After witnessing his father's death in an avalanche outside Cooke City in 2016, 35-year-old Axel Peterson searched for resources to help him heal from the deep grief and trauma that followed.
As he cycled through various therapies and mental health resources, he longed for a space where he could share his loss with others who had experienced similar tragedies and could truly relate to his grief and circumstances.
Over time, as his grief and survivor's guilt deepened, balancing its weight with the demands of daily life became increasingly difficult -- until he discovered Loss in the Outdoors.
"The most pivotal milestone for me getting and working through this grief was going to the group," Peterson said. "It helped tremendously and still is helping."
The support group, founded and facilitated by therapist and licensed social worker Justin Short, began as a response to clients with outdoor-related trauma who sought a communal space to discuss their experiences with others who understand.
"I just got tired of saying, 'No, there's not a group'," Short said.
Encouraged by positive feedback from colleagues and drawing on his experience running group therapy for caregivers of individuals with dementia, Short set out to create the first group of its kind in Bozeman.
In April 2022, he launched the inaugural monthly session -- and hasn't looked back since.
Over the past three years, Short said that no two sessions are alike as attendance fluctuates, new members join and others' availability shifts. Group sizes range from as few as two to as many as eight.
Regardless of the number of participants, Short said the group consistently provides a safe space for members to share, empathize and connect with others who have faced similar loss or trauma.
The experiences that bring members to the group are diverse, spanning all seasons and outdoor activities -- from witnessing loved ones perish in avalanches like Peterson to falls while rock and ice climbing and the emotional toll of being a search and rescue worker.
"How you experience grief and loss, I think, is sometimes less important than actually moving through the grief process and finding others who can understand what that's like for you," he said.
While other general grief groups exist in town, such as the Bozeman Public Library's bereavement group, Short said that trauma and grief related to the outdoors present unique challenges -- particularly in how the outside world perceives these types of losses.
"It's really tough for a lot of our members to feel comfortable explaining some of the sadness and the depression and the anxiety that they may feel because the perception could be from the general public, 'Well, you chose to do this stuff,' kind of blaming or severely judging," he said.
This attitude not only dismisses survivors' pain but also exacerbates feelings of shame, guilt and isolation. According to Short, it forces them to internalize their experiences and the lasting impact, allowing those emotions to silently erode their mental and physical health.
In contrast, when survivors are surrounded by others who have experienced similar traumatic events, the sense of blame fades, creating a space where individuals can open up -- often for the first time -- without fear of judgment or backlash.
"Trying to find that edge or engage in an activity that is risky is also some of the most fulfilling, enriching, exhilarating experiences you could ever have...just having all of your senses heightened and especially when you're with friends or a really good group, it's pretty amazing," Short said, discussing how outdoor adventure enthusiasts often find a sense of purpose through taking risks. "The community that comes to the group often can only express how they feel about this among people that get it."
Peterson, who has attended the group since its founding, recalled feeling nervous during his first sessions and struggling to be vulnerable. However, the relaxed, nonjudgmental environment helped him feel comfortable and understood as he shared his experience of that fatal day in the backcountry.
Over time, he found the courage to share his story regularly and formed meaningful connections with other group members, leading to friendships that extended beyond the monthly sessions.
"There's no expectation or pressure," he said. "The biggest takeaway for me is becoming friends with the people at the group and making time to go backcountry skiing together or go get dinner or coffee. One of the biggest things for me is the connection outside the group."
Still, Short acknowledged that starting conversations about the lasting impact of accidents in the mountains -- and its effect on mental health -- remains particularly challenging within the outdoor community.
"Some folks are stuck in this old-school mindset of that's weakness if you go to therapy," he said. "Even less scientific than that is that people just want to be about good vibes all the time. Let's just go have fun. If you start talking about how maybe today is the day I don't want to go out because I'm feeling like conditions are a little sketchy. But it can also make you feel like you're letting your friends down."
Peterson echoed this sentiment, describing the group as a way to spark conversations that have long been "swept under the rug." He emphasized that one person's vulnerability is often all it takes to begin breaking the silence around mental health in the outdoor community.
"It's trying to break down the ego associated with radical outdoor pursuits, skiing, climbing, everything. I think the group's a good starting point to realize that it's OK to be vulnerable and then take those lessons outside the group and talk to your friends and family. That creates a stronger community," he said.
While not every close call results in lingering or lasting trauma, staying silent can lead to negative consequences such as depression, anxiety and PTSD, according to Centerstone.
"I think it's essential for grief to be witnessed by others. We're not meant to grieve alone," Short said.
The group welcomes not only those with firsthand experience of traumatic outdoor events but also surviving family members, friends, spouses and professionals like ski patrol, search and rescue, paramedics and EMS.
"In this group, no one ever questions why. Why did you choose to go out that day? Did you not read the avy report," he said. "Everybody does all of their homework and everyone in the group is highly attuned to risk and reward and have been certified through a variety of courses they've taken. These are not decisions they make haphazardly. Sometimes, things happen that you can't control."
To ensure the group is the right fit, individuals must contact Short, either in person or, for those out of state, by phone. A requirement for joining is a willingness to openly share their reasons for being part of the group.
"There is an expectation that you engage in some vulnerability on Day One and are able to share part of your story," he said.
He also prepares prospective members by warning them that their first meeting might leave them feeling worse rather than better.
"I would encourage them to not make a snap decision that this group is not good for them because often when we start to divulge some of that vulnerability and we start to talk about some of that trauma -- if in fact, it was traumatic for them -- they're going to feel worse," he said.
Short said acknowledging and bringing trauma to the surface for the first time can cause poor sleep, intrusive thoughts and disturbing imagery. However, if these patterns persist after several sessions, he will often discuss the need for additional support.
As the group's facilitator, Short typically acts as the timekeeper, ensuring everyone can share why they're attending and contribute anything they'd like. Though a licensed therapist, the group isn't intended to replace individual therapy. Instead, Short primarily observes, offering insights when participants share experiences that allow him to explain why and how trauma often has a lingering impact.
For instance, he helps members recognize reactions like freezing when confronted with trauma reminders and discusses coping mechanisms such as drug and alcohol use. He also fosters conversations that "normalize the struggle" and encourages the exploration of alternative methods to calm the body and nervous system.
Despite running his own therapy practice, Ridgeline Counseling Services, Short emphasizes that his goal is not to guide group members toward traditional therapy but to create a judgment-free space where participants can leave feeling less alone and more empowered to pursue individualized help if and when they choose.
"If they felt any shame around expressing how grief and loss is playing out in their lives they're able to feel lighter about that, less shame around that and eventually be so open that they might advocate to a stranger, like 'It's OK to talk about your feelings around having lost a loved one or having experienced this event yourself, you're normal and healthy," he said.
While there are no clear metrics to measure the group's success, Short said one of its most rewarding aspects has been seeing members become vulnerable, share tears and hugs and even connect outside of the group setting.
"To have two strangers at the beginning of the night hug each other at the end of the night and want to get together to learn more about each other that to me is perfect; that's the best I could hope for," he said.
For Peterson, the impact is clear. Reflecting on his nearly three years since joining Loss in the Outdoors, he said his biggest advice for those who have faced similar trauma or close calls: take your mental health seriously and give the group a chance.
"I would encourage anyone to come check it out and try it. It's not intimidating and everyone is supportive," he said. "I think there is a lot of healing that can happen, even if you're holding back for one of the sessions and just listening to other people's stories."
For those interested in joining the group, Short asks that you email ridgelinecounselingmt@gmail.com to arrange a meeting and determine if the group is a good fit.
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