HELENA — Gallatin County authorities say two backcountry skiers were rescued after being caught in an avalanche and spending the night on the mountain.
The sheriff’s office says a sister of one of the skiers called authorities Saturday night when they had not returned from the Blackmore Trail near Hyalite Dam.
About 30 volunteers found the male skiers about 8:30 a.m. Sunday making their way down the mountain.
They reported one lost a ski after being swept a couple of hundred vertical feet by an avalanche. Bad weather then forced them to stay on the mountain.
They were unable to build a fire and spent the night sheltered behind a rock.
The sheriff’ office did not name the skiers, saying only that one was from Big Timber and the other from Idaho.