Industry News
A 79-year-old male skier was found alive after spending an entire night lost at Blacktail Mountain Ski Area in Montana. The man had taken shelter in a tree well—a hollow space that forms around a tree trunk when snowfall accumulates on its branches, preventing snow buildup beneath. To stay warm, he used pine branches as insulation and started a small fire.
According to the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, the skier was reported missing around 4:30 p.m. on Monday, February 17. A friend stated that he was last seen at the top of Emmon’s Run but never made it to the bottom. At the time, Blacktail Mountain Ski Area recorded temperatures around 17 degrees Fahrenheit, with light winds and limited visibility due to ongoing snowfall.
Given the challenging weather conditions, the sheriff’s office enlisted assistance from Flathead County Search and Rescue and Two Bear Air Rescue. However, thick cloud cover and poor visibility forced Two Bear Air Rescue to halt its aerial search. Ground teams continued looking for the missing skier until 1:00 a.m. before pausing until morning.
When daylight broke on Tuesday morning, search crews resumed efforts, using cell phone forensics to narrow down possible locations. By 3:00 p.m. Two Bear Air Rescue spotted the skier waving for help. Officials reported that he had unintentionally ventured off the marked trail and “became disoriented.”
A rescue video below released by Two Bear Air Rescue shows the skier being hoisted into a helicopter in stable condition. He was flown to Blacktail Lodge for a medical evaluation and was found to be unharmed. Authorities credited his survival skills as a key factor in his safe recovery.
