The Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue issued a press release detailing the following incident:
On June 16, 2024, at 11:23 am, Gallatin County 911 Dispatch received a distress call from two injured skiers on “The Great One” couloir southeast of Sacagawea Peak. One skier had a shoulder injury and the other had a compound fracture in one arm, preventing them from safely descending the couloir.
<2>Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Deputies and GCSSAR Volunteers responded, and a decision was made to perform a helicopter “short haul” extraction of the skiers to an ambulance at the Battle Ridge trailhead for their safety. Initial communication challenges were resolved with the help of an individual uphill who relayed information to emergency responders.
GCSSAR volunteers from the helicopter short-haul team reached the injured skiers, provided medical evaluations, first aid, and prepared them for extraction. Using a helicopter from Central Copters, Inc., the injured skiers and rescuers were safely transported to the Battle Ridge trailhead. Two rescuers chose to walk out on foot.
One skier was taken by AMR ambulance to Bozeman Health Deaconess Regional Medical Center for further medical attention, while the other skier was given a ride by Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office deputies to the same hospital.
Sheriff Springer emphasized the importance of being prepared when recreating in the backcountry, where cell phone reception may be limited. It is crucial to have a means of contacting emergency services, especially during high-risk activities. Using a GPS paging device like a Garmin inReach is highly recommended. Additionally, it is advised not to engage in recreational activities alone, as having a companion can be critical in emergencies.
