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Still no cell service from this new tower, yet. I see it as a huge plus for the Bridger Canyon area.
Skiers react to cell tower at Bridger Bowl
by Taylor Graham KTVM
Posted: Nov 15, 2017 07:12 PM MST
BOZEMAN, Mont. – As Bridger Bowl gears up for its earliest opening in nearly a decade skiers are preparing for increased cell coverage thanks to a cell tower installed over the summer.
Lydia Sturgis has been skiing at Bridger Bowl for the past few years. She told NBC Montana part of heading to the mountain means disconnecting from her phone. She said cell service could take away from the experience.
“It’s kind of like going to a concert and everyone’s holding their phones up,” Sturgis said. “It’s just annoying, because then you’re not in the moment, you’re not there enjoying skiing or whoever’s playing live.”
Gallatin County Search and Rescue commander Jason Jarrett told NBC Montana better cell coverage could translate to a decrease in response times for crews.
“It covers a lot of the east side of the Bridgers where cell service has always been problematic,” Jarrett said.
Skiers react to cell tower at Bridger Bowl
by Taylor Graham KBZK
Updated: Nov 15, 2017 08:57 PM MST
This weekend crews rescued a skier who fell on a jump in the Bridgers and broke his leg. Since ski patrol was off-duty and there was no cell service the skier was forced to wait until someone found him to call for help.
Jarrett said if the tower had been activated and the skier had cell service it would have resulted in faster response times, saving anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.
“When you’re laying with a busted back or a blown-out knee in a snowbank every hour or every half hour is kind of miserable,” Jarrett said.
Sturgis said, with this in mind, she can understand the need.
“That would definitely be beneficial for people who are not familiar with the area,” Sturgis said. “Maybe they don’t have a beacon on them, but they have their iPhone on them and guess what, we found them.”
Bridger Bowl told NBC Montana T-Mobile has equipment installed on the tower but hasn’t activated it, Verizon is interested and there has been no word from AT&T yet.