PRESS RELEASE

Bear Basin Rescue

On August 16, 2022, at 10:39 am, Gallatin County Dispatch received a call that a rock climber had fallen approximately 100 feet and sustained severe injuries near Bear Basin in Big Sky. The reporting party was with the patient and advised they were on a small ledge about 300 feet up from the bottom.

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue Big Sky Section, the SAR Heli Team, Big Sky Fire Department, and Life Flight responded to assist with the call. Big Sky Section ground teams deployed on foot to the patient with ropes and rigging gear while the Heli Team deployed from the Valley.  After conducting a recon flight, two members of the Heli Team were flown to the patient where they were able to perform a medical assessment. The patient was packaged and short hauled to an awaiting medical unit. The patient was transferred to a Life Flight helicopter and flown to Bozeman Health for further medical care. The reporting party and a remaining Heli Team member were also short hauled off the mountain.

Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer would like to commend all involved parties on this extremely difficult and technical rescue. He also commends the reporting party for having a means of communication to call for help when the outing turned in to an emergency and was able to advise of the technical terrain the incident was located in.

Photos Courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.