Month: March 2013

On Sunday March 31, 2013, at approximately 2:20 pm, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team with American Medical Response, and Carisch Helicopters responded to Blackmore Mountain trail head in Hyalite Canyon for an injured skier. The 21 year old Bozeman skier had fallen into some rocks on the 10,052′ tall mountain and injured his back, ribs and hip. The victim was skiing with four other companions when the accident occurred. A partner was able to contact the Gallatin County Dispatch Center to report the incident to dispatch assisting agencies. A command post was set up at the Blackmore trail head where personnel from all the organizations staged. Carisch Helicopters then transported members of the S&R Heli-Alpine team to the summit of the ridge and they skied to the victim to offer assistance and medical aid at 9,600′ of elevation. The victim was stabilized then transported by a litter that was lowered by ropes approximately 900 feet to a landing zone where the helicopter had landed. He was then taken by the helicopter to the command post and transferred to the ambulance and taken to Bozeman Deaconess Hospital. The victim’s condition is currently not known.

Sheriff Gootkin stated that this time of year can be especially hazardous when skiing backcountry terrain. Bad snow and exposed rocks make for tricky skiing. It is especially important to be prepared for emergencies in these conditions.

Photo and video courtesy of Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, JD Ellington. If you are having trouble viewing the pictures or video go to www.gallatinmedia.org

Carisch Helicopters with long line VIdeo

          On Sunday, March 24^th, 2013, around 2:00 pm, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office and the West Yellowstone Division of Gallatin County Search and Rescue responded to a backcountry rescue.  A 26 year old female from Costa Rica was riding a snowmobile near Two Top Mountain when she left the trail and struck a tree.  The female suffered a broken arm and complained of pain in her neck, back, and knees.  Another rider in the injured female’s group called the company that they had rented the snowmobiles from to report the incident.  The rental company reported the incident to 911.

           Employees of the rental company located the injured snowmobiler and waited on scene with her until search and rescue members arrived.  Search and rescue members provided first aid on scene.  They then packaged the female in a rescue warming bag to keep her warm during the transit out of the back country.  The female was transported via a specialized rescue sled towed behind a search and rescue snow machine.  Rescuers transferred the female to a waiting Hebgen Basin Fire Department ambulance.

           The Gallatin County Sheriff’s office would like to remind backcountry users to exercise caution when enjoying the outdoors.  Have a means of communication with you at all times and notify rescue services by the quickest means possible in case of an emergency.

On Sunday, March 24, 2013, at approximately 4:45 pm, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Gallatin County Search and Rescue, and American Medical Response responded to Palisade Falls trailhead in Hyalite Canyon for an injured ice climber.  The ice climber had fallen to the ground from a height of fifteen feet resulting in an injury to his ankle.  The victim and his climbing partner attempted to self-rescue for over an hour before the partner returned to the trailhead alone to alert emergency responders.  Search and rescue personnel were able to reach, assess, stabilize, and transport the patient back to the trailhead by 6:45 pm.  The injured climber was subsequently transported to Bozeman Deaconess Hospital for evaluation.

The Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind backcountry users to always bring gear appropriate for unexpected emergencies.  After the initial fall, the secondary threat to this climber’s safety was hypothermia.  A sleeping bag and insulating pad are small, light pieces of equipment could be used in similar situations to keep an injured or lost backcountry user from becoming cold while waiting for rescue.

On March 18^th, 2013 at approximately 0730 hours, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the intersection of Stucky Road and Cottonwood Road for a reported 2 vehicle injury accident. Three people were transported to Bozeman Deaconess Hospital. The Gallatin County Coroner’s Office was contacted by Bozeman Deaconess Hospital regarding one of the individuals who had died due to their injuries. The Coroner’s office identified the deceased as 44 year old Christine Adams of Bozeman. The Coroner’s office has scheduled an autopsy with the State of Montana forensic pathologist. The Montana Highway Patrol is investigating the traffic Accident.

  On March 2, 2013, at 9:40 a.m., the Gallatin County Sheriffs Office received a report of a female that was having a medical emergency on the Rendezvous Ski Trail near West Yellowstone. 

  Personnel from the West Yellowstone division of Gallatin County Search and Rescue, Hebgen Basin Fire Department, U.S. Forest Service, and the Gallatin County Sheriffs Office responded and assisted with the rescue. 

  Rescue personnel responded on snowmobiles and when they arrived on scene they contacted a 59-year-old female from Bozeman who had been watching the annual Rendezvous Ski Race.  She was suffering from back pain and was transported by the rescue team to West Yellowstone.

  On March 2, 2013, at 9:40 a.m., the Gallatin County Sheriffs Office received a report of a female that was having a medical emergency on the Rendezvous Ski Trail near West Yellowstone. 

  Personnel from the West Yellowstone division of Gallatin County Search and Rescue, Hebgen Basin Fire Department, U.S. Forest Service, and the Gallatin County Sheriffs Office responded and assisted with the rescue. 

  Rescue personnel responded on snowmobiles and when they arrived on scene they contacted a 59-year-old female from Bozeman who had been watching the annual Rendezvous Ski Race.  She was suffering from back pain and was transported by the rescue team to West Yellowstone.

  On February 27^th, 2013 at approximately 1800 hours, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an unattended vehicle that was located on private property. The vehicle was parked in field near Dry Creek Road and Cox Road. It was determined that the vehicle belonged to Richard Wilkins, of Belgrade, who had been reported missing on January 7^th, 2013.

  On February 28^th 2013, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office detectives located a deceased male approximately 50 yards from the vehicle. The male was identified as Richard Wilkins. An autopsy was performed at the Montana State Crime Lab and it was determined that Mr. Wilkins died of a self inflicted gunshot wound.

  On 03-03-13 around the 4 PM hour, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office started receiving calls of possible accidents on Lone Mountain Trail in the Big Sky area of Gallatin County.  Very icy conditions were experienced after a storm quickly dropped snow on the roadway and also saw wind blow across it.  Unfortunately this was at a time when people were finishing their skiing and trying to head to their homes.

   The large number of vehicles travelling at this time mixed with the ice, caused at least in part, a couple of vehicles to slide off the road, a shuttle bus had difficulty traveling up the road and one vehicle rolled onto its side after going off the roadway.  Traffic was delayed for a couple of hours in both directions, to allow emergency responders to clear the road and take care of any possible injuries.  Fortunately, the only injury in all that occurred was to a driver who stepped out of his vehicle and fell onto the icy road.  Due to an injury to his shoulder he was transported to the Bozeman Deaconess Hospital for further evaluation.  Other injuries were avoided by people being cautious and patient in their driving.  Once the roadway was clear, Department of Transportation plows were able to drop sand on the icy roadway and traffic flowed once again.

   Sheriff Gootkin would like to thank those who drove cautiously but also would like everyone to remember that weather conditions in our country can and do change very quickly.  So please be aware and ready.