Beehive Peak Avalanche Fatality

On Saturday, April 11, 2015 four skiers entered the Hanging Garden Couloir on Beehive Peak north of Big Sky, Montana in the northern Madison Range. One skier triggered and was caught in a very small avalanche that carried him over cliffs about 300 feet tall. He was not buried in the avalanche debris but died of trauma. The avalanche happened at 11:58 a.m. at 10,400 feet and was 10-20 feet wide and one foot deep for about 6 feet of its width. The victim was carried approximately 700 vertical feet. The avalanche danger was rated LOW on the day of the accident. U.S. classification of the avalanche is SS-AS-R1-D1.