The Gallatin County district court saw an unexpected twist this week as a jury’s decision regarding the alleged “Bridger Bowl Yeti” was set aside. Local legend Bartholomew “Bart” Bigfoot, who some say is responsible for the mysteriously excellent ski conditions on days with no natural snowfall, had his conviction overturned by Judge Mildred P. Finch.

The jury had previously found Mr. Bigfoot guilty of “unauthorized atmospheric manipulation, causing undue powder enthusiasm, and general cryptid misconduct.” However, Judge Finch cited procedural irregularities and a lack of clear evidence linking Mr. Bigfoot’s considerable presence to the specific weather patterns.

“It’s simply not enough to point to a large, hairy figure and assume they’re responsible for a foot of unexpected fluff,” stated Judge Finch in her ruling. “Even if said figure does leave rather large, unidentifiable tracks near the lift lines.”

One local, Chet “Powder Hound” Peterson, a ski bro who claims over 100 days on the slopes this season, expressed his bewilderment. “I mean, who else would it be? Every time Bart’s reported lurking near the ridge, boom, fresh tracks appear overnight. It’s not like the city’s snow guns are that efficient.” Chet, originally from Colorado, has lived in Bozeman for three years and considers himself a local expert on snow phenomena.

The initial charges came after several complaints from residents in the Bridger Canyon area. Some property owners claimed that the sudden dumps of snow, attributed to Mr. Bigfoot, caused excessive shoveling and, in one instance, buried a Prius under what one complainant described as “an almost supernatural depth” of white stuff.

A spokesperson for Mr. Bigfoot’s legal team, Ms. Brenda “Barefoot” Barnes, issued a brief statement. “My client, Mr. Bigfoot, maintains his innocence. He merely enjoys the natural beauty of the Bridger Mountains, much like any other resident. To attribute meteorological events to his simple presence is, frankly, discriminatory.”

A new trial is expected later this year, though details remain scarce. In the meantime, the community waits to see if the snow continues to fall in mysteriously convenient amounts.