BIG SKY (AP) – An avalanche killed a backcountry skier in the mountains west of Big Sky.
The Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center says the body of the man killed Sunday was recovered within 10 minutes of the avalanche. The center says the snow swept the man into trees, and he was dead from trauma when searchers found him.
Searchers included the man’s ski partner, and other people in the area.
The avalanche was about 500 feet long and 1 to 3 feet deep.
Madison County Sheriff Dave Schenk confirmed the death, and referred a request for more information to the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Department in Bozeman. That department did not immediately return calls.