(UPDATE, 10:20 pm.) The Gallatin County Sheriff's Office has confirmed with MTN News that a man died on Sunday from injuries sustained after being caught in an avalanche at Beehive Basin near Big Sky.
The Sheriff's Office issued the following media release on Sunday evening:
On February 14, 2021 at 11:44 am, two backcountry skiers were caught in an avalanche in Beehive Basin. Both skiers were swept down slope into trees. One was not buried and did not sustain any injuries. He immediately called 911 when he heard his partner yelling for help.
The second male sustained multiple injuries due to being drug into the trees by the avalanche and was partially buried in snow.
Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue in Big Sky, LifeFlight and Big Sky Fire Department responded. Search and Rescue members were able to quickly make it to the backcountry location, assess the patient and start rescue procedures. A Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue helicopter team was able to transport the patient to an awaiting ambulance which then transported the patient to Big Sky Medical Center. The patient was subsequently flown to Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital by LifeFlight Network helicopter.
The Sheriff's Office has not released at this time the name of the man who died or his skiing partner. We will update this story with any further information we receive.
(1st REPORT) A snowboarder was critically injured on Sunday in an avalanche in Beehive Basin near Big Sky.
The Friends of the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center said on Facebook that responders with Big Sky and Gallatin County Search and Rescue teams responded around 11:30 a.m. and evacuated the snowboarder by helicopter.
The Facebook post said he was then transferred to Big Sky Fire Department and Life Flight.
According to the post, the avalanche occurred on a west-southwest facing slope at an elevation of 9,100 feet.
No further information was immediately available. We will update you as we get more details.
