Search and Rescue completes two Sunday missions 

Gallatin County volunteers respond to injured horseback rider along Porcupine Creek, climbers stranded on Mount Cowen 

EBS STAFF 

Volunteers from Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue stayed busy this Sunday, Sept. 29, responding to two rescue missions in opposite areas.  

At 3:43 p.m., GCSSAR was dispatched to an injured horseback rider on the Porcupine Creek Trail in Big Sky, according to a Gallatin County press release. Less than two hours later, a separate call came from two climbers stranded near the summit of Mount Cowen, located in neighboring Park County. The Park County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from Gallatin County. 

The Mount Cowen mission would extend into Monday.  

Big Sky Fire Department assists at Porcupine Creek 

The injured horseback rider had been bucked from their horse and suffered a major hip injury, according to the release.  

Search and rescue volunteers from the Big Sky Team and medics from the Big Sky Fire Department drove side-by-side vehicles to access the patient. They assessed, stabilized and transported the patient to the trailhead, where they transferred the patient into a waiting BSFD ambulance.  

“A Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Deputy stepped in to drive the ambulance to Big Sky Medical Center which allowed additional BSFD personnel to provide focused care,” the release stated. “At BSMC, the patient was transferred to Life Flight Air Ambulance before ultimately being taken to Bozeman Health Deaconess Regional Medical Center in Bozeman.” 

Sheriff Dan Springer thanked the partner public safety agencies for mobilizing quickly and collaborating to provide excellent care. Springer also thanked the bystanders who helped provide information and assistance on this call.  

“In Big Sky, no single entity has every necessary resource for an emergency like this; but by quickly combining staff, volunteers, and bystanders, the first responders in Big Sky were able to make sure the injured party received the best medical care possible,” Springer stated in the release.  

Mount Cowen climbers forced to bivouac in freezing temps overnight 

Meanwhile, the Park County Sheriff’s Office was called to assist two climbers “stranded in technical terrain without the ability to ascend or descend near the summit of Mount Cowen,” according to a separate Gallatin County press release. Temperatures were expected to dip into the teens overnight at the climbers’ location.  

PCSO tried working with the Montana National Guard and U.S. Air Force after nightfall prevented GCSO helicopter operations.

“Due to weather conditions, military assets were unable to complete the mission, and the climbers were forced to bivouac on the face overnight,” the release stated. “The next morning the Park County Sheriff’s Office again requested the GCSSAR Heli Team.” 

The next morning, GCSSAR’s helicopter rescue team—in a contract with Central Copters—was able to respond to the scene, where they lowered a rescuer using a short-haul technique. The rescuer attached both climbers into rescue harnesses, and the helicopter short-hauled them to safety.  

“Sheriff Dan Springer would like to remind those seeking outdoor opportunities this time of year to be prepared for any weather conditions including low overnight temperatures. Having the ability to contact help with cellular phones or satellite communication devices greatly increases the speed and efficiency of rescue efforts,” the release stated.