Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I ST I N C T LY M O N TA N A • W I N T E R 2 0 1 9 64 "I believe that BSSAR is quite successful in what it does because of the members," says Heather Walker, Secretary of the BSSAR and a working member since 2012. "They are extremely dedicated." In October 2017, two backcountry skiers were caught in an avalanche attempting to ascend the north couloir of 11,202-foot Imp Peak, an imposing mountain in the remote Taylor Fork area of the Lee Metcalf Wilderness Area. Both were buried, but one was able to extricate himself. Unable to find his partner, the skier hiked out to the trailhead and alerted authorities that a recovery would be needed. The following morning, members of the BSSAR—along with Gallatin County Search and Rescue (GCSAR), the Gallatin Country Sheriff's Department and the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center (GNFAC)—mobilized for the mis- sion. By early afternoon, the team had recovered the skier's body and transported it to the Big Sky hospital. This collaboration is key during any rescue in the mountains. "We have a critical partnership with local search and rescue organi- zations in both conducting rescues and training," says Alex Marienthal, and avalanche specialist with the GNFAC. "We focus a lot of efforts on preventing accidents, and Search and Rescue is there in case ac- cidents happen. Folks in the Big Sky and Bozeman area are very lucky to have the emergency resource of highly skilled and willing search and rescue groups." BSSAR was formed in 1992 by local business owner Ed Hake, and was established under the already existing Gallatin Country Search and Rescue—which also includes a West Yellowstone section. Even back then, Hake, an outfitter who spends a lot of time in the wilder- ness, saw the need for a specific local group as more and more people were heading out. "With the increase of backcountry use, it became apparent that we couldn't wait for the valley Search and Rescue to get here since pag- ing was non-existent," says Hake. "We decided we needed quicker re- sponses and better backcountry medical care, so BSSAR was formed." These days, BSSAR has 33 members, who all carry a Wilderness First Responder or Emergency Medical Technician certification. There are members who are certified as both, as well as a doctor, nurse, and paramedic on the team. Training happens at least once a month, practicing specialized techniques like swiftwater, low angle rope, and avalanche rescues, as well as basic equipment operation and GPS and radio skills. Gallatin County SAR as a whole responded to 136 calls in 2016 and 102 in 2017. In 2017, there were 158 volunteers between the three sections and more than 5,500 hours was spent on training and missions. The Big Sky team alone responded to 29 incidents in 2016 and 26 in 2017, and has gone on 33 missions so far in 2018. More than 2,100 hours were logged in training and rescue missions. One thing by BRIAN HURLBUT photos courtesy of BIG SKY SEARCH AND RESCUE I N MANY PARTS OF MONTANA, THE MOUNTAINS PLAY AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN THE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT OUTDOOR LOV- ERS GET TO EXPERIENCE. But what happens when things go wrong, when a trek into the backcountry turns into a mission to save someone's life? In Big Sky, a ski resort community straddled between two mountain ranges and the Lee Metcalf Wilderness Area, backcountry rescues are a fact of life. With a growing population of hikers, hunters, horseback riders, and skiers, the rugged area around Big Sky is ripe for exploration. In every season when people get lost, hurt, or killed in the mountains, the all-volunteer Big Sky Search and Rescue (BSSAR) team is ready. + BIG SKY SEARCH IT NEVER ENDS RESCUE An injured snowmobiler is getting ready for helicop- ter transport to the Bozeman hospital after striking a tree in the Taylor Fork area south of Big Sky.

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