape the slide by sprinting across the slope out of the path, but the other skier was engulfed and carried more than 250 ft downhill and suffered a significant leg injury.
The uninjured skier immediately initiated a beacon search and was able to find his partner at the surface near the bottom of the avalanche path. He was then able to call Gallatin County 911 dispatch and began first aid. Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue responded alongside Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Deputies, an American Medical Response ambulance, and representatives from Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center.
Due to the location of the injured person and the severity of the injury, the decision was made to use the GCSSAR heli team to short-haul the patient from the avalanche site to an ambulance waiting at Hyalite Reservoir. The helicopter from Central Copters Inc was able to find a safe place to insert three rescuers on the ground nearby. The patient was packaged for transport and the team made use of a long line to transport him to the waiting ambulance, which provided follow-on medical care and transported the patient to Bozeman Health Deaconess Regional Medical Center. The helicopter then returned to retrieve the uninjured skier and the remaining rescue team.
Sheriff Dan Springer would like to commend the uninjured skier for his quick action and the pair for having the proper beacons and gear while recreating in terrain where avalanche is possible. He thanks Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center for allowing representatives to go to the incident to evaluate conditions and ensure the safety of rescuers. Finally, Sheriff Springer would like to remind backcountry recreationists that cell service in this incident was a matter of luck, and it is advisable to have a means to communicate with emergency services like a satellite phone or GPS texting service.
