On December 4th, 2024, at 1:23pm, Gallatin County 911 dispatch received a call for an injured cross country skier near Crescent Lake at Hyalite Reservoir. The skier was approximately 1.5 miles up the trail and was unable to ski out due to an injury to their hip from falling. The skier’s partner was able to ski to an area with cell reception to call for help.

Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue volunteers from the Valley section responded to the trailhead and dispatched snowmobiles with an Orion rescue sled to make contact with the skier. After an initial medical assessment and packaging for transport, the patient was taken to the Hyalite Reservoir parking area and transferred to a Hyalite Fire Department ambulance for transport to follow-on medical care.

Sheriff Springer would like to remind recreationalists that in the event of an accident it is safer to have someone with you when you’re enjoying the outdoors.