Skier Dies in Avalanche in Montana’s Bridger Range

A solo backcountry skier was killed in an avalanche on the west side of the Bridger Range on Tuesday, February 26. According to the preliminary report from the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center, the accident occurred at the top of Truman Gulch on a run St. Lawrence.

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From Montana Avalanche:

The skier was traveling solo and a separate party of two, skinning uphill, witnessed him triggering the slide and getting swept downhill. They responded swiftly, got a beacon signal and saw his hand sticking out of the snow. The dug him up and did CPR, but the skier never revived. He was carried approximately 1,000 feet vertical down a steep slope causing fatal trauma. The skier was a well known and loved local and we are deeply saddened to report this tragic accident. In the coming days we will release a full accident report.

Avalanche Type: Hard slab avalanche

Trigger: Skier

Trigger Modifier: u-An unintentional release

R size: 3

D size: 2.5

Bed Surface: O - Old snow

Problem Type: Wind-Drifted Snow

Slab Thickness: 48.0 inches

Vertical Fall: 1000ft

Slab Width: 100.00ft

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stash member Max Ritter

I manage digital content here at TGR, run our gear testing program, and am stoked to be living the dream in the Tetons.