For about the last 10 years, and right about this time of year, I’ve made it a point to ski a classic line at the top of the Bridger Mountains. After all, you just can’t call it summer without some skiing in July. To me, this event marks the start of the summer season in Montana, regardless of the weather. Okay, to be honest, the only reason we wait until this late in the season is for the opening of the Forest Service road to Fairy Lake. This year due to a healthy snowpack, the road didn’t open until July 1st. I didn’t have a day off until the 3rd so three friends and I packed up for the ski descent the day before Independence Day.
 
The hike to the top of the chute starts near Fairy Lake (7560’, 2305m) and ends at the south summit of Sacajawea Peak (9665’, 2947m), the high point on the Bridger Mountains. Without the benefit of road access, 3 to 6 miles each way are added to the climb. That’s why we wait. 
 
This year we had two bonus aspects, one of them magnificent, one not so much. At the top of our climb, literally at the top of the chute we were about to ski, nine mountain goats were standing around nibbling the sparse vegetation. Although we frequently see goats up high in the mountains, this was the most I’d seen in one little group. They still had much of their thick winter fur, rubbing through the dwarf trees and rocks to help shed it. They couldn’t care less that we were there, knowing in an instant they could disappear through the steep alpine scree… and we couldn’t. One even got within 10’ of me before casually walking away.
 
The 1400’ (427m) descent was classic – soft corn snow down a steep couloir protected on both sides by high rock walls. As we got to the bottom of the second pitch of the run, we saw some people desperately trying to get cell reception to call in a search-and-rescue. Apparently a skier prior to our descent took a tumble, lost a ski and piled into the talus below. With unknown injuries to his hip and abdomen, he was unable to walk out. Eventually the caller made contact and a helicopter evacuation was organized. We stuck around to be of assistance if needed. Over the next 2 hours, a helicopter hover-dropped two S&R volunteers who then climbed up and stabilized the guy.  The chopper then returned and an air gurney was lowered. The terrain didn’t allow for a landing near enough to the victim so he was eventually lifted by a rope that the ground crew connected to the gurney. I’m sure this would have been just another day in the hills for Nikki Wallis in Snodonia Park in Wales, but for us it was fascinating to watch. In a delicate move, he was lifted – along with one of the EMTs on board – to Fairy Lake where an ambulance was waiting for him. 
 
All in all a great day, despite the injury and rescue we watched. Whenever you get to hang out near mountain goats who hardly even notice you’re there, it’s a pleasure to be in the hills. Skiing is just icing on the cake. 
 

- Jeff
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