Photo Credit: http://loagom.blogspot.com/
Photo Credit: http://loagom.blogspot.com/
Photo Credit: loagom.blogspot.com

Usually when people warn me against going out for an early season backcountry mission, it involves a phrase such as ‘little too early to tear your ACL don’t you think?’

However, nobody indicated that I could lose my family jewels.

And that may be what happened to a solo-backcountry skier in Montana yesterday. According to a press release from the Gallatin Media Center, “The impalement occurred in the groin and was bulging near the belly button.” 

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The accident occurred at roughly 1:20pm in Hyalite Canyon near an area known as History Rock. After the accident, the solo-skier was able to walk away on his own before he encountered another group of skiers. Once discovered, the group offered the injured skier assistance, built a fire, and sent some skiers in their party to alert Search and Rescue to the incident.

Once extracted, a helicopter was waiting to fly the victim to the Bozeman Deaconess Hospital.

So whenever you’re thinking of going for a solo jaunt in the backcountry… Remember this story.

Barclay Idsal is a seasoned writer and digital content producer with over a decade of experience in the ski industry, where writing and skiing rank as his two all-time favorite pastimes. A passionate advocate...