Bozeman, MT – Two skiers out of a group of four were transported to Bozeman Deaconess Hospital on Monday following an avalanche in the chutes above Fairy Lake north of Bridger Bowl ski area near Bozeman.

At about 4 p.m. on Monday the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue was dispatched to the area of Fairy Lake for a reported avalanche.  One patient was in contact with a friend by text messaging, and the friend called 911.

Rescuers were initially dropped off by helicopter but had to traverse about a quarter mile on skis across steep snow-covered slopes to reach the unidentified victims.  Rescuers reached the first patient who had a broken leg at about  5:20 p.m.  Rescuers discovered a second skier had sustained head injuries and was located high above them on the slope.

The first patient was put in a rescue toboggan and skied to a suitable landing zone below Fairy Lake where he was loaded in Summit Air Ambulance and transported to the hospital.  The second patient was lowered 500 feet using ropes to the bottom of the run-out, and then fl0wn by Carrish helicopters to a waiting ambulance below Fairy Lake.

Gallatin County Sheriff Brian M. Gootkin took the opportunity to remind backcountry users that even though it’s now June, avalanches are still possible because of recent snowfall in the area.