BOZEMAN, Mont. (October 29, 2012)--Three skiers triggered an avalanche in the mountains north of Bozeman, Mont., over the weekend that left all three partially buried and one injured, officials said.

The Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center said the skiers were ascending a south-facing slope in the Bridger Range when they triggered the snow slide Sunday.

The skiers reported that they felt the slope collapse with a "whump" and then saw the snow fracture above them.

All three were swept to the bottom of the slope and buried up to their chests.

A 53-year-old man suffered a deep laceration to his knee and a hip injury that prevented him from walking out.

The skiers called Gallatin County Search and Rescue at noon, and the injured person was taken out on a toboggan by 3:30 p.m.