Two Bear rescues skier injured in avalanche near Bozeman

The Two Bear Air Rescue helicopter airlifted a backcountry skier injured in an avalanche in the Crazy Mountains in Sweetgrass County on April 30.

The man sustained a broken femur after striking his leg on a rock as the avalanche swept him down the mountain, according to Two Bear pilot James Heckman.

Heckman said Two Bear received the call to respond to the mountain range northwest of Bozeman at around 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. He said the rescue crew was met with fierce winds, flat light and deep snow. They were able to retrieve the skier at around 4 p.m.

Heckman said the man was transported to Big Timber Airport.

A weather station in the Crazy Mountains shows the range received 9 inches of new snow last week.

Two Bear Air is a private search and rescue helicopter outfit based in Whitefish.

Reporter Mary Cloud Taylor can be reached at 758-4459 or mtaylor@dailyinterlake.com.