Bozeman, MT – At approximately 11:10 a.m. Tuesday morning, a large avalanche pulled off the steep, wind loaded northeast slope of Saddle Peak adjacent to Montana’s Bridger Bowl ski area, resulting in a large fracture that went to the ground and ran close to 2,000 vertical feet down the mountain.

No one was witnessed being caught in the slide or buried. There were several side-country skiers and snowboarders on Saddle Peak when the slide occurred, many of whom conducted exploratory searches. The event was witnessed by many skiers within the boundary of Bridger Bowl Ski Area.

Gallatin County Search and Rescue was called immediately and responded with about 40 search and rescue workers. As of Tuesday afternoon, there were no burials, injuries or missing people reported.

“We would like to take this opportunity to remind all side and backcountry skiers that when they make the personal choice to leave the ski area boundaries, they are assuming all the risks and responsibilities of of back country travel and rescue,” said Doug Wales, Bridger Bowl’s Director of Marketing.