Beehive Basin

Two skiers were touring in Beehive Basin, located north of Big Sky, MT in the northern Madison Range, when they triggered an avalanche. One was caught, buried and died of head trauma at the scene.  The avalanche released on a southwest facing, wind-loaded slope.  The slope angle was approximately 40+ degrees with the crown face 1 ½ to 3 feet deep.  The avalanche was estimated to be 600 feet wide, 500 feet vertical and to have a runout angle of 25 degrees.  US Classification of the avalanche is SS-AS-D3-R4-O.