Skier Deploys Airbag in Backcountry Avalanche Caught on POV Video

The western ski season may be off to a slow start, but in the backcountry, avalanches are beginning to make their presence known.

According to an observation shared by the Friends of the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center (GNFAC), a skier was caught in a slide on November 29, 2025, in Montana. 

The skier was heading down a mountain in the Bridger Range when the snow quality changed drastically. As he turned on a slightly convex feature, the snow cracked and propagated about 150 feet across.

He deployed his avalanche airbag, slid about 250 feet, and was able to dig himself out. He estimated that the avalanche’s crown was around a foot tall.

A point-of-view video captured the incident. Tap or click below to watch. Listen for the sound of his airbag deploying near the end of the clip. Keep reading for more about the incident.

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“Be prepared for avalanches if you venture into the mountains. Assess the snowpack for potential instability and be cautious of slopes steeper than 30 degrees,” the GNFAC advised in a social media post about the report. 

The organization also pointed to the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center website for updates and observations. 

Across the Bridger Range, the avalanche center expects that the avalanche hazard will increase in the coming days. More snow and wind are in the forecast. 

“The main concern is wind slab avalanches. Additionally, at upper elevations and on shady slopes, buried persistent weak layers could cause deeper and wider avalanches,” the forecast reads.

“If you see signs of recent wind-loading, like round pillow of snow or shooting cracks, or find weak layers buried under the recent snow, then travel on slopes less than 30 degrees steep,” the forecast added.

The skier shared a follow-up clip of the debris. Tap or click to watch below.

What Is an Avalanche Airbag?

Avalanche airbags are carried in specialized backpacks and can be inflated with a pressurized cartridge or electric fan in the case of an avalanche. They’re designed to keep skiers above the snow during a slide, making it easier for them to be rescued.

As these airbags have become lighter and easier to carry, they’ve joined the usual trifecta of backcountry gear—beacon, shovel, and probe—in many skiers’ backcountry kits.

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