Grand Teton |  |
The following Incident Reports were extracted from the NPS Morning Reports/Coalition Reports from 1989-2024. They are not a complete record of all incidents which occurred in this park during this timeframe. INCIDENTS | |
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Saturday, July 12, 1986 Initial Report Brief summary of incident: Two-car head-on collision. Two dead, two critical, one satisfactory. Follow Up Report Incident location: Elk Ridge Flat. Outer road, 4 miles south of Moran Junction. N.H., one of injured parties in head-on collision in park (Elk Ridge Flats), died on August 1st.
Incident location: Mt. Moran Summary: Six TWA employees climbing mountain. Four of six went to top. All descending when N.R. lost control, fell 1,800 feet into moat. Sustained numerous injuries & hypothermia, but flown out alive to St. John's Hosp., Jackson, WY. Condition serious but stable. A.B.M. fell shortly thereafter. Body recovered 7/15, 1000. Died of multiple injuries. Next of kin not yet notified.
Incident location: Highway 89 Summary: Auto traveling N/B on 89, crossed median, hit bridge. Not visible from roadway. One fatal & 2 critical & 1 serious.
Location: Exum Practice Rock Summary: Mr. E.C.C. was part of an intermediate rock climbing class, and was on belay by guide when he fell out of his harness. Fell 140' to ground, and died instantly. Unknown problems with harness. Exum climbing school has excellent reputation.
Location: Signal Mountain Mr. E.C. was reported missing in October, 1983. On August 14th, a boy discovered a skull on Signal Mountain. An intensive search for the body was conducted by park rangers, the Jackson Police Department and the Teton County Sheriff's Office, and it was discovered on August 27th. Positive identification and notification of the family occurred on August 29th. The FBI has been notified, and is now acting as lead agency in the investigation. The death has been preliminarily ruled a homicide, as a .22 caliber hole was found in the back of the skull.
Location: Near south entrance to Yellowstone Mr. M.T.P., an employee with Yellowstone concessioner, was hiking by himself and was seen twice trying to cross the Snake River at 6 p.m. on the 10th. His body was found the next day, face down in the river, a quarter mile south of the park's south entrance. The victim was exceptionally unstable and subject to seizures. He wasn't reported missing because he was hiking solo and was a new employee with no acquaintances in the area.
Location: Snake River, 1 mi. S. of Moose Mr. P.M.C.'s boat floated away from him as he was attempting to launch it. Witnesses saw him swim after it, but lost sight of him when he and the boat went around a bend. Search was conducted in which NPS provided helicopter. Body recovered outside of park. Investigation being conducted to determine if drowning occurred in or out of park.
Location: Gros Ventre Road K.M.S. was the operator of a 1976 GMC pick up truck that was eastbound on Gros Ventre Road, approximately 1/2 mile inside the park boundary. The vehicle left the roadway on two separate occasions before rolling over. K.M.S. along with three other individuals were injured and admitted to St. John's Hospital. K.M.S.'s mother, subject # 1 listed below, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Teton County coroner. Charges are pending at this time, awaiting lab results. Alcohol is believed to be a contributing factor in this case.
Location: Buck Mountain On Sunday, 6/28, B.J. was descending Buck Mountain along with 3 companions. The group had reached the summit at 11:00am; as they prepared to descend, they split into 2 pairs to return to their base camp near the base of the mountain. B.J. and his partner ended up going off route on the "way down. His partner became stuck on a ledge and could go neither up or down. B.J. continued on alone to get help for his companion. The other pair of climbers could see the man on the ledge but said they were too exhausted to go back to help him. As it became dark, they went to park headquarters to get help. At approximately 9:20pm the park climbing rangers were notified and a search was started. At 2:45am two rangers reached the man on the ledge. Darkness made it unsafe to try and get him off the ledge immediately, so the group waited for daylight and descended the next morning. At dawn a helicopter and 2 other rangers flew the area in search of B.J.. His body was located in approximately 4 feet of water in a "snowmelt" pond. It appeared that B.J. had fallen the afternoon before and had suffered a head injury. His tracks indicate he fell several more times before reaching the area of unstable snow where his body was found. Autopsy results show cause of death due to hypothermia. Next of kin notified. A Board of Inquiry will be conducted next week at park headquarters.
Location: The Grand - East Ridge D.R. was climbing with a partner on "Molar Tooth" formation when a rockfall occurred, knocking him off the rock face and 700' to his death. Park climbing team may try to recover body today, but may not be able to recover at all due to instability of the rock in the area.
Location: RT 189 2 miles N of Snake River Overlook C.L. was the driver of a vehicle containing 2 passengers which rolled over. C.L. suffered head injuries and died at noon the following day at the Southeast Medical Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho. One of the two passengers suffered severe lacerations to the head and was hospitalized. The three were employees of the Moosehead Ranch which is an inholding within the park. Next of kin have been notified.
Location: Table Mountain B.A. was hiking approximately 100 yards ahead of a group of 4 others, when he was struck by lightning. CPR was started immediately by individuals in the group for about 1 hour. B.A. did not respond. Park personnel was notified of the incident at approximately 5:40pm. B.A.'s body was transported by helicopter to the town of Jackson. His parents were in the park at the time of the incident and were notified by park personnel.
Location: East face of middle Teton B.J. and his partner J.R., had just completed 12 roped pitches and were climbing the last few feet unroped when B.J. was either hit by a falling rock or pulled a rock loose. He fell approximately 500' to his death. The NPS climbing team responded to the report of the incident. A recovery of the body was completed lay early morning on Sunday 9/13.
Rangers received a report on July 6th that J.L., 34, a concession employee, was missing. J.L. had last been seen near Laurel Lake at noon on the 5th; he had been with out a pack and was wearing shorts and tennis shoes. A search was initiated and his car was found at the String Lake trail head that evening. A full search was begun on the 7th. Currently the park is using 40 ground searchers, 2 helicopters and 8 dog teams.
Location: Grand Teton On August 4th, F.R. of Centerville, Utah, was leading his two sons up the Owen-Spaulding Route on the Grand Teton. At about 1:30 pm, he slipped on some verglas in the Owen Couloir near the 13,400' level and fell about 45' onto a ledge, fracturing his radius, pelvis and ribs and sustaining a hemo-pneumothorax. Guides from Exum Mountain Guides, who were 1,800' below the accident site on the Lower Saddle, employed a newly- acquired mobile telephone to report the incident to the Jenny Lake Ranger Station at 3:50 pm. A Jet Ranger helicopter was used to fly rescue personnel in to the Lower Saddle while a Bell 206 L-III Long Ranger helicopter flew to the scene from Salmon National Forest in Idaho. At 8:00 pm, the Long Ranger successfully shorthauled F.R. from the accident site to the Lower Saddle; the helicopter was then modified to its air ambulance configuration, and the victim was flown to St. John's Hospital in Jackson. Attending physicians told the rangers involved that F.R. would not have survived a conventional ground rescue. This shorthaul rescue at 13,400' may be the highest such rescue ever performed in a national park in the Lower 48 States. In the shorthaul technique, a lead line of appropriate length is attached to a helicopter and hangs fully extended below it. If the rescue party has the victim in a litter at the site, the helicopter hovers at full lead line distance from the site while the litter is attached. Once securely attached and belayed, the helicopter lifts off with the litter at full extension on the line and flies to a place where the litter can be safely placed on the ground and separated from the lead line. This technique has greatly increased the safety of helicopter rescue operations by allowing the helicopter to hover away from obstructions and unsafe landing sites.
The four-day meeting between Secretary of State James Baker and Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze which was held in the park concluded successfully on the 24th. Special event teams comprised of 14 rangers were brought in from Rocky Mountain Region parks to assist Grand Teton rangers during the event, which included meetings at Jackson Lake Lodge and the AMK Ranch, a barbecue at the lodge, a dinner at Spring Creek Ranch, and a fishing trip on the Snake River downstream from the lodge. The wives of the principals also toured the Colter Bay Museum, went on a boat trip on Jenny Lake, and took a tour of art galleries and the square in Jackson. The visit went according to schedule. The park permitted demonstrations by several organizations, including two Armenian groups, peace groups and various environmental groups. All were peaceful. The State Department is paying all costs associated with the visit. (Telefax from Doug Barnard, CR, GRTE).
B.P., 16, of Fishers, Indiana, was hiking in the Moose Basin area with his father and a companion on July 20th when he slipped and fell while scrambling on rocks and snow and fell to his death. The accident was reported late the following day after his companion hiked out to report the incident to park rangers. The body was removed on the 22nd by helicopter. (CompuServe message from Ed Christian, ACR, GRTE, 7/23).
At 6 p.m. on July 20th, M.K., 39, of Pocatello, Idaho, was in a raft on the Snake River with four other individuals when the raft hit an obstruction and overturned. All five people on board were thrown into the river, and M.K. disappeared. A boat and helicopter search was initiated shortly thereafter, and M.K.'s body was located by helicopter seven miles below the accident scene on a gravel bar. He was not wearing a life preserver. (CompuServe message from Ed Christian, ACR, GRTE, 7/23).
On August 25th, five daylight car clouts occurred at trail heads and isolated parking lots in the park. Entry was gained by throwing a large rock through windows on each of the vehicles. Items stolen included $400 in cash, cameras, a briefcase, children's books, food, bike panniers, a tool box, sleeping bags, therma-rest pads and a backpack stove. In one case, the subjects returned to the trail head several hours later and broke into another vehicle. Two other vehicles were also entered in the same fashion elsewhere in Teton County on that date. There are two possible suspects/ vehicles that area parks should watch for: * A tan or cream-colored, American-made, four-door sedan - possibly a Ford or Dodge with Colorado plates. Male occupant, 35-45 years old, dark hair with sideburns, clean shaven, round face, dark rim glasses. * A faded blue, 1970's vintage, windowless blue van with no roof ladder or spare tire and carrying a windsurf board with a rolled-up red, white and blue sail on top. Driven by a male in his mid-20's with blonde hair and a California surfer haircut, about 6' tall and 170 - 180 pounds. (CompuServe message from GRTE, 8/29).
R.S., 40, of Big Timber, Montana, was climbing solo on Exxum Fudge on the morning of the 16th when he slipped, landed next to some climbers on a ledge about 20 feet below him, then fell backwards another 200 feet to his death. R.S. was not using ropes and was wearing improper climbing shoes. The woman who was climbing with R.S. had declined to join him on this particular route just prior to his fall. His body was recovered by the Jenny Lake Rescue Team. (Don Coelho, GKTE, via telephone report from Sheri Williams, RAD/RMRO, 9/17).
Late in September, B.G., 60, of Loveland, Colorado, and W.T. were rafting on the Snake River when they hit a snag and B.G. was dumped into the river. The raft eventually became unsnagged and drifted away. B.G. hung onto the snag for a while, then lost her grip, floated down river and disappeared. Rangers were notified soon after and immediately began a search of the river. B.G.'s body has not yet been found. (Telephone report from Sherry Williams, RAD/RMRO, 10/1).
On January 10th, M.L. and R.H., both of California, obtained a climbing permit for the Black Ice couloir, a long, steep ice climb on the northwest side of the Grand Teton. They planned to return on the 13th; when the pair failed to return by 7:00 p.m. that evening, friends reported them as overdue. Park rescue personnel were highly concerned, since the climbers' route is considered to be one of the most inaccessible, difficult and dangerous routes in the Teton range. A winter storm had also moved into the area on the night of the 10th and was in the process of dropping over three feet of snow on the mountains. A ground rescue effort up Garnet Canyon was ruled out on the morning of the 14th due to unacceptably high avalanche danger. A hospital-based helicopter from Idaho Falls was brought in at midday on the 14th to initiate an air search once the weather improved. A flight was attempted that afternoon, but the crew was unable to find any sign of the climbers in the lower elevations of the search area. Higher flights were impossible due to snow and strong winds. The weather cleared somewhat on the morning of the 15th. A twin-engine BK 117 helicopter was subsequently employed to fly two rangers up toward the Grand. They spotted M.L. and R.H. near the Lower Saddle of the Grand Teton at 11,600 feet and were able to land, pick the two men up, and evacuate them to the valley floor. The climbers were uninjured. Though running low on food and fuel, they had elected to wait out the storm due to their concern over the avalanche hazard on the descent route. [Telefax from Teri Pancoast, GRTE, 1/16]
Following a four-month-long investigation by rangers and FBI agents, L.C.B., 31, of Rock Springs, Wyoming, was arrested for sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl in the park's Gros Ventre campground. The arrest followed L.C.B.'s indictment by a grand jury. No further details are presently available. [Telefax from Doug Barnard, CR, GRTE, 1/31]
On February 13th, park structural fire teams responded to the report of an explosion at the Triangle X ranch, a park concession. Although the fire had been suppressed prior to their arrival, the teams found that the concrete foundation walls and lower level of a two-story building had been totally destroyed by a propane explosion. The lower part of the building housed a concession laundry; the upper level was used as quarters for up to six female employees in the summer. Investigation into the cause revealed that a leak in liquid propane piping had allowed the lower story to fill with propane gas to the level of the pilot light on a space heater. There were no injuries in the explosion, and no estimate has yet been made of total property damage. [Telefax from Teri Pancoast, GRTE, 2/15]
Early on the afternoon of March 21st, rangers on a multi-day ski patrol of the Berry Creek area heard snowmobiles several miles up the canyon ahead of them in a proposed wilderness area which is closed to all snowmobile use. They radioed in their observations and continued up the canyon. Meanwhile, two rangers flew to the area in a contract helicopter. At about 2:30 p.m., they spotted five snowmobiles just leaving the patrol cabin in Upper Berry Creek. They employed the helicopter in an attempt to block their movement, but the snowmobilers refused to stop, split up and ran. A 40-minute chase ensued. When one snowmobiler eventually became stuck, the pilot landed the helicopter, dropped off a ranger to apprehend him, then continued the pursuit. Two other snowmobilers stopped and gave up shortly thereafter. The pair were identified, then one was sent to find the remaining two. Each of the five snowmobilers was charged with operating in a closed area, interfering with agency functions, and trespassing. They were allowed to run their machines out of the backcountry, but the snowmobiles were subsequently impounded. All five snowmobilers are residents of nearby towns in Idaho. They are to be arraigned in magistrate's court on April 8th. Illegal snowmobile use in the high country of the Tetons and the adjoining Jedediah Smith Wilderness Area is reported to be a serious and increasing problem. Snowmobile use is also occurring in areas of bighorn sheep winter range. Some snowmobilers have threatened and used physical violence against other agency personnel attempting to enforce snowmobile restrictions. Active efforts to resolve the problem are underway. [Telefax from Teri Pancoast, GRTE, 3/27]
An ex-military, two-passenger T-28 training aircraft piloted by D.L., 57, of Las Vegas, Nevada, made an emergency landing with wheels retracted in sage brush approximately one mile from park headquarters in Moose early on the afternoon of July 21st. Neither the pilot nor his passenger, L.L., 49, were injured, but the propeller, right wing, under carriage and probably the engine of the T-28 were damaged. D.L. reported that he was flying over the park with a group of similar type aircraft when his plane sustained a loss of oil pressure. He attempted an emergency landing at Jackson Hole Airport, but did not have enough altitude or air speed to reach the airport and landed about a mile and a half short of the north end of the runway. Park rangers, Wyoming Highway Patrol and Teton County officers, and crash rescue units from the airport responded to the incident. [Telefax from Don Coelho, LES, GRTE, 7/22]
On August 14th, climbers D.C. of Boston, Massachusetts, and D.C. of Sandy, Utah, set out to climb Black Ice couloir on the Grand Teton. The climbers became disoriented and got off their route, however, and then became separated from each other and stranded on the mountain side, with D.C. 150 feet below D.C.. A climbing party descending the East Ridge the next day heard calls for help and reported them to a climbing guide, who passed on the report to rangers via mobile phone around 1:30 p.m. The guide then climbed to Upper Saddle, made voice contact with the climbers, and called rangers just after 4:00 p.m. and advised them that D.C. and D.C. required assistance. A rescue team comprised of rangers Bob Irvine, Bill Alexander, Renny Jackson, Scott Berkenfield, Jim Woodmency, John Carr, Tom Kimbrough and Susie Harrington was dispatched to the mountain via helicopter. At 7:15 p.m., Jackson and Alexander reached D.C.; Jackson then rappelled to D.C. on the ledge below. Although conscious, D.C. was wet, cold and hypothermic, with an oral temperature of 90.5 degrees. Rangers used ropes and pulleys to lift D.C. up to the ledge on which D.C. was located, then moved him to a wide bench where he was evacuated by helicopter. D.C. was taken to Lower Saddle, where he spent the night with the rescue team. D.C. was admitted to a hospital in Jackson for treatment and observation. Helicopter pilot Ken Johnson was cited by superintendent Jack Neckels for his "extraordinary skill" and outstanding efforts in getting the rescuers to the scene and evacuating D.C.. Johnson had to hover his helicopter 100 feet above the climbers in turbulent winds up to 30 mph with only five minutes of daylight left in order to effect the rescue. D.C. might not have survived without the timely efforts of Johnson and the park rescue team. [Telefax from Ed Christian, ACR, GRTE, 8/16]
S.S., 27, of Yorba Linda, California, died in a climbing accident on the Grand Teton on August 27th. S.S. and his companions - J.J., T.B., and D.R. - were attempting to climb the Black Ice Couloir route when a rockfall and deteriorating weather forced J.J., T.B. and D.R. to turn back, but S.S. continued to climb the route alone. His companions last saw him alive at about 9:30 a.m. as he was moving along his climbing route. When he failed to return by the following day, S.S.'s companions returned to Jenny Lake and reported him missing. Observers in a helicopter spotted S.S.'s body shortly thereafter at the 11,300-foot elevation below the bottom of the couloir. Rangers recovered his remains on the morning of the 29th. Scuff marks in the ice in the couloir indicate that S.S. may have fallen about 800 feet. [Bill Swift, GRTE, via telefax from RAD/RMRO, 9/3]
B.B., 44, of Nampa, Idaho, an employee of a subcontractor testing asphalt on the new road to string lake, was killed on the morning of September 4th. A tractor trailer with a full load of asphalt accidentally backed over B.B., killing him instantly. The contractor on the construction project is HK Construction of Idaho Falls, Idaho; the subcontractor which employed B.B. was Intermountain Materials Testing of Boise, Idaho. An investigation is underway. [Telefax from Don Coelho, GRTE, 9/4]
On October 16th, a Western Air Research aircraft with a pilot and two state fish and game biologists aboard failed to return from a bear locating mission in Teton County and a major multi-agency search effort was begun which is still underway. Initial indications were that the plane crashed in an area around Grouse Mountain and Mount Leidy. Fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, dog teams, and ground searchers were employed in the search, but failed to find any sign of the plane. On the 19th, searchers received confirmed reports that the plane had been seen in the Thorofare area in the vicinity of Hidden Creek, which vastly increased the search area to a size of about 1800 square miles. By October 21st, about 100 people were involved in air operations and another 80 were working on ground operations. Over 50 fixed-wing and helicopter missions were flown. At the time of the report, additional resources were being sought because of the large amount of terrain still to be searched. Rangers from both Grand Teton and Yellowstone are participating in the search along with more than a score of other country, state, federal and volunteer organizations. [Ed Christian, GRTE, via telefax from Jim Reilly, RAD/RMRO, 10/23]
The search for the Western Air Research aircraft with three persons aboard continues. A small weather window opened on the 24th, which made it possible to transport ground teams to the Mountain Creek area. Fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters flew numerous missions over the search area. Although no sign of the plane has yet been found, search areas are being redefined and narrowed. Another 20 well-qualified ground searchers and five dog teams were expected to join the search on the 25th. Snow was falling in the area, and there was a likelihood that weather would remain unsettled through the weekend. [Ed Christian, GRTE, via telefax from Jim Reilly, RAD/RMRO, 10/25]
The search for the downed Western Air Research aircraft continues, but bad weather has hampered search efforts and created hazardous flying conditions. A helicopter involved in the search suffered engine failure yesterday and auto-rotated to the ground near the Mount Moran turnout. Neither the pilot nor his two passengers were injured, but one of the helicopter's skids was bent and the windshield was cracked. The pilot was able to restart the helicopter's engine and fly it back to base. Since the helicopter was flying for the Teton County sheriff's office at the time, the sheriff will make the necessary FAA notification. Both Grand Teton and Yellowstone are supporting the search, and Yellowstone has committed as many as 30 people at a time to ground search efforts. [Jim Northrop, FMO, GRTE, via telefax from Jim Reilly, RAD/RMRO, 10/28]
Because of heavy snowfalls and a lack of clues, Teton County authorities have decided to conclude the massive, two-week-long search for the single-engine Western Air Research plane with three aboard which presumably crashed somewhere south of Yellowstone and near Grand Teton. Hundreds of searchers from both parks, three counties and several state and other agencies participated in efforts to find the plane. The three occupants - pilot R.A. and Wyoming Fish and Game biologists K.I. and K.R. - were tracking radio-collared grizzlies when the plane vanished on October 16th. No further efforts will be undertaken until more clues are found. [Telefaxed report from Jim Reilly, RAD/RMRO, 11/1]
On the morning of February 29th, snowmobilers G.B., D.S. and R.S. were traversing a steep slope on Dry Ridge Mountain, just west of the park's boundary in the Jedediah Smith Wilderness of the Targhee National Forest. As they approached the top of the mountain, they triggered an avalanche 400 yards wide and 800 yards long which produced a mound up to 40 feet deep. G.B., who suffered a fractured femur, was buried a foot deep, but was dug out by R.S., who was uninjured. D.S. was buried by the avalanche. A search by over 200 volunteers was initiated; rangers Pete Armington, Renny Jackson, and Deb Frauson and her search dog participated in the effort. The search was terminated by the Teton County sheriff on March 3rd because the area had been thoroughly searched and because the victim's body might be deeper than probes could reach. Illegal snowmobiling in the wilderness and the western side of the park has been an on-going problem. Rangers were recently involved in an attempt to apprehend ten snowmobilers who had been snowmobiling illegally in the park and left through the wilderness area. Of major concern to managers is the fact the snowmobile use is occurring in areas of critical bighorn sheep range. This disturbance results in increased stress and a higher risk of mortality. [Telefax from Ed Christian, GRTE, 3/5]
At about 6:45 a.m. on May 14th, a park visitor found the body of a male adult lying across the seat of a tan Ford pickup parked at the Spalding Bay campsites at the south end of Jackson Lake. He also found a suicide note attached to the window. Rangers and Teton County deputies investigated the incident. It was ascertained that the victim, Harrington Smalley, Jr., had died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head sometime during the early morning hours of the 14th. [Don Coelho, LES, GRTE, via telefax from Jim Reilly, RAD/RMRO, 5/18]
Late on the morning of June 26th, Dr. R.F., 59, of Jackson, Wyoming, was leading the fourth pitch of the regular route on Guide's Wall in Cascade Canyon when a fixed piton that he was hanging on pulled out and he fell 50 feet down onto a six-foot-wide belay ledge and sustained critical injuries. Hikers reported the accident to park authorities about two hours later. Ranger Jim Dorward ran two and a half miles, then climbed 1,000 vertical feet to reach R.F. in one hour and 14 minutes. Although heavy rains and thunderstorms moved into the area, the park's contract helicopter was able to deliver a litter to Dorward on the ledge. The helicopter then returned to the site, and, with rotor blades turning ten feet from the rock cliff, picked R.F. off the ledge via shorthaul technique. The litter was flown under the helicopter approximately three miles to Lupine Meadows, where R.F. was set down and moved into the ship. He was subsequently taken to a trauma center in Salt Lake City, where he is in critical condition. The entire rescue took just two hours and 39 minutes despite poor weather, technical terrain and the presence of only one ranger on scene. [Pete Armington, GRTE, 7/7]
D.M., 54, of Englewood, Colorado, was rafting on the Snake River with his wife and two friends on July 4th when the raft struck a log jam and ejected them into the river. D.M. was sucked into the log jam and held under water. At time of the report, the search for his body was still underway. Search dogs had alerted on the log jam, indicating that the victim might still be trapped underneath. Rangers rescued the other three persons who were in the raft. [Doug Barnard, CR, GRTE, 7/6]
Five seasonal employees of a local ranch were swimming in Kelly Warm Springs at midnight on June 29th when they were approached by a vehicle occupied by six youths who made threatening comments. One of the people in the vehicle, 24-year-old Dale Hill of Smithfield, Utah, fired two shots from the revolver in the direction of the party from the ranch, all of whom quickly took cover in the area around the springs. One woman eventually got to her vehicle and went to seek assistance. Park rangers and Teton County deputies responded. The six suspects surrendered without incident and Hill was arrested and charged with reckless endangering under both state and federal law. The other five were warned and released. [Denny Ziemann, GRTE, 7/7]
On August 17th, a camper at Gros Ventre campground found a pipe bomb between 200 and 300 yards from the campground along the river's edge. Rangers and explosives experts from the Teton County sheriff's office and the Green River police department transported the bomb to a gravel storage area in the park, where it was detonated. The resulting explosion was significant, indicating that a large amount of powder was contained in the device. An investigation is underway. [Dennis Ziemann, GRTE, 8/18]
R.F., 71, of Thanotosassa, Florida, was killed on September 1st when the Toyota cabover motorhome he was driving crossed a double yellow line while southbound on Highway 89, struck the trailer of a northbound vehicle, then hit a tree head-on. His wife, J., 68, suffered major internal injuries and fractures to the extremities and face. She was taken by park ambulance to a hospital in Jackson, where she was immediately admitted for surgery. She was to be flown to Salt Lake City for advanced treatment after her injuries were stabilized. The cause of the accident is unknown. [Don Coelho, GRTE, 9/2]
C.C., 23, of Jackson, Wyoming, was killed around midnight on October 22nd in a single-vehicle accident about a mile north of Snake River Overlook on Highway 89. C.C. lost control of his 1983 Jeep, which went of the road and rolled over. A passerby, Brett Wickwar of Moran, Wyoming, stopped at the scene and began CPR, then assisted a responding ranger in continuing efforts to revive C.C. When rangers fully took over resuscitation efforts, Wickwar, who appeared to be intoxicated, became argumentative and disruptive, then assaulted an officer from an assisting agency. He was arrested for public intoxication, disorderly conduct, and interfering with an agency function. Charges for assault on an officer are being considered. [Dennis Ziemann, SDR, GRTE, 10/23]
Around noon on May 31st, a three-car motor vehicle accident occurred on Snake River Hill on Highway 89/26 in which I.S., 80, of Rimrock, Arizona, was killed. Two people were taken to St. John's Hospital for treatment of facial lacerations and subsequently released. Occupants of the third vehicle were not injured. I.S. was a Jackson Lake Lodge employee. Initial investigation indicates that proper use of seat belts might have averted the fatality. [Richard Spomer, GRTE, 6/2]
W.F., 23, of Reston Virginia, fell between 40 and 50 feet while hiking off-trail on the north slope of Granite Canyon on the afternoon of May 26th. W.F., his brother and a friend were attempting to climb to a high point for an improved view when the fall occurred. Jenny Lake rangers were flow to the scene and W.F. was evacuated via helicopter shorthaul just before dark. The shorthaul technique was employed because of W.F.'s condition, a suspected head injury and respiratory problems, his position on hazardous terrain, and limited daylight hours. According to the attending physician, W.F. was well served by the shorthaul evacuation, which reduced his morbidity. As of last report, W.F.'s injuries included a pneumo- hemothorax (collapsed lung with blood within), deep lacerations to the left forearm, and multiple abrasions and lacerations to the head and body which required numerous sutures. [Doug Barnard, CR, GRTE, 6/7]
C.R., 17, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, was killed in a fall just after noon on August 13th while returning from a successful climb of Exum Ridge. Corbin was descending steep snow a short distance below the upper saddle when he slipped, failed to self-arrest, and fell about 1,000 feet down a steep couloir containing mixed rock and snow. He died of massive head injuries. Rangers responded almost immediately to reports of the accident and evacuated his body by helicopter at 4 p.m. [Renny Jackson, GRTE, 8/16]
B.J., 48, of Boulder, Colorado, sustained a possible arm fracture, lacerations and other injuries when he fell about twenty feet while descending the south side of Mt. Moran on the morning of September 5th. Rangers were notified that they were overdue that afternoon, but were unable to locate the climbers during helicopter reconnaissance flights. B.J.'s climbing partner hiked out to report the accident and reached rangers around 8 p.m. Due to limited remaining daylight, a last attempt to locate B.J. and insert rescue personnel proved unsuccessful. A helicopter short-hauled rescuers to the site on the morning of the 6th; they stabilized and evacuated him. B.J., who was dressed in shorts and nylon running tights, had spent two nights near the summit of the 12,600-foot peak in inclement weather with near freezing temperatures. The descent that he and his partner had attempted was begun without either a rope or hardware. Neither was familiar with the route or possessed a description of it. [Mark Magnuson, Jenny Lake SDR, GRTE, 9/7]
On the afternoon of September 16th, three climbers, all of whom worked for Signal Mountain Lodge, a park concessioner, signed out for a climb of the South Buttress on Mt. Moran the following day. The trio - R.K., 23, J.G., 20, and S.G., 20 - were on the mountain on Friday when rain and snow began falling. As they were rappelling down that night or early on Saturday morning, a rappel anchor failed, and they fell about 300 feet. R.K. and J.G. died of multiple injuries, but S.G. survived the fall. Jenny Lake rangers began a search for the overdue climbers on Saturday afternoon when they failed to report for work. Airborne search efforts were delayed due to inclement weather, but a helicopter finally got up at 6 p.m. The climbers were located a half hour later. A rescue team was transported by helicopter shorthaul to a ledge below the party, and S.G. was evacuated by shorthaul just minutes before darkness. He had two fractured vertebrae, deep punctures to the left leg, and head trauma. He remains hospitalized. The bodies of R.K. and J.G. were recovered on Sunday. [Mark Magnuson, Jenny Lake SDR, GRTE, 9/20]
J.L.D. was arrested last week for a series of car clouts which occurred in Yellowstone and Grand Teton on September 18th. J.L.D. had entered the vehicles with a prying tool or by breaking out a window with some type of blunt instrument, then stolen personal property and several license plates. He was arrested in Chubbuck, Idaho, the following day when he attempted to purchase a set of tires with a credit card taken in one of the clouts. Rangers obtained and executed a search warrant for J.L.D.'s vehicle. Evidence seized connects him with nine separate burglaries in four national parks and one national forest. J.L.D. typically targeted vehicles parked at trail heads and preferred stealing CDs, video cameras, cellular phones and credit cards. His car remains impounded at the police department in Chubbuck and still contains a good deal of property. Any parks with information on or seeking missing property from car clouts with similar MOs are asked to fax the report to Grand Teton's law enforcement office or contact Colin Campbell, the park's law enforcement specialist, at 307-733- 2880 (commercial) or 700-328-4219 (FTS). [Colin Campbell, LES, GRTE, 9/24]
D.W., 26, of Jackson, Wyoming, was killed while attempting to climb the east ridge of Nez Perce Peak last Tuesday. D.W. intended to solo climb the east ridge, traverse to the South Teton, then return to the valley on the 21st. Rangers noted that he was overdue the following morning and began aerial reconnaissance at noon. D.W.'s body was spotted just below the east peak of Nez Perce about 6:30 that evening. The body was not recovered until the following day because of its precarious position, the icy conditions on the north face of the peak, and the limited daylight. The cause of the accident is still under investigation. [Mark Magnuson, Jenny Lake SDR, GRTE, 9/24]
On Saturday, October 2nd, an informant advised park investigators that a pound or more of marijuana would be delivered to Jackson Lake Lodge either that night or the following day. A joint park-state operation was begun with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. Late on Sunday, D.V. transported about a pound and a half of marijuana from Phoenix to the lodge. D.V. was arrested after marijuana was seized from the vehicle he was driving; also taken into custody was M.T., the vehicle's registered owner, who later admitted that she'd loaned D.V. the vehicle with full knowledge of the purpose of his trip. [Colin Campbell, LES, GRTE, 10/7]
On December 30th, J.D. pled guilty to three felony counts of theft (18 USC 661) in federal district court in Wyoming. J.D. had been charged with committing a series of auto burglaries in Yellowstone and Grand Teton last September. As part of J.D.'s sentence, he is required to give full disclosure regarding these thefts and his activities elsewhere in the district of Wyoming. J.D. will also be required to cooperate with other jurisdictions for the purpose of closing other cases. J.D.'s MO was to break out vehicle windows with a blunt instrument, remove packs and high value items, then flee the area by vehicle. J.D. is a suspect in numerous residential burglaries in Grand Canyon, at least one burglary in Yosemite, and another in Sequoia NF. Any park wanting to conduct in-custody interviews with J.D. should contact Colin Campbell in Grand Teton's law enforcement office (307-739-3327) to coordinate interviews with J.D.'s attorney. J.D. will be sentenced some time during the next three to four weeks, depending on the results of these interviews. [Colin Campbell, LES, GRTE, 1/18]
M.L., 30, of Grand Terrace, California, was driving north in the park around 2:30 a.m. on April 26th when he struck a bison in his lane of travel about two miles south of Moran Junction. The bison landed on top of the vehicle, crushing the roof. M.L. suffered serious injuries and died at the scene. His wife, K.L., 29, was asleep at the time; she was uninjured, partly because the car's airbags deployed. She reported the accident by cellular phone, but had no idea where she was in the park. A Signal Mountain concession employee came upon the scene about ten minutes later and provided the Teton County dispatcher with the proper location. The couple had left Las Vegas, Nevada, at 1 p.m. on Monday and were driving straight through to Yellowstone. [Colin Campbell, LES, GRTE, 4/27]
A.M., 51, of Salt Lake City, was killed on May 14th when he fell between 1500 and 2000 feet from the east face of Teewinot Mountain. A.M. had made a successful ascent along with climbing partners Steve Olsen and Terry Buccambuso and was descending when the accident occurred. The three men had come upon a snow covered ice field. Although they had crampons with them, they felt the snow was soft enough for a traverse and did not put them on. A.M. fell during the traverse and was unable to self-arrest with his ice axe. Olsen and Buccambuso lost sight of A.M. and elected to come out and report the incident. Rangers flew over the area and found A.M.'s body in a snow field north of the Idle and Worshiper just before 7 p.m. [Colin Campbell, Acting CR, GRTE, 5/16]
On the afternoon of June 7th, D.T., 25, of Rock Falls, Illinois, was crossing a snowfield above Lake Solitude near Paintbrush Divide when he slipped and fell about 300 feet down a steep snow gully and over several cliff bands, sustaining multiple injuries. A Jenny Lake climbing ranger who was in the area hiked to the scene, and two other climbing rangers were flown in by helicopter. D.T.'s injuries were stabilized; he was then shorthauled to a nearby staging area, where he was picked up and flown to a hospital in Jackson. D.T. was treated for numerous deep wounds in both legs and his head, and underwent surgery for a shattered patella. The evacuation was completed just before a significant storm dropped several inches of snow in the area. D.T. was inexperienced in mountain hiking and was not carrying an ice axe. [Cindy DuBois, GRTE, 6/10]
B.M., 40, of Pocatello, Idaho, was fatally injured in a fall on the Grand Teton on the afternoon of June 11th. B.M. and a friend, Mike Tucker, were descending the Owen Spalding route on the Grand when B.M. slipped on snow and fell between 800 and 1,000 feet down a steep snow field, over a cliff, and into a bowl on the west side of the mountain. Jenny Lake rangers were notified of the accident around 9 p.m. Rescue personnel were flown to the lower saddle on the Grand, but were unable to retrieve the body until the following day because of winds between 60 and 80 mph. The cause of the accident is still under investigation. [Colin Campbell, Acting CR, GRTE, 6/16]
The Moose fire brigade responded to a recreational vehicle fire at the Gros Ventre campground on July 2nd. Upon arrival, they found smoke issuing from the vehicle, a 1994, 32-foot Fleetwood Corona motor home. The owners were not there at the time. A smoldering fire was extinguished, and investigators determined that it had been started by a match discarded in a waste basket. The vehicle sustained about $5,000 in damage. No injuries were reported. The campground was near capacity at the time of the fire. [Len Dems, GRTE, 7/2]
C.S., 33, fell about 100 feet while ascending the Owen Couloir on the Grand Teton on the morning of October 10th. Due to the critical nature of the injuries sustained in the fall, C.S. was shorthauled by the park's contract helicopter to the Lower Saddle at 11,600 feet, then flown to a hospital in Jackson. He was later transferred to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, where he remains in serious but stable condition with a closed head injury and multiple fractures to his lower back. Immediately after this mission, rangers evacuated a 15-year-old Boy Scout from Idaho who sustained multiple injuries in a slide down Schoolroom Glacier. The accident occurred late on August 9th when the scout lost control while "boot-skiing" on snow; he then slid about 200 feet before hitting rocks at the base of the glacier. [Colin Campbell, Acting CR, GRTE, 8/16]
Early on the morning of August 13th, M.D., 36, of Park City, Utah, was attacked and mauled by a bear about a quarter mile west of the Two Ocean trailhead. M.D., who was jogging at the time, was on a planned 18-mile run as part of his training for a marathon. M.D. began his run at Jackson Lake Lodge and was heading eastward when he apparently surprised a bear who was feeding on berries next to the trail in a heavily forested area. M.D. suffered bites and puncture wounds to his face, a severe laceration to his right thigh, and bites on his back. M.D. fought the bear for about a minute and a half, then elected to play dead. The bear broke off the attack shortly thereafter. The incident is being investigated by rangers with the assistance of the park's biologist. Preliminary indications are that the attack was done by a grizzly who may have had cubs with her. [Colin Campbell, Acting CR, GRTE, 8/16]
E.L., 22, of Logan, Utah, drowned while swimming in Jackson Lake near the Colter Bay picnic area around 8 p.m. on August 31st. E.L. was swimming fully clothed, including high top tennis shoes, when he began to struggle approximately 100 feet from shore. A friend who was swimming with him attempted to assist, but was unable to calm or control E.L.. Rangers were notified at approximately 8:15 p.m. A significant response was initiated. Because of critical time frames, North District ranger Don Coelho conducted a solo scuba dive and recovered E.L. minutes later in approximately 15 feet of water. Resuscitation efforts for a cold water drowning were begun immediately, and E.L. was transported to St. John's Hospital in Jackson, Wyoming. Despite all efforts, he subsequently died. [Cindy DuBois, GRTE, 9/2]
The body of R.C.P., 23, of Soda Springs, Idaho, was found in his bunk at the American Alpine Club's Climber's Ranch on the afternoon of September 6th. R.C.P. had been drinking heavily during the late afternoon and evening of September 5th; preliminary indications are that his blood alcohol exceeded .30 at the time of his death - a very high level. Toxicological tests and an autopsy will be conducted and may help determine the cause of death. [Colin Campbell, Acting CR, GRTE, 9/12]
During the seven-month period from May to November of 1993, M.D.E. and J.A.S.-E. are believed to have committed numerous car larcenies, check and credit card frauds, thefts from tents in campgrounds, and thefts of fees from campground pipe safes and association donation boxes on NPS, Forest Service, BLM, state park and private lands in Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, South Dakota and Nebraska. Among the areas the couple hit were Yellowstone, Wind Cave, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Grand Teton and Grand Canyon. On August 25th, they were indicted in Salt Lake City on from 10 to 13 counts of five 18 USC violations, including conspiracy, theft and property damage. The E.s were arrested separately in Akron, Ohio, and Seneca, South Carolina, earlier this week. They both admitted guilt during subsequent interviews and revealed many more violations, including theft of firearms, stolen money, pawning of stolen items, and a previously unknown and similar crime spree in 1992 which added many more parks to the list of areas which they'd struck, including sites in Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, California, Oregon, Colorado, Nevada and Mexico. The investigation into their activities continues. Many NPS rangers contributed information leading to these arrests. M.D.E. is being held on without bond due to the risk of flight; J.A.S.-E. may be released on a $25,000 surety bond with house arrest and electronic monitoring. They will be brought to Salt Lake City and likely tried there. [Erny Kuncl, SA, RMRO, 9/21]
Rangers received notification on the evening of January 18th that an aircraft might have gone down in the park. A unified command was established, and rangers, sheriff's deputies, county SAR teams and Civil Air Patrol aircraft began looking for the plane within half an hour of notification. The aircraft was found at 3:10 a.m. the following morning about seven miles north of Jackson Hole Airport in a location between Timbered Island and the Snake River. All three occupants - E.S., 49, the owner and pilot; B.L., 31 or 32; and M.L., 28 or 29 - had been killed in the accident. The Beechcraft Bonanza and passengers had left Princeton, Minnesota, for a ski vacation in Jackson, stopping for fuel on the way in Rapid City, South Dakota. At approximately 7:10 p.m., E.S. reported to the Salt Lake City airport that he was on final approach to Jackson and 12 miles out. There was no report of any problem. The ELT affixed to the craft led a search team to the crash site. [Colin W. Campbell, CR, GRTE, 1/22]
A high-speed vehicle pursuit which was begun by Wyoming Highway Patrol officers in Dubois, Wyoming, terminated in the park early on the afternoon of March 16th. The pursuit covered over 100 miles, with speeds up to 110 mph. Rangers, local deputies and police, and state fish and game wardens were also involved in the chase. The pursued vehicle drove around barriers on Highway 89 at Antelope Flats Junction and subsequently rear-ended a park visitor's vehicle that was traveling in the same direction. Two visitors were injured in the incident, one critically and the other seriously. The driver of the pursued vehicle was not injured and was arrested at the scene. He was wanted in California and Idaho on weapons and drug charges, and had warrants against him in excess of $110,000. The state is leading in the interagency investigation. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE, 3/17]
A strong thunderstorm which struck the area on the evening of July 6th caused significant damage throughout the park. Trees were knocked down, boats were scattered on Jackson Lake, and the Grassy Lake Road was closed until further notice because about 150 trees toppled across it in its first two miles alone. A tree which fell on a Ford Explorer on Highway 89 about a mile north of the Moran entrance seriously injured three-year-old Z.P., who was traveling with his grandparents and a seven-year-old cousin. All had to be extricated from their vehicle. Z.P. is in intensive care but is in stable condition; the other three occupants of the Explorer were treated and released. Total damage to the park is not yet known. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE]
M.P., 25, of Portland, Oregon, slipped on a steep snowfield while descending Grand Teton on the afternoon of August 1st and fell to her death. M.P. and her partner, C.R., had just completed a climb of the Owen- Spalding route. Upon stepping onto the snow from a rocky area below the Upper Saddle, M.P. lost her footing, slid about 60 feet, went over a low angle rocky area, and fell another 40 feet into a moat. She was wearing crampons and had an ice axe, but was unable to self-arrest. M.P. died from head and neck trauma suffered in the fall. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE]
President and Mrs. Clinton arrived at Jackson Hole Airport late on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 15th, for a personal family vacation in the Jackson Hole, Grand Teton, and Yellowstone area. Superintendent Jack Neckels and Bridger-Teton National Forest supervisor Sandra Key greeted the Clintons at the airport. Neckels and Key have signed a joint delegation of authority to authorize management of the visit by the National Park Service's national Type I all-risk incident management team. Other cooperating agencies include the Teton County sheriff's office, Jackson police department, Yellowstone National Park, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Secret Service. The Clintons are expected to participate in a number of recreation activities in and around the park. As of August 16th, a total of 77 individuals were involved in the interagency operation, including 37 employees from Grand Teton, five from Yellowstone, eight from Bridger-Teton and Targhee national forests, and 27 from other NPS units. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE]
President Clinton and his family have made several visits to the park since their arrival in the area last Tuesday for a two-week vacation. On Friday, August 18th, the family dined at Dornan's in Moose Village and took an evening stroll around the Menor's Ferry historic district with concessions chief and White House liaison Joan Anzelmo. They then drove through the park to view a herd of bison before returning to their residence. Earlier in the day, President Clinton phoned long-time local resident and national park advocate Mardie Murie to extend best wishes to her on her 95th birthday. On Sunday, the family ventured into the park for a full day of activities. They first stopped at the Moose entrance station, where President Clinton got out of his vehicle and purchased a Golden Eagle passport from ranger Erik Reis. After attending church and greeting visitors and local residents at the Chapel of the Transfiguration, the family ate at Jenny Lake lodge, then hiked along String Lake and Jenny Lake with park public affairs officer Linda Olson as their guide. As of August 20th, a total of 81 individuals were involved in the interagency operation, including 41 employees from Grand Teton, five from Yellowstone, eight from Bridger-Teton and Targhee national forests, and 27 from other NPS units. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE]
President Clinton and his family made a Founder's Day visit to Yellowstone on August 25th. They flew to the park, then traveled by motorcade to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River for a hike along the canyon rim and visits to several overlooks. The family then flew to the Old Faithful area, where they visited the historic Old Faithful Inn, took a guided walk along the Geyser Hill boardwalk trail, and watched Old Faithful erupt. While at the latter location, President Clinton made remarks to the White House press pool about the significance of national parks and about issues which threaten the park system. After leaving the area, the Clintons flew over the site of the proposed New World gold mine near Henderson Mountain, just east of the park's northeast boundary, then landed at the Lamar Buffalo Ranch, where they hiked to the Rose Creek wolf pen site. The alpha female and her pups are being retained in the acclimation pen there until the pups are large enough to hold their own against coyotes and other predators (the pack's alpha male was illegally shot outside the park last spring). The Clintons entered the pen with NPS wildlife biologist Mike Phillips to assist with the biweekly feeding of road-killed wildlife to the wolves. The visit to the pen was accentuated by an impressive afternoon thunderstorm. The family took shelter at the Buffalo Ranch, where the President met with representatives from a variety of conservation groups. About 150 Yellowstone personnel and 13 personnel from the IMT were involved with security and public safety operations for these visits. [Mike Murray, ACT, YELL]
During a seven-month period in 1993, M.E. and J.S.-E., his now ex-wife, stole money from donation pipe safes at NPS, USFS and BLM sites, passed fraudulent checks to agencies and businesses, and employed stolen credit cards and checks taken from cars and tents in campgrounds throughout the West. Among the areas the couple hit were Yellowstone, Wind Cave, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Grand Teton and Grand Canyon. The E.s were arrested separately in Akron, Ohio, and Seneca, South Carolina, last September. They both admitted guilt during subsequent interviews and revealed many more violations, including theft of firearms, stolen money, pawning of stolen items, and a previously unknown and similar crime spree in 1992 which added many more parks to the list of areas which they'd struck, including sites in Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, California, Oregon, Colorado, Nevada and Mexico. They subsequently pled guilty to charges of conspiracy and theft of government money. Under a plea agreement, M.E. was sentenced earlier this summer to six months in federal prison and three years' supervised probation; ordered to pay $7,500 in restitution to the NPS and a $1,000 fine; and required to undergo drug and alcohol rehabilitation. J.S.-E. is expected to receive similar sentencing. [Erny Kuncl, SA, IFAO]
President Clinton and his family concluded their two-week stay in the Jackson Hole area on Thursday, August 31st. Among the concluding events was a night camping trip on August 27th at the JY Ranch, a private inholding within the park - believed to be the first time a President has camped in a tent in a national park since Teddy Roosevelt's time. The family boated across Jenny Lake and took a five-mile round-trip hike in Cascade Canyon with park public affairs officer Linda Olson the following day; they enjoyed classic mountain panoramas, wildflowers, and up close and personal views of two bull moose. The Clintons made an appearance at the "Wheels Up" party on Wednesday evening to offer personal thanks to the interagency management team for their assistance and support throughout their vacation. Incident commander Jim Northup presented President Clinton with an "Incident Commander" vest at the gathering. The President thanked him, then said that he would have to start wearing it around the office. The President then spoke to those gathered about the importance of national parks and how he wished that he could provide the opportunity for every American child to see what he'd seen during his two week vacation in Grand Teton and Yellowstone. Those who participated in the event agreed that President Clinton demonstrated a very strong and positive interest in the national parks throughout his visit. IC Jim Northup offers this summary observation: "I can not recall a time in my career when a sitting President has spent as much time focused on national parks - and when we have enjoyed as much exposure as a result of a Presidential visit." [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE; Jim Northup, IC, Teton Challenge Incident]
S.H., 48, R.S., 40, and three others were descending the Owen- Spalding route on Grand Teton with Exum Climbing School guides on August 22nd when Houchin put his weight on a large rock that came loose. S.H. and the rock fell, hitting R.S. and causing him to fall. The two men fell about 100 feet, all on rock. Jenny Lake rescue rangers were flown to the Lower Saddle. Three rangers climbed 1,000 vertical feet to the victims, while two others were inserted by helicopter. The two men were flown to the saddle, given medical treatment, then taken to a hospital in Jackson. S.H.'s injuries included head trauma; R.S. suffered a fractured right elbow, broken ribs and other injuries. Both were wearing helmets and using all necessary safety equipment, as required on guided trips. Members of the rescue team were Renny Jackson, Rich Perch, Tom Kimbrough, Leo Larson, George Montopoli, Bill Alexander, Andy Byerly and Jim Phillips. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE]
J.O, 63, of El Paso, Texas, was killed and her husband, M.O., 67, was seriously injured when their vehicle was involved in a head-on collision with a pickup truck five miles north of Jenny Lake junction on September 2nd. The four occupants of the pickup - two adults and two children from Red Lodge, Montana - were taken to a hospital in Jackson. M.O. was evacuated by helicopter. Three NPS ambulances, two fire engines and five patrol units responded along with a county extrication team. The accident is under investigation. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE]
On September 4th, K.H., 64, of Houston, Texas, was killed in an apparent fall on Teewinot Mountain. K.H. was reported missing by a friend when he failed to show up at a rendezvous site that evening. Jenny Lake rangers Andy Byerly and Bill Culbreth, who were on the Garnet Canyon trail, traversed over to the mountain the following morning to begin searching for K.H.. They found his body at the 11,200-foot elevation within a few hours. K.H. suffered head injuries and a broken leg; he was not wearing a climbing helmet. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE]
Late on the night of September 25th, Jenny Lake rangers received a report of an overdue rock scrambler who'd last been seen near the Cascade Canyon trail around 3 p.m. that afternoon. A hasty team began a search for the man, identified as 24-year-old K.B. of West Seneca, New York; they found his pack, but no sign of K.B. Further efforts that night were equally fruitless. Two park dog teams, eight climbing rangers and the park's contract helicopter joined in the search the following morning. Searchers focused on the steep, semi-technical and technical climbing terrain on the lower slopes of the Storm Point - Ice Point massif. Around 11:30 a.m., ground searchers found K.B. wedged beneath a large boulder. He had suffered from multiple traumatic injuries and was unresponsive. K.B. was stabilized by park medics, then lowered several hundred feet down a talus slope on a litter, transported by boat across Jenny Lake, transferred to an ambulance, and taken to a hospital in Jackson, where he was admitted with a crushed lumbar vertebra, a head injury, and multiple contusions and lacerations. It appears that K.B. fell an undetermined distance down a near-vertical cliff. The impact from his initial fall was apparently cushioned by a dense grove of aspen trees, which likely prevented more serious and possible fatal injuries. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE]
On the morning of September 29th, rangers received a report of a solo climber overdue from an ascent of the Middle Teton. A.G., 25, of Jackson, had left his home late on the 27th to climb the Glacier Route; he failed to return as planned, though, and also missed work on the night of the 28th. A hasty team began a search for him and soon located A.G.' overnight gear stashed at the Meadows, an overnight camping area on the approach to Middle Teton. Search efforts were escalated and involved 13 rangers and five volunteers from Teton County SAR. A severe early season winter storm hit the area that night, hampering search efforts and grounding the park helicopter. The park mule string was utilized to transport supplies over the first five miles of the steep trail to the base camp; search personnel portered them the last half mile. On the morning of September 30th, 21 more people joined the effort, including local climbers and personnel from the park, Exum Mountain Guides, and Jackson Hole Mountain Guides. Searchers were hindered by new snow accumulations of up to a foot over verglass ice, two- to three-foot drifts, limited visibility, and sub-zero wind chill. At 1 p.m., a team of Jenny Lake climbing rangers summited Middle Teton via the southwest couloir and made contact with A.G., who was sitting on a chair-sized ledge about 100 feet below the summit on the northwest side of the peak. A.G. was uninjured, but was suffering from severe hypothermia, frostbite, exhaustion, and dehydration. He was rewarmed as much as conditions would permit, then lowered down the southwest couloir by litter, arriving at a helicopter landing zone about two hours later. His arrival there coincided with a window in the weather which permitted the park contract helicopter to pick A.G. up and bring him to an ambulance, which took him to a hospital in Jackson. A.G. was hospitalized for three days with frostbite in both feet; the prognosis for toe retention is poor. According to A.G., he lost the route on the 28th and ledged out by mid- afternoon. Unable to continue up or retreat, he resigned himself to being rescued. A.G. survived two days and two nights in a severed winter storm near 13,000 feet with minimal gear. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE]
Robert "Bruno" Smith, a motor vehicle operator in the park's South District, was killed in a snowmobile accident on the Bridger-Teton National Forest on December 13th. Smith and some friends were snowmobiling in the Togwotee Pass area when he collided almost head-on with a snowmobile being operated by Scott Edwards. Both operators were knocked unconscious by the collision. The park sent two ambulances to the scene at the request of the county sheriff's department. Shortly after park medics arrived on scene, Smith stopped breathing and became pulseless. Advanced life support measures were initiated, but proved fruitless. Edwards was treated by medics and airlifted to a hospital in Jackson, where he is listed in stable condition. Critical incident stress debriefings are scheduled for emergency personnel and park staff. Further details will follow. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE]
The family of Robert "Bruno" Smith, the park motor vehicle operator who was killed in a snowmobile accident on December 13th, has asked that donations on his behalf be sent to the Feed the Elk Fund. The fund was established in his name at the Key Bank in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. If you would like to make a donation to the fund, contact Janelle at Key Bank at 307-733-4884. [Deb Flewelling, GRTE]
A local resident reported seeing two men canoeing west on the Gros Ventre River with a large quantity of elk antlers on the evening of May 20th. Ranger Chris Flaherty located the two young men, who were hiding in the woods. The pair - J.Z. and S.C. - took Flaherty to their canoe and cache of elk antlers. They admitted to caching the antlers for two days, then renting a canoe in order to pick them up. Flaherty arrested the two men and seized 474 pounds of antlers and a 1980 Datsun pickup truck. The value of the antlers has been placed at $4,650. Flaherty was assisted by rangers Perch, Spomer and Maguire. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE]
M.M., 61, a prominent Jackson Hole resident, was fatally injured on the morning of Friday, June 21st, when the horse she was riding reared, threw her to the ground, then fell on her. M.M. and her husband, R.S., were herding cattle near Mormon Row in the park at the time of the accident. R.S. flagged down two park employees driving in the area; they radioed park dispatch, then went to his aid. An NPS firefighter who was in the area doing field training responded and helped administer CPR. EMS qualified park rangers, including two park medics, soon joined them and provided advanced life support. M.M. was taken to a hospital in St. Johns, where she was pronounced dead upon arrival from massive internal injuries. M.M. was the daughter of C.H., former Wyoming governor and U.S. senator, and the mother of a former U.S. attorney who represented the park. The M./H. family is one of the remaining families with legislatively authorized grazing rights in the park. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE]
President Clinton and his family arrived in Jackson, Wyoming, on Friday, August 9th, for a nine-day vacation in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks and the Bridger-Teton National Forest - his second vacation to the area in as many years. The National Park Service's Type I all-risk incident management team (Jim Northup, IC) is providing coordination, oversight and overall support for the visit. Involved in the multi-agency effort are the NPS, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Secret Service, county sheriff's office and city police. On Sunday, team members provided security for President Clinton's residence and assisted the Secret Service in providing communications, logistical support, perimeter security, motorcade operations, and traffic control for the family's trip to church services. On Monday, they continued to provide security for his residence and also assisted during his trip to Yellowstone. A total of 99 people - 84 from the NPS - are currently committed to the incident. [Kim Dreyfus, IMT, GRTE]
The Service's Type I all-risk incident management team and the staffs of the two parks continue to provide support for the First Family's vacation and related presidential activities. On Monday, the family visited Yellowstone for a full day of activities. The day began with a formal event at a remote location near Baronette Peak. On short notice, the park's maintenance division set up a stage and seating for over 250 invited guests and media. A major challenge was to provide an effective mass transportation system to bring all participants to the site, which has no parking. The focus of the event was President Clinton's formal announcement of an exchange of federal lands which will effectively end the proposed New World Mine on Forest Service land near the park's boundary. Following the event, the First Family flew to the Tower Falls area, then motorcaded to the fire lookout on top of Mt. Washburn for lunch. From the lookout, they could see an impressive smoke column from a new prescribed natural fire in Pelican Valley. After lunch, the Clintons went on an eight-and-a-half mile backcountry hike from the top of Mt. Washburn to Inspiration Point near Canyon. Despite the warmth of the afternoon and the altitude (over 8,000 feet), the Clintons demonstrated both enthusiasm and fitness throughout the hike; two media representatives, however, had to be evacuated by horseback due to heat exhaustion. The Clintons then motorcaded back to their helicopters, flew to Mammoth Hot Springs for a brief visit, then flew back to Jackson. Yellowstone park staff managed the visit under ICS; about 170 employees from all divisions were involved. The Rocky Mountain SET team also assisted. On Tuesday, Type I team members supported White House staff in the coordination of the signing ceremony for the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Simplification and Fairness Act of 1996 at the Teton Science School, which is within park boundaries. About 75 journalists and 250 invited guests attended. Upcoming recreational activities by the First Family include horseback riding and whitewater rafting on the Snake River. A total of 70 people - 56 from the NPS - are currently committed to the Challenge '96 Incident. [Roberta D'Amico/Kim Dreyfus, IMT, GRTE; Mike Murray, ACR, YELL]
The Service's Type I all-risk incident management team and the staffs of the two parks continue to provide support for the First Family's vacation and related presidential activities. Yesterday's operations focused on providing security for motorcades and on the perimeter around the First Family's quarters. Logistical support was also provided for a whitewater raft trip which was subsequently canceled. A total of 69 people - 59 from the NPS - are currently committed to the Challenge '96 Incident. [Kim Dreyfus, IMT, GRTE]
The Service's Type I all-risk incident management team and the staffs of the two parks continue to provide support for the First Family's vacation and related presidential activities. Yesterday's operations focused on providing logistical support and security for a hike Mrs. Clinton took in Grand Teton and Chelsea Clinton's rock climb. A total of 69 people - 59 from the NPS - are currently committed to the Challenge '96 Incident. [Kim Dreyfus, IMT, GRTE]
A.S., 24, of Santa Cruz, California, was killed in a one-car rollover accident near Glacier View overlook just before noon on August 8th. A.S. apparently lost control of his vehicle, causing it to roll over and eject him in the process. A.S. received massive head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of the accident is still under investigation. A.S. was probably not wearing a seatbelt. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE]
The Service's Type I all-risk incident management team was charged on Sunday with the management of the initial response and investigation of the crash of the Air Force C-130 which went down late Saturday evening in the Gros Ventre wilderness of the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The plane, which had just departed from the Jackson Hole airport, was flying in support of President Clinton's vacation visit to the area. Incident personnel traveled to the site, determined that there were no survivors, secured the area, and managed the immense national media interest in the accident. None of the plane's nine occupants - the crew of eight and a Secret Service employee - survived the crash. The team was charged with management of the initial response under a delegation of authority from the county sheriff and the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Team members met with Air Force personnel on Sunday afternoon and began transition of incident management to them. Prior to the accident, the team focused its efforts on providing logistical support for the First Family's final day of vacation. Following a horseback ride at their temporary residence, President Clinton and his family enjoyed a two- hour whitewater rafting trip on the Snake River in the Bridger-Teton. Put-in for the eight-and-a-half mile float trip occurred at East Table and take-out occurred at Sheep Gulch. Considered an intermediate float, this portion required negotiation of the Kahuna, Lunch Counter and Rope rapids, along with log jams and shallow, rocky channels. A total of eleven rafts were in the flotilla; eight were provided by local outfitters and three by the incident management team. A total of 147 incident personnel (71 from the NPS) were committed to the day's events, providing logistical support, perimeter security, river rescue capability, rafts for U.S. Secrete Service personnel, motorcade operation support, and media support. This was the third attempt at a river trip and it went well. Incident demobilization will be completed today. [Jim Northup, IC, and Roberta D'Amico, IO, NPS Type I IMT, GRTE]
Several additional reports have been received regarding the impacts of the series of storms that have been striking the West Coast. Forecasters are predicting more rain in coming days, and U.S. Geological Service's Tacoma office reports that "there is potential for serious and widespread flooding in the next several days over all of western Washington." This is at least partly because of the potential runoff from melting snow. USGS hydrographers estimate that the water equivalent in the snowpack between 3,000 and 6,000 feet in Washington ranges from about 15 to more than 40 inches. o Grand Teton NP (Wyoming) - An incident management team was organized on December 29th to manage storm impacts. Due to heavy snowfall, drifting and blizzard conditions, Highway 89 through the park was closed to all traffic for much of a three-day holiday period. Ranger-directed convoys behind park snowplows were used to evacuate about 200 motorists who were stranded in areas without accommodations. Many secondary roads in the park remain closed. Access into and out of Jackson Hole has been hampered by significant avalanches, forcing the closure of some highways. Over the past several days, unseasonably warm valley temperatures and over ten inches of precipitation (much of it falling as rain) have caused flooding, threatened to collapse roofs, and impeded snow removal and the reopening of roads. While access to most primary visitor use areas and inholdings has been restored, work continues to open remaining areas and to prevent damage to park structures and utilities. Additional storms are forecast for the area through the coming week. [USGS Headquarters, Washington; Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE; Bob Andrew, CR, YOSE; Superintendent, WHIS; CRO, WHIS; Paul Ducasse, SA, PGBSSO; John Dell'Osso, Acting CI, PORE; Jim Hammett, Superintendent, JODA; Randy Brooks, Acting CR, MORA]
Slovenian national A.B., 38, was killed on the morning of June 23rd while attempting a solo climb on the Grand Teton. According to witness reports, A.B. was nearing Upper Saddle at the mountain's 13,300 foot elevation when he presumably fell on snow and ice and slid between 1,000 and 1,500 feet down a snow couloir known as the Idaho Express. A.B. was wearing crampons and carrying an ice axe at the time of the accident. The cause of death was severe head injury and total body trauma. Following a cellular phone report of the accident, rangers flew to the Lower Saddle in the park contract helicopter, climbed to the scene, and confirmed the death. At the time of this report and response, four other backcountry SAR incidents were in progress in the park. [Colin Cambell, CR, GRTE, 6/30]
G.R., 49, of Jackson, Wyoming, drowned in a kayaking accident on the Snake River five miles from Moose Landing on the afternoon of July 26th. G.R. was kayaking with three friends when her kayak hit a snag and she was thrown from the boat. She was momentarily able to cling to a log, but was carried downstream before her friends could reach her. Rangers were advised of the incident about 45 minutes later and began a search of the river in boats, on foot and by helicopter. Helitack crew members spotted G.R. in a small river eddy an hour later. The helicopter landed on a small gravel bar and removed her from the river. A park medic was shuttled to the scene by helicopter; after completing an assessment and consulting with doctors at St. John's Hospital, resuscitation efforts were terminated. The cause of death has been determined by autopsy to have been accidental drowning, but the cause of the accident itself is still under investigation. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE, 7/31]
J.H., 48, of Collinsville, Utah, fell to his death while descending Symmetry Spire on the evening of July 23rd. J.H. and his partners, who were climbing the Southwest Ridge, were one pitch from the summit when an afternoon storm prompted them to retreat by rappelling down the route. As J.H. started the first rappel, he said to his stepson "I hope this anchor holds." J.H. put his weight on the ropes, the anchor failed, and he fell about 500 feet. Rangers confirmed the fatality and recovered the body via helicopter sling the next morning. Hypothermia may have contributed to the accident. The anchor failure was attributed to slings around a loose block or flake. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE, 8/6]
On July 31st, rangers responded to a report of a critically injured climber near the base of Symmetry Spire. D.S., 46, of Woodlands, Texas, had fallen about 100 feet down a snow couloir while approaching the climb. He came to rest in a moat and was partially submerged in running melt water. D.S.'s son and other climbers in the area were able to raise him up out of the water, an action which likely saved his life. Six rangers were inserted on the mountain via helicopter short haul, then descended several hundred feet to the accident site. Advanced life support measures were employed to stabilize D.S.. He was then lowered several hundred feet down the couloir to a location suitable for a short haul extraction. D.S. was taken to a Jackson hospital, where he was treated for a head injury, hypothermia, a fractured femur, fractured vertebrae, and a fracture-dislocation of the ankle. While descending Symmetry Couloir to assist D.S., climber S.M. of Lake Stevens, Washington, fell and fractured his right leg. S.M. was evacuated in a screamer suit via helicopter short haul. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE, 8/6]
A 21-year-old Austrian woman died on August 3rd of multiple injuries sustained in a fall on Disappointment Peak. B.P. and two climbing partners, also Austrian, had climbed the peak via the Lake Ledges route and were descending when the accident occurred. B.P. was traversing the top of the east couloir when she slipped on snow and fell about 600 feet, landing in a moat half way down the couloir. The park received the report via cellular phone at 2:15 p.m. Rangers were to the Amphitheatre Lake cirque by helicopter, then climbed to the accident scene, arriving around 3:30 p.m. B.P. was extracted from the moat by helicopter short haul and taken to a Jackson hospital, where she died of severe head and chest trauma. The party was not equipped with ice axes, crampons or helmets. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE, 8/6]
On the afternoon of August 5th, 49-year-old G.S. of Austin, Texas, was struck in the lower leg by a 50-pound boulder which had been dislodged somewhere above the cliffs above Hidden Falls, where he was participating in an Exum Mountain Guides climbing course. The guides on scene had trouble stopping the bleeding and were unable to move G.S. Rangers and eight Exum guides performed a technical litter lowering of several hundred feet, then transported G.S. to the west shore of Jenny Lake via wheeled litter. He was taken across the lake by boat, then on to a Jackson hospital, where he was treated for a deep laceration and possible fracture. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE, 8/6]
On August 6th, T.P., 43, of College Station, Texas, sustained serious injuries in a 200-foot fall down the east face route of Mt. Teewinot. T.P. slipped on snow while descending the peak and was unable to arrest her fall with her ice axe; she ended up plunging into a six-foot-deep moat. Rangers received the report at 7 p.m., flew via park contract helicopter to a small landing zone midway up the east face, then climbed to the scene. Advanced life support measures were utilized to stabilize T.P., who was extracted by helicopter short haul just before night fell. She is being treated in a Jackson hospital for head trauma and possible fractures of the extremities. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE, 8/12]
On the afternoon of September 12th, 32-year-old K.T. of Chicago, Illinois, fell 30 feet while rappelling the Guide's Wall route on the southwest ridge of Storm Point. Rangers were notified of the accident via cellular phone at 1:45 p.m. A team of two climbing rangers climbed to her location, while two others were lowered to a nearby ledge from a helicopter and traversed to the site. K.T. had sustained multiple injuries, including a serious injury to her back. Rangers - one a park medic and the other a registered nurse - provided advanced life support, including IV antibiotics, compazine and morphine. K.T. was moved a short distance on the ledge, lifted out by helicopter, then taken to a hospital in Jackson, where she underwent surgery. The investigation into the accident revealed that two ropes - a 10 mm and a 10.5 mm - had been tied together with an overhand knot, not an uncommon practice among climbers. While on the seventh double-rope rappel, the knot failed. If you are interested in more details on the knot failure, please contact Jenny Lake subdistrict ranger Mark Magnuson. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE, 9/15]
On November 25th, during the park's authorized elk reduction program, two moose were poached along the Three Rivers Road in the North District. M.D., 78, of Watertown, South Dakota, was subsequently charged with two counts of illegally taking wildlife. Due to his poor eyesight and inability to differentiate between moose and elk, he shot three times at a brown, fuzzy animal, which resulted in fatal wounds to the two moose. During the interview, M.D. said that he'd sighted his weapon on what appeared to be an elk the previous day, then observed someone sitting on it with an orange hat and realized that the animal was a horse. M.D. will be not be permitted to participate in future elk reduction programs. On December 2nd, another moose was poached in the same area. J.T., 44, of Bismarck, North Dakota, was charged with one count each of taking wildlife and interfering with agency functions. J.T. shot the moose from a distance of about 500 yards, believing it was an elk. He then took measures to hinder the investigation. Investigators were aided, however, by citizen reports which provided detailed descriptions of the involved persons and vehicles. The "Park Watch" program will reward these individuals for their efforts in the protection of natural resources. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE, 12/9]
Rangers began a search for an overdue snowboarder, 29-year-old S.K. of Jackson, Wyoming, on the morning of April 23rd. S.K., a well-known and experienced extreme snowboarder and mountaineer, had planned to climb 12,938- foot Mount Owen early on April 22nd, then make a first-ever snowboard descent from the northeast snow fields. As he neared the mountain's 11,500-foot level, S.K. was struck by an avalanche and swept approximately 2,000 feet down the north face. Although he was not buried by the slide, he sustained serious injuries in a fall that carried him over several vertical cliff bands. S.K. was able to crawl further down the slope and out of the fall line in an effort to avoid additional avalanches that would occur as the mid-day sun continued to heat the slopes above. He spent the night out without any gear, as his pack had been lost in the avalanche. Rangers spotted S.K. from a helicopter around 11 a.m. A team of six rangers was lowered to a point in the Owen Cirque near the location where the accident occurred. S.K. was stabilized, secured in a litter, and raised several hundred feet to a landing zone that had been constructed by shoveling a platform into a low angle portion of the slope. S.K. was then flown to St. John's Hospital in Jackson, where he is now in stable condition. Injuries include ligament tears and fracture-dislocations of both knees, multiple fractured vertebrae, pulmonary contusions, and multiple contusions, lacerations and abrasions over his entire body. When rescued, he was significantly dehydrated and hypothermic. S.K. has pioneered numerous extreme routes in the Teton Range and has been attempting to snowboard the highest peaks on each of the seven continents. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE, 5/4]
On the afternoon of July 11th, rangers received a cellular telephone call advising that a climber had fallen 120 feet while descending the Lake Ledges route on Disappointment Peak. G.L., 56, a BLM employee from Casper, Wyoming, had reportedly sustained bilateral ankle fractures, a femur fracture, and head and chest trauma. A team of four rangers was flown via an interagency contract helicopter to a landing zone above the scene of the accident, then descended steep snow and rock to reach G.L.. His injuries were stabilized and he was shorthauled to Lupine Meadows, where the park ambulance picked him up and took him to the hospital in Jackson. G.L. remains hospitalized. The accident occurred while he was descending the route after reaching the mountain's summit. He slipped and fell while traversing a snow couloir, stopping short of what would likely have been a fatal fall when he landed on a large stone. G.L. was not carrying an ice axe. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE, 7/23]
J.C., a 29-year-old Chinese national, drowned in the Snake River at the base of Jackson Lake Dam on the afternoon of July 16th. Park dispatch had received a 911 call reporting that a man had fallen into the river and disappeared in the current. Several rangers were on scene within ten minutes and began a hasty search and witness interviews. The witnesses said that the man had been fishing while standing on a submerged boulder; he'd lost his footing, fallen into the river, and been carried upstream towards the dam by recirculating river currents. The hasty search was unproductive, so dogs, boats, a helicopter and additional searchers were brought in. The focus was on the turbulent water in the dam's discharge zone. It could not be searched, however, because of the swiftness of the water, and visibility was precluded by its turbulence. Bureau of Reclamation staff were asked to reduce the dam's discharge. Although they responded immediately, the discharge volume could not be reduced sufficiently until three hours after the initial 911 call. J.C.'s body was spotted and recovered. Over 50 people were involved in the effort, including members of the Teton County river rescue unit. Rangers and park concessioners provided support and assistance for J.C.'s widow and other family members for two days following the accident. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE, 7/28]
M.G., a climber from Cambridge, Massachusetts, fell while attempting to climb the north face of Easy Day Peak in the Wind River range late on the morning of August 9th. M.G. was following the first pitch of the climb when he pulled a large block of rock onto himself and sustained injuries to both of his lower legs. Climbing partner David Oka ran to the trailhead, then to Big Sandy Lodge to report the accident via cellular telephone. The county asked for park support; rangers and Bridger-Teton helitack personnel responded via one of the two helicopters contracted during the summer to the park and Bridger-Teton NF. M.G. was lowered to a helispot at Shadow Lake late that evening, where emergency medical treatment was provided by park medics. He was flown out to Pinedale the next morning, then transferred to a hospital in Jackson, where he underwent surgery for fractures to his right tibia and full depth lacerations to his left ankle. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE, 8/19]
On the afternoon of August 14th, L.K., 40, of Houston, Texas, suffered serious injuries in a 120-foot fall while descending from a climb on Baxter's Pinnacle. Rangers responded on foot. The park's contract helicopter attempted a late evening short-haul extrication, but the mission had to be aborted. The ensuing night-time rescue required, successively, a 1,500-foot litter lower, a litter carryout, transportation by a wheeled litter, a shuttle across Jenny Lake by boat, transportation from the dock to a helibase by the park ambulance, and a flight to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. L.K. was treated for head injuries, fractured vertebrae, a separated and fractured sternum, four rib fractures, surgical fractures of the wrist and lower leg, and multiple lacerations and contusions. He remains in intensive care. Forty-one people were involved in the rescue effort. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE, 8/24]
In early August, a 50-year-old woman from South Bloomington, Minnesota, stole a car and a set of license plates, forged several prescriptions for painkillers, and set out on a vacation crime spree in Grand Teton and Yellowstone NPs. Grand Teton rangers who arrested her for possession of the stolen car and license plates discovered that she had between $5,000 and $7,000 worth of stolen merchandise in the car which had been taken from gift stores in Yellowstone, Grand Teton and Jackson, Wyoming. Due to a couple of legal technicalities, the assistant U.S. attorney declined to prosecute her for possession of the stolen car and plates. Bob Maguire, the law enforcement specialist for Grand Teton, helped her acquire a rented car in Jackson and learned that she was headed for Glacier NP. He called the park with a heads-up that she was en route, and continued to work with a suburban Minneapolis police department on filing felony charges for the false prescriptions. Several days later, Glacier assistant law enforcement specialist Steve Dodd spotted the woman near Logan Pass on Going-to-the-Sun Road. Surveillance was begun, and she was arrested shortly thereafter when she stole several items from Apgar Village stores and gift shops. She was charged shortly thereafter with possession of dangerous drugs without a prescription and falsely obtaining a Golden Access Passport. She also returned $279 in cash taken in a theft from a former friend's residence in Billings, Montana, which she took while traveling from Grand Teton to Glacier. She forfeited bond on all three Glacier charges a week later in U.S. magistrate's court and returned to Minnesota. [Fred Vanhorn, GLAC, 9/20]
On the afternoon of October 12th, rangers received a phone call from B.L. of Logan, Utah, reporting that her husband, Tom, had not returned from a climb in the Tetons. B.L. left his residence in Logan on the night of the 10th with plans to solo climb the next day, then return home that evening. He left no information as to what route or peak he was intending to climb, or at which parking area he would leave his vehicle. Rangers located B.L.'s vehicle at the String Lake trailhead just before 5 p.m., thereby narrowing down the search area to the central portion of the Teton Range. Shortly thereafter, two rangers began an aerial search in the park contract helicopter, with plans to fly primary trails and travel routes and to look for an attractant such as smoke or a mirror flash. Ten minutes into the flight, they spotted a white t-shirt hanging in a tree near the base of Symmetry Couloir, southeast of Symmetry Spire. Although it turned out that this shirt had nothing to do with the missing climber, it focused the aerial search in this general area. Within two minutes, a solo climber was seen in the upper reaches of a couloir west of Symmetry Spire. The individual matched the description of the missing climber; he appeared to be injured and unable to move. With daylight hours waning, the helicopter returned to the Lupine Meadows helibase and was configured for a shorthaul rescue. One ranger served as the shorthaul spotter while the other was lowered to the scene via a 150-foot shorthaul line. The climber, who turned out to be B.L., was stabilized and evacuated via shorthaul extraction, with a ranger attending him. Just under three hours had elapsed since the first report. This proved significant, as the search was begun with the knowledge that B.L. had gone climbing somewhere in the Tetons and was likely in the central portion of the Teton Range. It's estimated that a conventional, technical ground rescue to the nearest landing zone would have required, at a minimum, a team of 12 to 15 people, and would have extended well into the following day. B.L. remains hospitalized with a fractured clavicle and humerus, multiple fractures to the pelvis, and multiple abrasions and contusions. He had fallen an undetermined distance on the afternoon of the 11th after reaching the summit of Symmetry Spire via the east ridge. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE, 10/22]
On the afternoon of December 10th, D.B. of Darby, Montana, reportedly attempted to sell untagged wildlife parts to a store owner in Jackson, Wyoming. D.B. subsequently appeared at the state game and fish office in Jackson to inquire about possessing and selling wildlife parts; before the legality of those parts could be determined or properly tagged, D.B. fled. Game wardens transmitted a notice to be on the lookout for his truck to area enforcement agencies. A Grand Teton ranger patrolling Highway 89 spotted the vehicle near the junction with the airport highway shortly thereafter. Upon seeing the ranger and evidently suspecting that he was going to be stopped, D.B. pulled over immediately, stepped from his truck, and shot himself with a .270 caliber hunting rifle. The ranger, who was some 200 feet behind D.B., heard only the rifle shot. He waited for backup, secured the area, and approached with necessary and sufficient caution. D.B. was found dead on the roadway. D.B. was a convicted felon who was on probation for felony criminal mischief for shooting up a taxidermy shop in Montana. Illegally possessed wildlife parts and marijuana were found in his truck. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE, 1/4]
On May 23rd, a 26 year-old Jackson, Wyoming, woman was swept 2,000 feet down the east face of Mt. Teewinot by an avalanche. I.M. and her climbing partner had reached the summit of the 12,325-foot peak at about 9:15 a.m. and began their descent an hour later. They were several hundred feet below the summit when rapidly warming mid-day temperatures caused a significant wet snow avalanche. I.M. was struck by the avalanche from above and was partially buried in the debris pile near the toe of the slide. Her climbing partner descended to her position, extricated her from the debris, and moved her out of the main slide path. She was placed on a large boulder which afforded a degree of protection from additional slides. Rangers received word of the accident at 1:00 p.m. A team of six rescuers was transported to I.M.'s location via short-haul by the park's contract helicopter. She was stabilized, extracted by short-haul, and flown to a waiting ambulance at the Lupine Meadows helibase. She remains hospitalized in Jackson with multiple injuries, including head trauma, possible liver laceration and fractures of the back, ribs, clavicle, and jaw. I.M. described her 2,000 foot descent as "extremely violent." [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE, 5/25]
A skier fell approximately 2,500 vertical feet down the Skillet Glacier on Mount Moran around 7 a.m. on June 20th. J.A., 28, and two companions had climbed the glacier the previous night in order to avoid the avalanches that frequently occur in the mid-day heat. They descended from the 12,605- foot summit and skied down the 50 degree slope that forms the 'handle' of the 'skillet.' J.A. lost control on slush approximately 500 feet below the summit. He tried to stop himself from sliding with an ice axe, but ended up tumbling "like a rag doll" down the length of the glacier. J.A. suffered a dislocated hip and other minor injuries. His partners provided medical care and moved him out of the path of possible avalanches before descending to inform park dispatch. Four rangers were flown to the glacier in the park contract helicopter and were able to land near J.A.. A technical snow raising of about 200 feet was necessary to move J.A. to a helispot. He was then flown to a waiting ambulance and transported to St. John's Hospital in Jackson. J.A. attributes his survival to the helmet that he was wearing. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE, 6/28]
Rangers received a report of a cross-country skier with a broken leg at the Death Canyon trailhead on the morning of Saturday, April 15th. They found V.S., 53, of Baltimore, Maryland, suffering from a severely angulated left ankle. Investigation revealed that V.S. had set out alone for a five-day backcountry ski trip into the canyon on April 11th. While skiing a steep ravine that afternoon, his ski tip caught in a severe angle at the narrow base of a ravine, causing his ankle to snap. V.S. set up his tent and stayed the night at that location, leaving his boot on the foot of the broken leg. On Wednesday, realizing that he'd be listed as overdue until at least Saturday night, he decided to try and get himself out. He had plenty of food, but knew he needed medical attention. V.S. was about five miles from the trailhead. His injured leg wouldn't support any weight, so he left most of his gear at the campsite. V.S. employed two ski poles as crutches where possible, but had to cover most of the distance by dragging himself or sliding on the snow. He was on the move from Wednesday through Saturday morning, inching his way down the canyon and over the Phelps Lake moraine. At night, he sought shelter under fir trees, placing the branches in a pile to raise himself off the snow. He ate snow to keep hydrated, as he was unable to carry water. Overnight temperatures were in the mid-30s - moderate for April. A visitor found V.S. only 400 yards from the trailhead on Saturday morning. Rangers evacuated him to St. Johns Hospital in Jackson, where he's undergone two operations for an open fracture and is being treated for advanced stages of gangrene. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE, 4/18]
Skier G.O., 30, was seriously injured while descending a steep couloir on the afternoon of February 3rd. G.O. and two companions were attempting to ski Air Force Couloir into Granite Canyon when G.O. hit a rock with his ski and sustained a dislocated hip. His friends were able to move him to the floor of the canyon, where the exposure to the avalanche hazard was not as great. One partner remained with G.O. while the other sought help at nearby Teton Village ski area. Six rangers and ten volunteers from Teton County SAR responded. The rescuers were transported to the mouth of Granite Canyon by snow machine, then continued to ski to G.O.'s location. The operation was complicated by darkness and high avalanche danger. G.O. was treated on scene, then transported by toboggan and snow machine to a waiting ambulance, arriving around 11:30 p.m. G.O. was admitted to a hospital, where the dislocation was reduced. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE, 2/13]
A.W., 24, of Jackson Hole was killed in an avalanche in Granite Canyon on the afternoon of February 23rd. A.W. and three companions left the Jackson Hole Ski Resort along the park's southern boundary at 4 p.m. to ski a chute near Caledonia Couloir. The four soon reached a 40-foot cliff with a narrow 200 foot chute below. Two members of the party skied terrain to the right, and A.W. started to follow. When he was about 40 feet above the cliff, he triggered the release of an 18-inch snow slab, which took him over the cliff into the chute. The avalanche increased in size until it was 175 feet wide with a three-foot crown. A.W. was carried over 500 feet until the avalanche stopped near a creek, burying him about three feet deep. His companions were able to quickly locate and uncover him, but their resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful and had stopped before responding rescuers arrived at 6:30 p.m. Rangers recovered his body. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE, 2/25]
Park employee Jim "Ole" Olson was attacked and injured by a grizzly bear around 9:30 p.m. on the evening of March 7th. Olson was skiing alone in Berry Creek Canyon en route to the Upper Berry Creek patrol cabin when he encountered the bear in an open meadow. Olson had seen grizzly tracks earlier in the trip. He first became aware of the bear when it was approximately 20 meters to his right and behind him. Olson turned toward the bear, illuminating it with his head lamp, and changed position by crouching down. At the same time, the bear charged him and bit him on the right shoulder and buttocks. The bear was on Olson for a few seconds, then calmly retreated in the same direction from which it had come. Olson lay still for about five minutes before continuing to ski to the cabin. When he arrived, he was provided first aid and treatment by ranger Mike Nicklas, who was already at the cabin. Olson was evacuated the next morning, and rangers and a park wildlife biologist conducted an investigation of the incident. Preliminary results of the investigation indicate that the bear was an adult grizzly with no cubs present, and that it had been traversing the base of the ridge to the north of the meadow, about a mile southeast of Hechtman Lake at the edge of the woods. The bear had been headed west, but changed direction and walked to the southwest to a spot near the point where the incident occurred. When Olson appeared, the bear turned directly toward him and approached quickly. Olson underwent surgery to clean the wounds and repair a torn tricep at St. John's Hospital in Jackson and was released the following day. He is very sore but recovering nicely and back at work. The Berry Creek drainage will be closed to public entry for approximately a week to ten days. No action will be taken against the bear. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE, 3/15]
A bicycle accident in the park resulted in the death of former park employee J.P. on the afternoon of Sunday, April 15th. J.P. was bicycling alone north on Highway 89 when he was struck by a pick-up truck near Airport Junction. The truck, also northbound, was allegedly traveling at an excessive speed and did not stop at the scene of the accident. Witnesses called the Teton County Sheriff's Office to report the accident and identify the truck; the sheriff's office then notified the park's dispatch center. Rangers immediately responded in a park ambulance, but J.P. was pronounced dead at the scene. While several rangers were on scene at the accident, another ranger identified the suspect truck fleeing north towards Moran Junction. It was stopped at Elk Ranch Flats, just south of the junction. The driver, C.D.H., 22, and passenger W.B.D., 20, were arrested. C.D.H. was charged with suspicion of driving under the influence; W.B.D. was charged with suspicion of public intoxication. The two were transported to the Teton County Jail and an investigation is now underway. Additional charges are pending. J.P., a Jackson resident, worked for the park as a seasonal fee collection ranger at the Moose entrance station in 1996. He is survived by his wife, L.K., who also worked seasonally for the park as a dispatcher in 1995, 1996, and 1997. The park community has been especially hard hit by this tragic fatality. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE, 4/16]
Early on the morning of September 3rd, S.U. and T.L. of Casper, Wyoming, left Amphitheater Lake for a "light and fast" climb of the East Ridge of the Grand Teton. Since they were carrying 50 pounds of gear, they moved slowly. By 6 p.m., they were at the mountain's 13,100 foot elevation and S.U. was ill with a terrible headache, difficulty breathing and trouble with balance. They decided to bivouac at that location. S.U.'s condition worsened during the night, and at 4:30 a.m. T.L. called Teton dispatch by cell phone. He reported that S.U. was unable to stand or walk and that he heard gurgling in S.U.'s chest. Two rangers who were at the Lower Saddle climbed to S.U.'s position, arriving there at 7:40 a.m. S.U. was shorthauled with a screamer suit to Lupine Meadows due to unfavorable winds at the Lower Saddle. He was then taken to St. John's Hospital in Jackson and treated for high altitude pulmonary edema. This was the 28th major SAR that Grand Teton rangers have conducted this year. Fifteen short-hauls have been performed during ten of these rescues. [Rich Spomer, Acting CR, GRTE, 9/12]
C.S., 40, of Champlin, Minnesota, was mauled by a sow grizzly bear around 5 p.m. on October 23rd while hunting for elk near Moran Junction. C.S. and hunting partner M.R., also from Minnesota, were hunting in the Schoolhouse Hill area when they split up. The two men were about 200 yards from each other when C.S. heard a crashing noise and saw a young bear cub running away from him. Seconds later, he heard a louder crashing sound and was charged by an adult bear. C.S. went into the fetal position and remained that way until after the attack. He sustained severe puncture wounds, lacerations, and bruising, but his most serious injuries were bite wounds to his head and scalp. After the attack, C.S. contacted his hunting partner on a two-way radio, and the two walked out of the area together. He was treated at St. John's Hospital in Jackson, then flown to Wyoming Medical Center in Casper. Investigating rangers determined that this was an unintentionally provoked attack. No management action will be taken against the bear. This was the second grizzly bear mauling in the park this year. [Rich Spomer, Acting CR, GRTE, 11/4]
A bicycle accident in the park resulted in the death of former park employee J.P., 33, on the afternoon of Sunday, April 15, 2001. J.P. was riding on the paved portion of the road shoulder between the white fog line and the gravel shoulder when he was hit by a pickup heading northbound at a high rate of speed. The truck did not stop at the accident scene, but instead continued north at excessive speed. Rangers pursued and stopped the vehicle at Elk Ranch Flats, 18 miles north of the accident scene. The driver, C.H., 22, was charged with aggravated homicide by vehicle and hit and run; the passenger and owner of the vehicle, W.D., 20, was charged with being a party to a crime of driving under the influence and with hit and run. Alcohol was a significant contributing factor in the accident (W.D. threw open containers of alcohol out of the truck window after the accident). On January 25th, C.H. was sentenced to serve between five-and-a-half and fifteen years in prison for the charge of aggravated homicide by vehicle, and was sentenced to an additional concurrent year for hit and run. C.H. maintained a not guilty plea for several months in hopes of getting a reduced sentence under a plea agreement. Fourteen rangers took part in meticulously collecting evidence and put together an overwhelming case, causing C.H. to eventually plead guilty to an open sentencing. The case was prosecuted in state court in order to utilize these specific charges rather than a federal manslaughter charge. J.P. was a former seasonal entrance station ranger; his wife, Lee Killian, is a former park dispatcher. [Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE, 2/8]
On July 1st, D.R., 47, was flying his V-tail glider airplane near the top of the Grand Teton when the aircraft wing struck the east side of the mountain approximately 100 feet below the summit, causing the plane to crash on the North Face. The glider was traveling east to west into a 40 mile per hour wind when the accident occurred. At approximately 5:15 p.m., the park received a report of a possible glider accident via cell phone. The park's contract helicopter was dispatched, but rangers were unable to locate the wreckage by the end of daylight flying hours. The search resumed on the morning of July 2nd and rangers were then able to locate debris from the crash, which was scattered on the 2,200-foot-high north face of the Grand Teton. The body was later spotted near the base of a large buttress call the Grandstand. Due to its precarious location, a thorough risk analysis was completed to ensure safe access for both the helicopter and rescue personnel. A team of five rangers was flown to Teton Glacier. They traversed very difficult terrain, including a wide bergshrund (a large crack formed by the glacier moving downhill away form the rock) and massive chimney systems that funneled 2,000 feet of notoriously loose rock from the upper face. It took all day to successfully recover the body. It was flown off the mountain on the morning of July 3rd. [Bill Holda, Acting CR, GRTE, 7/23]
D.J., 44, and R.W. were climbing the North Face of the Grand Teton on the evening of July 15th. R.W. led a pitch in the Guano Chimney and was belaying as D.J. followed when falling rocks hit D.J., knocking him unconscious for about five minutes. R.W. lowered him to a ledge and requested help via cell phone. Two park rangers were flown in by helicopter short haul to a ledge 100 feet below the two just before dark as a thunderstorm approached. Rangers reached them during the storm and spent the night with the climbers in a small cave. In the morning, another rockfall twice caused rescuers to change plans, but the helicopter pilot and a ranger spotter were eventually able to short-haul the four from the North Face. D.J. was found to have an inter-cranial bleed in addition to facial fractures and lacerations. [Bill Holda, Acting CR, GRTE]
A ranger stopped on Highway 89 on March 2nd to assist a motorist who
apparently slid off the roadway and become stuck in the snow. An open
beer can was seen next to the 23-year-old male driver. The ranger asked
him repeatedly to get out of the car for a field sobriety test. He also
told him to put on his gloves and hat, but the driver declined to do so.
When he finally got out, the ranger asked him if he had any weapons with
him; the driver replied that there was a shotgun behind his seat. The
driver then began to complain about the cold weather. The ranger asked
again if he had any other weapons, simultaneously noting a slight bulge
and heavy hang to the driver's jacket. The driver became increasingly
fidgety and reached up to unzip his jacket. The ranger told him not to
do so several times, then drew his pepper spray. The driver then ran
into the highway, approaching passing vehicles. The ranger dropped his
pepper spray, drew his sidearm, and moved to a cover position while
continuing to command the driver to desist. A second ranger arrived
moments later, and the driver was arrested with only minor resistance. A
loaded Walther P22 was removed from the breast pocket of his coat. It's
believed that he refused to put his gloves on in order to permit better
access to his weapon. Several charges are pending.
On March 8th, a skier became stuck on a cliff after leaving the
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and entering Granite Canyon. T.D.,
30, of Fresno, California, and several companions left the ski area and
entered the park's backcountry without packs, shovels, probes,
transceivers or knowledge of the terrain that they'd be skiing. T.D.
soon got stuck on a cliff, unable to go either up or down. A helicopter
was used to recon the area and attempted to land rangers at the top of
the canyon. The effort failed, however, due to deteriorating weather
conditions. Rangers and Teton SAR personnel took the tram to the top of
the ski area, arriving at the top of Granite Canyon just before
nightfall. They skied several steep chutes by headlamp and arrived above
T.D.'s location before 8 p.m. A ranger was lowered 120 feet to
T.D., who had been clinging to the cliff for about seven hours.
T.D. was able to hike and ski the remaining steep terrain, making it
possible for all rescue personnel to exit the canyon by midnight.
Rangers' response to two separate medical calls on May 31st resulted
in the "save" of a diabetic patient in the Colter Bay trailer park. An
initial response to the Jackson Lake Lodge for an unconscious male
required a transport by the North District ambulance to the hospital in
Jackson. While the ambulance was temporarily out of the area, North
District rangers were called to a diabetic emergency involving a 69-year
old woman at the trailer park. A ranger/medic arrived at the scene and
determined that she was unconscious and unresponsive and had a blood
glucose level of 41. He immediately administered oral glucose and oxygen
while maintaining the patient's airway, continuing treatment for 45
minutes while the South District ambulance responded to the location.
These actions resulted in her full recovery and release later that night
from the hospital.
Three members of an outdoor club from Provo, Utah, became stranded
while attempting to climb the Middle Teton on Saturday, June 7th. Two
separate parties from the group were trying to "race" each other to the
summit of the Middle Teton on separate routes when one of the parties
got off route and became stranded on precipitous and icy cliffs. The
climbing party of J.J. and P.J., both 28, ended up
near Ellingwood Couloir. The second climbing party of Adam Dover, 27,
and Steve Risenmay, 26, could not safely descend the Southwest Couloir
when Dover became exhausted. Risenmay left Dover, eventually locating
park rangers who had begun a rescue of the J.-J. party.
Unfortunately, one report gave inaccurate details as to the physical
condition and situation of Dover, claiming Dover was hypothermic and
unresponsive (he was neither). This caused rangers to redirect rescue
efforts from the J.-J. party in order to reach Dover first. The
two simultaneous rescues began on Saturday afternoon and lasted well
into Sunday, as rangers worked continually throughout the night. The
rescue of Dover required multiple lowerings over hard-packed snow from
the Southwest Couloir. The rescue staff stayed with Dover overnight,
monitoring his medical condition and providing him with food, water and
shelter. Dover was assisted to the trailhead Sunday morning. The rescue
of the J.-J. party required the set up of difficult,
consecutive lowerings and limited down-climbing belays to descend over
1800 feet over ice-covered rocks in darkness. J.J. and P.J. were
able to hike out on their own after being rescued from the Ellingwood
Couloir. The two parties failed to properly plan for the climbs, did not
know where they were on the mountain, were not prepared for the terrain
in which they wandered, and were not properly equipped for the nature of
their proposed climbs. Their predicament, coupled with erroneous
information, prompted two full scale, highly technical rescues involving
ten rangers. This rescue was the fourth major search and rescue in the
park this year. IC for the incident was Brandon Torres.
On Saturday, June 21st, a search effort involving more than 36
searchers from Grand Teton National Park, Teton County Search and
Rescue, Exum Mountain Guides and two interagency helicopters culminated
in the discovery of the body of missing 23-year-old climber N.B.
of Stevensville, Michigan. N.B. had been reported missing on Friday,
June 20th, at 9:30 p.m. by her traveling companion, D.H., of
Walled Lake, Michigan. The two had been camping and hiking together in
the park for four days before deciding to climb the Middle Teton via the
Southwest Couloir on Friday. At the base of the Middle Teton, the two
separated when N.B. went to explore a waterfall near Spalding Falls.
D.H. continued into the South Fork of Garnet Canyon, where he
joined two other mountaineers. After climbing the Middle Teton,
D.H. returned over the same route to look for N.B.. When a storm
front moved in, D.H. hiked out of the canyon, returned to the
campsite at the Jenny Lake campground, and reported N.B. missing to
park dispatch. Two park rangers equipped with rescue and medical gear
hiked up Garnet Canyon to the place where N.B. was last seen and
searched for her all night. At first light on Saturday, the park
launched a major search effort. At 5 p.m., one of the search teams
located N.B.'s body in the South Fork of Garnet Canyon at the base of a
steep, snow-filled gully. N.B. fell approximately 800 feet from the
crest of the East Ridge of Middle Teton and died of massive trauma from
the fall. Dan Burgette was the incident commander. This marks the
first mountain fatality in the park this year.
Seasonal park employee Lori Sievers, 22, was reported overdue from a
hike on Monday morning when she failed to return as planned. Rangers
immediately began searching for her. Participating in the operation were
the park's contract helicopter and 40 people from the park, Teton County
SAR, and Wyoming K-9 SAR. On Tuesday, the search was escalated to
include two helicopters and 90 people, adding more employees from the
park, the Bridger-Teton National Forest, Exum Mountain Guides, and a
20-person fire crew. A Type 2 incident management team has been
established to oversee the operation. Because the actual location of
Sievers' hike was uncertain, rangers conducted aerial reconnaissance
flights over Hanging Canyon, Symmetry Couloir and Laurel Canyon. At 9
p.m. on Monday evening, the park received a call from another hiker who
said that he'd seen a lone female hiker matching Sievers' description on
Sunday near Lake of the Crags. Search efforts are continuing.
On Tuesday, July 8th, a highly-coordinated interagency search effort
involving more than 100 searchers from Grand Teton National Park, Teton
County Search and Rescue, Wyoming K-9 Search and Rescue, Bridger-Teton
National Forest, Exum Mountain Guides, the Forest Service, and two
interagency helicopters culminated in the discovery of the body of
missing 22-year-old park employee Lori Sievers of Langley, Washington.
The search covered rugged, snowy, and steep mountainous terrain and had
been underway since early the previous morning. Friends and coworkers
reported Sievers missing when she did not return from her solo hike on
Sunday. Strong gusty winds on Tuesday grounded air reconnaissance
flights much of the day, but searchers continued to scour the Hanging
Canyon area and adjacent terrain on foot. As winds subsided on Tuesday
evening, spotters from one of the helicopters located Sievers' body on
the lower slopes of Symmetry Spire, southwest of Baxter's Pinnacle. It
appears that Sievers took a significant fall and died of traumatic
injuries sometime on Sunday afternoon. Lori Sievers was working her
first summer season as a biological science technician in the park. In
the past, she worked in Arizona at both the Tonto National Forest and
Grand Canyon National Park. Sievers had graduated from Colorado State
University in December, 2002, with a BS in wildlife biology, achieving a
4.0 GPA and graduating cum laude. She was the recipient of many
scholarly and work-related awards and a member of various honor
societies. Lori Sievers was an outstanding employee and a wonderful
asset to our park community and she will be greatly missed. This marks
the second mountain fatality in the park this year.
D.A., his wife, and two teenage daughters were staying at the
concession-owned Colter Bay Tent Cabins on the night of July 15th.
Although area temperatures had been unseasonably high, D.A. decided to
light a fire in the tent's potbellied stove before the family went to
bed at 11:30 p.m. After several unsuccessful attempts to light the fire
with wood and paper, D.A. removed a lid on the top of the stove and
poured Coleman fuel into the opening. The smoldering fire immediately
burst into flames and quickly spread to the tent walls and ceiling. The
family evacuated the burning structure and the North District Fire
Brigade was summoned. Nearby campers assisted by dousing the fire with
extinguishers; fire brigade members put out the fire and conducted the
investigation. Fortunately, D.A. suffered only minor injuries, but the
family clothing, camping gear and bicycles were destroyed. The
tent-cabin is constructed of a combination of log and canvas walls with
a canvas roof. The canvas was treated with a flame resistant coating
that ensured the complete structure did not ignite and burn, but
significant damage was incurred.
Four visitors floating the Snake River in a borrowed, 12-foot
inflatable raft flipped the raft on the "Rookery" logjam below Deadman's
Bar Launch on July 5th. This was the second river accident the group
experienced on the same trip. After the first accident, the group was
cautioned on the complexity of the river, but they were determined to
continue. A river ranger who was watching the group saw the second
accident. When the raft flipped, B.H., 62, was swept under the
logjam until only her head and shoulders were above water. B.H. was
just about to go underwater and was hanging on to a log with one arm
when the ranger extricated her, narrowly escaping being swept under a
sizeable logjam. The park had previously issued a press release to
heighten the public's awareness of river conditions and water
temperatures following several river incidents this summer.
On the afternoon of July 26th, two groups of climbers, separated by
150 feet, were ascending the upper Exum Ridge around the 13,000 foot
elevation when an active lightning storm moved over the Tetons. The lead
group was climbing the Grand's Friction Pitch, a 5.5 climb, when
lightning struck and killed E.S., 25, of Idaho Falls, Idaho,
and injured five others. C.S., E.S.'s husband, was sitting
next to her and belaying R.L., 27, when the single lightning
strike traveled down the ridge, severely burning R.L. who fell off
the pitch. R.L. was found swinging in a pendulum fashion, mid-face on
a vertical wall. He was unconscious, hanging from his harness and bent
over backwards from the waist. Three other climbers - J.B.,
27, R.L., 25, and J.T., 29 - were
standing and anchored at the base of the Friction Pitch when the
lightning struck. The impact blew all three of them off the ledge; they
fell 70 feet and were stopped only when their rope wrapped around rock
horns and caught in cracks. Rangers launched one of the most complex
rescues in the history of the park. A contract helicopter flew 11
rangers to the Lower Saddle and inserted them at the top of Friction
Pitch via short-haul. The short-haul technique involved flying two
rangers at a time, suspended below the helicopter on a 100-foot long
line, and inserting them directly at the top of the pitch. Rangers began
setting anchors, retrieving stranded climbers, performing medical
assessments and packaging the five patients who were all perched on
steep technical terrain. By evening, the patients began suffering from
hypothermia from the cold mountain temperatures. One by one, the
helicopter short-hauled them to the Lower Saddle, where they were loaded
into another helicopter and flown to the valley floor. R.L. was
packaged into a litter mid-face on Friction Pitch and raised to a ledge
60 feet above. In fading light, R.L., the last patient to be removed
from the mountain, was short-hauled from the Exum Ridge to Lupine
Meadows, then flown to a regional trauma center via medevac helicopter.
All five patients were admitted into area hospitals. R.L. and
Bancroft are listed in serious condition; the other three are listed in
good condition. This marks the eleventh major search and rescue in the
park this year and the third fatality.
In the midst of a massive ground and air search for a missing park
employee on July 7th, park dispatch received a 911-cell phone call
reporting an injured person in Garnet Canyon. J.A.P., 17, a
member of a high school geology group, fell on a steep snowfield, slid
for over 200 feet, and came to rest in a precarious position,
sustaining several serious injuries. J.A.P. was hiking at 10,000 feet
in the South Fork of Garnet Canyon, west of the Caves area. The
remaining members of the 20-person school group were stranded on the
same snowfield from where J.A.P. had fallen and were without proper
equipment for self-arrest. The Grand Teton/Bridger-Teton NF contract
helicopter was immediately redirected from the first search and two park
rangers were flown to the injured hiker via short haul. The short-haul
technique involved flying two rangers, suspended below the helicopter on
a 100-foot long line, to the canyon, then lowering them to the accident
scene. J.A.P. was immobilized on a scoop stretcher with full c-spine
precautions and lifted out using the same short-haul technique. She was
transported by park ambulance to a Jackson hospital, where she was
admitted and treated for multiple injuries, including a tension
pneumothorax, burst fractures of three vertebra with pieces of bone
lodged in the spinal cord, and several less serious injuries. The
remaining members of the school group were led to safety from their
hazardous location by a guide from Jackson Hole Mountain Guides while
rangers continued the search for the missing person.
On Friday, March 12th, rangers rescued an injured climber from the Grand Teton after she fell a thousand feet while descending from the summit area. B.D., 27, and her climbing partner, Matt Neuner, 25, both from Jackson, Wyoming, were reported as overdue when they failed to return from a one-day climb of the Grand Teton on Thursday. The pair had been benighted near the Teton summit. They were descending from the Upper Saddle on Friday when B.D. fell and tumbled approximately 1,000 feet, coming to rest near the Black Dyke at the mountain's 12,000 foot level. Climbers near the Lower Saddle responded to Neuner's call for help, and one of them skied down Garnet Canyon to notify rangers. The descending skier met with rangers who had begun a search in Garnet Canyon for the overdue climbers. The Teton County contract helicopter was available and ferried the rangers to the Lower Saddle. The rangers climbed from there to B.D.'s position, assessed her injuries, and prepared her for transport off the mountain. Due to daylight constraints, deteriorating weather conditions and the severity of her injuries, rescuers undertook a short-haul operation. The patient, immobilized on a rescue litter, was lifted off the mountain with attending ranger Chris Harder via a 100-foot long line and transported to a landing zone at Moose. B.D. was transferred to an air ambulance helicopter from Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center and flown to the trauma center in Idaho Falls. At the time of this report, B.D. had been released from intensive care and was slowly recovering from a severe head injury. [Submitted by Andy Fisher, District Ranger]
On the afternoon of Thursday, June 17th, M.P., 48, of
Jackson, was heading south on Highway 26/89/191 when he lost control of
his 1994 Chevy truck. The tires on the passenger side of the vehicle
drifted off the edge of the pavement; when M.P. tried to turn back onto
the highway, he evidently overcorrected, causing the truck to flip over
once and come to rest on its side. At the time of the accident, M.P.
and coworker Stanley Wood, 46, of Wilson, Wyoming, were returning to
Jackson in a company truck from a job site at the northern end of the
valley. The two men work for Chimney Sweeps of Jackson Hole. Neither
M.P. nor Wood was wearing a seatbelt and both men were thrown from the
truck. The park was notified, and rangers immediately responded. When
they arrived, they determined that M.P. had expired. Wood survived and
was found sitting on the side of the road. He was taken to St. Johns
Medical Center in Jackson for treatment of his injuries and later flown
to Eastern Idaho Medical Center in Idaho Falls for additional treatment.
Rangers closed the highway to all traffic between Moose junction and
Moran junction to provide safe access for emergency vehicles and
emergency medical personnel responding to the accident. The road
remained closed for four hours so that rangers could conduct an
investigation of the accident scene and remove the truck.
Rangers and the park's contract helicopter rescued an injured climber
from Garnet Canyon on Saturday afternoon, June 19th. B.M., a
35-year-old from New York City, sustained multiple injuries when he lost
control while glissading on a snowfield and tumbled approximately 150 to
200 feet over snow and rock. B.M. was a member of a guided party led
by the Jackson Hole Mountain Guides; the group was descending from the
guide service's high camp and was west of Spalding Falls, near the level
of the Petzoldt Caves (10,100 feet), when B.M. fell around
11 a.m.B.M. was carrying an ice axe, but was
not wearing a helmet at the time. Guide Eddie Horney descended to a
place where cell phone service was available and notified his office of
the accident. Jackson Hole Mountain Guide staff relayed the message to
Teton Interagency Dispatch at 11:45
a.m.Rangers assessed the situation and decided to coordinate a rescue
with the assistance of the park's contract helicopter. Five rangers were
flown to the helicopter landing zone in the Garnet Canyon Meadows. The
rangers ascended about 600 feet to B.M., assessed his condition,
stabilized him for transport, and manually lowered him to the Garnet
Meadows in an evacuation litter, using a series of snow anchors and
belayed lowerings. B.M. incurred lacerations to his head and was
experiencing pain in his abdomen, right shoulder, left shoulder and
ribs. After rangers administered emergency medical assistance, B.M.
was flown by helicopter to Lupine Meadows, then transported by ambulance
to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for further treatment. This
marks the third major search and rescue in Grand Teton National Park
this year.
On the afternoon of Thursday, June 17th, M.P., 48, of
Jackson, was heading south on Highway 26/89/191 when he lost control of
his 1994 Chevy truck. The tires on the passenger side of the vehicle
drifted off the edge of the pavement; when M.P. tried to turn back onto
the highway, he evidently overcorrected, causing the truck to flip over
once and come to rest on its side. At the time of the accident, M.P.
and coworker Stanley Wood, 46, of Wilson, Wyoming, were returning to
Jackson in a company truck from a job site at the northern end of the
valley. The two men work for Chimney Sweeps of Jackson Hole. Neither
M.P. nor Wood was wearing a seatbelt and both men were thrown from the
truck. The park was notified, and rangers immediately responded. When
they arrived, they determined that M.P. had expired. Wood survived and
was found sitting on the side of the road. He was taken to St. Johns
Medical Center in Jackson for treatment of his injuries and later flown
to Eastern Idaho Medical Center in Idaho Falls for additional treatment.
Rangers closed the highway to all traffic between Moose junction and
Moran junction to provide safe access for emergency vehicles and
emergency medical personnel responding to the accident. The road
remained closed for four hours so that rangers could conduct an
investigation of the accident scene and remove the truck.
Rangers rescued an injured climber from the Southwest Couloir on the
Middle Teton on Friday, July 9th. L.L.D., 20, who was visiting from
Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, was climbing with eleven other companions
when he slipped on hard-packed snow and could not successfully use an
ice axe to arrest his slide on the icy conditions. L.L.D. injured an
ankle when he hit some rocks. Rangers climbing in the vicinity of the
Southwest Couloir responded and provided basic medical assistance to the
injured L.L.D. at approximately 10:50 a.m. Due to the nature of his
injured ankle and deteriorating weather conditions, a decision was made
to evacuate L.L.D. by air. He was placed in a Teton Interagency contract
helicopter and flown to the park's Lupine Meadows rescue facility at
12:30 p.m. L.L.D. and his climbing companions are part of an alpine club
of Mexico. Fifty members of the group visited the park and were hiking
in and around Garnet Canyon at the time of the accident. This marks the
fifth major search and rescue operation in the park this
year.
On Monday, July 19th, rangers began searching for D.B., a
49-year-old climber from Butte, Montana, who was reported overdue Monday
morning. D.B. headed into the mountains early on the morning of
Friday, July 16th, to attempt a solo climb of the Grand Traverse —
a technical climbing route that begins with Teewinot Mountain, winds
around the ridge line to Nez Perce, and summits eleven of the major
peaks in the range, including Mt. Owen and the Grand Teton. Fred Donich,
D.B.'s friend and climbing partner, called the park on Monday morning
and advised that D.B. was overdue. Rangers learned that D.B. spoke
with his mother on the morning of July 15th, when he called her on his
cell phone. D.B.'s car was located in the Lupine Meadows parking lot;
his cell phone and a pair of crampons were in the car. D.B. is an
experienced and skilled mountaineer who has climbed extensively in the
Teton Range. He intended to complete the Grand Traverse in a single day.
Twenty searchers from the park and the Bridger Teton National Forest
were involved in the search on Monday. The park's contract helicopter
began flying aerial reconnaissance flights over the search area Monday
afternoon, once weather permitted. Initial search strategies included
looking for recent tracks in snow and concentrating on areas of
identified high probability. Three ground search teams assisted in these
efforts. Monday's search efforts continued until dark and resumed
yesterday morning at 6 a.m. The search more
than doubled in size on Tuesday, incorporating another 50 personnel and
a second helicopter from Yellowstone National Park. As of late
yesterday, approximately 70 people were involved in search efforts,
including personnel from the park, Teton County Search and Rescue, an
interagency helitack crew, and five teams of search dogs from Wyoming
K-9 Search and Rescue. Search efforts were concentrated on the Grand
Traverse itself as well as areas into which D.B. may have descended
due to unexpected factors such as injury or weather.
On the afternoon of July 8th, rangers responded to a motorcycle
accident a mile south of the Triangle X Dude Ranch on Highway 89.
C."C."F., 51, of Lowell, Oregon, was heading north
when he lost control and laid the bike down on the roadway. Teton
Interagency Dispatch received a cell phone call from a passing motorist
who came upon the accident scene shortly after it happened and rangers
immediately responded. Although C.F. was alert when rangers first
arrived, his condition deteriorated while he was being transported to
St. John's Medical Center and park emergency medical technicians had to
begin CPR while en route. Medical personnel continued CPR at the
hospital until C.F. was pronounced dead. At the time of the
accident, C.F. and companions K.P., 61, and R.L., 59,
were traveling together on separate motorcycles on their way to tour
Yellowstone National Park. For reasons not yet known, C.F. tipped
his bike sideways while trying to avoid a car which was parked along the
roadway. His motorcycle skidded toward the car while he was thrown from
his bike and tumbled on the asphalt. Park rangers closed Highway 89 for
approximately 15 minutes and resumed one-way traffic for three hours
until an investigation could be completed and wreckage
removed.
On Saturday, July 24th, rangers responded to a cell phone call from a
hiker in Avalanche Canyon who was requesting assistance for a friend who
had become stranded on a steep, 200-foot rock wall with a 40-foot
overhang below. O.L., 19, of Shorewood, Wisconsin, and C.C., 20, from
Liberty, Missouri — both employees of the Grand Teton Lodge Company
— were hiking off trail in lower Avalanche Canyon and decided to
climb up out of the canyon to attempt to reach the top of a steep, rocky
ridge on the north side. O.L. became stuck on the steep rock face and
was unable to either ascend or descend safely. C.C. placed a cell phone
call to rangers at 3:30 p.m. requesting assistance; she was unsure
whether O.L. had fallen and was not in verbal contact with him. Due to
the complex terrain in lower Avalanche Canyon, the inability to pinpoint
O.L.'s exact location, and the fact that he might have fallen and been
injured, rangers requested the assistance of the park's contract
helicopter. The helicopter flew aerial reconnaissance and was able to
quickly locate the party at 4:25 p.m. The helicopter dropped four
rangers off at Lake Taminah, the nearest possible landing zone; they
hiked down the canyon, then ascended to a point just above where O.L.
was stuck and rappelled approximately 200 feet down to him. Rangers then
lowered O.L. 100 feet into a nearby gully, where he could walk out
safely. Rangers escorted O.L. and C.C. by headlamp out of the canyon,
reaching the trailhead at 10:30 p.m. This marks the seventh major search
and rescue effort in the park this year.
On Wednesday, July 28th, rangers made two rescues of injured parties
— one from a point between Middle Teton and South Teton, the other
from Disappointment Peak. The first occurred on Wednesday morning. M.M.,
30, of Rexburg, Idaho, had been hit by falling rocks around 5 p.m. the
previous evening while climbing the Chouinard Ridge on the Middle Teton
with her husband, G.M. Although M.M. was injured by a rock that struck
her just below the back of her climbing helmet, she and G.M. continued
to climb and summit the Middle Teton so that they could safely descend
an easier route via the Southwest Couloir on the Middle Teton. By the
time the climbers reached a point just below the saddle between Middle
Teton and South Teton, M.M. was not able to continue further. G.M. hiked
back up to the saddle and made a 911 call for assistance late Tuesday
evening. Two rangers with emergency medical gear began hiking from
Lupine Meadows trailhead into the South Fork of Garnet Canyon within an
hour of the emergency call and reached M.M. at about 2:45 a.m. on
Wednesday morning. Four other rangers packed in extra medical equipment
and camping gear to care for the injured M.M. until the park's contract
helicopter could fly with early morning light. On Wednesday morning, the
rangers carried M.M. by hand litter to a helicopter landing spot just
east of the Middle and South Teton saddle. She was flown out, then taken
to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for treatment of her injuries.
G.M. applied emergency first aid to his wife and the two climbers
practiced good self rescue procedures until park rangers could reach
them. They were well prepared for their climbing excursion and had extra
clothing and raingear with them. The second helicopter-assisted rescue
and evacuation took place at 4:30 p.m. E.M., 22, of Moose,
Wyoming, dislocated her shoulder while attempting to stop herself from
sliding after she slipped on hard-packed snow in the Spoon Couloir on
Disappointment Peak. E.M. slid about 150 feet before running into rocks
and sustaining additional injuries. Teton Interagency dispatch received
a cell phone call from E.M.' hiking partner Steve, also of Moose, about
11:40 a.m. Rangers were just completing the transfer of equipment and
rescue personnel from the South Fork of Garnet Canyon after the morning
evacuation. The park's contract helicopter shuttled six rangers to a
landing spot on the flanks of Disappointment Peak near the Grand Teton.
The rangers then descended the Spoon Couloir, provided emergency medical
care to E.M., and lowered her to the bottom of the couloir after placing
her in a climbing harness affixed to ropes. They helped E.M. walk to a
spot just above Amphitheater Lake, where the helicopter landed and
picked her up for a flight to the Lupine Meadows rescue facility. E.M.
was then transferred to a park ambulance and transported to St. John's
Medical Center for treatment of her injuries. E.M. was wearing tennis
shoes and using ski poles, rather than an ice axe, at the time of the
accident.
Rangers and Teton County Sheriff deputies responded to an emergency
911 call from W.W., a resident of Kelly, Wyoming, at
10:45 p.m. on Monday, August 2nd. W.W. reported
that he was the victim of an armed robbery that had just occurred along
the Gros Ventre Road between the Gros Ventre Campground and the
community of Kelly. W.W. was driving home when he was hailed by
a man who appeared to be distressed and in need of assistance.
When W.W. stopped to provide help, the man pulled a hunting knife on
him and demanded that he empty his pockets and hand over his car
keys. The man took some money, threw both W.W.'s wallet and car
keys into the sagebrush, and proceeded to walk westward on the Gros
Ventre Road. The suspect is reported to be a white male with a full
beard, who was wearing a gray sweatshirt, khaki shorts, and sandals at
the time of the robbery. Seven park rangers and six deputy
sheriffs used a search dog and night vision goggles to comb areas along
the Gros Ventre Road and throughout the campground looking for the
man. Although search efforts were temporarily halted at
2:30 a.m. Tuesday, park rangers resumed the search
at daybreak. It was continuing at the time of the report yesterday
afternoon.
Rangers dealt with three SAR operations over the course of Monday, August 9th: J.W., 50, of Southampton, Pennsylvania, was evacuated by helicopter from Fox Creek pass around noon after sustaining injuries to his ankle and knee in a fall. J.W. was hiking the Teton Crest trail with his wife and four companions on Sunday, August 8th, when he lost his footing on some loose rocks, twisting his ankle and knee. The group setup camp near the point where the accident took place. A physician who was hiking in the area examined J.W.'s injuries, then continued hiking until she encountered a backcountry ranger and reported the accident. The ranger found the party, assessed J.W.'s injuries, then called interagency dispatch to report the accident. Due his injuries, the lack of horses for evacuation and the party's distance from the trailhead, rangers decided to use the park's contract helicopter. J.W. and his wife were flown to Lupine Meadows and then proceeded on to St. John's Medical Center. J.L., 49, of Seattle, Washington, was hiking by himself, carrying a heavy pack filled with photography equipment, when he caught his leg between two boulders near the shore of Surprise Lake and injured his lower leg. A passing hiker used a cell phone to call interagency dispatch at 4:30 p.m. A helicopter flew two rangers to an LZ near Amphitheater Lake; the rangers hiked from there to J.L.'s location and provided him with medical care. Four more rangers were flown to the landing zone with a rescue litter. The six rangers then carried him back, flew him to Lupine Meadows, and transported him to St. John's Medical Center. A.M., 32, of Greenville, South Carolina, sprained her knee when she
slipped on a boulder during an ascent to Lower Saddle with Exum Mountain
Guides on August 8th. She was able to ascend to Lower Saddle with
assistance, but could not climb the Grand Teton with the rest of her
group. The group descended on Monday afternoon. Guides placed a cell
phone call from just above Garnet Canyon Meadows at 4:30 p.m., asking
for help from rangers. An off-duty ranger who had been climbing in the
area helped transport A.M. through the boulder field above the Platforms
to a point where a park wrangler with a horse could meet them. The
evacuation concluded around 9:30 p.m.
Teton Interagency Dispatch received a phone call from Jackson
Lake Lodge yesterday morning, requesting emergency medical assistance
for a wagon driver who received head injuries in an accident which
occurred during the morning breakfast ride from Jackson Lake Lodge.
P.R., 51, was driving a horse-drawn wagon when the horses became spooked
by a moose in the willow bushes and suddenly ran for about 430 feet
before stopping near a grove of trees. P.R. was thrown off her buckboard
seat and injured as she fell to the ground. The accident occurred about
three miles west of the lodge, along an old wagon road that runs between
Jackson Lake Lodge and Colter Bay Village. Rangers responded from the
nearby Colter Bay Ranger Station and a park ambulance arrived shortly
after at 9 a.m. Park emergency medical technicians provided initial
medical care to P.R., but, due to her injuries, summoned a life flight
helicopter for transport to a local hospital. Portneuf Regional Medical
Center sent a life flight ship which arrived at 9:50 a.m.and flew P.R.
to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls for further
treatment. When the accident occurred, two lodge guests were riding
aboard the wagon with P.R. Neither of these passengers was injured in
the incident. P.R. lives in the park with her husband, J., who is the
senior vice president and chief operating officer for Grand Teton Lodge
Company.
Exum Mountain Guides called rangers at 7:20 p.m. on the evening of
Tuesday, August 17th, to report that a falling rock had struck and
injured the leg of one of their clients, A.C., 41, of
Schaumburg, Illinois, while he was climbing near the lower end of a
fixed rope below the Lower Saddle. Exum guides provided emergency
medical care to the injured A.C. and assisted him in reaching an
overnight hut located on the Lower Saddle. Due to his injuries, A.C.
was not able to walk further. The park's contract helicopter, returning
from another assignment, was diverted to the area to evacuate the
injured climber. A.C. was airlifted from the Lower Saddle at
approximately 8:10 p.m. and taken to the
Lupine Meadows rescue cache, where he was then transported by Exum staff
to St. John's Medical Center for further treatment. This helicopter
evacuation marks the twelfth major search and rescue effort in the park
this year.
Rangers responded to a report of an injured climber on Teewinot
Mountain on the evening of September 5th. J.H., 31, of
Arlington, Texas, injured his right ankle after falling approximately
ten to twelve feet over a ledge while descending the mountain. J.H.
and six companions had attempted to reach Teewinot's summit and were
descending the steep East Face around 4
p.m. when the fall occurred. Two members of the party hurried down to the
Jenny Lake Ranger Station to report the accident and request assistance.
Rangers assessed the situation, evaluated the risk to rescue personnel
as well as to the injured party, and decided that a wheeled litter
evacuation would be safer than a helicopter evacuation. After contacting
rangers at the Lower Saddle and verifying that all climbing parties had
returned from the Grand Teton, it was determined that the chances of
another accident were low and that sufficient numbers of rescue
personnel were available to assist with evacuating J.H. J.H.'s
relatively minor injury and the absence of a suitable helicopter landing
zone near his location were also contributing factors in the decision to
utilize a wheeled litter for evacuation. Nine rangers and two
firefighters ascended approximately 3,200 feet to reach J.H. near
the top of the Apex Trail — about 10,000 feet in elevation —
at 7:30 p.m. After providing emergency
medical care and stabilizing J.H. for transport, rangers began
manually lowering him to the valley floor. In steeper areas, where the
climber's trail was not adequate to accommodate the wheeled litter
safely, rangers used a rope and anchor system to conduct a series of
lowerings to bring J.H. down the mountain. The rescue party reached
Lupine Meadows at 10:40 p.m., and
members of J.H.'s climbing party drove him to St. John's Medical
Center in Jackson for further treatment.
On October 8th, an off-duty park employee contacted the subdistrict ranger for the Buffalo Fork Subdistrict at her residence and reported that he'd just been threatened and possibly assaulted by another motorist in the Moran housing area. The employee reported that he had been northbound on Highway 89, inside the park, when a pickup truck rapidly approached from the rear and began tailgating his vehicle. As the employee turned off the highway into the housing area, the pickup truck operator, identified as M.S.H., 42, of DuBois, Wyoming, passed on the gravel shoulder. The employee responded by pulling to the side of the road and raising both hands in the air. M.S.H. then backed his vehicle up and walked to the park employee's vehicle, where he verbally threatened the operator. As the park employee picked up his cell phone to call for assistance, M.S.H. reached inside with an intimidating manner. M.S.H. then verbally threatened the employee a second time and left the area. Responding on-duty personnel requested assistance from state
agencies, who detained M.S.H. in Crowheart, approximately 90 miles from
the scene. M.S.H. was released after rangers interviewed him in DuBois
and is being issued a mandatory appearance citation following a case
review with the U. S. Attorney's Office.
Seventeen park staff with two structural fire engines, a wildland fire engine and an ambulance responded to a request for assistance from Teton County following an explosion in the basement of a Pacific Creek home on October 27th. The single-story residence, which is being remodeled, is located within a private subdivision directly adjacent to the park's boundary in the Moran area. One of the construction workers was soldering in the basement around 3 p.m. when his two-gallon propane tank fell over, breaking the hose connection. This allowed the escape of liquid propane, which rapidly expanded in a gaseous form until ignited by his torch. The subsequent explosion extinguished the fire, although the worker was burned on his hands and arms before he could escape. Rangers were conducting a wildlife checkpoint at Moran and arrived at the scene within 11 minutes of the request. They responded with the nearest available engine, which is a DOI engine on loan to the county through an MOU, and conducted a suppression entry. They then coordinated the life-flight evacuation of the burned worker before county firefighters arrived. Command and investigation of the incident were assumed by Teton
County fire officers upon their arrival.
On the morning of September 28th, hunting guides on the Bridger-Teton National Forest reported hearing multiple gunshots inside the park's boundary near the Arizona Creek drainage. Responding rangers, assisted by a Wyoming Game and Fish warden, contacted J.W., 36, and Randall Johnson, 51, at a trailhead. The men were sitting in a pickup truck and had hunting rifles with them, but initially denied that they'd been hunting inside the park. But they said that their sons — S.W. and W.T., both 18 — were hunting and that shots had been fired shortly before the rangers' arrival. Rangers then searched for and found the pair, who were with a freshly-killed bull elk. Subsequent interviews with the four men revealed that three elk had been illegally killed. All three animals were shot more than a mile inside the park boundary. The three elk and the rifles used to shoot them were confiscated. The case was reviewed by the U. S. Attorney's Office and by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents. J.W. has been charged with illegal hunting, possession of a firearm within the park, and providing false information; W.T. and S.W. have been charged with illegal hunting and possession of firearms. All three individuals will be appearing in U. S. Magistrate's Court in Jackson. Charges have not been filed against the fourth individual, but the investigation into his participation remains open.[Submitted by Patrick Hattaway, District Ranger, North District]
Rangers assisted Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ski patrollers in rescuing a seriously injured backcountry skier from Granite Canyon just north of the ski resort on the afternoon of Monday, February 21st. E.R., of Jackson, Wyoming, sustained leg and other injuries when he triggered an avalanche that carried him 2,000 vertical feet down a steep slope and over a rocky outcrop while attempting to ski the Mile Long Couloir in Granite Canyon. E.R. and four companions accessed the backcountry of Grand Teton from the Teton Village ski area midday on Monday. E.R., the first skier to enter Mile Long Couloir, set off a soft slab avalanche after making a couple of turns into the chute about 12:20 p.m. The avalanche left a 15- to 20-inch crown and ran the full length of the couloir on a layer of old sun crusted snow before coming to rest just 400 feet above Granite Creek in the bottom of the canyon. Another skier in the area at the time witnessed the snow slide carrying E.R. and used his cell phone to notify Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ski patrol staff, who in turn notified Teton Interagency Dispatch in the park at 12:22 p.m. E.R.'s companions quickly reached him at the bottom of the couloir and began to dig him out. Fortunately, he was not fully buried by the snow slide. Two ski patrollers immediately responded from the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and provided initial medical care to the injured E.R., while three other ski patrollers brought additional medical and rescue equipment to the scene. At 2:20 p.m., two park rangers were flown by a Teton County contract helicopter to a landing zone within the canyon to supply rescue gear necessary for transporting the injured skier out of the mountains. After receiving emergency medical care and being place into the helicopter on a rescue platform, E.R. was flown to the base of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort where he was then transported by a Teton County ambulance to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for treatment of his injuries. According to the Bridger-Teton National Forest Avalanche Center, the avalanche advisory for Monday afternoon was listed as "moderate" for mid to low elevations and "considerable" at high elevations (9,000 - 10,500 feet); the top of Mile Long Couloir lies at an elevation of approximately 9,200 feet. A "considerable" rating advises that dangerous unstable slabs exist on steep terrain and that human triggered avalanches are probable, with natural avalanches possible. [Submitted by Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Specialist]
On March 7th, rangers assisted Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR)
ski patrollers in rescuing an injured backcountry skier from Granite
Canyon. A.B., 24, of Jackson, Wyoming, received multiple serious
injuries after he triggered an avalanche which swept him over rocks and
carried him about 1,000 feet downslope in an area called Northwest
Passage. A.B., an employee at JHMR, was skiing with friends in the
backcountry of Granite Canyon when the incident occurred. Teton
Interagency Dispatch was notified at 11:50 a.m. by a JHMR ski patrolman,
who reported a possible avalanche occurring in Granite Canyon that
involved some backcountry skiers. Teton County dispatch called
minutes later, confirming that they had just received a 911 call by cell
phone from Granite Canyon with the same information, adding that one
skier was reported to be seriously injured. Park rangers immediately
began to coordinate rescue efforts, contracted for the use of Teton
County's rescue helicopter, and flew rangers with medical equipment and
additional rescue gear to the scene. Two JHMR ski patrollers reached the
injured A.B. first and provided emergency medical care while other
skiers in the area prepared a landing zone for the helicopter by packing
down the snow with their skis. Once on the scene, rangers provided
additional medical evaluation and care, then placed A.B. in the
helicopter and attended him during the flight to St. John's Medical
Center in Jackson, Wyoming.
Rangers evacuated an injured climber by helicopter from a point near
the Icefloe Lake area (10,652 feet) on the evening of Tuesday, May 24th.
J.S., 22, of Oakland Park, Florida, fell approximately 1,000
feet around 11 a.m. while descending the southwest couloir of the Middle
Teton after experiencing difficulties with his crampons and ice axe. The
accident occurred after J.S.'s crampon bindings failed twice; he
reattached them once, but the second time the crampons came off and slid
downhill. J.S. began to glissade to retrieve the crampons, but lost
control. He attempted to self-arrest using his ice axe, but he lost the
axe when the leash attaching the ice axe to his wrist either broke or
came loose. J.S. tumbled about 1,000 feet over steep snow, ice and
rock, coming to rest several hundred feet above Icefloe Lake at an
elevation of approximately 11,000 feet. J.S. was not wearing a helmet
at the time. J.S.'s climbing partner, N.C., 23, of Gainesville,
Florida, descended into Garnet Canyon, where he encountered Exum guide
Mark Newcomb above the Meadows. Newcomb placed a cell phone call at 2:30
p.m. to Teton Interagency Dispatch to report the accident. Rangers began
to coordinate a rescue operation by gathering personnel. Due to the
remote location and possible injuries to J.S.'s head, neck or back,
rangers also requested assistance from Classic Helicopters, based in
Salt Lake City, Utah, as well as Air Idaho, based out of Idaho Falls,
Idaho. While four rangers who were working at the Lower Saddle descended
to the accident scene and a fifth ranger ascended from the Meadows area
to meet them, the Classic helicopter flew from Salt Lake City to Lupine
Meadows to provide assistance. When the rangers reached J.S., they
provided emergency medical assistance, then lowered him using a series
of belayed lowerings and snow anchors to a landing zone near Icefloe
Lake. The Air Idaho helicopter made contact with the rescue party at
approximately 7 p.m. and transported J.S. directly to St. John's
Medical Center in Jackson. The Classic helicopter assisted with
transporting rangers and equipment back to Lupine Meadows. The rescue
concluded around 8 p.m. This marks the fifth major search and rescue in
Grand Teton National Park this year and the first of the summer
season.
J.T.W., 58, of Jackson, Wyoming, the billionaire second son
of S.W., founder of Wal-Mart, died when his home-built,
lightweight aircraft crashed in the park shortly after takeoff from the
Jackson Hole Airport on Monday afternoon. The reason for the crash is
not yet known. J.T.W., the pilot and sole occupant of the aircraft, died
on impact and was later pronounced dead at the scene by the Teton County
coroner. Several people saw the plane go down and called 911. Rangers
and emergency medical technicians immediately responded, followed by a
park ambulance and interagency fire engines. The plane is described as
an experimental class of ultralight aircraft with a small, gas-powered
engine. The aircraft's frame is aluminum and the wings are wrapped in
fabric similar to heavy duty sail cloth. These types of aircraft weigh
approximately 400 to 500 pounds. Following protocol for aircraft
accidents, the park notified both the FAA and NTSB. Neither agency
conducts investigations of experimental aircraft accidents, so rangers
will conduct the formal accident investigation.
Rangers responded to three backcountry emergencies on Saturday, August 6th. With the assistance of the Teton interagency contract helicopter, rangers flew a severely ill backpacker from Upper Paintbrush Canyon on Saturday morning at 8:20 a.m. Almost three hours later, at approximately 11:15 a.m., rangers evacuated an injured climber from Mount Moran, also by helicopter. Then, beginning around 5:00 p.m. on Saturday evening, rangers conducted a third rescue - this time using a wheeled litter - near the Phelps Lake Overlook in Death Canyon: The Paintbrush Canyon rescue began on the night of Friday, August 5th. S.W., 21, of Baltimore, Maryland, became extremely ill due to the combined effects of altitude, heat and severe dehydration while backpacking with three companions in Upper Paintbrush Canyon. One of these companions, Carolyn Hopkins, a Grand Teton Lodge Company employee, contacted Teton Interagency Dispatch at about 10:00 p.m. on Friday night after S.W.'s condition deteriorated to a point where she was too weak and ill to continue. Rangers advised the party of first aid techniques they could perform to re-hydrate S.W., but her condition became steadily worse. Two rangers hiked to her location late that night and provided advanced emergency medical assistance. When S.W.'s condition did not improve substantially by morning, rangers asked the Teton interagency contract helicopter to respond and fly her to the valley. The helicopter arrived on-scene at a temporary staging area near Holly Lake around 8:00 a.m., and rangers situated S.W. inside for evacuation. A park ambulance met the helicopter at Lupine Meadows and transported S.W. to St. John's Medical Center. Later Saturday morning, 49-year-old J.P., of Idaho Falls, Idaho, and three other climbers were ascending the CMC Route - a popular climbing route on the east face of Mount Moran, rated 5.5 - when J.P. was struck on the head by a sizable rock that was dislodged by climbers above. The rock broke J.P.'s helmet and he sustained injuries to his head and neck. The party was on the first pitch of the climb and had reached an elevation of about 11,500 feet when the accident occurred. Steve Bohrer, also from Idaho Falls and one of J.P.'s climbing partners, called for help via cell phone at 9:15 a.m. Rangers immediately began to coordinate a rescue, while the group of climbers moved J.P. to a more secure area out of the way of further rockfall until rangers could reach them. Due to the nature of J.P.'s injuries, his disoriented state of consciousness and the group's remote location, rangers asked for an assist from the interagency helicopter. The helicopter flew four rangers to a staging area on the Falling Ice Glacier, then inserted one of these rangers to J.P.'s location using the short-haul method. This ranger loaded J.P. into an evacuation suit and attended him while the two were short-hauled back to the staging area at the glacier. Rescue personnel at the glacier moved J.P. inside the helicopter for the flight to Lupine Meadows, where a park ambulance was waiting to transport him to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson. From there, J.P. was flown by air ambulance to Idaho Falls for treatment of his head injuries. While J.P. sustained serious injuries, his use of a helmet, combined with a rapid evacuation, likely saved his life. At 5:10 p.m. rangers received the third call for assistance, this time from Death Canyon near the Phelps Lake Overlook. J.M., 55, of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, was suffering from heat-related illness and dehydration and was experiencing intense cramping on the switchbacks about 200 yards below the overlook. ='s symptoms were so severe that he was unable to walk on his own. A backcountry ranger on routine patrol in Death Canyon encountered J.M. and called for assistance. Two rangers drove the ambulance to the trailhead and ran to J.M.'s location to provide emergency medical assistance. Dr. Will Smith of Jackson, Wyoming, the park's medical director, supplied advice and consultation by phone, as he had during the previous two rescues. Three more rangers were immediately dispatched to the trailhead; they quickly reached J.M. and transported him to the trailhead using a wheeled litter. The waiting park ambulance took J.M. to St. John's Medical Center at 6:50 p.m. The two helicopter evacuations mark the eleventh and twelfth major search and rescues in Grand Teton National Park this year. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Specialist]
Rangers evacuated an injured climber by helicopter from the Lower Saddle between the Middle Teton and Grand Teton on Tuesday afternoon, August 9th, around 2:30 p.m. L.S., 47, of Jackson, Wyoming, tumbled about 15 to 20 feet while descending the Grand Teton and sustained injuries to her knee and ankle. L.S. was part of a guided group climbing with Exum Mountain Guides; the group was at a point on the route known as "the Needle," about 12,000 feet in elevation, when L.S. fell at approximately 11:00 a.m. L.S. was wearing a helmet at the time and sustained only minor head injuries in addition to her leg injuries. The Exum guide who was leading the group contacted Teton Interagency Dispatch via cell phone to report the accident and request assistance. The group continued its descent to the Lower Saddle while two rangers who were doing a routine patrol on the Grand Teton also descended to the Lower Saddle to provide assistance to L.S.. Rangers reached her at 12:30 p.m., assessed her injuries, provided emergency medical assistance and consulted with Dr. Will Smith, the park's medical director. Together, they determined that the extent of L.S.'s injuries, combined with the distance to the valley, warranted the use of the Teton interagency contract helicopter for evacuation. The helicopter arrived at the Lower Saddle landing zone around 2:00 p.m. and rangers secured L.S. inside for the flight down to Lupine Meadows. Once they arrived back on the valley floor, a park ambulance transported the injured L.S. to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for further treatment. [Submitted by Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Specialist]
Rangers found the body of 26-year-old M.B. of Austin, Texas, around 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 27th, following a large-scale search effort. M.B., who was working as a seasonal employee at the Grand Teton Lodge Company, was located about 500 yards north of the group campsite on Hermitage Point, near the shore of Jackson Lake and four miles from the trailhead at Colter Bay. On Tuesday, August 23rd, the Grand Teton Lodge Company notified rangers that M.B. had not shown up for work the previous day. Based on information about where M.B. had possibly gone hiking, an extensive search was launched that included rangers in boats, rangers with search dogs and rangers on foot. The search parties scoured the Hermitage Point peninsula, but turned up no sign of M.B.. Over the ensuing days, rangers continued their investigation and search efforts. Rangers interviewed friends of M.B. as well as his employer and family members to see if he had contacted anyone or shown up in another part of the country. Information from these interviews led rangers to search other locations in the park where M.B. might have gone camping. On Saturday morning, rangers mounted a large-scale search effort. Twenty searchers from several agencies and both Yellowstone and Grand Teton - including teams with search dogs from Wyoming K-9 Search and Rescue, an interagency contract helicopter, two teams of rangers on horseback, two teams of rangers patrolling by boat on Jackson Lake, and several teams of rangers on foot - again searched the Hermitage Point peninsula and trail network for any sign of M.B.. At about 11 a.m., rangers spotted M.B.'s body from a patrol boat on Jackson Lake. The cause of death has not yet been determined, but there is no evidence of foul play. This marks the fourteenth major search and rescue in Grand Teton National Park this year. [Submitted by Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Specialist]
Rangers responded to two separate climbing accidents on Labor Day weekend. The first rescue occurred on Mt. Owen's Serendipity Arˆte, a technical climbing route on the west face of Mount Owen; the second took place on Lower Exum Ridge of the Grand Teton, another technical climb. Both accidents involved climbers who took leader falls and sustained serious injuries, and both incidents required helicopter evacuations. The first rescue occurred on the afternoon of Friday, September 2nd. P.E., 23, of Salt Lake City, Utah, and J.O., 23, of Breckenridge, Colorado, were climbing the 12,000-foot Serendipity Arˆte - a climb rated 5.7 on the Yosemite decimal scale - when P.E. pulled off a loose rock and fell about 20 to 30 feet, sustaining serious injuries to a leg and an arm. J.O. placed a 911 cell phone call to the sheriff's office in Rigby, Idaho, which notified Teton interagency dispatch of the accident at approximately 12:30 p.m. Rangers immediately began to coordinate a rescue response. Due to the climbers' remote location, the difficult terrain, and the extent of P.E.'s injuries, rangers requested the assistance of the interagency contract helicopter. The helicopter ferried three rangers and rescue equipment to a landing zone in Valhalla Canyon at the base of Mount Owen, then inserted one ranger to the scene via short-haul. This ranger provided emergency medical assistance to P.E. and prepared him for transport by placing him in an evacuation suit. After being temporarily grounded due to a severe storm cell in the area, the helicopter was able to short-haul both P.E. and the ranger - who flew alongside P.E. and attended him - to the Lupine Meadows Rescue Cache at 4:30 p.m. P.E. was then transferred to a park ambulance for transport to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson, Wyoming, where he was treated and released. Both P.E. and J.O. are seasonal concessions employees in Grand Teton National Park this summer. On Saturday, September 3rd, rangers received another call for assistance after 24-year-old L.S., of Jackson, Wyoming, fell 20 to 30 feet while ascending the second pitch of Lower Exum Ridge (elevation 12,500 feet) on the Grand Teton - another 5.7 climb. A.H., 24, and also from Jackson, used his cell phone to call for help when L.S. fell at approximately 1:15 p.m. As with Friday's rescue, the location, terrain and severity of the climber's injuries necessitated the use of the interagency contract helicopter to shuttle rangers to the scene and to evacuate the injured climber. Rangers coordinated another rescue, using the helicopter to bring rangers and equipment to a landing zone at the Lower Saddle. An Exum guide who was climbing in the area provided assistance to L.S. until rangers could arrive at the scene. From the Lower Saddle, the helicopter short-hauled two rangers to the location on Exum Ridge at approximately 3 p.m., where they assessed L.S.'s condition and provided emergency medical assistance. The helicopter then transported two more rangers to the saddle and brought an evacuation litter to L.S.'s location. Rangers situated L.S. on the litter and short-hauled her to the Lower Saddle. From there, they placed L.S. inside the helicopter and flew her down to Lupine Meadows, where a park ambulance transported her to St. John's Medical Center. Both P.E. and L.S. were wearing helmets at the time of each accident. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Grand Teton National Park rangers provided mutual-aid assistance for a rescue operation in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area of central Idaho (about 250 miles west of the park) over the Columbus Day weekend. During adverse weather conditions, three Grand Teton rangers and a Teton interagency contract helicopter conducted a successful technical rescue of a father and son who had spent the night of Friday, October 7th, stranded at the 10,000 foot elevation on Thompson Peak near Stanley, Idaho. Local rescue personnel in Idaho were not able to reach the stranded climbers, and stormy weather further hampered efforts to complete a ground-based rescue. As a result, Sawtooth National Recreation officials requested the technical support of Grand Teton's staff in conducting an aerial rescue effort on Saturday. Rangers completed their mission just minutes before "official dark" on Saturday, which saved the climbers from spending a second night exposed on the vertical mountain face in wet and frigid weather conditions. Grand Teton rangers used the short-haul system to insert two rescue personnel onto a ledge near the stranded climbers. This rescue method involves suspending a rescuer below the helicopter while tethered to ropes attached to the belly of the helicopter. It allows for precise placement of the rescuer onto a ledge or cliff near the victims, where the helicopter cannot otherwise safely land. The stranded climbers were also extracted from their precarious perch using this same short-haul method. Each climber was flown accompanied by a ranger - suspended in tandem on the same rope system - to a nearby mountain saddle where the helicopter could land. The rescued climbers were then placed inside the ship for a flight to the valley floor of Stanley Basin, where emergency medical personnel were waiting to asses their physical condition. They were cold, wet and suffering from mild hypothermia but otherwise okay. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
On Wednesday, January 25th, a search was begun for a 49-year-old local man who was reported overdue from a backcountry skiing trip into Granite Canyon on Wednesday, January 25th. The man was a member of a group of 11 skiers who planned to ski in the upper Granite Canyon area that day, then return to Teton Village at day's end. Around 2:30 p.m., he decided to leave the group and follow a different route out of the canyon. While crossing Granite Creek, he fell through a snow bridge, broke a ski pole, and got soaked up to his knees in icy water. By 4 p.m., daylight was fading. The lost skier made his way to one of the park's backcountry cabins and was able to warm himself and dry out his clothing and ski skins. As a safety precaution, he also made the decision to wait until dawn before attempting to ski out. He was prepared for his backcountry trip and carried an emergency blanket, headlamp, extra water, high energy bars, and other food items. After his companions reported him as overdue that evening, rangers began packing a trail that night from the Granite Canyon parking area into the mouth of the canyon for rescue skiers to use the next morning. At first light, rangers coordinated with a Teton County contract helicopter and personnel from Teton County Search and Rescue to begin rescue operations. Meanwhile, three of the man's companions packed some outdoor equipment - tents, jackets, snow pants, a stove, and Motorola radios - and began their own search by skiing back into Granite Canyon at 1 a.m. on Thursday morning. They found the missing man around 5:20 a.m. and attempted to make radio contact with other friends. Rangers called off the search after being notified at 7 a.m. that he had been found, that he was okay, and that the group was skiing out. The man had reportedly skied in Granite Canyon several times over the past several years. Rangers credit him for being prepared with emergency gear and for making decisions that kept him safe. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers, Teton Country Search and Rescue volunteers, and search dog teams from Wyoming K-9 and High Country K-9 conducted a search on the evening of Saturday, February 11th, for a 71-year-old man who became lost while snowshoeing in the vicinity of Granite Canyon. The Connecticut man was found at 11:45 p.m. on Saturday night. The incident began when Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a cell phone call at 6 p.m. Saturday evening from the man's daughter, who reported that her father was overdue from a snowshoe hike in the Granite Canyon area. The temperature at 6 p.m. was already minus 6 degrees below zero and dropping. Rangers immediately began organizing a search for him. They were able to reach him on his cell phone and determined that he'd evidently wandered onto a steep ski trail located 400 feet above the floor of Granite Canyon. This trail is used by backcountry skiers as they exit the canyon to return to the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort at Teton Village. Two rescuers on skis made their way to Trailbridge, reaching him at 11:45 p.m. They accompanied him to the Granite Canyon trailhead, arriving at 1:30 a.m. on Sunday morning. The man had begun his snowshoe hike at 11 a.m. on Saturday. He was carrying little in the way of extra food, water or winter clothing that might have assisted him in spending an unexpected night out in subzero weather. He had informed his daughter of where he was going and when he planned to return, which initially helped to direct the search operation. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Specialist]
Rangers rescued an injured backcountry skier near the west shore of Taggart Lake on Saturday evening, February 18th. A 42-year-old woman from Jackson, Wyoming, fell and seriously injured her right leg while skiing in Avalanche Canyon and was unable to ski out to the Taggart Lake trailhead on the Teton Park Road. The woman's companion employed a cell phone to make a 911 call. While rangers on snowmobiles headed toward her location, the woman and her companion fashioned a makeshift splint to stabilize her leg. They met up with three other skiers who were in the vicinity, and they helped her in her efforts to ski further. The group worked their way down Avalanche Canyon for about two miles before a change in terrain made it difficult for the woman to continue. Rangers reached her at 7:20 p.m. and placed her in a rescue sled towed behind a snowmobile. After they transported her to the trailhead, she was driven by private vehicle to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for treatment of her injuries. Rangers credited the woman, her companion, and the other backcountry skiers for their emergency self-rescue work. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Specialist]
Rangers evacuated an injured climber from the south fork of Garnet Canyon by helicopter on the morning of Friday, March 3rd. The 23-year-old Jackson resident had sustained a hip injury the previous afternoon when he slid on snow for about 500 feet and hit some rocks. The accident occurred at about 10,500 feet while he and two climbing companions were making a ski descent in the lower part of Southwest Couloir near the saddle between Middle Teton and South Teton. One on the injured man's companions made a 911 call by cell phone to the sheriff's office, which relayed the report to dispatch. Rangers immediately organized a rescue operation and quickly flew two rangers before darkness into the Meadows area of Garnet Canyon, using a Teton County contract helicopter. From the Meadows, the two rangers skied up the south fork of Garnet Canyon to reach the victim near the bottom of the Southwest Couloir, assess his injuries, and provide emergency medical care. They also prepared him for spending the night in the backcountry until he could be evacuated by helicopter on Friday morning. In the meantime, three additional rangers were ferried to the Taggart Lake moraine by snowmobiles with additional emergency and camping equipment required for an overnight bivouac. From the 7,000-foot-elevation moraine, rangers skied into the south fork of Garnet Canyon, gaining 3,000 feet in elevation and a distance of four miles while carrying packs loaded with the emergency gear. They reached the climbing party at 2:00 a.m. At first light on Friday morning, rangers began to slowly lower the injured man using a rope system. They eventually reached an area in the south fork of Garnet Canyon at 8,800 feet in elevation where the helicopter could safely land for evacuation. The man was placed inside the helicopter, flown to a hanger at the Jackson Hole Airport, then transferred into a park ambulance and transported to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for treatment of his injuries. This marks the sixth major search and rescue operation in the park this winter. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Specialist]
A total of 20 NPS and concession staff led an interagency fire response to a reported explosion in the Pacific Creek housing area adjacent to the park's north district on the evening of March 22nd. First arriving units discovered that a private two-story residence had been completely destroyed by an explosion that spread debris more than 200 yards. Two of the three adult occupants were apparently killed instantly. Two citizens rescued the third occupant from the collapsed structure as fire engulfed the remains of the residence. Park medics treated the survivor for trauma and burns while transporting her to an Idaho life-flight helicopter. Command of the incident was released to the Teton County fire chief an hour into the response. Suppression efforts lasted seven-and-a-half hours and involved four engines, three water tenders, and two rescue trucks. They were complicated by more than three feet of snow, no local water hydrants, a 40 minute turnaround to refill air bottles, and temperatures in the low teens. Teton County is coordinating the fire investigation and the removal of one victim located after suppression was completed on the morning of March 23rd. This was the first multiple fatality fire in Teton County's history. [Patrick W. Hattaway, North District Ranger]
A Grand Teton Lodge Company scenic float trip raft on the Snake River overturned a half mile south of the old Bar BC dude ranch on June 2nd, spilling 13 passengers into the river. The company reported the accident to Teton interagency dispatch at 11:05 a.m., and a response was immediately launched. Rangers, rescue personnel, ambulances and EMS personnel on an interagency helicopter all headed to the accident scene. CPR was begun on two of the victims, but neither could be revived; a third was submerged in a log jam on the river and was deceased when found. Several other people from the raft were rescued by other scenic raft trip companies and by a ranger in a rescue raft and were taken to the Moose boat landing, where rangers and emergency medical personnel provided care. The three victims were a 63-year-old man from South Carolina, his 58-year-old wife, and a 69-year-old woman from Louisiana. All 13 people on the raft were wearing lifejackets designed specifically for this use. An investigation into the accident is underway; a cause has not yet been determined. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Specialist]
Additional details have been received about the accident on the Snake River that resulted in the deaths of three visitors on a commercial boating trip. The Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a call from the Grand Teton Lodge Company just before 11 a.m. on June 2nd, reporting that one of their scenic raft trip boats had tipped over in the "Many Moose" area of the Snake River, one-half mile downstream of the historic Bar BC dude ranch. Twelve passengers were spilled out of the raft and into the Snake River as the boat became lodged against a root ball of a live tree that had recently flushed into that section of the river during spring run-off. The 15-passenger raft, carrying twelve people and one boatman, had launched earlier that morning to float a ten-mile stretch of river within the park. Boatmen from four commercial float trip raft companies, who were in the vicinity at the time of the accident, assisted in getting nine passengers out of the water and onto the riverbank. As previously reported, the remaining three people drowned in this accident. Park rangers, a Teton Interagency contract helicopter, Jackson Hole Fire/EMS, and Teton County Search and Rescue volunteers also assisted in the search and rescue operation. The section of the Snake River below Bar BC ranch braids into three narrow channels. The center channel, where the accident occurred, takes a slight curve to the right, making it challenging to get a clear downstream view until a boat has fully entered into the channel's flow. A live tree had recently been uprooted and flushed into this channel, where it was temporarily snagged on a submerged gravel bar. The tree was swept away with the river's flow by the following morning. The force of the river current pushed the raft toward the tree, where it bumped into the exposed root ball and became pinned by the current. The swift flowing water then pushed the boat up and into a vertical position, leaving the passenger compartment facing the upstream flow. As the boat tipped onto its side, the passengers fell into the water. The Snake River is a natural, multi-channeled river with woody debris deposits and gravel bars scattered across along the length of its route. Along the 25-mile river corridor from Jackson Lake Dam to the Moose Bridge, there are only four river landings, spaced several miles apart. Much of the river course lies remote from any road access. The river current can be strong enough to push debris and load debris at river bends or gravel bars. The investigation of this boating accident is continuing. It's estimated that there have been 20 fatalities associated with recreation on the Snake River in Grand Teton National Park since record keeping began in the 1930s. [Joan Anzelmo and Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Specialists]
Teton Interagency Dispatch received a radio call on June 6th reporting that a visitor from South Korea had been charged and injured by a female moose that was in the vicinity of the Colter Bay Visitor Center with her two newborn calves. Rangers were soon on-scene and provided emergency medical assistance. A park ambulance transported the injured 16-year-old boy to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson. The boy had been taking photos of the animals and had gotten too close - about ten feet from the moose and calves. He began running away when the moose charged him, but the moose reached him quickly and kicked him in the head. Earlier that day, staff at the Colter Bay Visitor Center called the dispatch center to report that a woman with two children had been hiking the Lakeshore Trail and had been charged by the same moose. Due to these incidents, rangers instituted a temporary closure of a paved section of the Lakeshore Trail just beyond the Colter Bay amphitheater. At 9:30 p.m. that evening, the moose was still in the area. On Wednesday morning, after seeing no sign of the moose, rangers were able to reopen the area to the public. Rangers are monitoring the area, and there may continue to be intermittent closures. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Specialist]
N.P., 23, of Victor, Idaho, slipped while descending a snowfield last Tuesday and was not able to self-arrest using her ice axe. N.P. tumbled about 100 feet, seriously injuring her leg before coming to a stop in a streambed near the Spalding Falls switchbacks. Park employees working in the area called the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center to report the incident after encountering N.P. and her climbing partner, N.G., 25, also of Victor, Idaho. Due to the nature of N.P.'s injuries, the location of the accident, and an approaching thunderstorm, rangers decided to utilize an interagency contract helicopter to evacuate her. Two rangers were flown to the scene. They assessed N.P.'s injuries, provided emergency medical care, and stabilized her for transport by air. Four more rangers were flown in to provide additional assistance. Rangers used the short-haul technique to fly the patient and a ranger - suspended below the helicopter on a double rope system - to Lupine Meadows. N.P. was then transported by ambulance to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for further treatment. This marks the eighth major search and rescue operation in the park this year. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Specialist]
Rangers employed an interagency contract helicopter to evacuate an injured climber from Death Canyon early on the morning of Tuesday, July 11th. The all-night rescue operation began on Monday evening when climber S.E., 30, of Wilson, Wyoming, placed a 911 cell phone call to report that her climbing partner, S.T., 24, of Ammon, Idaho, had fallen and sustained serious injuries to his ankle while ascending a popular multi-pitch climbing route called the Snaz in the lower section of Death Canyon. S.T. was climbing at an elevation of about 8,400 feet on a difficult pitch near the top of the Snaz - a pitch rated 5.10 on the Yosemite decimal system - when he fell approximately 70 feet, pulling several pieces of his protection out of the rock along the way. He was wearing a helmet at the time of his fall. Despite his injuries, S.T. and S.E. were able to lower themselves to the base of the climbing route. S.E. then continued to the Death Canyon trailhead, where she placed a cell phone call for assistance at 8:45 p.m. Three rangers began hiking in to the scene immediately, and four more rangers followed with additional rescue equipment, including a wheeled litter. The first team of rangers reached S.T. at about 11:00 p.m. and provided emergency medical care. They also assessed the situation and set up a technical belay system for lowering S.T. to the trail. The second group of rangers reached the scene at about 2:30 a.m. Together, the rangers lowered S.T. and moved him to the Death Canyon patrol cabin, arriving there around 4:30 a.m. Due to S.T.'s extremely painful injuries and a concern for patient care, plus the rough terrain of the Death Canyon trail for a wheeled litter rescue, rangers decided to utilize an interagency contract helicopter for evacuation. The helicopter landed in a meadow just west of the Death Canyon patrol cabin at 6:15 a.m. on Tuesday morning. Rangers then loaded S.T. inside the helicopter and flew him directly to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for treatment of his injuries. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Specialist]
Rangers evacuated an injured climber by helicopter from Garnet Canyon on the evening of Saturday, July 22nd. Earlier that afternoon, A.B., 22, of Laramie, Wyoming, slipped while scrambling up a rocky pitch to reach a climbing route called Open Book on the south side of Disappointment Peak. = fell about 20 to 25 feet and tumbled an additional 50 to 75 feet before coming to a stop. She sustained injuries to her thorax and received multiple lacerations and bruises during the accident. A.B. and four climbing companions were at the 9,400-foot elevation when the mishap occurred. She was not wearing a helmet or roped up at the time. However, ropes and helmets are not typically used on this climbing approach. One of A.B.'s climbing partners quickly scrambled back down into Garnet Canyon to gain cell reception and make a 911 call just before 3 p.m. After Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received notice of the accident, two rangers immediately began hiking and running to the location. They covered approximately four miles with an elevation gain of 2,700 feet in 90 degree heat, reaching A.B. in less than two hours. These rangers provided emergency medical care to A.B. and assessed her condition for evacuation. Due to the nature of her injuries and the location of the accident, it was decided to utilize an interagency contract helicopter for evacuation rather than transport her over rocky terrain on a wheeled litter. The interagency helicopter flew into Garnet Canyon meadows, where three additional rangers staged for a helicopter short-haul evacuation procedure. A.B. was placed into an evacuation suit at the accident site and suspended below the helicopter on a double rope system for a short flight back to Garnet Canyon meadows. The helicopter hovered over the landing site at the meadows while rangers released A.B. from the helicopter's suspended rope. After the helicopter landed, A.B. was placed inside the ship, accompanied by two rangers, for a final flight to the Lupine Meadows on the valley floor. A.B. was then transported by ambulance to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for treatment of her injuries. This marks the sixteen major search and rescue operation in Grand Teton National Park this year. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers evacuated a seriously injured climber from Garnet Canyon early on the morning of July 31st. D.V., 52, of Plano, Texas, had severely injured his left ankle the previous day while descending the Garnet Canyon moraine, just below the fixed rope near the Lower Saddle at an elevation of approximately 11,000 feet. D.V. had reached the summit of the Grand Teton earlier that day with a group of climbers led by Exum Mountain Guides. A climber in the area ascended to the Lower Saddle and reported the accident to a ranger who was on patrol there at about 3:30 p.m. The ranger provided emergency medical assistance and began helping D.V. descend. Another ranger, also on patrol in the vicinity, descended to the scene, bringing a litter and other rescue equipment. The rescue party placed D.V. in the litter and carried him down to the Garnet Canyon Meadows - a descent of over 2,000 feet over difficult terrain. Two other Exum guides came upon the party and provided assistance. Several climbers from private parties and three off-duty park employees also helped with the descent to the Meadows. Rangers decided that flying D.V. from Garnet Canyon Meadows was a safer option for both the rangers and the patient than attempting to transport him in a rescue litter through the large boulder field below the Meadows area. Strong, erratic and gusty winds prevented rangers from utilizing the interagency contract helicopter Sunday night, but calm weather on Monday morning made it possible for the helicopter rescue operation to proceed. The helicopter flew to a landing zone in the Garnet Canyon Meadows, picked up D.V., and flew him to Lupine Meadows. He was then taken to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Between Friday, August 4th, and Saturday, August 6th, rangers and emergency personnel coordinated responses to a series of often overlapping incidents that challenged the park's abilities to provide effective responses: Friday 5:30 a.m. - A ranger responding to a report of an individual sleeping on the road found that the 25-year-old park resident was actually an intoxicated driver who had driven his vehicle off the road and down a 75-foot embankment that morning. 2:15 p.m. - Rangers and a park ambulance responded to a motorcycle accident just north of the park's south boundary and transported the operator and passenger to the Jackson hospital. 3:35 p.m. - Rangers and three park ambulances responded to a single vehicle rollover accident at the park's east boundary. The vehicle rolled over four times, resulting in injuries requiring that all three adults from Nebraska be transported to the Jackson hospital. 5:55 p.m. - A vehicle believed to have been used in an armed robbery was seen heading north from Jackson through the park. Several rangers responded, conducted a felony stop near Moran Junction, and detained the three occupants - all from Louisiana - until local officers arrived with a witness. All three were arrested. Saturday 2:30 a.m. - Rangers flew by contract helicopter to the site of a climbing incident on Symmetry Spire. A climbing guide had suffered multiple injuries in an 80-foot fall. The guide was subsequently short-hauled to a park ambulance and transported to the Jackson hospital. 4:25 p.m. - A two-vehicle collision at the Oxbow of the Snake River at resulted in a vehicle fire. Rangers, ambulances, and structural and wildland fire engines responded. A visitor assisted by extinguishing the fire prior to the arrival of park fire engines, but two adults from Holland and one juvenile from California had to be transported by ambulance to the Jackson hospital. 6:20 p.m. - Rangers and an ambulance responded to a report of a disoriented 25-year-old woman from Colorado in the Colter Bay campground. She was subsequently transported to the Jackson hospital for an evaluation. Sunday 4:30 a.m. - The woman from the above incident at Colter Bay flagged down a park ambulance. She again exhibited signs of disorientation and was again taken to the Jackson hospital for evaluation. 7:25 p.m. - A Jackson resident reported that his wife and sister-in-law from Dubai were stranded on the Snake River with boat problems. Based on information in the phone message that the woman had left for her husband, rangers were able to focus their hasty search on the river below Pacific Creek. The women were found shortly thereafter near the Deadman's launch ramp. [Andy Fisher, Chief Ranger; Patrick Hattaway, North District Ranger; Karen Frauson, South District Ranger]
Rangers evacuated two injured horseback riders from Granite Canyon on the afternoon of Monday, August 7th. R.A. and S.H., both 75 and from Wilson, Wyoming, were out for a horseback ride when they were bucked off their horses about noon on Monday. The two had decided to eat lunch on their horses, which were standing next to each other; when R.A. spilled water on her horse, though, both horses spooked and bucked the two riders off. R.A. and S.H. each sustained injuries that prevented them from proceeding further, but S.H. was able to place a 911 cell phone call and summon help. Since S.H. was unable to identify their precise location, rangers utilized an interagency contract helicopter to conduct an aerial reconnaissance. Rescue teams also began hiking to the accident scene. Spotters in the helicopter located the injured parties at about 1:15 p.m. near the junction of the Granite Canyon and Valley trails, about a mile-and-a-half from the Granite Canyon trailhead. The helicopter landed in a nearby meadow and dropped off two rangers, who ran to the accident site. The ship then flew to the Teton interagency helibase at the Jackson Hole Airport to stage for a possible helicopter evacuation. The rangers found that S.H. was experiencing serious respiratory difficulties, and that his condition was deteriorating quickly. R.A. had sustained multiple abrasions and was suffering from back pain. Due to S.H.'s life-threatening injuries and the need to keep both patients immobile during transport, rangers opted to use the helicopter to short-haul them rather than conduct a wheeled litter evacuation. The short-haul technique - a method by which rangers fly, individually or in pairs, suspended from the helicopter on a double-rope system - allows the helicopter to insert rangers into, or extricate patients from, terrain where a helicopter cannot land. In this case, the need for the patients to be recumbent and the presence of intermittent storm cells in the area contributed to the decision to use this efficient method of evacuation. Rangers at the scene stabilized the pair for transport and loaded each into a rescue litter. The helicopter then short-hauled S.H. and R.A., one at a time, to the helibase. A ranger hung below the helicopter, attached to the litter and attending to each patient during the flights. From the helibase, park ambulances transported R.A. and S.H. to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Specialist]
In a continuing effort to increase highway safety and reduce wildlife mortalities in Grand Teton National Park, rangers coordinated an interagency safety and sobriety checkpoint over a four-hour period on the evening of August 10th following a concert by the rock band, The Black Crowes. Rangers, Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers, and a Fish and Wildlife Service refuge officer, supported by the Teton County Sheriff's Office, inspected more than 300 vehicles passing through the checkpoint. The checks resulted in the issuance of 18 warnings, nine violation notices (including five to intoxicated minors subsequently released to their parents' custody), and four arrests for driving under the influence. Four other drivers who were just below the legal intoxication level volunteered to either call taxis for rides home, leaving their vehicles at the checkpoint, or found designated drivers before continuing their journey. [Patrick Hattaway, North District Ranger]
Rangers responding to the report of a motor vehicle accident just south of the Jackson Lake Lodge on Monday, August 21st, found that a minivan with five visitors from Italy had crossed a double yellow line and hit a VW van with a family of five from Lander, Wyoming. Of the nine people injured in the accident, two juveniles were in critical condition and required helicopter evacuations and the remaining seven had intermediate injuries and were transported by ambulance. This incident required a response by all three park ambulances, an Air Idaho medevac helicopter, an interagency contract helicopter, two park engines, and two ambulances, a fire engine and a rescue truck from nearby Jackson. The latter was needed to extricate the people in the VW van, which was not equipped with air bags. Within a minute of receiving this accident report, Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a report of a second accident involving a motorcycle east of Moran Junction. Responding rangers, rescue personnel and Wyoming Highway Patrol officers found that a 64-year-old man from Texas had lost control of his motorcycle, traveled over 100 feet off the road and down a 25-foot embankment, and ended up on a gravel bar in the Buffalo Fork of the Snake River. He suffered major head and chest trauma and went into cardiac arrest about 40 minutes after the accident. Efforts to revive him were not successful. The ambulance and helicopter dispatched to this accident were then released and redirected to the head-on motor vehicle accident. [Patrick Hattaway, North District Ranger]
A head-on collision between two vehicles on the night of Wednesday, September 6th, resulted in the death of G.N., 81, of Jackson, Wyoming. The accident took place on Highway 26/89/191 near the park's south boundary. Although emergency medical care was administered at the accident scene, G.N. could not be revived. G.N. was driving northbound in a 1986 Chevy Suburban when he apparently veered into oncoming traffic while attempting to avoid a vehicle that had paused to make a left-hand turn onto Warm Springs Road. As G.N. steered into the southbound traffic lane, he crashed head-on into a 2006 Chevy pick-up truck driven by S.M., 47, of Wilson, Wyoming. Although the air bags in S.M.'s truck deployed, he and his passenger received injuries in the accident and were transported by a Teton County ambulance to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for evaluation and treatment. Other motorists who came upon the accident scene removed G.N. from his Suburban and began CPR. The Teton County Sheriffs' Office dispatched emergency personnel to the site after receiving a 911 call. Rangers, a state police officer and fire and EMS personnel joined them at the scene. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers apprehended two elk poachers between North Jenny Lake junction and the Spalding Bay turnoff just off the Teton Park Road on the morning of Saturday, September 23rd. B.H., 43, and J.H., 41, both residents of Green River, Wyoming, were illegally hunting elk inside the park when observant visitors notified the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center that two men carrying rifles and wearing hunter orange and camouflage clothing were walking near the park road. Park rangers found B.H. and J.H. walking along the tree line near the Teton Park Road, trying to find their vehicle. The hunters had planned to return to the elk carcass to retrieve it and had marked the kill site with rock cairns to help relocate it. B.H. readily admitted to shooting a six-point bull elk, which was located about one mile off the Teton Park Road, and offered to lead rangers back to the location where he and J.H. had field dressed the animal. B.H. had not tagged the illegally killed elk before he started to field dress it and was still carrying the hunting tag. B.H. and J.H. claimed that they thought they were hunting in Area 73 - a hunting zone located on the western slopes of the Teton Range that is generally accessed from Idaho. They had driven from Green River on Friday night and traveled Wyoming Highway 390 before entering the park through the Granite Canyon entrance station. They then parked their car on the side of the Teton Park Road to sleep before getting up Saturday morning to hunt elk. Rangers issued citations for the illegal taking of wildlife, use of a firearm in a national park, carrying a loaded weapon in a national park, failure to properly tag an animal, and possession of a controlled substance. All charges carry a mandatory appearance in federal court; the court date is set for September 28th. Rangers also confiscated an elk bugle, two hunting rifles, three knives, and drug paraphernalia. The two men were traveling with a 13-year-old female and a 20-year-old male. The young man was also cited for improper transport of a loaded weapon in a national park. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
On the afternoon of February 25th, rangers and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ski patrollers rescued a seriously injured backcountry skier who'd been caught in an avalanche while skiing the TNT Couloir in the lower portion of Granite Canyon. A.S., 32, of Jackson, Wyoming, sustained multiple life-threatening injuries when he was swept downslope approximately 2,000 feet by an avalanche that he apparently triggered. The region's interagency dispatch center received an emergency call at 2:40 p.m. from another backcountry skier who was in the vicinity of the accident. Rangers and ski patrollers immediately began to coordinate both air and ground rescue operations because of uncertainty about stormy weather conditions. Ski patrollers quickly mobilized and skied from the slopes of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort to the accident site in the park's backcountry. After reaching A.S. at 3:50 p.m., patrollers assessed his condition, provided emergency medical care, and prepared him for transport out of the backcountry. Patrollers and other backcountry skiers in the area also packed down a landing zone to receive a rescue helicopter in the event that weather conditions permitted a flight. Two park rangers staged at the Teton Interagency Helibase to rendezvous with a Teton County Search and Rescue contract helicopter for an aerial rescue, while another two rangers drove to the Granite Canyon trailhead to begin packing a snowmobile trail into the canyon in case the helicopter was unable to fly. Weather permitted the pilot to fly, though, and the ship left the Jackson Hole Airport at 4:26 p.m., arriving on scene just five minutes later. A.S. was loaded into the helicopter and flown to the helibase, arriving at 4:42 p.m. He was then transferred to a park ambulance for transport to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for treatment of his injuries. Avalanche danger for the Teton area was rated as moderate at the time, with a caution that the avalanche danger would rise from new snow accumulations and that surface slabs could be human triggered in wind loaded starting zones. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers, county SAR personnel and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ski patrol staff rescued a backcountry snowboarder late on the afternoon of February 28th after he became stranded on a cliff in Granite Canyon. T.C., 27, from the United Kingdom but currently living in Norway, entered the park's backcountry from the resort with three companions, intending to snowboard out-of-bounds from the resort. T.C. became stranded on a cliff in the Northwest Passage area and was unable to climb back up or continue boarding down. T.C. was in voice contact with his companions, who descended into Endless Couloir, and their conversation caught the attention of an off-duty ski patroller who was in the vicinity at the time. The ski patrolman used his cell phone to call for assistance. Three Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ski patrollers picked up a rope and technical gear at their rescue cache before skiing to the Northwest Passage area. One patrolman was lowered down to T.C.'s position, placed a climbing harness on him, then lowered T.C. over the short cliff to a point where he could safely traverse back into Endless Couloir. The rope was then tied off and the patrolman rappelled off the same point. The traverse out of Granite Canyon back to Teton Village is relatively flat with a few uphill sections. Exiting the canyon with a tired snowboarder in unconsolidated snow — and the increased exposure time spent crossing run out zones of several avalanche paths — prompted the decision to use the Teton County contract helicopter to expedite the final stage of T.C.'s rescue. Additional factors taken into consideration for using a helicopter evacuation included the lateness of the day, approaching weather, and considerable avalanche danger. Rangers were able to use the same helicopter landing zone in Granite Canyon that had been packed down for the rescue of an avalanche victim on the previous Sunday. T.C. and his companions were unaware of avalanche conditions in Granite Canyon, were not carrying any avalanche gear with them, and were unfamiliar with the area and the complex avalanche terrain in which they intended to snowboard. They were also unprepared for the relatively flat trail that skiers traverse to return to Teton Village as they exit the Granite Canyon area. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers, assisted by a contract rescue helicopter, found the bodies of two climbers on the morning of Tuesday, May 1st. The climbers - A.R., 38, and J.M., 28, both of Kelly, Wyoming - apparently fell to their deaths in the vicinity of the Enclosure Couloir on the northwest flank of the Grand Teton. Indications are that the accident likely occurred sometime after Sunday, April 29th. The bodies were recovered on Tuesday morning. On Monday, the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a report that the two men were overdue for work after a weekend trip to the park to climb near the Enclosure on the Grand Teton. Soon after the phone call, rangers learned that a tent, presumably belonging to the climbers, was located in the Meadows area of Garnet Canyon. On Monday afternoon, three rangers began to hike and ski into Garnet Canyon to check the tent for occupancy. The tent was found vacant, and rangers continued on to the Lower Saddle of the Grand Teton, where they bivouaced overnight. With morning light and a snowpack that became slightly more stable after cooler overnight temperatures, park rangers then headed out on foot to attempt to locate the overdue climbers. Rescue personnel on foot discovered one body below the Valhalla Traverse around 9:30 a.m., and a second body in the same vicinity was spotted during a helicopter reconnaissance flight an hour later. An investigation is also underway to determine what happened. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers found two Wyoming men collecting elk antlers inside a wildlife closure area on Wednesday, May 2nd. D.K., 30, and B.G., 41, had 65 pounds of elk antlers in their possession when rangers contacted them northeast of Elk Ranch Reservoir, a point that's more than two miles from where they'd crossed the posted national park boundary and inside one of several wildlife closure areas within the park. The antlers were seized and both men received violation notices with penalties totaling more than $1,400. The fines were based on the value of each pound of antlers. A third man - M.M., 36 - was identified as being with the party but was not seen inside the closed area and did not have antlers in his possession when contacted. [Patrick Hattaway, North District Ranger]
D.V., a 54-year-old resident of Lander, Wyoming, was injured by a grizzly bear around 6 a.m. on Wednesday, June 13th, while walking on the Wagon Road just below the corrals at Jackson Lake Lodge. D.V. surprised grizzly bear #399 and her three cubs, who were feeding on a freshly-killed elk carcass. The attack likely resulted from a defensive response by a bear, while protecting its food source. At this time, no adverse action will be taken against the bear involved in this incident. D.V. took an early morning walk at approximately 5:30 a.m. and was returning to his room at the lodge when the incident occurred. He reported watching an elk off to his right, then noticing the sow and her cubs approaching to his left, within ten feet of him. D.V. yelled, but one of the bears continued toward him; he yelled again, then jumped off the trail and laid on his stomach in a submissive posture. At this point, the bear inflicted puncture wounds and lacerations to D.V. before it was frightened off by the shouting of a Lodge Company wrangler who was nearby at the time. The wrangler administered emergency medical assistance to D.V. until park rangers arrived on the scene. A park ambulance then transported D.V. to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for treatment of his injuries. Park officials have posted closures for the Wagon Road and trails in the Willow Flats area below Jackson Lake Lodge. Signs state that the area is closed due to bears frequenting the vicinity. The Wagon Road and trail closures will likely be in effect until the end of June, during the remainder of the elk calving season. Sow grizzly #399 and her three yearling cubs have been utilizing habitat in and around the Willow Flats area since emerging from hibernation this spring. This bear family has frequently been visible along park roadsides between Colter Bay and the Oxbow Bend turnout of the Snake River, one mile east of Jackson Lake Junction. These are not the only bears in the area; several other bears - black and grizzly - are also utilizing habitat in this location. This is the first bear incident involving injuries in Grand Teton National Park this year. The last time a grizzly injured a person in the park was in October of 2001, when a hunter from Minnesota surprised a bear on Schoolhouse Hill north of Moran Junction. That same year, a local resident was injured by a grizzly bear in March while backcountry skiing in the Upper Berry Creek area of the park. A previous grizzly-related injury in Grand Teton happened in August of 1994, when a jogger from Utah was attacked on the Emma Matilda Lake Trail. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
R.R., 59, of Park City, Utah, died in a motorcycle accident in the park on the morning of Saturday, June 16th. R.R. was heading north toward Yellowstone with two companions when he went off the side of the road just north of the entrance to Lizard Creek campground and went down a 15-foot embankment. R.R.'s companions reported that he slumped over on his motorcycle before veering off the road. The Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received notification of the accident just before 9 a.m. and dispatched rangers to the scene. They found R.R. and his motorcycle near the base of some trees at the bottom of the embankment. They began CPR and employed other ALS measures in an effort to revive him but were unsuccessful. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
C.T., 66, a seasonal resident in the Teton Village area of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, began to suffer symptoms of heat exhaustion while hiking in Granite Canyon on July 6th. Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a call from the Teton County Sheriff's Office about 3:00 p.m. on Friday afternoon, reporting a 911 cell phone call from a hiker in distress on the Granite Canyon trail. C.T. had called to report that she was nauseous and unable to walk further. She was also slightly disoriented and describing characteristic symptoms of heat stress. Two park rangers immediately began hiking into Granite Canyon by foot and located C.T. about four miles from the Granite Canyon trailhead. Because her condition deteriorated after rangers reached her, an interagency helicopter was summoned to expedite an evacuation. Rangers used the short-haul rescue technique to quickly transport C.T. from the canyon trail via helicopter to a waiting park ambulance at the Granite Canyon Entrance Station on the Moose-Wilson Road. The park ambulance then transported C.T. to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for treatment. This marks the sixth major search and rescue operation this year in Grand Teton National Park and the second rescue in two days time involving hikers who were overcome by the effects of heat, dehydration, overexertion or altitude. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers employed an interagency contract helicopter to rescue a backcountry hiker on the evening of July 5th after he suffered symptoms of acute mountain sickness and heat exhaustion. S.B., 24, of Rolling Meadows, Illinois, became too ill to continue hiking on his own at the 10,100-foot elevation near Petzoldt's Cave in Garnet Canyon. The sheriff's office received a distress call from S.B. and relayed it to rangers via the interagency dispatch center. Rangers were able to make cell phone contact with S.B. and his hiking partner and determine that he needed emergency medical assistance. Two rangers immediately began hiking into Garnet Canyon by foot, while an interagency helicopter was summoned for air support. Four rangers were subsequently flown into the Meadows area of Garnet Canyon, and two of those rangers hiked up an additional 800 feet to Petzoldt's Cave where S.B. was resting. After rangers provided initial emergency medical care, they were able to help S.B. walk to the Garnet Canyon Meadows and board the helicopter for a flight to Lupine Meadows, where a park ambulance was waiting to transport him to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for treatment. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
On the morning of July 2nd, M.L., 73, was heading north through the park on his Honda Goldwing three-wheel motorcycle when it drifted off the road three miles north of Leeks Marina. Both M.L. and his passenger - A."H."E., 70, of Waukesha, Wisconsin - were both wearing helmets at the time but nonetheless sustained serious injuries in the accident. Rangers responded from the Colter Bay ranger station, located just four miles away. A.E. died of her injuries, but rangers were able to stabilize M.L. and quickly get him to a medical center in Jackson for treatment. Witnesses reported that M.L., who was pulling a cargo trailer behind his motorcycle, briefly drifted off the side of the road. The Goldwing motorcycle then flipped over as M.L. pulled back onto the highway and both riders were thrown off the bike as it rolled. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
On the morning of Sunday, July 15th, M.B., 37, was running along the side of Gros Ventre Road with her young son strapped into a jogging stroller when she was struck by a Honda Civic driven by Shannon Davis, 26. Rangers and a Teton County ambulance personnel were on scene within minutes and took M.B. to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for treatment of her injuries. M.B.'s son was securely fastened into his baby stroller and was essentially unhurt; however, he too was transported by park ambulance to the center for precautionary medical care. Rangers then located M.B.'s husband, Mi.B., who was at their campsite in the Gros Ventre Campground and brought him to the hospital. M.B. was flown early Sunday afternoon to Eastern Idaho Medical Center in Idaho Falls for additional medical care. Both M.B. and Davis were traveling westbound on the Gros Ventre Road when the accident occurred. Davis was estimated to have been traveling about 45 miles per hour, which is the speed limit on that road segment. She was issued a citation and a mandatory court appearance as a result of the accident. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers used an interagency contract helicopter to evacuate a seriously ill climber from Garnet Canyon on the evening of Tuesday, July 17th. C.R., 65, of Boynton Beach, Florida, was part of a climbing party attempting to summit the Grand Teton with Exum Mountain Guides when he became too ill to continue climbing. C.R. was experiencing minor gastrointestinal distress on Monday as he hiked to the Lower Saddle (elevation 11,600 feet). He spent the night at the Exum base camp, and on Tuesday morning, the climbing party set out for the summit. C.R. reached the Upper Saddle of the Grand Teton (elevation 13,160 feet) before the combination of altitude, dehydration and fatigue made his symptoms worse. C.R. turned around at that point and headed downhill to wait for the rest of his climbing party. Around 2 p.m., his symptoms worsened, and he became increasingly dehydrated and weak. With the assistance of Exum guides, C.R. slowly made his way towards Garnet Canyon Meadows. After realizing additional assistance would likely be needed, one of the Exum guides walked ahead to alert a park trail crew working in the area at the time. One of the trail crew employees called Teton Interagency Dispatch by radio at approximately 4:30 p.m., and six trail crew employees hiked up to C.R.'s location to provide assistance. Upon reaching C.R., they helped him as he slowly worked his way down the canyon to meet up with park rescue personnel. Due to C.R.'s deteriorating condition and the severity of his symptoms, rangers decided to utilize the interagency contract helicopter for evacuation. Two rangers were flown to Garnet Canyon Meadows at 6:15 p.m. They provided medical care before placing C.R. on the helicopter for a flight to Lupine Meadows, where a park ambulance was waiting to transport him to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for treatment. This marks the seventh major search and rescue operation in Grand Teton National Park this year. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Twenty-one NPS and Teton County personnel with four ambulances and a rescue truck responded to a rollover accident on Wilderness Road in the North District at 1:45 a.m. on the morning of Saturday, July 21st. The road passes through the park to Forest Service camping areas and wilderness trailheads. Rangers were first on scene and began triaging six of the seven victims with the assistance of a number of bystanders. The seventh occupant was found and assessed by rangers and deputies at an emergency checkpoint established on Pacific Creek Road to identify witnesses and additional victims. Five of the seven were taken by three park ambulances to St. John's Hospital. The driver - M.S., 21, of Valley Alabama - had been ejected from the pickup. He was flown to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, but succumbed to his injuries. Alcohol and speed were the primary factors in the accident. [Patrick W. Hattaway, North District Ranger]
Rangers responded to two separate backcountry emergencies on Saturday, July 21st. With the assistance of an interagency contract helicopter, they flew a severely dehydrated climber from the Lower Saddle early on Saturday morning. On Saturday evening, they again used a helicopter to evacuate a hiker from the East Face of Buck Mountain after she sustained injuries to her ankle. The first rescue involved a 15-year-old climber who had successfully completed a one-day ascent of the Grand Teton on Friday with a private party. He became very dehydrated and ill on the descent, though, and was only able to descend to the Lower Saddle (elevation 11,600 feet). He spent the night at the saddle, where climbing guides from Exum Mountain Guides attempted to rehydrate and feed him. A guide called rangers for assistance at 4:00 a.m. Due to the patient's deteriorating condition and the severity of his symptoms, rangers arranged to utilize an interagency contract helicopter for evacuation. The helicopter flew a ranger to the Lower Saddle to assist with evacuation at approximately 8:30 a.m. Rangers provided medical care before loading the patient inside the helicopter for a flight to Lupine Meadows. A park ambulance then transported him to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson, where he was treated and released later that day. In the evening, rangers received another emergency phone call, this one from D.R., 58, whose wife, S.R., 57, had injured her ankle while descending the East Face of Buck Mountain. The R.s had reached the summit of Buck Mountain and begun their descent when S.R. twisted her ankle at about 11,000 feet. Since she was unable to bear weight or proceed further, David placed an emergency 911 phone call, which was transferred to Teton Interagency Dispatch Center. Rangers immediately began coordinating a rescue. A reconnaissance helicopter flight located the injured party and assessed the scene. Three rangers were then flown to Timberline Lake (elevation 10,000 feet), and two of them hiked up about 1,000 feet to the R.s. Due to the steep and rocky terrain and the nature of S.R.'s injury, they decided to use the short-haul technique to evacuate her. The technique involves placing a patient into either an evacuation suit or a rescue litter, which is suspended below the helicopter by a double rope system; the patient is then airlifted for a short flight to another landing spot where the ship can safely touch down. In this case, a ranger loaded R. into an evacuation suit and attended her while the two were short-hauled to White Grass Meadows. A park ambulance then transported R. to St. John's Medical Center. These incidents mark the eighth and ninth major search and rescue operations in the park this year. Saturday's Lower Saddle rescue was the fourth helicopter evacuation of hikers who were overcome by the effects of heat, dehydration, overexertion or altitude. There have been several other heat-related incidents this summer where rangers have assisted dehydrated or ill hikers without the use of a helicopter. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Specialist]
Rangers, Jackson Hole fire and EMS personnel and a Teton interagency fire engine crew responded to the scene of a single vehicle accident involving a seriously injured driver on the afternoon of Sunday, July 29th. As a result of injuries received in the accident, L.D., 68, a seasonal employee of Grand Teton Lodge Company, later died at the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls. L.D. was driving a company vehicle southbound on Teton Park Road about a quarter mile north of the Spalding Bay access road when for unknown reasons he veered across the northbound lane of traffic, narrowly missed an oncoming vehicle, and landed at the bottom of a steep road embankment. L.D. was tightly pinned inside the cab of the truck as it came to rest, crushed against several pine trees. The truck also broke off three large pine trees as it slid down the embankment. Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a 911 call at 3 p.m. from the motorist who narrowly missed hitting L.D.'s vehicle as it crossed the center line. L.D. was so completely pinned inside the cab of the truck that it took about two hours to release him from the vehicle. Teton interagency fire personnel removed several trees to assist in the extrication operation, and the extrication team used the "jaws of life" to remove the truck's dashboard before L.D. could be safely released from the vehicle. L.D. was given emergency medical care during the entire operation. Although the vehicle's air bags deployed, L.D., who was not wearing a seatbelt, received traumatic injuries in the accident. L.D. was flown directly from the scene by a life flight helicopter to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center for treatment. Rangers established a landing zone for the helicopter on the closed portion of the Teton Park Road. While emergency personnel worked to extricate L.D. from the pick-up, the Teton Park Road was closed to all traffic for approximately three hours from the Spalding Bay access road to a point just south of the Mount Moran scenic turnout. The mutual aid response to this accident involved the expertise and coordination of multiple agencies and emergency personnel from Grand Teton National Park, Teton County, and Teton interagency fire. Local agencies cross train with one another in order to be better prepared for responding to incidents such as this single vehicle accident. That training proved invaluable to this incident. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Specialist]
A.A., 53, of Laramie, Wyoming, injured both ankles and received a minor head wound after taking a 15-foot tumbling fall about 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 28th. The accident occurred when A.A. and two climbing partners were descending the CMC route on Mount Moran. As they approached the notch near Drizzlepuss, A.A. — who was temporarily unroped and not wearing a helmet at the time — slipped and took a tumble. She landed on her backpack and a coil of rope, which likely protected her from further injury. A.A.'s climbing partners were able to get her roped up again, and she climbed up to the Drizzlepuss notch. The trio then descended another 100 feet before deciding to bivouac for the night. Another climbing party ascending the CMC route early Sunday morning came upon A.A. and her companions. The climbing party had a cell phone with them and made a call for assistance. Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received the call for help on Sunday morning. An interagency contract helicopter conducting an overflight for possible new fires in the area was diverted to assist with an aerial evacuation of the injured climber. Two rangers were flown from Lupine Meadows to A.A.'s location on Mount Moran and inserted by short-haul. After they provided medical care, they placed A.A. in an evacuation suit. She was then flown in tandem with an attending ranger to the Lupine Meadows rescue facility on the valley floor, transferred to a park ambulance, and taken to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson, where she was treated and released. This marks the tenth major search and rescue operation in Grand Teton National Park this year. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Specialist]
Rangers used an interagency contract helicopter to evacuate an injured climber from the Lower Saddle on Wednesday, August 1st. K.K., 50, of Detroit, Michigan, stumbled and fell several feet around 8:45 a.m. while ascending Exum Ridge on the Grand Teton with a group of climbers led by Exum Guides. Although he was roped-up and wearing a helmet, K.K. suffered lacerations to his face, bruises to his hand, and an injury to his knee during the fall. The guide leading the climbing party called the Exum offices to report the accident, and Exum contacted rangers, who began to monitor the situation. The party was able to descend to the Lower Saddle without additional assistance by about 11 a.m. A ranger who was stationed at the Lower Saddle on a routine climbing patrol met the group there, evaluated K.K.'s injuries, and provided emergency medical assistance. Rangers also conferred with a physician at St. John's Medical Center in Jackson about K.K.'s condition. Due to the nature of his injuries, the location of the accident, and the prolonged time an evacuation by foot would take, they made the decision to evacuate him by helicopter. An interagency contract helicopter flew to the Lower Saddle at 1:10 p.m. Rangers loaded K.K. inside the helicopter and flew him to Lupine Meadows, where a park ambulance was waiting to transport him to St. John's Medical Center for further treatment. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Specialist]
Rangers used a Teton interagency contract helicopter to rescue an injured climber from the Grand Teton on the evening of Wednesday, August 15th. V.W., 56, of Green Bay, Wisconsin, and his nephew, M.B., 23, of De Pere, Wisconsin, had summited the Grand Teton using the Owen-Spalding route and were using a rope to descend Sargeant's Chimney when V.W. fell 15 to 20 feet and sustained injuries to his head, right arm and elbow. M.B. used his cell phone to call 911, and the call was routed to the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center around 3 p.m. A park ranger on a routine climbing patrol in the area hastened his ascent to the Lower Saddle of the Grand Teton. An Exum guide, also in the area, volunteered to assist and hiked towards the Lower Saddle with the ranger. Based on V.W.'s location, the nature of his injuries, and the time of day, a Teton interagency contract helicopter was summoned to make a reconnaissance flight and deliver two park rangers to the Lower Saddle to begin staging a rescue operation. Two additional rangers hiked to the Lower Saddle on foot and the helicopterwas subsequently used to transport four more rangers, with rescue gear, to the Lower Saddle. Park rangers reached V.W. around 5:15 p.m. When there is no suitable spot to land a helicopter, the short-haul method is used to place rescue personnel, who are suspended below the helicopter by a double rope system, into a location near the patient; the injured person is then secured into either an evacuation suit or a rescue litter to be airlifted for a short flight to another landing spot where the ship can safely touch down. After rangers provided emergency medical care to V.W. just below the summit of the Grand, he was placed in a litter and short-hauled from Sargeant's Chimney to the Lower Saddle. Rangers were then able to place the litter inside the helicopter and V.W. was flown to the Lupine Meadows rescue facility on the valley floor just after 8 p.m. V.W. was transported by park ambulance to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for further treatment of his injuries. [Submitted by Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Specialist]
Rangers employed an interagency contract helicopter to rescue two stranded climbers near an ice field in the Black Ice Couloir on the Grand Teton on the evening of August 29th. R.C., 65, of Manitou Springs, Colorado, and his climbing partner, R.U., 29, from Vestal, New York, became stranded at the 12,200-foot elevation sometime on Tuesday, August 28th, when R.C. pulled off a large block of rock while leading a climb and severely injured his right hand, making it difficult to continue an ascent. The two climbers were forced to spend the night on a narrow ledge before rangers were alerted to their situation on Wednesday afternoon. Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received notice at 12:55 p.m. on Wednesday from dispatchers in Teton County, Idaho, that a 911 call had been received by them reporting "cries for help" from somewhere near the North Ridge of the Grand Teton. Rangers summoned a contract helicopter and conducted an aerial reconnaissance flight at 2 p.m. to determine the source of the calls. They spotted R.C. and R.U., but they appeared to be descending and did not initially indicate that they were in need of assistance. Rangers made a second flight at 5 p.m. and used a "white board" placard to visually inquire about whether the couple needed help. At that time, the stranded climbers responded that they did require assistance. Three park rangers were flown to a high-elevation landing zone in Valhalla Canyon, and one was then inserted by the short-haul technique onto the narrow ledge where the climbers were located. The ranger was able to get R.C. and R.U. into rescue evacuation suits and prepare them for a short-haul flight back to Valhalla Canyon. All three of them - the ranger and the two climbers - were then short-hauled together, in one flight, to the landing zone at Valhalla Canyon, where they could get inside the helicopter for a return flight to Lupine Meadows. R.C. was then transported by a park ambulance to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson, where he spent the night for treatment of his injuries. Had rangers remained unaware of the climbers' location and need for assistance, they would have spent a second difficult night stranded on the Grand Teton without basic bivouac gear. This marks the 21st major search and rescue operation in the park this year. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers employed a contract helicopter to rescue an injured climber from the base of Jensen Ridge on Symmetry Spire on the afternoon of Tuesday, September 11th. A.K., 49, of Toronto, Canada, dislocated his shoulder while ascending the spire on a climb with Exum Mountain Guides. His guide lowered him about 300 feet to the ridge base, which greatly assisted the evacuation by placing him in a better location for the rescue operation. The guide used his cell phone to call the Exum Mountain Guides' office, and rangers responded after Exum staff relayed the message at 1:30 p.m. By 2:30 p.m., the helicopter was en route to insert a park ranger via short-haul onto the 9,500 foot elevation ledge where the climber was located. After the ranger placed A.K. in a short-haul evacuation suit, he was flown to Lupine Meadows, arriving there at about 4:00 p.m. A park ambulance then took him to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for treatment. This marks the 22nd significant SAR operation in the park this year. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Two bull elk were illegally shot and killed in the park during separate incidents this past week. Early last Friday, the park received a report of possible poaching in the area of Two Ocean and Emma Matilda lakes. Three men suspected of poaching the elk were contacted by rangers the next day. The men, all from Lander, Wyoming, were in the process of removing an elk carcass from the kill site near the north shore of Emma Matilda Lake. Rangers confiscated the elk and issued citations. One hunter was cited for illegally hunting in a national park and a second hunter was cited for possessing a weapon illegally in a national park. The third hunter was not cited. On Saturday, rangers who were en route to the poaching scene discovered an elk that had been shot illegally by a minor who was accompanied by his father, both again Wyoming residents. The bull elk was killed approximately one mile down Pacific Creek Road from Highway 89. The elk was confiscated and citations were issued. All charges in both incidents carry mandatory appearances in federal court. The park works closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Elk Refuge, and Wyoming Game and Fish to establish hunt quotas aimed at achieving an optimum bull to cow ratio. Poaching, in addition to being illegal, makes the job of accurately estimating herd numbers difficult and hinders wildlife management efforts. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
A head-on collision between a passenger car and a semi truck hauling a car transport trailer resulted in the death of two visitors from Belgium on the afternoon of June 23rd. The accident occurred on Highway 26/89/191, about a mile-and-a-half south of the Moose junction. Teton Interagency Dispatch received a report of the accident from the Teton County Sheriff's Office shortly after it occurred. Approximately ten rangers and emergency medical personnel from the park responded. They were joined at the scene by Teton County Fire/EMS personnel, by several Teton Interagency fire staff, who helped with traffic control at various intersections near the accident site, and by Teton County sheriffs and a Wyoming Highway Patrol officer, who assisted with traffic control and an accident reconstruction investigation. Other mutual aid assistance was provided by a Teton County ambulance and the Teton County rescue vehicle with an extrication team, responding from Jackson, Wyoming. Details on the cause of the accident are not yet available. Identities are being withheld pending notification of next of kin. Due to the serious nature of the accident and the position of the semi truck and its trailer, Highway 26/89/191 was closed from 4:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Traffic was rerouted through detours along the Antelope Flats Road and the Moose-Wilson Road. [Jackie Skaggs, PAO]
A 16-year-old New Mexico girl who was visiting Jackson Hole with her family slipped on snow and tumbled about 300 feet while descending the east fact of Teewinot Mountain with two other climbers on June 22nd. She suffered injuries to her hip, elbow and ankle and lacerations of her forehead and hands. The fall and injuries occurred even though she was wearing crampons and a helmet and carrying an ice axe. An Exum guide who was taking a client up the mountain reached the girl around 10 a.m. and both provided medical assistance and contacted rangers. Due to the nature of the injuries, the location of the accident, the difficult terrain, and the prolonged time an evacuation by foot would take, rangers made the decision to evacuate her by helicopter. Two rangers were flown from Lupine Meadows and inserted by the short-haul method at her location; a third ranger with medical equipment and a rescue litter was then brought in. She was flown out in tandem with an attending ranger to the Lupine Meadows rescue cache on the valley floor, where a waiting park ambulance transported her to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for further medical care. This was the park's first major search and rescue operation this summer. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
A 39-year-old man who admitted to breaking into his ex-girlfriend's cabin, assaulting her and intentionally damaging her truck has been sentenced to more than two years in prison. A.C., who was an employee at Triangle X Ranch, a park concession operation, was sentenced in federal court after pleading guilty to malicious mischief, a felony, and simple assault and trespass, both misdemeanors. The incident occurred in 2006, when A.C. was an employee at the ranch. Although the precipitating incidents occurred the night before the park was contacted, investigating rangers were able to piece together the string of circumstances from interviews with witnesses, the victim and A.C. Rangers were also able to secure evidence of criminal behavior that contributed to the guilty pleas. The primary investigating ranger, Jay Shields, now at Blue Ridge Parkway, acted on information received during follow-up interviews to determine that A.C. had deliberately severed the brake lines of his ex-girlfriend's vehicle and was able to prevent a potential motor vehicle accident. Shields' investigation resulted in the conviction. A.C. was sentenced to two years and one month for malicious mischief and to six months for simple assault, with the sentences to be served concurrently. A.C. also will serve three years of supervised probation once released and was ordered to pay $2,346 in restitution for the damage to his ex-girlfriend's vehicle. [Andy Fisher, Chief Ranger]
On the Fourth of July, T.W., 24, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, tumbled approximately 150 feet and suffered a severe ankle injury while descending a snowfield on the Middle Teton. T.W. and his climbing partner, C.L., 24, of Wilson, Wyoming, were descending the South Couloir route - a rarely climbed couloir between the Southwest and Ellingwood couloirs - when the accident occurred. T.W. tumbled over several rock bands, injured his ankle when he hit a rock, and came to a stop above a cliff. C.L. placed an emergency cell phone call, which was transferred to park rangers at 12:30 p.m. Rangers began coordinating a rescue operation and requested the assistance of an interagency contract helicopter. Because the two climbers were unable to describe their exact position on the mountain, an initial reconnaissance flight was required to locate them. During this flight, rangers and the pilot determined that winds were too strong to allow for the insertion of rescue personnel to the climbers' location. Instead, six rangers and a helitack crew member were flown to a landing zone in the Garnet Canyon Meadows, then climbed to the injured man's location. Two rangers reached the climbers at 3:45 p.m., and another helicopter flight was then launched to determine if weather conditions had stabilized enough so that the pilot could perform a shorthaul evacuation. Since they proved to be acceptable, the helicopter lifted T.W. and an attending ranger from the mountain and transported him to a waiting ambulance. T.W. was wearing crampons and a helmet at the time of the fall; he was also carrying an ice axe. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers are conducting an investigation into the climbing death of longtime Exum Mountain Guides employee G.G., 58, on Saturday, July 19th. Fellow guides, who were with G.G. before the accident that took his life, have provided rangers with extensive information about the circumstances leading up to his untimely death. G.G. and several other Exum guides had taken a group of clients, including youths from Wilderness Ventures, to the Lower Saddle on Saturday with the intention of climbing the Grand Teton the following day. After the group had eaten dinner and settled into their Lower Saddle camp for the evening, G.G. departed around 5 p.m. to free solo climb the Lower Exum Ridge on the Grand Teton, a climb rated 5.7 on the Yosemite Decimal System. According to his colleagues, G.G. planned to climb the route to Wall Street and then return back to Lower Saddle base camp. It is not unusual for professional guides - either in pairs or solo - to go out for additional climbing on their own once their clients have settled in for the night. Several guides were concerned when G.G. had not returned by dark; however, the guides noticed headlamps coming down from the Upper Saddle and they figured it was G.G., perhaps assisting a mountaineering party in their late-hour descent. When the guides awoke at 3 a.m. to prepare for the day's excursion, they discovered that G.G. was missing. Out of concern, they notified Exum Mountain Guides president Jack Turner, who contacted the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center (TIDC) with news of the missing guide. After the call, park rangers immediately began coordinating a search and rescue response, and requested an interagency contract helicopter. At the Lower Saddle, several Exum guides began a hasty search for G.G., with three guides climbing the Lower Exum Ridge route and two guides ascending the classic route to the Upper Exum Ridge via Wall Street. One of the guides ascending towards Wall Street spotted G.G.'s body around 6 a.m. from an area near the Eye of the Needle. After alerting the party that was ascending the Lower Exum Ridge, two of the guides from the Lower Exum Ridge party climbed to G.G.'s location and confirmed that he was deceased. Park rangers and TIDC were notified of the fatality, prompting a switch to a recovery and investigation operation. G.G.'s body was flown from the accident site on the mountain via short haul and delivered to his family and a contingent of fellow climbing guides at the park's Lupine Meadows rescue cache at 12:30 p.m. The body was then transferred to the Teton County Coroner's office. Rangers are investigating the accident, though they acknowledge that the exact cause may never be known for certain. They speculate that G.G. may have fallen from one of the upper pitches of the Lower Exum Ridge route. They also note that there was a substantial (and atypical) wind gust of about 60 mph at approximately 6 p.m.on the day of the accident that may have been a factor in G.G.'s fall. Whatever the cause of this accident, park rangers and Exum guides both agree that G.G. was climbing well within the realm of his capabilities, and doing what he was comfortable with and what he loved. A resident of Ridgeway, Colorado, G.G. had been an Exum guide for 17 years and a climbing guide for 28 years. His vast mountaineering experience included expeditions on the southwest face of Kanchenjunga and the west face of Hyani Potosi in Bolivia's Cordillera Real; ski ascents in the Alps and in Colorado; and extensive climbing in North America and the Himalayas. He was the program director for Sterling College's "Semester in the Himalayas" as well as an AMGA Certified Alpine Guide. [Jackie Skaggs, PAO]
A seriously injured hiker was located and rescued from Avalanche Canyon on the afternoon of Wednesday, August 6th, following an extensive effort that involved 65 searchers from the park and several other agencies. R.F., 58, of Houston, Texas, was descending Avalanche Canyon on Tuesday morning when he slipped on a snowfield just below Snowdrift Lake and tumbled at least 10 feet over a cliff. R.F. suffered internal and head injuries and several broken bones and was unable to resume hiking. He spent an unscheduled night in the backcountry, enduring both his injuries and cold temperatures. R.F. and his wife, P.F., were on a backcountry trip, hiking the Teton Crest Trail together, when they opted to separate from one another at 7 a.m. on Tuesday after camping in the south fork of Cascade Canyon. Richard chose to hike out of the Tetons via a traverse over Avalanche Divide - a route he had read about in a recent issue of Backpacker Magazine. P.F. continued to hike out the more traditional route through Cascade Canyon, intending to meet her husband at Jenny Lake sometime late Tuesday afternoon. When Richard failed to return by the appointed time, P.F. reported him overdue to park rangers at the Jenny Lake Ranger Station. Rangers began to coordinate a field search for R.F. and planned to get searchers on the ground at first light the next morning. At 6 a.m. Wednesday morning, a team of two park rangers hiked from Taggart Lake into Avalanche Canyon, while another team hiked from Jenny Lake into Cascade Canyon to reach Avalanche Divide. These two "hasty search" parties met at Snowdrift Lake in Avalanche Canyon without finding R.F. The incident commander for the search effort also summoned the assistance of an interagency helicopter to provide aerial search capabilities. Because the interagency helicopter was temporarily out of service for maintenance, air operations did not begin until 11 a.m. In the meantime, over 20 searchers - including the park's trail maintenance crew and Teton interagency fire crews - began an extensive ground search using a grid system to methodically cover assigned sectors of Avalanche Canyon from Taggart Lake trailhead. Once airborne, the helicopter was able to deliver approximately 15 searchers into the upper canyon using a landing zone at Snowdrift Lake; these people fanned out to search assigned locations above the lake. Working a systematic search pattern from the air, rangers eventually spotted R.F., who was lying near some rocks at the base of a snowfield about a quarter mile below Snowdrift Lake outlet. He became visible to the searchers after he waved his arm at the helicopter. Rescue personnel responded by foot from Snowdrift Lake. These first responders provided emergency medical care for his serious injuries and prepared him for immediate evacuation by helicopter. R.F. was placed into a rescue litter and flown by short-haul with an attending ranger directly to Lupine Meadows, where a park ambulance was waiting to transport him to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson. R.F.'s injuries were serious enough that he may not have survived a second night exposed to the elements in the Teton backcountry. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Specialist]
A single-car rollover accident on the evening of Saturday, August 9th, resulted in the death of a sixteen-year-old boy. The accident occurred just after 7 p.m. near Elk Ranch Flats. Seven people - an extended family from Washington State and Hungary - were traveling in a Honda Odyssey minivan when the accident occurred. The driver and six passengers sustained injuries; one of the passengers, an eight-year-old boy, suffered life-threatening injuries. Four of the vehicle's occupants were wearing seatbelts and remained in the minivan; two passengers, including the deceased teenager, were ejected from the vehicle. James Kochis, 70, of Port Orchard, Washington, was driving southbound on the highway when his vehicle left the pavement for unknown reasons and rolled one or more times before coming to rest on all four wheels. The cause of the accident is under investigation; however, it appears that the tires of the minivan dropped off the pavement, forcing Kochis to make an abrupt correction, which caused the vehicle to roll and come to a stop on the east side of the highway after crossing both lanes of the highway. The teenage boy was ejected out of the rear window of the minivan and was pronounced dead at the scene. The eight-year-old boy received fractures to both legs and sustained other internal injuries. A park ambulance took the young boy and his father to St. John's Medical Center, where he was transferred by Life Flight to Salt Lake City later Saturday night. The other four occupants were transported to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for treatment of a variety of serious injuries. Approximately 20 park personnel (park rangers, emergency medical personnel, one Air Force EMT detailed to Grand Teton National Park and Teton interagency fire staff) responded along with Jackson Hole Fire/EMS staff, Teton County deputy sheriffs and a Wyoming Highway Patrol officer. Due to the serious nature of the accident and the multiple ambulances and emergency medical personnel required to treat the numerous injured people, Highway 26/89/191 was closed to traffic for more than two hours. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
A 55-year-old man from Helena, Montana, took a fatal fall while traversing the ridge between the South Teton and Cloudveil Dome with three companions on the afternoon of Saturday, August 9th. C.P. slipped on snow while crossing the south side of Gilkey Tower (elevation 12,320 feet) and tumbled about 800 feet over steep rock before landing on a ledge on the north side of Avalanche Canyon. He was carrying an ice axe at the time of the slide, but was unable to self arrest. Rangers were notified of the accident at approximately 1:15 p.m. on Saturday, when C.P.'s companions placed a cell phone call to the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center to report the accident. Rangers immediately organized a rescue operation and requested the assistance of an interagency contract helicopter for air support. The helicopter flew to Lupine Meadows, picked up several rangers, and undertook an aerial reconnaissance flight. C.P. was located from the air, and rangers were able to verify that he had died in the fall. A ranger who was on routine mountain patrol in Garnet Canyon was diverted from his backcountry route to the accident scene. He reached the three members of C.P.'s party just before 5:00 p.m. and assisted them with the descent to their camp in the South Fork of Garnet Canyon. They were able to hike out of Garnet Canyon on Sunday morning. Because of an incoming thunderstorm and the time of day, rangers decided to wait until Sunday to attempt to recover C.P.'s body. Rangers began their ground-based recovery operation on Sunday morning by flying six rangers to a landing zone near Lake Taminah in Avalanche Canyon. The rescue personnel had to ascend 200 feet of technical terrain to the ledge where C.P. came to rest. The recovery operation was completed by early Sunday evening. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
An injured climber was evacuated by helicopter from the Grand Teton on the afternoon of Thursday, August 7th. M.C., 46, of Salt Lake City, Utah, sustained multiple broken bones after landing hard during a rappel from a cliff near the Upper Saddle of the Grand Teton. M.C. and her husband had successfully reached the summit and were on their way down when the accident occurred; neither climber was wearing a helmet at the time. The C.s climbed Exum Ridge on the Grand Teton on Thursday morning and reached the summit at 12:30 p.m. They were descending the standard rappel near the Upper Saddle when M.C. was unable to maintain friction on her climbing rope and ultimately slid about 50 feet before coming to an abrupt stop on the slope below the rappel route. She landed on her feet, but fell backward after the abrupt landing. M.C. received injuries to her leg, side and back, and was unable to continue climbing. The C.s used their cell phone to report their situation; however, because of their location on the Grand Teton, the call was received by the Driggs, Idaho, sheriff's office. The Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received notice of the accident at 1:30 p.m. and park rangers immediately summoned an interagency contract helicopter to assist with the rescue effort. Three park rangers were transported by the contract helicopter to the Lower Saddle of the Grand Teton, and one of those rangers was then inserted into the accident site via short-haul. Two more rangers were flown by helicopter to the Lower Saddle along with necessary rescue equipment, and another ranger was also inserted by short-haul into the accident site. M.C. was given emergency medical care by the rangers and placed into a rescue litter for evacuation. She was then flown out at 4:45 p.m. - with a ranger accompanying her - directly to the Jenny Lake rescue cache located on the valley floor. A park ambulance transported her to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for further treatment of her injuries. The remaining ranger accompanied her husband as he continued his descent from the Upper Saddle. Upon reaching the Lower Saddle, he too was flown by helicopter to the rescue cache to expedite a reunion with his wife at the hospital. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
An interagency effort by rangers, Federal Motor Carrier Administration personnel and Wyoming Highway Patrol officers on August 12th and 13th resulted in 45 commercial vehicles being inspected for safety issues that could lead to motor vehicle accidents, visitor injuries and resource damage. A complete safety inspection station was established at Colter Bay, where every commercial vehicle traveling on the North Teton Park Road was inspected by federal and state personnel. The vehicles inspected included many passenger vans being operated as touring vehicles by hotel groups, others operated by bicycle touring companies, commercial passenger buses, delivery vehicles, construction vehicles, and one commercial well drilling truck illegally transiting through the park. The inspections resulted in five vehicles being parked because their drivers had worked too many hours or had failed to log hours worked, one bus being shut down until the emergency exits were repaired, one delivery truck being shut down until the brakes were repaired, and three buses being shut down due to tire, brake and steering failures. Two of the latter were operated by Holiday Tours, which had to arrange to have them towed from the park. Twenty-one warnings were issued for seatbelt violations, and one person was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. [Patrick Hattaway, North District Ranger]
A full-scale search for a lost hiker last Wednesday and Thursday came to a happy conclusion when he was found in good condition. C."C."M., 54, of Lakeland, Minnesota, was hiking with his wife, Stephanie, on Wednesday afternoon when he left her in mid-afternoon to "do some exploring" while she read a book near a boulder field at Hidden Falls. When C.M. failed to return to the Hidden Falls area by 5:30 p.m., his wife became concerned and quickly hiked to the west shore boat dock to report that he was overdue. Teton Interagency Dispatch was notified around 6:00 p.m. A team of 13 rangers scoured the area on foot, but were unable to locate C.M. before sunset. With darkness falling, the hasty search was halted and plans were made to resume a full-scale search beginning at first light on Thursday morning. Rangers also summoned the assistance of an interagency helicopter to provide aerial search capabilities. A park ranger who was searching the Cascade Canyon trail on Thursday morning met up with other hikers who recognized C.M. from a photograph he showed them. They told the ranger that they had met C.M. just a few minute before, and had given him a candy bar to eat. The ranger quickly caught up to C.M. and confirmed that he was the missing person. He'd been chilled by a frosty night in the Teton backcountry without shelter and wearing only a T-shirt, long pants and sandals, but was otherwise okay. He reported that he'd became so engrossed in scrambling up the boulder field to the south of Hidden Falls that time got away from him. When he decided to turn around and retrace his path, he realized that he was uncomfortably high and that it was not safe to return the way he had come. He therefore started to traverse along the top of the boulder field to find a safer way down. Darkness ultimately overtook him, and he eventually sat down to rest and sleep before dawn would provide better light. He also found a bank of snow and ate some for moisture. The next morning, he was able to pick his way across more boulders and through thick vegetation and eventually cross Cascade Creek at a point well into the mouth of Cascade Canyon. Nearly 65 searchers - Grand Teton National Park personnel, Teton interagency fire staff, Teton County Wyoming Search and Rescue volunteers, an interagency contract helicopter and crew, and three dog teams from Wyoming K-9 Search and Rescue - took part in the major search effort. [Jackie Skaggs, PAO]
The park hosted the annual Federal Reserve Bank symposium from August 21st to August 23rd. The symposium is sponsored by the Kansas City branch of the Federal Reserve and has been occurring for many years. This year the event drew a wider audience due to current economic developments worldwide. There were more than 200 participants from the international banking community and live media feeds eight hours a day from five networks. Park rangers and public affairs and business personnel provided support and assisted the Grand Teton Lodge Company and security details from several banking institutions during the event. [Patrick Hattaway, North District Ranger]
On December 11th, M.S., a Wyoming resident, was sentenced in federal court following a guilty plea to a charge of felony assault resulting in serious bodily injury and sentenced to 18 months in jail, three years of supervised probation, and nearly $10,000 in restitution. The conviction stems from an assault that occurred in the park on July 20, 2007. On that date, rangers received and responded to a report of an altercation on the Moose-Wilson Road near the park's south boundary. The Moose-Wilson Road, a winding, scenic secondary road, requires slow speeds due to narrow lanes and a gravel surface and because it is a known wildlife viewing corridor. Travel along the road can be slow and challenging at different times of the year because of fall foliage and/or "wildlife jams." The altercation occurred due to an instance of road rage in which M.S. assaulted the driver of a slower-moving vehicle whose occupants were looking for wildlife and had stopped because of a "moose jam." M.S. punched the driver to the ground and kicked him in the head while he was unconscious, then fled. Rangers employed information provided by witnesses and surveillance evidence to develop information that eventually led to photographic lineups which were sent to various witnesses throughout the country. These in turn led to M.S.'s identification. Although initially denying any involvement and refusing to cooperate with the investigating ranger and assistant U.S. attorney, M.S. was eventually indicted by a federal grand jury in March of 2008. M.S. was arrested on a federal warrant in the town of Jackson without incident. The successful investigation and prosecution was due to the combined efforts of the involved park rangers, led by Gros Ventre subdistrict ranger Kevin Albright, and the great assistance and efforts of assistant U.S. attorney Jason Conder. [Karen Frauson, South District Ranger]
C.B., 29, and D.M., 27, both residents of Jackson, Wyoming, took a wrong turn after exiting an out-of-bounds gate at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort around 2 p.m. on Sunday, January 25th, and spent an unexpected night in the mountains without adequate clothing or shelter. The two men intended to ski south into Rock Springs Bowl, but inadvertently turned north and entered Granite Canyon. They did not realize that they were off course until they had traveled some distance into Grand Teton's backcountry. When darkness overtook them, they tried to camp for the night. Since they lacked extra clothing or any basic emergency gear to warm themselves, though, they became cold and decided to keep moving. As they were following Granite Creek downstream, C.B. fell through a thin bridge of snow and landed in knee-deep water. In addition to getting wet, C.B. lost one ski in the process of scrambling out of the streambed, which hampered his ability to continue skiing. The two men used their cell phone around 6:30 on Monday morning to make a 911 call for help, and that call was received by a Teton County dispatcher. The men reported that they were stranded somewhere south of the ski resort, as they still believed that they had skied toward Rock Springs Bowl, but a GPS locator on the cell phone pinpointed their position as being in Granite Canyon within Grand Teton National Park — several miles north of where they claimed to be. Shortly after making their emergency call, the cell phone lost service. Teton County dispatch alerted rangers of the situation and a search and rescue operation was begun. Two rangers snowmobiled to Granite Canyon, left their snowmobiles on the valley, floor, then skied into the canyon. Meanwhile, patrol staff from Jackson Hole Mountain Resort skied into Granite Canyon from the summit of Rendezvous Mountain and searched the canyon's upper reaches. Both rescue parties reached the stranded skiers around noon and provided C.B. with a spare ski to assist him in skiing out. The two men were located about two miles west of the mouth of Granite Canyon. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Just four days after rescuing two skiers who got lost in Granite Canyon after heading out from Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, rangers found and rescued another pair of skiers in a similar incident. On the afternoon of Wednesday, January 28th, D.G., 32, and P.T., 39, both residents of Jackson, became disoriented in whiteout conditions and accidentally took a wrong turn after exiting an out-of-bounds gate at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. The two men spent the night out in the mountains with temperatures hovering near zero. They were located during an aerial reconnaissance flight at 9 a.m. the following day and flown from the backcountry at 9:30 a.m. D.G. and P.T. exited the upper gate at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort on Wednesday afternoon, intending to ski into the Rock Springs drainage. Whiteout conditions obscured the route, causing them to ski westward and ultimately into Granite Canyon, rather than southwest into the Rock Springs area. The two men searched for ski tracks to confirm their whereabouts, but by 2:30 p.m. they realized that they were not where they intended to be. About an hour before sunset, they decided to make preparations to spend the night in the backcountry. They dug a snow cave, collected pine boughs to insulate themselves against the snow and made a fire. The two men were carrying food and water, but also melted snow to replenish their supplies. While they did not have a map, compass or GPS device, they did have extra clothing and full avalanche gear - recommended equipment for anyone entering the Teton backcountry. Early on Thursday morning, D.G. and P.T. began skiing upslope in order to get a clear view above tree line and determine their location. When they spotted Mount Hunt, they realized they were in Granite Canyon. The Teton County Search and Rescue contract helicopter, carrying a park ranger and county rescue staff, spotted the skiers' tracks and eventually located them about 9 a.m. near the Shady Lady Couloir. Rescuers communicated to the two men, directing them to ski to a landing zone where the ship could safely touch down. D.G. and P.T. were then flown to the base of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Park rangers credit the pair with doing everything right to keep themselves safe and attempt their own self rescue. They carried the basic necessities and kept their wits about them during an unexpected night out in the Tetons. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
A large tractor-trailer truck veered off the road and into deep snow along Highway 89 just south of Gros Ventre Junction at 11:40 p.m. last Thursday night. The semi, which was hauling Coca-Cola products, became high centered and stuck in more than two feet of snow after it left the roadway and traveled down an embankment and about 100 feet into nearby sagebrush. Attempts to extricate the 93-ton vehicle from the snowpack, using two heavy-duty tow trucks, resulted in minor disruptions to traffic and some temporary closures of Highway 89 during Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. The driver of the truck apparently lost control of his vehicle when the right front tire drifted into a ridge of snow along the southbound lane of Highway 89. The driver was unable to steer his vehicle back onto the pavement, and the truck plunged down the roadside embankment into a deeper snowpack, where it came to rest upright. The driver was uninjured, but the semi was completely stuck, with its tires buried in snow up to the wheel-well cowlings. A Wyoming Highway Patrol officer responded to the accident scene and interviewed the driver at that time. Due to the significant weight of the truck, conventional towing equipment proved to be inadequate to pull it back onto the road late Thursday night. A heavy-duty tow truck from Snake River Towing Service of Idaho Falls, Idaho was therefore summoned on Friday morning, and, together with a heavy-duty tow truck from Flat Creek Towing of Jackson,Wyoming, a second attempt was made on Friday afternoon to pull the tractor-trailer out of the snowbank. This effort was also unsuccessful, and by late Friday afternoon, a crew from the local Coca-Cola distribution warehouse began to unload the truck's cargo in order to lighten its weight for a third extrication attempt. The cargo reportedly consisted of several thousand cases of Coke products. By reducing the tractor-trailer's cargo load, the two heavy-duty tow trucks were able to carefully and incrementally pull the rig up the embankment and back onto Highway 89. The truck was then driven to Jackson with no further delay. NOTE: For an image of the extrication effort, click on HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Incidents&id=4390" [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
On May 8th, park ranger trainee Matt Smith and field training ranger Justin Ivary made a vehicle stop for excessive speed on Highway 89 within the park. A consent search of the vehicle revealed drug paraphernalia associated with heroin use. Further search led to the recovery of marijuana and controlled prescription drugs for which the driver had no prescription. Ranger Julie Kovacs and her drug dog, "Emma," were instrumental in the search. The driver was arrested and taken to the Teton County jail. After consultation with assistant U.S. attorney Lee Pico, Smith wrote a criminal complaint charging the driver with 21 USC 844a, possession of controlled substances (marijuana and Suboxone). [Matt Vandzura, FTL]
A collision between a motorcycle with two riders aboard and a pronghorn on the afternoon of Saturday, June 20th, resulted in serious injuries to the passenger and minor injuries to the operator. The accident took place on Highway 26/89/191 two miles south of the Snake River overlook. B.B., a 38-year-old resident of Garland, Utah and his passenger and wife, 46-year-old K.B., were traveling southbound when the collision occurred. B.B. was leading a string of about seven motorcycles when he entered the northbound lane, attempting to pass a motor home. As he started to clear the front of the RV, a pronghorn began to race across the highway. While traveling at approximately 65 miles per hour, B.B. attempted to swerve left to avoid the animal. In response to the approaching vehicle, the pronghorn leapt into the air and impacted the right side of the motorcycle. The force of the impact knocked both riders off the motorcycle, causing the bike to tip over. The motorcycle continued to slide for approximately 100 feet down the highway. Neither B.B. nor his wife was wearing a helmet at the time. Eleven park rangers and emergency medical personnel responded immediately to the scene. Emergency medical personnel from Teton County and an off-duty Minnesota highway patrolman, who was first on the scene, also assisted. Two ambulances—one from Grand Teton and the other from Teton County—responded to transport the two injured people to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson. Due to the serious nature of the incident, and the multiple ambulances and emergency medical personnel required to treat the couple, Highway 26/89/191 was closed to traffic for about an hour. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Park staff and personnel from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Wyoming Highway Patrol conducted two days of full-level commercial vehicle safety inspections on June 23rd and 24th. A complete inspection evaluates both the driver and the commercial vehicle to ensure compliance with federal regulations that govern these vehicles. The inspections were unannounced and focused on commercial buses and trucks. A safety inspection station was assembled in Colter Bay Village, and every commercial vehicle traveling on Highway 89/287 through the park was diverted to it by rangers. Vehicles inspected included passenger vans operated by local hotels for touring guests, commercial passenger buses, delivery vehicles, construction vehicles, and commercial vehicles carrying hazardous materials (a propane truck and a double trailer hauling gasoline). A total of 45 commercial vehicles and drivers were inspected. Inspections focused on safety issues that could lead to motor vehicle accidents, injuries to passengers and others, and/or resource damage to the park. The inspections resulted in nine "out-of-service" violations, requiring the vehicles to be parked until identified safety issues were resolved. Three construction side-loading dump trucks were parked for mechanical failures, two vehicles (a beverage delivery truck and a 40-passenger bus) were parked for brake failure, one propane truck was parked due to an unsecured load, and a delivery truck with an underage driver was suspended from service until the driver could be replaced. Additionally, nine operators received citations for equipment or driver violations. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
A rapid response by park staff and the subsequent transporting of two 10-year old girls suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning after "teak boarding" behind their family's ski boat last week has resulted in their full recovery. The two girls from Jackson, Wyoming, were teak boarding for the third time behind the family's 20-foot ski boat when the brother of one of the girls, riding on the stern, noted that his sister was not responding to him. After pulling the girls onto the vessel, the parents began CPR while a brother drove the boat to the Colter Bay Marina. Several subsequent 911 calls led to a parkwide response that had rangers and the first ambulance on scene within five minutes. Both girls were transported to the hospital within another eight minutes. Although the girls were nonresponsive when personnel arrived on scene, they both quickly recovered and were released from the hospital the same night. Doctors and medical staff have credited the rapid intervention of park staff with the survival of the two girls. The park's chief ranger is crediting all park divisions with this success, as volunteers, interpreters and maintenance division personnel joined rangers in the response. The operator of the vessel has received a mandatory appearance citation for operating a vessel in violation of 36 CFR Part 3. Statements made by the parents at the time and during the investigation confirm that this activity - and the associated dangers - continues to be a boating education hurdle for areas with recreational boating. Both parents on the vessel are life-long boaters and claimed to be unaware of the danger in spite of increased efforts on the part of protection personnel over the past three years. The park public affairs officer is also fielding a number of calls from area news outlets who are also unaware of the danger. [Patrick Hattaway, North District Ranger]
Following Tuesday's report on the two girls who suffered carbon monoxide poisoning while "teak boarding" or "teak surfing" (click on the link below for a copy), the park received a number of queries about this sport. The activity is called "teak surfing" because the swim platforms on ski boats are often made of teak wood. Swimmers use these transom platforms to body surf on the wake behind a slow moving boat. Unfortunately, the inboard motor exhaust ports place the swimmers in direct contact with carbon monoxide gases, leading to potentially deadly exposure. This is true even if the boats have side exhausts, since the vessels create a draft that pulls the exhaust gases back into the swim platform area. High concentrations of carbon monoxide can cause a rapid loss of consciousness and death. Levels of carbon monoxide are more dangerous in the boating environment because they can lead to drowning. In addition, carbon monoxide concentrations released from boats can be over 150 times higher than exhaust from an ordinary automobile. Carbon monoxide—an odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas—is a leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths each year in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 500 people perish annually due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may include severe headache, dizziness, confusion, nausea, fainting, and death. Low levels can cause shortness of breath, slight nausea, and a mild headache. Because of its inherently unsafe nature, "teak surfing" is illegal in all national park units under Title 36 CFR 3.8(b)(7) and it is also illegal in a number of states. Glen Canyon NRA has done extensive work with houseboat manufacturers and users following a series of carbon monoxide fatalities. The internet links below also provide additional information related to the dangers of carbon monoxide while boating: HYPERLINK "http://www.uscgboating.org/articles/boatingview.aspx?id=114" HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/glca/planyourvisit/upload/BSC86.pdf" [Patrick Hattaway, North District Ranger, and Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers, Teton interagency fire personnel and emergency medical personnel rescued a father and son on the night of July 10th after they became separated from their small boat and stranded on a logjam in the swift-flowing Snake River. Forty-year-old B.P. and his 15-year-old son were floating down the river in a petite, swimming pool-style inflatable raft when it partially deflated, spilling them into the water. The Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a report of the incident at 5:55 p.m. from the wife and mother of the pair. At 6:40 p.m., park rescue personnel located the two hanging onto a logjam on the right side of the Bourbon Street channel about a mile and a half south of Moose Bridge. Rangers used a technical river rescue technique to reach the stranded men, positioning a rescuer in the current to reach each of the floaters, one at a time. While both men experienced early stages of hypothermia, they were not seriously injured and refused medical treatment. A total of 21 park personnel and Teton interagency firefighters responded to this incident. Investigators determined what had happened. B.P. and his son had launched their inflatable dinghy from Deadman's Bar — one of four river launch areas in the park — at approximately 2:30 p.m. They intended to float all the way to the Wilson Bridge, about 25 river miles away. A river guide for a park concessionaire saw the pair getting ready to launch and questioned their preparedness. The guide noticed that the two did not have any oars or paddles and cautioned them that they needed something to help them navigate their small craft. B.P. then picked up two sticks to serve as makeshift paddles for his float trip. Besides lacking oars, the B.P.es did not have life jackets with them. They floated several miles downstream without incident until the side of their inflatable dinghy got punctured, leaving only the floor chamber inflated. They were able to float past Menor's Ferry and attempted to pull out at the Moose landing, but could not reach the riverbank using the makeshift stick paddles and continued floating beyond the Moose Bridge. About a mile and a half south of Moose, the river forks and the floaters took the left channel known as Bourbon Street. At this point, their inflatable dinghy became lodged against an obstruction, causing both men to fall into the river. Byron was trapped in a tangle of branches on a submerged tree and pinned underwater. River users call this river debris a "strainer." Strainers are a particularly risky hazard for boaters because they can trap people against the branches and cause them to become submerged in the current. Fortunately, B.P. was able to free himself from the strainer and make his way upstream to where his son was clinging to a logjam. Once he reached his son, B.P. was able to call his wife from his cell phone; she then called for help. Two citations were issued to B.P. - one for not having life jackets and the other for failure to obtain a park boat permit. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
An injured climber was evacuated by helicopter from Teewinot Mountain on the afternoon of Saturday, July 11th. S.R., 22, of Jackson, Wyoming, sustained serious injuries when he slipped on snow and tumbled about 200 feet before landing on a break between two snow patches while attempting to descend the North West Couloir (elevation 12,000 ft). He was wearing crampons and carrying an ice axe at the time, but was unable to perform a self arrest. S.R.'s climbing party had successfully reached the summit of Teewinot and was on their way down when the accident occurred; all of the climbers had ice axes and crampons, but none were wearing helmets. The group decided to make their decent via the South West Couloir but missed their intended route and ended up on the more technical North West Couloir. Rangers were notified of the accident at around noon when one of S.R.'s companions placed a call for help from a cell phone. Rangers immediately organized a rescue and requested the assistance of an interagency contract helicopter for support in the operation. The helicopter flew to Lupine Meadows, picked up several rangers, and performed an aerial reconnaissance flight. Rangers were able to remain in contact via cell phone with a member of S.R.'s climbing party, which was helpful in pinpointing his location on the mountain. A suitable helicopter landing zone near the accident site allowed rangers to arrive on scene just before 2 p.m. Rangers provided S.R. with emergency medical care before placing him in a rescue litter for aerial evacuation. He was then flown via short-haul directly to the Jenny Lake rescue cache located on the valley floor. A park ambulance transported S.R. to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for further treatment of his injuries. Rangers also evacuated S.R.'s companions via helicopter after helping them descend to the high west shoulder of Teewinot Mountain. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers conducted a full-scale search for an overdue solo kayaker on the Snake River late last Wednesday night and early on the following morning. J.D., 71, of Colfax, Indiana, was spotted by rangers and members of the Teton interagency helitak crew from the park's contract helicopter at approximately 8:15 a.m. Thursday after she spent an unexpected night out on the river. J.D. was unharmed, but had floated several miles beyond her intended destination of Deadman's Bar landing. She was found two miles upstream from the Moose landing, near the Bar BC historic site. J.D. launched an inflatable kayak at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday evening from the Pacific Creek landing, telling family members that she would either float a short distance and paddle back to the launch site, or continue on to Deadman's Bar, some ten river miles downstream. J.D. was unfamiliar with the Snake River; although she had experience canoeing on lakes and small streams, she lacked experience with both a kayak and a swift flowing river (the Snake River is currently flowing at approximately 4,300 cubic feet per second below the Buffalo Fork confluence). When darkness overcame J.D. around 9:30 p.m., she beached her kayak on a sandbar in the middle of the river and stayed put rather than continuing to float downstream on an unknown course. She also turned her kayak over and took shelter from a cold breeze. Overnight temperatures on the Snake River reached 35 degrees and J.D. had no supplemental clothing or equipment to protect her from the elements. Just before 10 p.m., rangers received a report that J.D. was overdue and missing. Due to the late hour and decreasing temperature, rangers quickly organized a wide-spread search that included checking several river locations. Rangers also used night-vision goggles to attempt to detect her in the dark conditions before the moon rose, but were unsuccessful in their efforts. A more extensive search was organized for first light on Thursday morning, and the Teton interagency helicopter was summoned to assist with an aerial reconnaissance. A total of 19 park personnel and Teton interagency staff ultimately assisted with the search and rescue operation. Although J.D. was wearing a sage green life jacket that blended in with her surroundings, rangers spotted her when she waved her arms at the sight of the helicopter on Thursday morning. Two additional rangers were able to launch a raft from the west bank of the river and reach her shortly after she was spotted from the air. They then floated her to a location near the old Bar BC Dude Ranch, where a park ambulance was waiting. Emergency medical personnel assessed her physical condition and determined that she should be transported to St. John's Medical Center for additional medical care. Rangers credit J.D. with keeping her wits about her and for beaching on the sandbar rather than continuing through the braided and debris-strewn river channels beyond. Although this incident had a positive outcome, it could have resulted in serious injury or worse for J.D. because of the late hour of the day and her lack of river knowledge. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers rescued a 72-year-old man from the Snake River last Saturday evening after his canoe capsized, spilling him and his partner into the river approximately two miles south of Moose Bridge. J.D. and B.H., 67, both residents of Moran, Wyoming, launched their canoe from the Moose Landing about noon on Saturday, intending to float 14 river miles to the Wilson Bridge. A fishing guide conducting a concessioner-operated river trip spotted B.H. about 5:30 p.m. and rescued her. Rangers later located and rescued J.D., who was stranded on an island between the Bourbon Street and main river channels. Neither J.D. nor B.H. was injured in the boating accident and both were wearing life jackets. The accident occurred when the canoe hit a log while they were in the Bourbon Street channel. The canoe capsized and both were thrown into the river. B.H. was able to reach an island in the middle of the river, while J.D. was able to flip the canoe over and continue paddling downstream. J.D. hit another log, causing the boat to capsize again; this time, he floated downstream without his canoe until he could reach the southern end of the same island on which B.H. was stranded. J.D. hiked back upriver trying to locate B.H., but the two were on opposite sides of the island and were unable to reunite. The commercial fishing guide and his passengers saw B.H. and rescued her from the island; B.H. placed a 911 call to report the accident using the boat guide's cell phone and Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a report of the incident just before 7 p.m. While in the process of rescuing B.H., the fishing guide also saw another capsized canoe with two people in the water and clinging to the craft; he used his river "rescue throw bag," which contains a coiled length of rope, to reach them and was eventually able to pull them aboard his boat. After rescuing J.D. and locating B.H., who had driven her car back to the Moose Landing, rangers were able reunite the pair at about 9:30 p.m. The Snake is a powerful river with strong currents and cold water temperatures. Due to its tangle of channels and constantly shifting logjams, boaters are advised to have the proper equipment, as well as the knowledge and experience to accurately read the river's current. For those unfamiliar with the Snake River, a pre-float consultation with rangers is strongly advised. This marks the third significant search and rescue operation on the Snake River in the last two weeks, and the second in the Bourbon Street channel. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers rescued three boaters from the Snake River on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 11th, after they flipped their canoe and fell into the river. Will Shafer, 23, of Ogden, Utah, and two of his relatives, a 16-year-old young man and a five-year-old boy, were canoeing on the river just a mile downstream of the historic Bar BC Ranch when the accident occurred. Only the five-year-old boy was wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident; Shafer and his other relative were not wearing their life preservers and lost them to the river's current when the canoe capsized. After his canoe upset in the river, Shafer was able to hold onto the vessel as it continued to float downstream. He was diverted into a debris-choked side channel where the canoe became pinned against a logjam. This channel lies river left of the main current and is not navigable. The teenager and young boy were swept downstream until, with some difficulty, they were eventually able to grab hold of an exposed tree root and pull themselves out of the river and onto the bank. The two parties lost sight of one another and were unsure about each other's welfare for several minutes. A float guide with Triangle X Dude Ranch came upon the stranded canoeists and called the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center at 3:10 p.m. to report the situation. The river guide then proceeded to help the three boaters until a park ranger could arrive by raft to rescue them from their separate locations along the riverbank. The ranger then floated all three canoeists to the Moose Landing, where other family members were waiting. Rangers give credit to the Triangle X Ranch river guide for his invaluable assistance in this rescue operation, and for his help in directing rescue personnel to the exact location of the stranded boaters. Commercial river guides are often the first responders to river accidents because they consistently float the Snake River; their initial response can be a critical part of a successful river rescue, as was the case in this particular incident. Rangers remind boaters that life preservers can save lives, and it's prudent to wear a lifejacket whenever floating the Snake River because of its swift current and cold water. According to park regulations, children under 13 years of age are required to be wearing a life jacket whenever a vessel is in motion, and any boat operating on park waters is required to have lifejackets for each person on board. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers, assisted by the crew of a Teton interagency helicopter, rescued an injured 23-year-old man from a climbing route in Death Canyon on Tuesday, August 25th. The climber and his partner were ascending the first pitch on a route called "Caveat Emptor" when they pulled off several rocks, causing them to fall 30 to 40 feet. Although both climbers were wearing helmets at the time of the incident, one received injuries to his face and shoulder and required evacuation by helicopter. Two off-duty guides from Exum Mountaineering were climbing in the vicinity at the time of the accident and were able to reach the injured man and make an emergency cell phone call to the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center to alert park personnel of the situation. Rangers responded to the scene on foot and by helicopter and provided emergency medical care to the injured climber. With the assistance of the two Exum guides, rangers lowered the injured climber to a ledge below a route called "The Snaz," where he was then airlifted via short-haul to a landing zone near the Death Canyon patrol cabin. A park ambulance then transported the injured man to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson. Rangers salute the Exum Mountain guides for their quick response and assistance during this rescue operation. Other climbers - both professional and amateur - are frequently the first persons on the scene of a backcountry accident; the information they provide to responding rangers, and the assistance they offer, are often instrumental in the positive outcome of a rescue effort. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer] HYPERLINK "http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/article.php?art_id=4991"
Rangers rescued two stranded boaters from the Bourbon Street Channel of the Snake River on the afternoon of September 4th. A boatman and his partner apparently flipped their dory (drift boat) while floating the side channel and were unable to right their craft. One man was stranded atop the boat, which was lodged against the root-ball of a half submerged snag in the channel; the other man was able to get to the riverbank. Neither of the two men was wearing a lifejacket at the time of the accident. Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a cell phone call at 2 p.m. from a passing boater who reported seeing a man who was stranded in the river channel and clinging to the keel of his upturned boat. Rangers launched two rescue rafts from the Moose Landing, while additional park staff drove to a remote river access point and approached the location on foot. In addition, Teton County Search and Rescue personnel launched a motorboat from the Wilson Landing, located 12 miles downstream. The rangers on foot were not able to reach the stranded boater and instructed him to stay atop his dory until rescue boats could get to him by water. Rangers reached the stranded boatman, safely transferred him to the rescue raft and floated him to a downstream landing. His partner was also transported to safety. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers arrested one man and cited another on Thursday, September 10th, during an investigation of an attempted poaching of a bull elk in the park. R.P., 25, and his 32-year-old brother T.P., both residents of Rawlins, Wyoming, were cited for resource violations, drug violations, and weapons violations. They will each face a mandatory appearance in federal court for multiple charges. R.P. was driving his Chevy truck down Highway 26/89/191 near the Snake River Overlook around 2 a.m. on Thursday morning when a Teton County deputy sheriff stopped him for swerving in the road. The deputy sheriff performed an investigation for alcohol-related violations and cited R.P. for possession of an open container. During the investigation, the deputy sheriff also learned that R.P.'s brother, T.P., had been let off near the Triangle X Ranch in pursuit of a bull elk with a bow and arrow. The deputy sheriff notified the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center and park rangers responded to both locate T.P. and conduct an interview of R.P. in the investigation of a possible wildlife poaching. During the roadside interview with R.P., other violations were discovered; as a result of the evidence, rangers arrested R.P. and took him into custody. Rangers discovered that the P. brothers had driven to Jackson Hole to hunt elk on the Bridger-Teton National Forest. In the early hours of Thursday morning, the brothers decided to spotlight wildlife — an illegal activity in Grand Teton National Park. They spotted a bull elk with its harem of cows about one mile south of Triangle X Ranch, and, armed with a bow and quiver of arrows, T.P. got out of the vehicle to shoot the animal. R.P. apparently drove on down the highway after seeing the deputy sheriff's patrol car, leaving his brother behind in the brush. After a systematic search, park rangers eventually located T.P. about 9:30 in the morning as he emerged from the underbrush and approached the road in an effort to hitch a ride. T.P. was subsequently charged with illegally spotlighting, discharging of a weapon in a national park, and attempting the illegal take of wildlife; he was cited and released. During the interview of R.P., evidence of other illegal activity was discovered. Rangers found illegal drugs (methamphetamine) and paraphernalia, as well as several loaded firearms in his vehicle. R.P. was charged with illegally spotlighting, possession of drugs, and illegal possession of loaded firearms, in addition to the citation he received from the deputy sheriff for possession of an open container. R.P. is being held in the Teton County jail pending a more serious charge for felony possession of firearms. Rangers later returned to the area of the possible poaching and searched for evidence of blood or an animal carcass, but none was found. At this time, it appears that T.P. missed his intended target; however, the investigation is ongoing. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
E.K., 24, and J.W., 23, were traversing a steep slope on Teewinot Mountain on the afternoon of September 22nd when E.K. fell and tumbled approximately 300 feet and sustained fatal injuries. Because the two men only intended to hike and scramble, neither was wearing a helmet or carrying climbing gear. The two men arrived in Grand Teton a few days before the accident. After consulting with park rangers about various backcountry hiking and climbing possibilities, they hiked to Delta Lake on Sunday, September 20th, and climbed the Southwest Couloir on Middle Teton on Monday. On Tuesday morning, they parked at the Lupine Meadows trailhead and hiked up a portion of the Apex Trail to reach and explore the east flank of Teewinot. During their excursion, they got off course and onto a more vertical slope than they intended, and E.K. accidentally fell while trying to scramble across technical terrain. After E.K. came to rest, J.W. scrambled down to him and realized that his friend was unconscious, not breathing and without a pulse. J.W. used E.K.'s cell phone to call 911 and the emergency call was transferred to Teton Interagency Dispatch Center. Park rangers summoned the contract helicopter that was already working in the vicinity and used the ship to pinpoint the hikers' location from the air. Rangers determined that no suitable landing spot was available from which they could stage a mountain-based rescue operation, so they conducted a short-haul mission from the park's rescue cache at Lupine Meadows on the valley floor. One ranger with emergency gear was inserted via short-haul into the accident site. Upon arriving, he confirmed that E.K. had died in the fall. A second ranger was inserted with a rescue litter, and the two placed J.W. into an evacuation suit for a short-haul flight to the Lupine Meadows rescue cache. The helicopter then made a second flight to evacuate E.K. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
A 55-year-old man from Freedom, Idaho, died when he apparently lost control of his Chevy truck on icy conditions and slid off an embankment on Highway 26/89/191 just south of the Gros Ventre Bridge on the morning of October 27th. After rolling over, the vehicle came to rest about 40 yards from the roadway. The driver was ejected from his truck. Indications are that he was not wearing a seatbelt at the time. Other motorists witnessed the accident and called 911 for help. A Teton County Sheriff's Office dispatcher then notified the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center of the accident at 8:30 a.m. A member of Jackson Hole Fire/EMS arrived on scene; park rangers, along with park emergency medical technicians, immediately responded from park headquarters at Moose. CPR was begun but was not successful. Rangers believe that the driver was heading southbound on Highway 89 when he encountered black ice near the Gros Ventre Bridge. His truck crossed the northbound lane and came to rest on the east side of the highway after rolling over. A German shepherd dog riding in the truck with the man was taken to Spring Creek Animal Hospital for evaluation of possible injuries. The dog was determined to be in good condition. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
A backcountry skier triggered an avalanche on the South Teton that swept him to his death on the morning of Sunday, February 21st. W.L., 30, of Driggs, Idaho, skied with two companions to the summit of the South Teton via Garnet Canyon and the Northwest Couloir early Sunday morning. They were descending the southeast face of the peak when W.L. set off a two-foot crown avalanche approximately 300 feet below the 12,514-foot summit. The avalanche carried W.L. over 2,000 vertical feet of slope and cliff bands before he came to a rest about a thousand feet above Lake Taminah in upper Avalanche Canyon; the avalanche debris continued about 800 feet further before stopping. W.L. and his companions were experienced with backcountry travel in the Teton Range and prepared with the appropriate equipment for a mountain excursion. W.L.'s ski companions, N.B. and B.J., made a 911 call to report the incident at 11:35 a.m., and the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received notice from the Teton County Sheriff's Office shortly after. Park rangers immediately summoned the Teton County Search and Rescue contract helicopter to assist with the rescue operation. An aerial reconnaissance flight was conducted at 1:15 p.m. during which rangers were able to determine that W.L. was deceased, although not buried by the avalanche debris. In order to reach W.L., who was lying in an exposed avalanche-prone area, four rangers were flown via helicopter to a landing zone near Snowdrift Lake (elevation 10,006 feet) from which a recovery operation could be staged. Three Teton County Search and Rescue personnel were flown into the location, and they conducted aerial avalanche control using explosives to stabilize slopes above the route rangers intended to ski in order to reach W.L.. After the avalanche control work was completed, four rangers traversed a steep slope below an area of cliff bands and couloirs. While two rangers acted as safety spotters, watching for additional avalanche activity, two rangers prepared W.L. for aerial evacuation. W.L. was airlifted by a long-line to the valley floor at 4:45 p.m. W.L.'s two companions skied out of the backcountry on their own and the rescue personnel were evacuated by air, completing their operation at 5:30 p.m. The avalanche condition rating that day was listed as "moderate" for mid level and high elevations below 10,500 feet. The Bridger-Teton National Forest Avalanche Center does not forecast areas above 10,500 feet, and park rangers remind skiers and climbers that conditions on the higher peaks can be vastly different above the Bridger-Teton forecast zone. A moderate rating means that areas of unstable snow exist, and human triggered avalanches are possible. The general avalanche advisory warns that pockets of dense surface slab up to 30 inches deep rest upon buried surface hoar and sun crusts at the mid and upper elevations, and the possibility persists for backcountry travelers to trigger these slabs in steep, avalanche-prone terrain. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers rescued two local men from the Snake River on Tuesday after their fiberglass drift boat capsized when it hit an uprooted tree that was recently lodged in the stream. Brothers D.W. and K.W., both residents of Moran, Wyoming, launched their craft from Pacific Creek Landing and floated the Snake without incident until they encountered the midstream obstruction. They were apparently unable to avoid the uprooted tree due to the swift current. The two men were uninjured and able to swim safely to shore; neither was wearing a life vest at the time of the accident. The Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a call reporting the accident at 2:45 p.m. and rangers later located the men, who were safe but stranded on the riverbank near the accident site. Rangers then floated the two men down river to the Moose Landing. This is the first significant accident on a reach of the Snake River in the park this season, and rangers remind river users that the Snake is a powerful river with strong currents and cold water temperatures. Due to its tangle of channels and constantly shifting logjams and downed trees, boaters are advised to have the proper equipment—as well as the knowledge and experience—to accurately read the river's current and navigate away from natural obstructions in the streambed. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers arrested two local teens on Sunday, July 4th, following a two-and-a-half hour foot pursuit near the historic Mormon Row area. Early that morning, Will Smith, the park's Gros Ventre subdistrict ranger, responded to a report of a car that had apparently veered off the road and become stuck in the roadside sagebrush. Smith subsequently contacted two young men who were running along the road and asked them if the abandoned vehicle was theirs and whether they needed assistance. While talking with them, the two teens suddenly fled on foot and a full-scale foot pursuit ensued. Numerous law enforcement officers and a park canine search team responded and a containment barrier was established to prevent the teens from fleeing the area. Rangers tracked the two teens on foot and eventually hiked up the southeast slope of Blacktail Butte, where the teenagers were finally apprehended. They were taken into custody and transported to the Teton County jail. Both were issued citations for possession of alcohol by a minor, being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, possession of a controlled substance, and violating a lawful order issued by a government employee. One of the teens was also charged with failure to maintain control of a vehicle. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers rescued an injured hiker from Paintbrush Canyon on Sunday evening, July 18th, using the Teton Interagency contract helicopter. A 48-year-old man was hiking near the 10,720-foot elevation Paintbrush Divide when he slid about 30 feet when the snow he was walking across collapsed. He then somersaulted down a talus slope another 70 to 100 feet and sustained a serious leg injury. He had an ice axe with him, but fell onto his back and was unable to self arrest. The man and his brother were on the second day of an overnight backpacking trip, hiking the Paintbrush-Cascade Canyon loop trail. The men were approaching the top of the east side of the divide when the incident occurred just before 2 p.m. The man's brother, with the help of two hikers, stabilized the leg injury before running down Paintbrush Canyon until he was able to call for help on a cell phone. Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received the report around 3 p.m. and immediately launched a rescue response. Rangers conducted an aerial reconnaissance flight to locate the man before dropping off two rangers on a snowfield near the top of the divide at about 4:20 p.m. The rangers hiked a short distance to the accident site, approximately 200 feet below the Paintbrush Divide summit, and provided the injured man with emergency medical care before placing him into a rescue litter for aerial evacuation. Just after 6 p.m., he was short-hauled to the same snowfield at the top of Paintbrush Divide where the two rangers had been dropped off earlier; three additional rangers were stationed at the snowfield, waiting to receive the litter. The man was then placed inside of the helicopter for a flight down to Lupine Meadows, where a park ambulance was waiting to transport him to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson. While rangers were in the midst of this rescue, they received a request from Teton County Search and Rescue to assist with another injured hiker in Alaska Basin. Rangers remobilized and flew to Sunset Lake, where they met a 66-year-old woman from Salem, Oregon, who had sustained a leg injury and was unable to hike out. Rangers and SAR personnel decided it would be most efficient to fly her out rather than perform a challenging and lengthy 16-mile evacuation by wheeled litter, putting rescuers and the patient at risk for potential injury. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers assisted with the rescue of an injured hiker from the upper and lower Ross Lakes area in Wyoming's Wind River Range on July 14th. Four rangers, along with a Teton interagency contract helicopter and pilot, responded to the request for aid, which came from Fremont County Search and Rescue. During the early morning hours of July 13th, a hiker in the Wind River Range sustained a serious leg injury and was unable to continue hiking out of the remote backcountry area. The man's father and another hiking partner splinted his injured leg and hiked out to summon help. Late that afternoon, members of a Fremont County Search and Rescue team hiked into the Ross Lakes area, administered emergency medical care, and evaluated options for rescue. Due to the remoteness and complexity of the terrain, rescue personnel determined that an aerial evacuation would be necessary, so they called for assistance from Grand Teton rangers. Coincidently, a Teton interagency contract helicopter was grounded at the Lander Airport because of high afternoon winds, so a ship was available, but not able to fly. As a consequence, the Fremont County rescue team spent the night in the backcountry with the injured man and made plans for a helicopter extrication the following day. On the morning of July 14th, the four rangers drove to the Dubois Airport to rendezvous with the interagency ship and begin a helicopter-assisted rescue mission. One ranger was inserted via short-haul near the injured hiker, and he placed the man in an evacuation suit for an aerial lift to a more appropriate landing spot. The ranger flew in tandem with the hiker to a landing spot where the injured man could then be placed inside the aircraft for a longer flight to the Whiskey Basin trailhead and a waiting ambulance. The helicopter then returned to the backcountry location to pick up the other three rangers and return them to the Dubois Airport. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers launched a multi-faceted, complex rescue operation to reach numerous climbers who were injured by lightning during the passage of an active and severe thunderstorm in the Teton Range on Wednesday, July 21st. Lightning bolts struck at a number of locations on the 13,770-foot Grand Teton at around noon, and 16 climbers received moderate to severe injuries from indirect electrical charges radiating from the lightning. One climber who was still missing on Wednesday evening was discovered during an aerial search by helicopter yesterday morning. Brandon Oldenkamp, 21, of Sanborn, Iowa, apparently fell about 2,000 feet to his death when he was impacted by a lightning strike. His body was located off the Northwest Face of the Grand Teton below a feature called the Black Ice Couloir. Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received an initial cell phone call at 12:25 p.m. on Wednesday from one of the climbing parties, requesting help for injured persons. Rangers were staging a rescue mission for that climbing party when another cell phone call was received from another climbing party that had also been hit by lightning. Eventually, a third group made contact to summon help and the rescue mission increased in size, scope and complexity. Rangers summoned the Teton interagency contract helicopter and began to fly rescue personnel and equipment to the 11,600-foot Lower Saddle of the Grand Teton. Once equipment and staff were in place there, rangers quickly climbed to various areas on the Grand Teton where the injured people were located. As they reached the separate climbing parties, they provided emergency medical care and prepared the injured people for evacuation from the mountain. The 16 climbers all received lightning-related injuries—burns and varying levels of neurological problems—as they were indirectly affected by an electrical charge from one or more lightning strikes. The rescue mission continued in the midst of rain squalls, thick clouds and additional thunderstorms throughout the afternoon and evening hours of Wednesday. The rescue operation involved a sequential evacuation of the 16 climbers. Two climbers reached the Lower Saddle on their own, but were flown via helicopter to the Lupine Meadows rescue cache. Seven climbers were able to make their way down from a ledge above the Black Ice Couloir at 13,200 feet with the assistance of professional guides from Exum Mountain Guides. The remaining seven climbers, located between 13,300 and 13,600 feet, were reached by rangers and transported via short-haul to the Lower Saddle, where they were treated by an emergency room doctor from St. John's Medical Center before being placed in a second helicopter to be flown to the to the Lupine Meadows rescue cache on the valley floor. The passage of a late afternoon thunderstorm temporarily delayed the transport of the climbers from the Lower Saddle. As weather conditions improved, the aerial evacuation continued until all the injured persons were delivered to the valley floor and waiting ambulances that then transported them to St. John's Medical Center. The rescue is one of the largest missions conducted by Grand Teton National Park staff, given the number of injured people, the vertical terrain, and the inclement weather conditions. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers are investigating the death of a young University of Michigan student who apparently fell 80 feet after summiting the 12,804-foot Middle Teton on the evening of Tuesday, July 20th. J.D., 21, of Chelsea, Michigan, became separated from her climbing partner as they descended the mountain. When J.D. failed to return to a backcountry camp in Garnet Canyon, the group's leader began to search for her. He discovered J.D.'s body around 9 p.m. The Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a cell phone call from the University of Michigan group leader at 7:30 on Tuesday evening. He reported that a member of their group of eight was missing and that they were searching for her whereabouts; a second cell phone call was received just after 9:00 p.m. reporting that J.D.'s body had been found. Because of the late hour and waning light, a helicopter flight was not possible. Four rangers were therefore dispatched to hike up to the Garnet Canyon campsite to begin a recovery operation. They arrived around 1:30 a.m. Six of the University of Michigan students hiked out of the canyon to the valley floor in the early hours of Wednesday morning, while park rangers remained with J.D. and the group leader to make preparations for an aerial evacuation with daylight on Wednesday morning. An interagency helicopter flew J.D. and the group leader out at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, just a few hours before a severe lightning storm enveloped the Teton Range. The lightning storm injured 17 climbers on the 13,770-foot Grand Teton (see HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewincidentsarticle&type=Incidents&id=5244" last Friday's report) and a full-scale rescue mission was launched by park rangers to rescue and extricate the injured climbers in the aftermath of the J.D. evacuation. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers used an interagency contract helicopter to rescue and evacuate an injured climbing guide from the Grand Teton on Friday, August 6th. The 31-year-old employee of J.H.M.G. fell approximately 20 feet while hiking just below the Lower Saddle of the Grand Teton. He was not guiding clients at the time of the accident, but was instead using personal time to recreate in the area. The man sustained a head injury in the fall, which prompted a timely and expeditious flight from the J.H.M.G.'s Corbet High Camp at 11,200 feet to Lupine Meadows at 6,700 feet, where a park ambulance waited to transport him to medical care in Jackson, Wyoming. A ranger treated him on scene before he was evacuated via short-haul and flew out with him. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
In a rescue operation that took less than an hour, rangers evacuated an injured runner from the 11,650-foot Lower Saddle on the morning of Tuesday, August 12th. M.E., 26, of Wilson, Wyoming, was on a day trip, attempting to run to the Lower Saddle and back. M.E. was at the Lower Saddle when she took a misstep on a rock just before 11:00 a.m., causing an injury that prevented her from hiking out on her own. Two rangers who were already on patrol at the Saddle assisted M.E. and provided initial emergency medical care before requesting an aerial evacuation. One ranger accompanied the helicopter to the Lower Saddle, where they picked up M.E. and flew her inside the ship down to Lupine Meadows. From there, M.E. drove herself to a medical care facility. This marks the eighth major search and rescue operation of the season conducted by Grand Teton rangers. [Jacki Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers issued 48 warnings and six citations and arrested three people during a traffic safety checkpoint conducted late last Saturday evening and early Sunday morning on Highway 26/89/191 at the park's south boundary. In just over four hours, rangers conducted safety screenings for 497 vehicles. The goal of the operation was to identify and correct safety violations and reduce the number of impaired drivers in an effort to make roads safer for the traveling public. Rangers received overwhelmingly positive comments from motorists who passed through the late night checkpoint. Many individuals thanked the rangers for helping to make roads safer and for protecting park wildlife. Of the six citations that were issued, three were for driving under the influence of alcohol, two for having an open container, and one for possession of a controlled substance. Of the 48 warnings, over half were issued for not wearing a seatbelt - a federal law and a practice that saves lives. During the safety checkpoint, vehicles and drivers received an initial screening. Of those, 33 drivers and vehicles exhibited potential clues of impairment or other serious safety hazards and were consequently directed to a secondary screening location. Rangers administered 11 field sobriety tests during the operation. The last time rangers conducted a traffic safety checkpoint was in 2006. That evening, rangers screened 300 vehicles, arrested four drivers for driving under the influence of alcohol, and issued nine citations. [Jacki Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers received a call for help from an injured climber on the Valhalla Traverse on the Grand Teton last Thursday afternoon. A 29-year-old woman from Jackson, Wyoming, was traversing across snow and ice at that location when she slipped and fell 30 feet. She and her climbing partner were planning to do a one-day trip up the Enclosure Couloir (12,000 feet) on the northwest side of the Grand Teton. Both climbers were using ropes while crossing the Valhalla Traverse, and both have extensive climbing experience in the Teton Range. Three rangers were flown from Lupine Meadows to the Lower Saddle at 12:40 p.m. to meet up with two other rangers who were already on patrol at the Lower Saddle. From there, two of the rangers were short-hauled below the helicopter and delivered to a spot near the accident site. One ranger hiked to the injured climber and reached her at about 2:30 p.m. The ranger provided emergency medical care before preparing her for aerial evacuation. She was flown to the Lower Saddle via short-haul, then placed inside the helicopter for the flight down to Lupine Meadows, where a park ambulance was waiting to transport her to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers rescued an injured hiker from the Amphitheatre Lake area on the afternoon of Saturday, October 10th, using the Teton Interagency contract helicopter. A.H., 23, of Moose, Wyoming, was hiking with companions on a section of trail with a sloping ledge when she fell about 20 feet and onto her back. A.H. was hiking from Amphitheatre Lake on an unmaintained trail at the base of Disappointment Peak to an overlook of the Teton Glacier when the incident occurred. A hiker in another group saw the entire event and was able to call for help on a cell phone after running down the trail for cell reception. One member of A.H.'s party scrambled down and assist her until rescuers arrived. Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received the report just after 4 p.m. and immediately launched a short haul rescue response. Two rangers were flown to a helicopter landing zone near Amphitheatre Lake and hiked a short distance to the accident site. Rangers provided A.H. with emergency medical care and then placed her in a rescue litter for aerial evacuation. Just after 6 p.m., A.H. and an attending ranger were flown via short-haul, suspended below the helicopter, to Lupine Meadows where a park ambulance was waiting to transport her to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers rescued a stranded climber from the east face of Teewinot Mountain on the evening of Wednesday, October 20th, with the assistance of an interagency contract helicopter. E.S., 26, of Wilson, Wyoming, called a friend via cell phone to report that he was in a location on the mountain from which he could not continue climbing without risk of falling. The friend then contacted the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center to report E.S.'s predicament, and rangers launched a rescue mission to reach E.S. and bring him to safety. During a reconnaissance flight, rangers determined that E.S. was located on a steep pinnacle, high on the east face of Teewinot. With little remaining daylight and predicted low overnight temperatures, a decision was made to insert one ranger via the short-haul technique and place E.S. in an aerial evacuation suit for a short-haul extraction from the peak. The ranger soon arrived and prepared him for the flight to the Lupine Meadows rescue cache. The rescue concluded just 40 minutes before "pumpkin hour," the designated time beyond which the ship cannot fly according to FAA regulations. E.S. told rangers that he'd intended to climb the fourth class route up the east face of Teewinot Mountain. Being somewhat new to mountaineering, E.S. had climbed multiple peaks in the park this summer with various partners, but this was his first solo climb in the Teton Range. When he realized that he could no longer continue to climb without great risk of falling, he made the prudent decision to call for help. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers rescued two local kayakers from the Snake River during an operation that took place by moonlight last Thursday night. D.M. and A.M.L. became stranded a half hour after sunset on an island between two channels of the river near the historic Bar BC Ranch after A.M.L. struck a snag, flipped her kayak, and lost it to the current. A search was begun for the pair around 7 p.m. after a call for help came in to the interagency dispatch center. D.M. said that he was unsure of their exact location on the river. That uncertainty, coupled with the late hour, caused rangers to use the headlights from their patrol vehicles in an effort to pinpoint the kayakers' position on the river. In their search for the boaters, two rangers traveled by foot along the riverbank south from Schwabacher's Landing, while two other rangers hiked from Glacier View turnout on Highway 26/89/191 and began searching upstream toward Schwabacher's Landing. Four other rangers drove along a gravel road on the west side of the Snake River. After searching for well over an hour, the rangers eventually found the kayakers and launched a raft to rescue them from the island. The rescue operation concluded about 9:35 p.m. after D.M. and A.M.L. were driven by patrol vehicle from the Bar BC area to Moose Landing. The current flow on the Snake River between Deadman's Bar and Moose Landing is running about 635 cubic feet per second, which means that a river trip requires a significantly longer period of time to complete than during the higher flows of summer and early fall. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
While on routine patrol last December 26th, ranger Joe Lachowski stopped a new 2010 Toyotoa pickup truck for speeding. When Lachowski approached the truck, he smelled marijuana and saw indications that the driver, R.P., might be under the influence. Lackowski convinced R.P. and passenger S.R. to surrender the marijuana (just over an ounce) that they had with them. A search of the truck led to the discovery of $53,020 in bundled cash, which also smelled strongly of marijuana. Both men were detained. The truck was found to be registered to R.P.'s parents in Illinois and had recently been purchased. A computer check indicated that S.R. had an outstanding warrant against him for drug distribution in California, but a further inquiry revealed that the warrant was not extraditable from Wyoming. S.R. was eventually released, but with a notice for a mandatory court appearance for possession of a controlled substance. He left the area in the pickup, which also contained two pit bulls. R.P. was arrested and taken to the Teton County Jail. An NPS special agent assumed oversight of the case and followed through with the U.S. Attorney's Office, DEA and California agencies. S.R. pled guilty to possession this past October; R.P. pled guilty to the possession charge on November 16th. In addition to a $1,000 fine, he forfeited all the seized cash to the government. [Patrick Hattaway, North District Ranger]
Rangers and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ski patrollers conducted a search and rescue operation for a stranded snowboarder in the backcountry of Granite Canyon early last Friday evening. S.S., 20, of Rapid City, South Dakota, took a wrong turn and inadvertently entered Grand Teton's backcountry after exiting an out-of-bounds gate at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort that afternoon. S.S.'s partners, realizing that they were off course, attempted to alert S.S. by shouting at him to stop, but S.S. was unable to hear his companions' cries because he was listening to his iPod through earphones. Shortly thereafter, S.S.'s companions alerted patrol staff from Jackson Hole Mountain Resort of the situation and a search and rescue operation was begun. Rangers used snowmobiles from Death Canyon trailhead on Moose-Wilson Road, and then mounted skis to access Granite Canyon. Meanwhile, patrol staff from the resort skied into Granite Canyon from the summit of Rendezvous Mountain. Patrol staff were first to reach the stranded snowboarder at approximately 6:20 p.m. as rangers continued their ascent into the canyon. S.S. was in good physical condition, but was not prepared to spend the night in the backcountry, as he did not have extra clothing, food, basic emergency gear or shelter. S.S. and the ski patrollers were transported back to the trailhead by rangers via snowmobiles, arriving around 10:30 p.m. While this operation was underway, dispatch received a call from two visitors who had become disoriented while snowshoeing the Taggart/Bradley Lakes trail. R.T., 26, from White Bear Lake, Minnesota, and G.M., 25, from Minneapolis, Minnesota, became lost in the fading daylight and were unprepared to return to the trailhead in the dark. Park personnel were able to identify their location based on the men's description and provide directions by cell phone, guiding R.T. and G.M. to the nearby AAC Climbers' Ranch to await assistance. Park personnel arrived on scene just before 7 p.m. and both men were safely escorted out of the backcountry, reaching the trailhead a half hour later. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
J.H., an employee of Signal Mountain Lodge, an authorized park concessioner, pled guilty to embezzlement (18 USC 661) in federal court this past November. During an investigation conducted by a Grand Teton ranger and an Investigative Services Branch special agent, J.H. was found to have embezzled $17,714.72 during her shifts as a cashier between May 27 and August 1, 2010. Coordination with the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Wyoming also resulted in the recovery of additional evidence and led to successful prosecution. While awaiting trial, J.H. violated her pretrial release, fled Wyoming, committed additional thefts, and was subsequently arrested in Pennsylvania by US marshals in September. J.H. was extradited back to Wyoming for her appearance and is currently being held pending her sentencing date. [NPS Investigative Service Branch]
On February 6th, rangers conducted a lengthy rescue operation to evacuate an incapacitated snowshoer from the Phelps Lake overlook. M.H., 40, of Sacramento, California, became ill while snowshoeing to the overlook with her husband, Don Happel, and could not continue hiking the final two-and-a-half miles to their vehicle at the Death Canyon trailhead. Ten rangers and park staff coordinated a multi-phase evacuation that involved both rescue skiers and snowmobiles. Rescue skiers hauled a toboggan with M.H. aboard down the steep Phelps Lake moraine, and rangers on snowmobiles, who had staged on the northwest shore of Phelps Lake below the moraine, transported her the remaining distance to the trailhead, located on the Moose-Wilson Road. The rescue and evacuation took nearly eight hours to complete. Although Sunday's weather was sunny with mild afternoon temperatures, physical conditions changed as the evacuation stretched into the evening hours. With darkness and colder temperatures, rangers resorted to using headlamps for visibility and emergency gear to keep M.H. warm and protected from the cold nighttime air. After reaching the trailhead, M.H. declined further medical attention and departed the area with her husband in their personal vehicle. M.H. and Happel, who arrived in Jackson Hole on February 3rd, had a couple of days to acclimatize to the higher elevations of the Teton backcountry before their Sunday excursion. They were equipped with good winter clothing, water, and high energy snacks for their snowshoe outing. They also carried a GPS unit, a compass, and a cell phone, which they used to summon help. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Specialist]
Grand Teton National Park rangers enlisted the help of a Teton County Search and Rescue helicopter to evacuate an injured backcountry skier who was caught in an avalanche in the park on Thursday afternoon. M.G., 41, of Teton Village, Wyoming, triggered a soft slab avalanche while skiing with a friend in the Northwest Passage area of Granite Canyon. A 60-foot-wide and two-and-half-foot-deep mass of snow carried M.G. over 50 feet downslope before he collided with a tree and came to a stop. While the force of the shifting snow injured M.G.'s leg, he was not buried. M.G. was wearing a helmet which likely protected him from other injuries. M.G. and his partner were not able to make a cell phone call from their location in the canyon, so they sidestepped from the Northwest Passage down through Endless Couloir. An off duty ski patroller from the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort encountered the two and ultimately made a call for help after getting cell reception near the mouth of the canyon. Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received notice of the situation at 3 p.m. and rangers began a rescue effort that involved the assistance of the Teton County helicopter. The pilot and crew were able to quickly respond and locate the two backcountry skiers near an area where the aircraft could conveniently land. Teton County rescue personnel assisted M.G. and his partner to the waiting ship and then flew them to the base of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, landing at 4 p.m. An ambulance then transported M.G. to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson, Wyoming. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
J.N.H., an employee of Signal Mountain Lodge, was found to have embezzled $17,714.72 during her shifts as a cashier between last May 27th and August 1st. On November 23rd, following the indictment, arrest, and transport back to the District of Wyoming, J.N.H. pled guilty to theft and embezzlement, in violation of 18 USC 661. On February 24th, she was sentenced to time served (164 days), three years supervised release, and restitution in the amount of $19,244.40. [NPS Investigative Service Branch]
Rangers enlisted the help of the Teton County contract helicopter to rescue a backcountry skier who was injured during an avalanche on the morning of Tuesday, March 15th. B.S., a 32-year-old Jackson resident, triggered an avalanche around 11:20 a.m. while skiing with friends on the northwest side of Cardiac Ridge in Granite Canyon. He received several injuries as a two-foot-deep, 40-foot-wide soft slab avalanche carried him about 400 feet down a slope near a feature known as Shady Lady. Because of the remote location in Granite Canyon, the skiers could not get cell phone reception. One of the B.S.'s companions made his way back up the slope they had just skied in order to reach a saddle just northwest of Rendezvous Mountain and made a 911 call. Teton County dispatchers received that call for help about 1:15 p.m. and in turn notified the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center in Grand Teton National Park. Rangers immediately contacted the Teton County Search and Rescue coordinator and requested assistance from their contract helicopter. In the meantime, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ski patrollers made preparations to ski into Granite Canyon from the resort boundary to help with the rescue. Two ski patrollers met B.S.'s companion at the mountain saddle and the three of them skied to his location, arriving at approximately 2:30 p.m. The patrollers provided emergency care and prepared B.S. for the arrival of the ship. He was flown to the base of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, then transferred to a county ambulance and taken to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson. The remaining members of the ski party were also evacuated by air from Granite Canyon. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
A full-scale search for two overdue backcountry skiers enters its third day this morning. The two skiers - W.K. 30, and G.S., 31 - set out on their trip on Saturday morning, intending to camp overnight in the Teton Range, explore Teepe Pillar and Teepe Glacier, and return before the weekend ended. When W.K. failed to report for work in Salt Lake City on Monday, his girlfriend contacted the Teton County Sheriff's Office, which in turn contacted the park. Rangers checked the Taggert Lake trailhead, where they planned to start, and found vehicles owned by the two men. A search was then begun. Because of unstable snow conditions on Monday afternoon, rangers chose not to search by ground, which would put rescue personnel at risk, and instead launched a helicopter reconnaissance flight. Erratic winds and poor visibility pre-empted a thorough search and rangers were forced to suspend the operation at sunset and make plans for a larger effort Tuesday. Four teams with four rescuers each began skiing into Garnet Canyon from the Teton Park Road on Tuesday morning, followed by an operations team to support the advance teams with radio communications and other needs. A helicopter flight was launched at 11:20 a.m. after weather conditions allowed and visibility improved. The rescue teams conducted a methodical search of several areas throughout the Garnet Canyon area and focused on probable locations where W.K. and G.S. might have gone. Both men have some knowledge of the Teton backcountry and have previously climbed and skied in the Teton Range. They carried avalanche equipment with them and are familiar with the use of such equipment. Avalanche conditions over the past few days were rated as "considerable," by the Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center, meaning that human-triggered avalanches were likely. Yesterday's avalanche report said that moderate danger existed above the 9,000 foot elevation and low danger for mid to low elevations from 6,000 feet to 9,000 feet. Six to seven inches of new snow fell overnight at the 9,300 foot and 9,580 foot snow plot stations on Rendezvous Mountain. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Several rescue teams were flown by helicopter into the Meadows area of Garnet Canyon early yesterday morning to resume a methodical search for W.K., 27, of Salt Lake City, Utah, and G.S., 31, of Columbia Falls, Montana. The two men skied into Garnet Canyon on Saturday, April 16th, with plans to camp overnight and explore areas around the Grand Teton. A search for them was begun on Monday after they were reported overdue for work. Yesterday, three rescue teams of four people each and two dog teams continued to explore the lower Meadows - an area that is one of several possible locations where the missing men may be found. Rescuers are also probing areas higher in elevation in the south and north forks of Garnet Canyon. Search teams were not able to check the steeper terrain in those areas on Monday because of unstable snow conditions. Improved weather conditions yesterday provided better visibility and allowed for additional helicopter flights. Rescue teams will continue to both expand their search areas and focus on likely locations that might provide clues as to the whereabouts of the missing skiers. Similar rescue operations are planned for today, weather permitting. The forecast is for increasing clouds and snow. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer] HYPERLINK "http://gtnpnews.blogspot.com/2011/04/search-continues-for-missing-skiers.html"
Rangers were forced to suspend the search for missing skiers W.K. and G.S. yesterday due to heavy snow and gusty winds. These conditions made it impossible to insert rescue teams and canine search teams into the backcountry. The decision to "stand down" rescue teams came fairly early in the day as weather conditions worsened. Similar weather is forecast for today, so rescue teams will be on standby. Saturday's weather holds more promise and will likely allow rescuers to resume searching the most probable location where W.K. and G.S. may be found. That location is a large avalanche debris field in the Garnet Canyon Meadows. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
On the evening of Saturday, April 23rd, following a long day of searching an avalanche debris field in Garnet Canyon Meadows, a ranger picked up two discernible beacon signals from deep within the snowpack. Due to the late hour, coupled with the need to evacuate all search teams from the canyon and cease helicopter operations before day's end, rescuers were not able to dig deep enough to locate the source of the signals that day. A core group of park rangers flew back into Garnet Canyon early the next morning to resume digging. After two hours, they reached the bodies of W.K. and G.S., buried under 13 feet of snow near a large boulder in the avalanche path. The rangers then prepared them for a helicopter flight to the valley floor, where a Teton County coroner met the ship. It appears that Walker and Greg were buried by a large avalanche that shed off the north face of Nez Perce Peak sometime on the night of Saturday, April 16th, while they were in their tent, which was located near a large boulder between the Platforms and the Meadows of Garnet Canyon. Walker and Greg carried avalanche beacons and other appropriate gear with them on their trek into the Teton Range, and their beacons were transmitting when the avalanche enveloped their campsite. The concentrated search for W.K. and G.S. lasted six days, due in part to stormy weather, new snowfall and ongoing concerns about avalanche danger for rescue teams. Search operations involved park rangers and staff, as well as numerous Jackson Hole community rescue personnel. Grand Teton National Park has extended its appreciation for the cooperation and dedication of the organizations and companies that assisted during the search. Those groups include trained rescue personnel, volunteers and support staff from Teton County Search and Rescue, Teton Interagency Fire personnel, Bridger-Teton National Forest and Bridger-Teton National Forest Avalanche Center staff, a Yellowstone National Park employee, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ski patrol members, Wyoming K9 Search and Rescue teams, and Grand Targhee Resort ski patrol and canine teams, as well as experienced professional mountaineers from Jackson Hole Mountain Guides and Exum Mountain Guides. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
A 54-year-old Jackson resident received multiple injuries when he was struck by the rearview mirror of a delivery truck while biking on Highway 26/89/191 on Wednesday morning. The delivery truck and the bicyclist were both northbound on the highway when the accident occurred approximately one mile north of Airport Junction. The cyclist was wearing a bike helmet. After making contact with the bicyclist, the driver of the truck quickly stopped and made a 911 call on his cell phone to summon help. A ranger was soon onsite and provided emergency medical care. The bicyclist was then taken by park ambulance to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson. Further details about this incident will be available at the conclusion of an accident investigation. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers enlisted the help of Teton County Search and Rescue and their contract helicopter on Saturday to rescue a backcountry hiker/skier who was seriously injured after taking a tumbling fall just before 8:30 a.m. while ascending Teewinot Mountain (elevation 12,325 feet) with two companions. J.S., 39, slipped and fell approximately 2,000 feet. J.S. and his partners were well equipped with helmets, ice axes, and crampons, though, and were wearing avalanche beacons at the time of the accident. J.S. also had a whippet (a ski pole with a head like an ice axe), a commonly used tool when skiing on hard and steep snow. J.S. and his two companions left the valley at 4 a.m. on Saturday morning with the intention of summiting Teewinot and skiing down its east face. About 500 feet below the summit, J.S. slipped on the snow and took a tumbling fall. The Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a 911 call minutes after the accident from a skier who saw J.S. fall. The witness, a wilderness emergency medical technician, skied down to where J.S. came to rest and provided him with emergency medical care until help arrived. Two rangers hiked up to J.S. and reached the scene at 11:20 a.m. Rangers then prepared a site for Teton County SAR to insert one of its members, Dr. AJ Wheeler. TCSAR's rescue team reached J.S. shortly thereafter and prepared him for a short-haul evacuation to the valley floor at Lupine Meadows, where a park ambulance then transported J.S. to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for further treatment. While attending to J.S. on Teewinot, TCSAR members and Grand Teton rangers avoided a small wet avalanche that came down the gully where J.S. was located. The team was able to move J.S. and themselves from harm's way with the help of two avalanche spotters higher up on the peak. The Bridger-Teton National Forest avalanche report rated the avalanche danger on Saturday as "moderate" to "considerable" as warmer afternoon temperatures create unstable snowpack. For up-to-date avalanche forecasts, visit HYPERLINK "http://www.jhavalanche.org/" http://www.jhavalanche.org , or call the avalanche center at 307-733-2664. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Specialist]
Rangers short-hauled a 47-year-old injured climber off of Guides' Wall in Cascade Canyon on Saturday, June 25th. D.R. of Farmington, Connecticut, was on a guided trip with E.M.G. when she fell about 15 feet on the Flake pitch, the fifth pitch of six on the route. The guide notified Teton Interagency Dispatch Center of the injured climber in mid-afternoon. Battling gusty winds and maneuvering cautiously with minimal clearance from the rock face, a Teton interagency contract helicopter inserted one ranger at D.R.'s location. The ranger then prepared D.R. for a short-haul extrication using an aerial evacuation suit. Three other rangers, who were in the vicinity, hiked to the base of Guides' Wall and staged there in case winds prevented a short-haul extrication. D.R., with a ranger attending, reached the valley floor just after 5 p.m. A park ambulance then transported her to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for further treatment. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers rescued a 20-year-old hiker who took a tumbling 1,200-foot fall last Friday morning and sustained critical injuries. R.H. of Houston, Texas, was HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glissade_(climbing)" glissading down the Ellingwood Couloir on the south side of the Middle Teton when he lost control and hit a rock, causing him to flip over and continue head first down the HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Couloir" couloir. A bystander who witnessed the fall and was nearby called 911 to report the incident. The 911 call went to the Rexburg sheriff's office and was transferred to the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center. Three rangers were flown by a Teton interagency contract helicopter to a landing zone near the bottom of the Ellingwood Couloir. A fourth ranger was flown to the scene shortly after the first three, and the rangers provided emergency medical care before preparing R.H. for a helicopter flight to the valley floor. R.H. was loaded into the ship and flown to the Lupine Meadows rescue cache, where he was met by a team of emergency medical providers led by Dr. Will Smith, one of the co-medical directors for Grand Teton National Park. R.H. was stabilized at the rescue cache and then flown directly on an Air Idaho life flight to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho. R.H. and his companion had glissaded about a third of the way down the couloir when the incident occurred. R.H. was glissading behind his companion when he picked up speed and passed him; shortly thereafter, he hit the first series of rocks. R.H. was not wearing a helmet at the time of the incident. Although he was carrying an ice axe and wearing crampons, he was unable to right himself or self arrest. Although R.H. is from Houston, he has been working seasonally in Jackson Hole. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Specialist]
Rangers have located the body of climber who fell approximately 2,500 feet to his death on the northwest side of the Grand Teton sometime on Sunday, July 31st. After searching by foot for nearly seven hours on Monday, rangers eventually spotted the climber's body from the air. D.I., 45, of Springfield, Missouri, had undertaken a solo, one-day climb of the Grand Teton, but failed to return at an appointed time late Sunday evening and was reported overdue at 8:45 p.m. D.I. began his solo climb of the Grand Teton at 1:45 a.m. on Sunday morning. When he failed to meet his wife at day's end, she notified the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center that he was overdue. Because of the late hour and approaching darkness, rangers made arrangements to begin a search at daylight on Monday morning. Inclement weather prevented use of the Teton interagency contract helicopter and delayed the response by rangers stationed at a high elevation hut sited on the Lower Saddle of Grand Teton. Park rangers and guides from the Exum School of Mountaineering began a search by foot at 8 a.m. Dense clouds and heavy rain made it difficult to locate the missing man during the morning ground search, but rangers did find a small backpack near Grand Teton's Upper Saddle that they assumed belonged to D.I. When weather conditions improved in the afternoon, rangers launched the contract helicopter to conduct an aerial search. They ultimately located D.I.'s body at 1:45 p.m. in Valhalla Canyon, which lies on the northwest flank of the 13,770-foot Grand Teton. Using a long line attached to the helicopter, rangers flew D.I.'s body early Monday evening from Valhalla Canyon to the Lupine Meadows rescue cache where they were met by the Teton County coroner. Rangers are investigating the fatal accident. Because D.I. was climbing alone, though, the circumstances surrounding his fall may never be known. D.I.'s experience was limited to scrambling peaks with little technical difficulty. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Specialist]
Rangers conducted two rescues in Garnet Canyon on the afternoon of Saturday, August 6th. The first incident was reported to the Jenny Lake Ranger Station at 11 a.m. that morning. R.M., 70, of Birmingham, Alabama, was hiking down a snowfield near Spaulding Falls in Garnet Canyon when he slipped, fell and tumbled into piles of rocks. Two hikers in the area at the time helped R.M. descend to the Meadows area of Garnet Canyon, where rangers eventually met the party. One hiker descended the canyon to get cell phone service and placed an emergency call directly to the ranger station. R.M. was part of a private party that intended to summit the Grand on Saturday. After spending Friday night at the Lower Saddle, R.M. and his son decided not to attempt the climb but hike out instead. An EMT and emergency room nurse, who were in the area encountered R.M. and provided initial medical care until rangers arrived on scene at 11:45 a.m. Rangers determined R.M.'s injuries to be severe enough that he would not be able to safely hike out of the canyon, so requested that the Teton interagency contract helicopter fly him from a landing zone in the Meadows to the rescue cache at Lupine Meadows. He was met there by a park ambulance and transported to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for further treatment. R.M. did not have a helmet, ice axe, or crampons during his mountain trek. While on scene with R.M., rangers were notified just before 1 p.m. of another individual who needed medical assistance. H.H., 34, of Rexburg, Idaho, had intended to summit the Grand with her party on Saturday, but started feeling ill and began a retreat from the base of the headwall of the Lower Saddle. H.H. was descending on her own when the ER nurse who had assisted R.M. encountered her and directed H.H. to stop and wait for help. Given the nature of H.H.'s illness, rangers decided to stabilize her and assist her in hiking down to the Meadows in Garnet Canyon where she was also met by the interagency helicopter and flown inside the ship to Lupine Meadows. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Specialist]
Rangers twice last week rescued injured climbers from park peaks. A climber attempting to scale the Middle Teton on Tuesday required rescue by rangers after sustaining injuries from a fall. S.Z., 43, of Madison, Wisconsin, and two companions were on the approach to Buckingham Ridge, the southeast ridge of the Middle Teton, when S.Z. pulled off a loose block of rock and fell about 15 feet. The Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received an emergency phone call from a member of S.Z.'s climbing party just after 9 a.m. A contract helicopter flew rangers to a backcountry landing zone in the South Fork of Garnet Canyon, and the rangers then hiked to S.Z.'s location, arriving on scene at 11 a.m. They determined that S.Z. would not be able to hike out of the canyon on his own due to the nature of his injuries and prepared him for a helicopter evacuation. He was flown via short-haul to the South Fork landing zone and then taken to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for further treatment. S.Z. and his climbing companions were unroped on the approach and scrambling on fourth-class rock. Each of the climbers had appropriate climbing gear; they were all wearing helmets and carrying ice axes and crampons at the time of the accident. On Thursday, rangers conducted a 1,200-foot technical lowering operation on the north side of Nez Perce Peak to rescue a 21-year-old climber who fell about 100 feet and suffered injuries that made it impossible for her to hike further. L.M. of Royal Oak, Michigan, was HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glissade_(climbing)" glissading a snowfield to the west of the Hourglass Couloirs when she ran into the rocks at the base of the snowfield. Rangers, who were assisting another hiker with minor injuries, received notice of L.M.'s accident at 11 a.m. Once they reunited the hiker with his party, they hastily made their way to L.M.'s location on Nez Perce Peak and arrived on scene at 11:30 a.m. After reaching L.M., rangers determined that high winds were not favorable for a helicopter short-haul operation. Two other rangers on routine backcountry patrols (one on Disappointment Peak and another between the South and Middle Tetons) were summoned to assist with a ground-based rescue. An additional ranger and three Teton interagency helitack personnel were flown up from the valley by contract helicopter into to assist in the technical lowering operation. L.M. was placed in a rescue litter and rangers rigged ropes to carefully lower her down the snowfield to the Garnet Canyon Meadows landing zone. Rangers lowered L.M. 300 feet at a time in four separate sets. The last set placed her at a location near the landing zone at the Cave Couloir in the upper meadows of Garnet Canyon. She was then flown to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for further treatment. L.M. and her four climbing partners intended to summit the Middle Teton. Two of her partners turned around earlier in the day, while the rest of the group continued up but strayed off route. After realizing they were in the wrong location, L.M. and her climbing partners started descending in an attempt to find the correct route. Although L.M. was carrying an ice axe, rangers do not believe she was wearing a helmet or carrying crampons on her mountain trek. This incident marked the third rescue this year involving a climber or hiker who received significant injuries while glissading down a snowfield. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Specialist]
Rangers rescued the pilot of an ultralight aircraft on Tuesday night after he crashed his single seat aircraft between Spearhead Peak and Fox Creek Pass in the southern portion of the Teton Range. J.M., 57, of Louisville, Kentucky, sustained only minor injuries during his crash landing. After the accident, J.M. activated a locator beacon that sent an emergency signal to the Teton County sheriff's office in Idaho. That office routed a 911 call to dispatchers in Teton County in Wyoming, who then transferred the call to the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center in Moose at 7 p.m. J.M. began his flight from the Driggs, Idaho, airport and crashed just on the boundary between Grand Teton National Park and Caribou-Targhee National Forest. Due to the accident location - involving several federal, county and state jurisdictions - Teton County Search and Rescue staff coordinated with the park's emergency responders to initiate the rescue. Because of the late hour, combined with the availability of a Teton interagency contract helicopter and park rescue staff, rangers took the lead on organizing and conducting the rescue operation from the Lupine Meadows rescue cache. Two rangers flew aboard the helicopter and quickly spotted J.M. in an open area near Fox Creek Pass just north of Spearhead Peak. Because the terrain was broad and open, the helicopter was able to set down near J.M. He was flown out to an ambulance that took him to St. John's Medical Center for treatment. Rangers were able to mobilize, perform and complete the rescue operation by 8:45 p.m., just before the official time when air operations must cease due to darkness - often called the "pumpkin hour." [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Specialist]
Rangers rescued a 28-year-old climber just before dark last Friday after he became stranded near the top of the Grand Stand below the North Face of the Grand Teton. J.S. of Florence, Montana, and his climbing partner intended to climb the Black Ice Couloir on the northwest side of the Grand, but they couldn't find the entrance to the couloir and got off route. They ended up on the Grand Stand instead, a common route-finding mistake. Just before 5 p.m., the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received notification from the county sheriff's office that a SPOT rescue locator had been activated somewhere on the Grand Teton. Rangers flew to the area by helicopter to assess the situation. A ranger inside the helicopter used a white board with the words "OK?" written on it to ask the climbers if they were all right. The climbers gave a thumbs down sign, so rangers responded by writing the word "rescue?" and the climbers gave a thumbs up, indicating they were in trouble and needed help. Based on the climbers' location, rangers flew to a landing zone on the west side of Teewinot Mountain. From there, one ranger was inserted via short-haul to J.S.'s location just after 8 p.m. Once on scene, the ranger prepared J.S. for a short-haul evacuation off the mountain to the Lupine Meadows rescue cache on the valley floor. J.S. was uninjured and released soon after landing. After rescuing J.S., the helicopter made one last flight to retrieve the other rangers from the landing zone on Teewinot. The ship landed back at Lupine Meadows at 8:47 p.m., just two minutes before it was required to stop flying due to darkness. This time is called "pumpkin hour" and is 30 minutes after official sunset. By the time rangers reached J.S., his climbing partner had begun to backtrack the route in hopes of reaching the Lower Saddle before it got too dark to continue. After realizing it was too dark to safely backtrack across the Valhalla Traverse, J.S.'s partner decided to spend the night on the mountain and begin his retreat again at first light on Saturday. The climbing partner reached the Lower Saddle of the Grand Teton early on Saturday morning. [Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles, Public Affairs Specialist]
In another operation pushing darkness - the second in as many nights - rangers rescued a 25-year-old woman who fell about 25 feet while climbing a popular route in Death Canyon called The Snaz. On Saturday, August 20th, L.M. from Lake Oswego, Oregon, sustained significant injuries when she fell because her belay system failed. She landed feet first on a ledge at the base of the last pitch. A member of L.M.'s climbing party notified Teton Interagency Dispatch Center of the incident at 4:50 p.m. via cell phone. Park rescue personnel immediately summoned a contract helicopter to perform a reconnaissance flight to assess the situation. Due to L.M.'s location, rangers devised two separate plans for her rescue. One option included spending the night with her on the cliff and the other option involved an evacuation before dark. Two rangers were inserted via short-haul just above L.M.'s location a little before 8 p.m. One ranger rappelled down to her and determined that it would be possible to fly her off the ledge that night. The ranger then stabilized L.M.'s injuries and provided emergency medical care before preparing her for a short-haul flight in an aerial evacuation suit. L.M. was flown from The Snaz to the historic White Grass Dude Ranch that sits just east of Death Canyon. A park ambulance met the helicopter in a meadow near the ranch buildings and transported L.M. to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for further treatment. L.M. was subsequently flown to the University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, for additional medical care. L.M.'s two climbing partners decided to hike out of Death Canyon on Saturday night. One ranger spent the night on a ledge of the cliff face in order to assist in flying off rescue equipment and other gear early Sunday morning. The Snaz is one of the most popular climbs in Death Canyon, and is usually completed in nine pitches. It is rated a 5.9 on the Yosemite Decimal System, a set of numeric ratings describing the difficulty of climbs. [Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles, Public Affairs Specialist]
As a park ranger was greeting visitors for a morning program in the Colter Bay auditorium this past Tuesday, a man sat down on what was apparently his unsecured can of bear spray, causing the can to discharge its contents of highly irritating spray into the room. The irritating element in bear spray is oleoresin capsicum, the same element in the pepper spray carried by law enforcement rangers but with a higher percentage of the irritant. The ranger immediately recognized what had happened and directed all the occupants to the emergency exits. The visitor who accidently discharged the bear spray ran from the room and building. Park emergency personnel were notified of the incident, as the building's air handling systems moved the residual pepper spray into the main lobby. The first arriving units found approximately 20 employees and visitors in the main lobby coughing and experiencing other side effects from the pepper spray. Incident command was established and the building was evacuated, after which structural fire personnel in full PPE began ventilating the building and emergency medical staff evaluated both employees and visitors. All the affected individuals declined medical treatment. Visitor services were continued through the day at portable tables in front of the visitor center while cleanup was begun by facility management staff. Cleanup presented a challenging task, though, as the irritant is dispersed in an oil-based aerosol that attaches to any surface it contacts, including vinyl, plastics, carpeting, clothing and human skin. The cooperating association bagged and sealed many soft items, such as t-shirts and stuffed animals, for decontamination at a later date. Rangers were unsuccessful in locating the person who discharged the bear spray, but statements from the interpreter in the room and other visitors indicate that the discharge was accidental. The visitor center was reopened on Wednesday. [Patrick Hattaway, North District Ranger/Incident Commander]
The elk hunting season adjacent to Grand Teton opened on September 20th and rangers have been busy making sure hunters are not taking animals from within the park. Information was received on the morning of the 20th that a hunter had fired a shot within the park north of the Bailey Creek Road. Rangers contacted a guided hunting party that was packing out a killed elk from that area. The rangers retraced the party's path and employed tracking skills to determine that the elk was killed legally, but that the shot was taken from right on the park boundary. Around 6 p.m. that evening, dispatch received a phone call regarding a hunter removing a dead elk from the Arizona Creek trail. Investigating rangers found an Oregon man packing out the very large bull elk and determined that the animal had been taken within the park. The elk was seized and the antlers measured. They were found to be just short of qualifying for the Boone & Crockett trophy class. The man received a mandatory appearance citation. On September 29th, two rangers on a routine backcountry patrol near Mount Reid on the Arizona Creek Trail heard a gunshot just after 10 a.m. While investigating the source, they encountered a hunting guide who reported that his client had shot a bull elk in the park. The guide was on his way up a hill to place a call notifying authorities of the incident when the rangers met him. The guide then took the investigating rangers to the location of the elk kill, and rangers determined the elk had been taken 40 yards inside of the park boundary. All parties involved fully cooperated with rangers. The man who shot the elk was also issued a mandatory citation. [Patrick Hattaway, North District Ranger]
Rangers have completed an investigation stemming from a search and rescue response in August that was initiated by the activation of a SPOT rescue locator. D.S., 33, of Missoula, Montana, was issued a citation because his actions that day created a hazardous situation during a late-hour rescue operation to retrieve his stranded climbing partner, Jesse Selwyn of Florence, Michigan. D.S. was charged with disorderly conduct. On Friday, August 19th, D.S. and Selwyn intended to climb the Black Ice Couloir on the northwest side of the Grand Teton, but the two climbers could not find the entrance to the couloir and got off route, ending up on the Grandstand. After an extended discussion about how to proceed, Selwyn informed D.S. that he felt he was unable to continue. Selwyn said that he believed he would become injured or die if he attempted to retrace the route they had come. He then told D.S. that he was going to call for a rescue by activating the SPOT rescue locator that he was carrying. Until that time, D.S. did not know that Selwyn was carrying the device. Selwyn then activated the device and rangers were notified. After they hovered over the scene in a Teton Interagency helicopter and Selwyn signaled that he desired a rescue, D.S. told Selwyn that he (D.S.) did not need to be rescued. Further discussion ensued and ultimately, D.S. left with the party's climbing rope, made four rappels and then began to retrace his route to the Valhalla Traverse. D.S. made this decision before confirming that rangers were indeed going to return to rescue Selwyn. The citation was issued because D.S. assumed a rescue would occur and left his partner, taking their only climbing rope. D.S.'s decision created a hazardous condition for Selwyn, since at this point there was no guarantee of rescue. Selwyn was reached by rangers that night and was extracted via short haul with darkness imminently approaching. Climbers are reminded that pursuing these activities requires a high level of personal accountability and responsibility. There is no guarantee of your safety or rescue when climbing or traveling in the backcountry. Disorderly conduct is a violation under the Code of Federal Regulations 36§2.34(a)(4). [Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles, Public Affairs Officer]
A 32-year-old Jackson man hunting in the park was injured by a bear late yesterday morning. The incident occurred along the east side of the Snake River between Blacktail Ponds and Glacier View Overlooks. Protection rangers and resource management personnel are conducting an investigation of the incident. At this point it is too early to determine what species of bear was involved, the nature of the man's injuries, or if this was a defensive or predatory encounter. The man was carrying bear spray and following the recommended protocols for hunting in bear country. He told rangers that he dropped to the ground and covered his head when he spotted the bear, and that he did not fire any shots at it. He also said that he had not killed any elk that morning. Rangers and county deputies treated his injuries and got him to the roadside, where he was met by a park ambulance and transported to St. Johns Medical Center in Jackson for further treatment. Attacks by bears within the park are extremely rare. Only six have been reported in Grand Teton's history, none fatal. In 2007 a female grizzly bear with cubs mauled a jogger near Jackson Lake Lodge in a surprise encounter. Signs indicating that bear are frequenting the area have been placed near the spot where the hunter was injured. [Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles, Public Affairs]
A local outfitter licensed to remove legally taken elk from the park notified rangers on November 6th that a hunter had shot and killed a bison within the park's boundaries. Rangers subsequently contacted D.K. of Kimberly, Idaho, who cooperated and led park staff to the dead bison. D.K. had a Wyoming state permit to shoot a bison on national forest lands. He entered through the park's marked eastern boundary and then walked for two miles inside the park before shooting the animal south of Uhl Hill. D.K. has been charged with illegal taking of wildlife and has a pending mandatory court appearance. [Patrick Hattaway, District Ranger]
Rangers and EMS providers responded late on the morning of January 9th to a report of a worksite injury that had just occurred at a construction project in the park. B.P., a 33-year-old resident of eastern Colorado, had fallen approximately 15 feet and sustained serious injuries while working on a new housing unit near the park's headquarters complex. B.P. was treated at the scene and then taken by park ambulance to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson. From there, he was flown to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, where he died two days later. B.P., the plant manager for a housing assembly company out of Fort Morgan, Colorado, fell while installing a second floor door on one of the new units being constructed in the employee housing area at Moose. An investigation into his death is underway. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
On the morning of January 11th, the Teton County and Grand Teton NP dispatch offices were notified that an employee housing unit at the Triangle X ranch was filled with smoke. Apparatus and personnel responded from both Jackson Hole Fire/EMS and Grand Teton National Park. The Triangle X ranch is an NPS-owned historic dude ranch operated by the Turner family under a concession contract. It is located halfway between the South and North District ranger stations, so units from both areas responded. The first ranger arriving on scene reported heavy smoke in the cabin but no open flames. The occupant of the building advised that he had opened the doors of the two room log cabin and gone into the crawl space where the fire originated to remove personal belongings. Grand Teton Engine Company 1 was the first apparatus on scene, followed by a water tender from Jackson Fire/EMS Station 4 out of Moran. Initial attack crews entered the structure and crawl space using a thermal imaging detector but found no active heat sources. After positive pressure ventilation was utilized to ventilate the building and crawl space, crews reentered and followed considerable damage/heat patterns in the crawl space to a corner where a partially melted household extension cord was located along with charred personal belongings. In discussions with the occupant, firefighters learned that he had run the extension cord from an outlet in the living area to the crawl space to power a portable baseboard heater. In order to fit the cord through a small hole, though, he had to cut and splice it. Since the electrical load rating of the heater was higher than the rated load for the extension cord, it was determined that the cord and splice were the cause of the fire. The incident was complicated by a foot of snow on the ground, temperatures initially at 5 degrees, a one-lane road into the housing area, and a considerable amount of hunting ammunition stored in the crawl space. The first firefighters entering the crawl space and using a gas detector found high levels of carbon monoxide with reduced oxygen. While the limited oxygen caused the fire to burn out, the occupant could have easily succumbed to carbon monoxide when he entered the space without any PPE. Incident command was fully utilized during this incident with an NPS IC, joint NPS/Jackson fire operations, and a managed staging area for incoming personnel and equipment. [Patrick Hattaway, North District Ranger]
Rangers conducted the first backcountry search and rescue operation of the 2011/12 winter season on the night of February 13th. J.T., 55, and M.F., 36, both from New Jersey, left the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort just before 3 p.m. on Monday. Their plan was to go to the Rock Springs Bowl, but they went the wrong way and ended up in Granite Canyon inside the park instead. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Ski Patrol first received notification that they needed help around 7 p.m. Teton County Search and Rescue was notified, and members of that team were able to ping the GPS location of the pair from their cell phone and determine that they were in the park's backcountry. The Teton Interagency Dispatch Center was notified of the out-of-bounds boarders at 7:30 p.m. Rangers were able to communicate directly with the duo via cell phone and determine that a search and rescue response was needed based on a medical condition of one of the two men, combined with their inadequate preparation for backcountry travel. Rangers used a snowmobile to access the mouth of Granite Canyon and reached the pair around 10 p.m. at a location in the lower canyon. Although the snowboarders were not injured or in need of medical aid, they lacked winter backcountry experience and did not possess food, water, lights or the appropriate avalanche gear. The Bridger-Teton National Forest Avalanche Center reported the general avalanche hazard for February 13th to be "moderate" above the 9,000 foot level and "low" for low elevations (6,000-7,500 feet). Backcountry users were also cautioned to be prepared with appropriate emergency equipment and the knowledge and skill of how to use such gear before attempting a winter excursion. [Public Affairs]
A severe winter storm on Saturday with snow and high winds (up to 50 mph on the valley floor and over 80 mph at higher elevations) created blizzard conditions and led to two major rescue operations - one to evacuate stranded travelers and the other to rescue a lost snowboarder. The storm forced the closure of Highway 26/89/191 within the park on Saturday afternoon, stranding approximately 160 travelers between Moran Junction and Flagg Ranch near the south gate of Yellowstone. Due to whiteout conditions caused by high winds and blowing and drifting snow, Grand Teton snowplow operators were unable to keep open a 22-mile stretch of highway between the Jackson Hole Airport and Moran Junction, 30 miles north of Jackson. Out of concern for traveler safety, rangers closed the main highway at 1:45 p.m. Marooned travelers were provided emergency shelter, food, and makeshift accommodations at Signal Mountain Lodge, Flagg Ranch, and the Moran Elementary School. Teton Interagency fire staff gathered emergency gear, cots, and sleeping bags from the Colter Bay fire cache and Moran Fire Station to provide some level of comfort to the stranded people. Rangers staffed highway barricades throughout the stormy night and rerouted motorists to the provisional shelters. Rangers at the Jackson Hole Airport Junction barricade advised travelers to return to Jackson, eight miles south, for overnight lodging. Snowplow drivers and rotary equipment operators began working at 4 a.m. on Sunday in an attempt to open a single travel lane. Using that single lane, rangers escorted vehicles south from Moran Junction around 6:30 a.m. and then reclosed the highway until both lanes could be fully plowed. Highway 26/89/191 reopened at 7 a.m. and two-way travel resumed without restriction. In the midst of the intense blizzard and resulting highway closure, rangers also received word that a snowboarder was missing in the park. Sam Hoerr, 31, of Dunlap, Illinois, had become separate from his companions. He sent a text message to them at 2:30 p.m. and explained that he had reached a creek and was going to follow it out. His companions notified Jackson Hole Mountain Resort's ski patrol. Given the high avalanche danger and late hour of the day, a rescue effort was launched. High winds and poor visibility closed the upper mountain at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and these same conditions prevented use of a helicopter-assisted search for the lost snowboarder. The highway closure prevented rangers from responding from rescue facilities located at park headquarters in Moose. Rangers therefore requested help from Teton County Search and Rescue volunteers, and a unified command was established. Considerable avalanche danger made it unsafe to direct rescue personnel into Granite Canyon from the Mountain Resort's out-of-bounds gate. Ultimately, thirteen rescuers accessed Granite Canyon from Teton Village and begin to ski into the canyon from the trailhead off the Moose-Wilson Road. Rescuers made contact with Hoerr via cell phone at 7:30 p.m., directed him to continue down canyon following the creek, reached him around 8 p.m., and provided him with a "split board" so that he could more easily travel out of the backcountry canyon on his own. He was then escorted out of Granite Canyon by rescuers. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Specialist]
The Teton County Sheriff's Office and Teton County Search and Rescue (TCSAR) were responding to the report of a snowmobile accident with an unresponsive rider on the afternoon of February 15th when radio contact was lost with the county's contract helicopter. Reports were soon received that the helicopter had crashed. The county quickly put out a mutual aid request for personnel, emergency medical assistance, and a unified incident command. In response to the request, the park's Teton Interagency Dispatch Center assumed control of incident radio traffic and rangers coordinated the unified incident command and operation functions, including medical response, emergency helicopter responses from three separate locations, remote helibase operations with the park/forest interagency helitack staff, and logistical/critical incident support operations. A local plane also responded from the Jackson airport, but was unable to locate the helicopter's wreckage. Although injured, the helicopter pilot was able to struggle through deep snow to a high point, where he utilized a portable radio to reach the sheriff's dispatch center and confirmed the crash. A Civil Air Patrol aircraft subsequently located the crash site by using GPS coordinates. Teton County deputies on snowmobiles reached the site first. Two of the occupants, pilot Ken Johnson and TCSAR member Mike Moyer (who is also a battalion chief with Jackson Hole Fire/EMS), had suffered leg injuries; the third occupant, TCSAR member Ray Shriver, was fatality injured and subsequently died at the scene. Johnson and Shriver were evacuated by helicopter to a staging area located at Togwotee Mountain Lodge. Moyer was subsequently evacuated by snowmobile to the staging area, arriving after darkness. He and Johnson were transported by ambulances to the hospital in Jackson. Following the conclusion of emergency evacuation and treatment operations, critical incident stress counselors from the park provided assistance to Teton County personnel and the park assumed SAR responsibility for the county at the request of the sheriff for 36 hours following the incident. This event and Shriver's death had a significant impact on the community and park. He was well known in the community and one of the founding members of the Teton County SAR team. This incident was complicated by deep snow, time of day, and night time temperatures at or below zero degrees. The cause of the helicopter crash remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. [Chris Harder, IC, and Patrick Hattaway, North District Ranger]
Rangers yesterday recovered the bodies of two local and expert backcountry skiers who were the focus of a search and rescue mission earlier in the day. C.O. and S.R., both of Jackson, Wyoming, were buried by a large avalanche sometime Wednesday, March 7th. The avalanche began near the summit of 11,355-foot Ranger Peak in the northern end of the Teton Range and ran to the base of the peak, depositing a large debris field in Waterfalls Canyon. During an aerial reconnaissance flight around 9 a.m., rangers picked up two positive beacon hits from the debris field. Seven rangers were flown to the area to begin a physical search of the field using probe poles. They reached the first body around 11:45 a.m. and second around noon. A Teton County Search and Rescue contact helicopter and crew assisted in the search and rescue mission, and Teton interagency helitack personnel assisted with the temporary helibase established at the Colter Bay swim beach on the east shore of Jackson Lake. The avalanche danger was listed as moderate on Wednesday afternoon, and low on Thursday morning, according to the Bridger-Teton National Forest avalanche center. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
On July 15, 2011, off-duty rangers contacted H.F. of Jackson in the Kelly Warm Springs area of the park after one of the rangers saw H.F. violate a pet regulation. The ranger identified himself and instructed H.F. to correct the pet violation. During the contact, H.F. threatened that he was going to assault the ranger either then or the next time he saw him. H.F. then left the area, but not before the rangers identified the vehicle he was operating. Following an investigation conducted by rangers and an Investigative Services Branch special agent, H.F. was charged, located and arrested for violation of 18 USC § 111(a)(1), which prohibits anyone from forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating, or interfering with a law enforcement officer while engaged in or on account of the performance of official duties. H.F. entered a plea of guilty and on December 15th was sentenced to 30 days imprisonment with credit for time served, $750 in fines, and a year's probation. [NPS Investigative Service Branch]
A 31-year-old backcountry skier was rescued from Granite Canyon in a multi-agency effort last Saturday after sustaining injuries from a fall. J.T. of Jackson, Wyoming, took a fall about 300 feet from the top of Endless Couloir just outside the boundary of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. J.T. was skiing alone when he took what was described as a slow twisting fall. He called Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ski patrol on his cell phone and reported that he was injured and needed help. Rangers were flown to a landing zone in Granite Canyon, where they waited for ski patrol members to lower J.T. to them. J.T. was initially lowered by patrollers skiing a rescue toboggan down, but due to snow conditions and the terrain had to set up a rope belay system and lowered him in six 300-foot segments into the canyon. He was then taken to St. John's Medical Center for treatment. Endless Couloir is on a north facing slope in Granite Canyon and runs almost 3,000 vertical feet on a roughly 40 degree slope. It is unusual for individuals to have cell phone service in that area of Granite Canyon. J.T. did have an avalanche beacon with him but it was in his backpack. Best practice is for individuals to wear avalanche beacons on their person in case they get caught in an avalanche when gear and outer layers of clothing can easily be torn off from the force of the avalanche. The avalanche danger was listed as low below 9,000 feet and moderate for high elevations on Saturday by the Bridge-Teton Avalanche Center. [Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles, Public Affairs Officer]
A two-vehicle collision last Thursday resulted in the death of J.R.G., 59, of Rochester Hills, Michigan. The collision between a Chevy Camaro, driven by J.R.G., and an older model Ford F350 pickup truck occurred just after noon on Highway 89/287 near the Oxbow Bend of the Snake River. J.R.G.'s wife, the only passenger in the vehicle, was also injured and transported to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson. The driver and passenger of the Ford pickup were not taken to the hospital for medical treatment. An investigation into the circumstances of the collision is being conducted by park rangers and Wyoming Highway Patrol. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
On the morning of June 18th, rangers received information regarding the possible whereabouts of a felony assault suspect wanted by the Aspen Police Department in Colorado. The information received from Aspen PD included postings on Facebook where the suspect, D.C., 29, said that he was spending the summer in the Jackson Hole area. Photographs on the site appeared to have been taken on Jackson Lake. After confirming that D.C. was actively wanted in Aspen following a physical assault that occurred in May, 2010, rangers Daniel Stark and Ryan Bock determined that D.C. also had a criminal history that included possession of controlled substances, kidnapping, domestic violence, harassment and assault. The investigating rangers found that D.C. was employed by a park concessioner and contacted the company. Coordinating with concession managers, rangers located D.C. in his dormitory room and arrested him without incident. Based upon evidence found at the arrest scene, D.C. is also being charged with possession of a controlled substance. [Patrick W. Hattaway, North District Ranger]
A New York man was rescued from the Grand Teton on the evening of Thursday, July 5th. D.P., 28, of Brooklyn, New York, was ascending the mountain between the Headwall and Lower Saddle around 6 p.m. when several rocks broke free, striking him and causing a significant injury. A member of D.P.'s climbing party continued to the Lower Saddle to seek help. Two park rangers on a routine backcountry patrol there were notified of the accident and immediately began a rescue operation. Once on scene, the rangers stabilized D.P.'s injury and provided emergency medical care. With the help of other climbers in the area, they brought him to the park's seasonal hut on the Lower Saddle, where they waited for a helicopter to evacuate him from the mountain. He was flown to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for further care. D.P. was on the first day of a two-day guided climb of the mountain when he was injured. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Specialist]
A man who became stranded on the Middle Teton on Monday evening was rescued by rangers the following day. E.R., 27, intended a solo summit of the Middle Teton on Monday, but traveled off route and became 'cliffed out.' E.R. ended up in a location from which he did not feel he could safely get down without risk of injury. E.R. placed a 911 call for help just after 1 a.m. on Tuesday morning. The call was received in Teton Valley, Idaho, and transferred to a park dispatcher. The ranger who was scheduled to coordinate rescues on Monday was able to communicate directly with E.R. via cell phone and determined that he had enough food and water, as well as appropriate gear and extra clothing, to spend the night on the Middle Teton. Rescue operations began at 4:30 Tuesday morning as two rangers started hiking at first light. Rangers were not able to locate E.R. from the ground. Fortunately, a Teton interagency contract helicopter was scheduled to be at Lupine Meadows for short-haul training that day, so rangers decided to employ that ship for a reconnaissance flight to pinpoint E.R.'s location on the mountain. Rangers and the helicopter pilot determined that the best rescue plan was to short-haul E.R. from his precarious location to a landing zone in the South Fork of Garnet Canyon. From there, park rangers escorted him down the canyon. A technical lowering and rescue by ground was estimated to require six people and approximately six hours to perform, exposing more rescuers to hazardous terrain for a longer period of time. Once in a hazardous situation, E.R. made sound decisions - he stayed put, called for help, followed rescuer instructions, and was prepared to spend an unexpected night on the mountain, having brought extra food, water, and clothing. This decision may very well have prevented him from getting seriously injured or worse. This was the park's third major search and rescue in the mountains this summer. [Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles, Public Affairs Specialist]
Following a daylong air and ground search of the peaks of the central Tetons last Friday, rangers found the body of E.T., a 31-year-old climber from Salt Lake City. E.T. and three companions were attempting to complete a climb of the Cathedral Traverse on Thursday when he separated from his group and moved ahead of them on the route. E.T. apparently fell about 500 to 600 feet to his death shortly after leaving his friends. A long-time Bridger-Teton National Forest employee, he had worked ten seasons on the forest's trail crew. E.T. separated from his partners as they were completing the final rappels off of a shoulder peak west of Teewinot Mountain. His group continued the climb and summited Mount Owen, where they waited for their friend. After E.T. failed to meet his group on the summit, the three partners backtracked and attempted a search for their friend until 7:30 p.m. Park dispatch was notified of the missing climber at 10 p.m. after his companions hiked out to the Lupine Meadows trailhead. A SAR operation was organized for first light Friday morning and two rangers on a routine backcountry patrol on the Lower Saddle of the Grand Teton were contacted. Early on Friday morning, the two rangers climbed from the Lower Saddle to the second ledges on the North Face of the Grand Teton and began searching with binoculars for E.T.. Two separate hour-long reconnaissance flights were conducted by a Teton interagency contract helicopter on Friday morning but no conclusive evidence of his whereabouts was found. A second Teton Interagency contract helicopter responded to Lupine Meadows just before 11 a.m. With the help of a second helicopter, rescuers decided to focus on two specific areas. One helicopter was sent to a landing zone on Teton Glacier, located in the cirque of the Grand Teton, Mount Owen, and Teewinot Mountain; the second ship was assigned to operate out of a landing zone in lower Valhalla Canyon located northwest of the Grand Teton. The ship based out of Valhalla Canyon short-hauled one rescuer into crevasses and moats that cleave the permanent snowfields. The second helicopter based from Teton Glacier flew additional reconnaissance flights with three rangers inside the ship. Due to conditions and hazards in these areas, rangers determined it would not be safe to insert rescuers onto snowfields for a ground-based search. Rangers located E.T.'s body on the East Prong feature between Teewinot and Mount Owen about 500 feet below an area that requires a notably challenging climbing move. One ranger was inserted via short-haul to the location and prepared E.T. for a short-haul extraction. E.T. was flown from the mountain to Lupine Meadows, where his body was turned over to the Teton County coroner's office. [Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles, Public Affairs Officer]
A climber fell to his death on the Middle Teton last Sunday afternoon. J.B., 27, of Benicia, California, had summited the 12,804-foot mountain with two partners and the three climbers were beginning their descent when the accident occurred. Another group of climbers near the summit of Middle Teton saw J.B. fall toward the Northwest Couloir side of the ridge that separates it from the Southwest Couloir. They hailed J.B.'s companions, who were already working their way down from the summit via the Southwest Couloir, and alerted them to what had happened. J.B.'s climbing partners did not witness the accident, but upon hearing of his fall, they tried to catch sight of him down the Northwest Couloir. They yelled out his name in hopes of getting a response, but received no answer in return. A member of the climbing party that witnessed J.B.'s fall called the Jenny Lake Ranger Station directly by cell phone to notify rangers of the accident. Rangers immediately began to mobilize a response, and summoned a Teton interagency contract helicopter to conduct an aerial reconnaissance flight in order to ascertain J.B.'s location. Rangers saw J.B. during that overflight and determined that he likely suffered fatal injuries in a fall of approximately 1,000 feet. An approaching thunderstorm forced the ship to land and wait for better weather. Unfortunately, the storm worsened, causing rangers to postpone their attempt to reach J.B.. An off-duty ranger at the Lower Saddle hiked to a high point where he could view J.B. Due to weather conditions, rock fall, and the nature of the terrain, if was unsafe for him to attempt to reach the victim in the couloir. Rangers made preparations to reach J.B.'s body on Monday morning when favorable weather and more stable environmental conditions would likely allow rescue personnel to safely access the steep and loose-rock terrain of the Northwest Couloir, but heavy fog delayed the recovery effort. Around 10:30 a.m., four rangers were inserted by helicopter to the landing zone at the Lower Saddle of the Grand Teton. They climbed to where J.B. came to rest after his fall and prepared his body for evacuation from the peak. J.B. carried an ice axe with him on the climb, but was not wearing a helmet. This marks the fourth fatality in the Teton Range this year. Two backcountry skiers were killed in an avalanche on Ranger Peak on March 7th and a climber fell to his death on Teewinot on July 12th. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers and Jackson Hole Fire/EMS personnel responded to a small kitchen fire at the John Colter Ranch House Restaurant located in the Colter Bar area of the park early on Monday morning. Employees at the restaurant made a 911 call at 5:45 a.m. to report the fire and the emergency call was routed to the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center. Personnel in two structural fire engines, a water tender, and an ambulance responded. One fire engine and the water tender traveled from Jackson Hole Fire/EMS Station 4, located ten miles away at Moran Junction; the ambulance and other fire engine, stationed at Colter Bay and staffed by park personnel, were located just a mile away. A park ranger who was first on scene discovered a small leak in a kitchen propane line. The propane delivery system was quickly turned off and the fire extinguished without further complication. Minimal damage occurred due to the quick notification and immediate response, and food service at the John Colter Ranch House Restaurant resumed by lunch time. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
An injured hiker was rescued via helicopter from Waterfalls Canyon last Saturday afternoon. J.H., 21, fell about 20 feet while ascending the canyon just above Columbine Cascades. She was hiking with two companions when they decided to separate while J.H. hiked high off to the north side of the canyon to view geologic features before reuniting with them at Wilderness Falls. She fell vertically in a rocky area before coming to rest on a ledge, sustaining non-critical injuries. Due to her location and injuries, J.H. was unable to continue down the canyon. She radioed for help using a VHF radio typically carried on maritime vessels and watercraft. A park ranger on a routine patrol of Jackson Lake heard the transmission and notified dispatch. Rangers reached J.H. at 6:30 p.m., provided emergency medical care, and prepared her for a short-haul flight. J.H. was short-hauled from the location to a landing zone on the west shore of Jackson Lake before being transported across the lake on park patrol boat. She was met by a waiting park ambulance on the east shore and transported to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for further care. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers rescued an injured hiker on Tuesday after he slipped and tumbled 20 feet on rocky terrain and sustained facial and lower leg injuries. P.D., 23, of Raleigh, North Carolina, was scrambling alone and off trail near the mouth of Hanging Canyon at the time of his accident. Other day hikers who were in the Hanging Canyon area heard cries for help and discovered P.D. They provided basic care for his injuries and placed a cell phone call for help at 12:45 p.m. that was received by Teton Interagency Dispatch Center. Based upon the call and the relatively close location to Jenny Lake's west shore trail, rangers made preparations to evacuate P.D. by a wheeled-litter handled by four rescuers. Upon reaching P.D. by foot, however, they determined that a helicopter short-haul evacuation was the more prudent rescue technique. The decision was made because of a combination of P.D.'s injuries and the rough and rocky terrain over which the wheeled litter would be hauled to complete an evacuation by ground. A Teton interagency contract helicopter was summoned at 3 p.m. and an aerial evacuation of the injured hiker was completed by 4:15 p.m. P.D. was transported by park ambulance to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for further medical treatment. P.D. is working as a seasonal concession employee in Yellowstone National Park for the summer. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
While conducting an afternoon scenic float trip on the Snake River last Friday afternoon, a Triangle X Ranch river guide rescued five boaters after their 12-foot Tributary raft hit a downed tree lodged in a channel near the historic Bar BC Ranch and flipped upside down. All five rafters were thrown into the fast-flowing water and ended up swimming until they could get to a riverbank and pull themselves from the current. K.P. was rowing her friend M.J.M.'s boat when she struck the downed tree with its 'root ball' facing upstream. The strong current flipped the raft upside down and temporarily trapped some of the boaters underneath before they were able to swim away from the craft and get downstream, away from the tree and its branches. K.P. and her fellow rafters began their float trip on the Snake River at Deadman's Bar landing, about seven miles upstream of the accident. The Triangle X Ranch boatman called the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center to report the rafting accident and then helped the five women get aboard his raft and floated them with his onboard guests to the Moose landing, where rangers met them and determined that none needed medical care. River rangers expressed their appreciation for the help given by the Triangle X Ranch river guide. Park concessioners are often the first to arrive after a river accident occurs, and their 'Good Samaritan' rescues can help boaters who may otherwise be stranded or in need of medical attention before rangers can reach a remote river location. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
A Chevy Astro van carrying four people careened into the Gros Ventre River after getting sideswiped by a Jeep on Highway 26/89/191 near Gros Ventre Junction last Friday afternoon. The driver of the van, a Teton Science Schools employee, steered the van down a relatively steep embankment before it came to rest upright in the river. Her quick thinking and steady steering likely prevented the van from rolling. None of the occupants in the Chevy Astro or Jeep was injured during the collision or its aftermath. A Texas man and his wife were traveling southbound on the highway in their Jeep when they pulled to the west side of the road, intending to stop along the shoulder. The man decided to pull back onto the highway, but failed to see the approaching minivan, which was also southbound. As the Jeep reentered the lane of traffic, it struck the Astro. causing it to crash into a guardrail and careen down the roadside embankment before landing in the middle of the river. Rangers, notified of the accident, responded from park headquarters at Moose, about seven miles away. Because the minivan's gas tank ruptured and was leaking fuel into the Gros Ventre River, a Teton County hazmat team and battalion chief also responded to clean up the spill. Although no one in the van was injured, a can of bear spray discharged, affecting the passengers. The Texas driver received a citation for failure to maintain control of his vehicle, which brings a fine of $125. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received an emergency call yesterday morning reporting a structural fire at the Signal Mountain Lodge convenience store. A quick response by firefighters from Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole Fire/EMS helped contain the fire to the store. The interior of the building sustained extensive smoke and fire damage. There were no human injuries during this incident. A Signal Mountain Lodge employee discovered the fire in the convenience store, which is currently closed for the winter season. He used an extinguisher in an attempt to suppress the fire and made an emergency call for help. The first responder, a ranger, arrived within 10 minutes of the call for help and directed firefighting resources as they arrived on scene. Two structural fire engines and an ambulance from the park, plus three fire engines from Jackson Hole Fire/EMS, arrived shortly after to support suppression efforts. Using thermal imaging, firefighters located unseen hotspots in the building's walls and mopped up areas with lingering heat. A joint investigation is being conducted by the park and a Jackson Hole Fire/EMS investigator. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
A party of three hunters participating in the park's elk reduction program encountered, shot and killed an adult male grizzly bear around 7:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day morning. The bear reportedly charged the hunting party, which was comprised of three men from Wyoming. None of the hunters was injured. The incident occurred along the east side of the Snake River between Schwabachers Landing and Teton Point Overlook. A team of law enforcement rangers, park biologists and park science and resource management personnel are conducting an investigation into the incident. A cow elk carcass was discovered near where the incident occurred. A half mile area closure around the carcass is in effect until further notice. This was the 51st known or probable incident of grizzly bear mortality in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem this year according to a tally maintained by the interagency grizzly bear study team. In recent years, an average of about a third of annual grizzly bear mortalities are hunting related. This is the first hunter-caused bear death in Grand Teton National Park. Grizzly bears in the lower 48 states are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. [Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers began a recovery mission yesterday morning for the body of a backcountry skier who died in an avalanche on Sunday, January 27th. Nick Gillespie, 30, of Jackson, Wyoming, was caught in an avalanche on the southeast face of Survey Peak in the northern Teton Range about 5 p.m. Sunday and died as a result of injuries suffered in the slide. Gillespie was a long-time seasonal employee of Grand Teton National Park who'd worked on the park's trail crew for the past six years and before that had worked for Rocky Mountain NP and the Willamette and Lassen National Forests. There were three people with him at the time of the accident, one a fellow seasonal trails worker at Grand Teton, but none was injured. Rangers enlisted the assistance of the Teton County Search and Rescue contract helicopter and crew for the recovery mission. Teton Interagency helitack personnel assisted with a temporary helibase established near Colter Bay, 25 miles north of Moran Junction. Four rangers were inserted into Berry Creek canyon on Monday about 11 a.m. Recovery of Gillespie's body and an investigation into the details of the incident are ongoing. The avalanche danger on Sunday, January 27th, was listed as low in the morning, rising to moderate in the afternoon at elevations between 9,000 and 10,500 feet. Moderate danger means that natural avalanches are unlikely, but human-triggered avalanches are possible. However, the report also reported, "At upper elevations new snow and winds overnight and expected snow today will create the potential for backcountry users to trigger soft slabs or sloughs to a foot in depth by the afternoon." Additional information will be provided as soon as it is available. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers recovered the body of N.G. from Berry Creek canyon late on Monday afternoon. Foggy conditions throughout most of Monday prevented attempts to complete the mission before late afternoon. Rangers also concluded their investigation of the avalanche event that took his life on Sunday afternoon. N.G., a long-time seasonal employee at Grand Teton, was caught in an avalanche on the southeast face of Survey Peak (elevation 9,277 feet) and died as a result of injuries suffered in the slide. N.G. and three companions skied into Berry Creek canyon in the northern Teton Range on Thursday, January 24th, on a multi-day backcountry ski trip. On Sunday afternoon, N.G. and one companion skied a run on the southeast face of Survey Peak. They then returned with a third member of their party to ski a final run. During that final run, members of the group planned to ski at one-minute intervals and fan out across the treed slopes. N.G. was the last person to ski and is believed to have triggered the avalanche that caught him. He was carried approximately 220 feet into the trees, where he was pinned and left partially buried with his head and an arm above the snow. The total slide path spanned 540 feet. The second skier encountered fresh avalanche debris, and. believing that the first skier may have triggered it, immediately began a beacon search. He also called out and heard the first skier respond from below. He skied down to the first skier and learned that she was unaware of the avalanche. He then began a search for N.G. with his avalanche beacon and located him about 20 minutes after the accident occurred. He began CPR and was eventually joined by the two other members of the party. In total, they performed CPR for approximately 90 minutes with no success. Due to the remote area and spotty cell service, N.G.'s companions were not able to make an emergency call for help until late evening. Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received notice of the incident at 9 p.m. on Sunday. Because of the late hour and confirmation that N.G. did not revive during CPR, rangers made arrangements to recover N.G.'s companions and his body during daylight hours on Monday. The surviving party of three stayed the night in a National Park Service patrol cabin located about one mile from Survey Peak. Four rangers were flown into Berry Creek canyon at 11 a.m. Monday and two of the skiers were flown out during the single flight. Deteriorating weather conditions halted additional flights until late afternoon when N.G.'s body plus one of his partners and all rescue personnel were flown out of the backcountry just before nightfall. The avalanche danger on Sunday was listed as low for mid-elevation terrain. The crown of the avalanche on Survey Peak occurred at 8,405 feet. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
A backcountry skier died in an avalanche in the Teton Range last Friday morning. J.S., 40, was ascending Apocalypse Couloir with a companion in order to access a narrow and steep chute on the flank of Prospectors Mountain, which they intended to ski. Approximately 200 feet below the fork of the couloir, they were hit by an avalanche that originated further up the slope. J.S. was caught in the slide and carried approximately 1000 feet down the slope. His partner immediately began a search that ultimately led him to J.S., who was lying face down in the snow and partially buried. He began CPR to revive his friend and about 15 minutes later used a cell phone to make an emergency call and alert rangers of the situation. They immediately organized a rescue mission with the assistance of the Teton County Search and Rescue contract helicopter and members of the county rescue team. A landing zone was established near Sawmill Ponds on the Moose-Wilson Road and four rangers were flown to the backcountry location, where they landed near the base of Apocalypse Couloir. In advance of their arrival, J.S.'s partner was able to move his friend to that same location and await the helicopter and rescuers. J.S.'s body was flown out and turned over to the Teton County coroner's office. His partner and the rescuers then skied out of the backcountry together. This was the second avalanche fatality in the park this year. An avalanche on Survey Peak in the northern Teton Range took the life of a skier on January 27th. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Last weekend was an exceptionally busy one for rangers and emergency responders, who dealt with two search and rescue missions, eight medical calls (including one fatality), and multiple reports of property damage plus a serious personal injury in the aftermath of a significant wind event in the Colter Bay area: Just after 11 p.m. on Saturday night, Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a report of two overdue hikers in the Pilgrim Creek area. Two rangers canvassed the area but were unable to locate either any overdue hikers or associated vehicles. The rangers determined that the hikers were likely on the Bridger-Teton National Forest and not in the park, so search efforts were transitioned to Teton County Search and Rescue in coordination with Forest Service personnel. The missing hikers were located in good condition the next morning by Teton County searchers. Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a report of another overdue party just after 12:30 a.m. on Sunday morning. A 38-year-old visitor from Israel was reported missing by his friends when he did not return from a solo day hike. The hiker planned to spend the day in Cascade Canyon and return to his group about 7 p.m. That night, rangers searched the Jenny and String Lake areas, but were unable to locate the missing man. A ranger on a routine backcountry patrol in Cascade Canyon had not received word of any distressed hiker, so rangers decided to begin a ground-based search at first light on Sunday morning. The man was found uninjured near String Lake around 11 a.m. Sunday. On Sunday afternoon at 2:15 p.m., a 74-year-old man from Troy, Michigan, had a heart attack while on a ranger-led hike of Swan Lake near Colter Bay. The ranger naturalist leading the hike immediately realized what was happening and began CPR while also alerting emergency responders of the situation. Six rangers and a Jackson Hole Fire/EMS employee responded to the scene, which was just over one mile from the Hermitage Point trailhead. Efforts to revive him proved unsuccessful. Just after emergency personnel returned to the Colter Bay developed area following the cardiac arrest, a significant wind event occurred, knocking down or breaking over 100 live trees. The most significant damage occurred in the Colter Bay Campground and RV Park, where three or four trees struck vehicles. A tree branch struck a 30-year-old German woman, causing life-threatening injuries. The branch was estimated to be 40 feet long with a diameter of over 10 inches. The injured woman was transported by park ambulance to St. John's Medical Center before being flown to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers responded to a report of a 57-year-old climber with an injury near Black Rock Chimney on the Grand Teton on the morning of June 17th. J.W. of Jackson, Wyoming, was leading a client on a guided trip of the mountain for an authorized park concessioner when the snow that he was standing on collapsed, causing him to take a short fall. During that fall, J.W. caught a crampon on the ice and sustained an injury. J.W. was able to get himself and his client through technical terrain from Black Rock Chimney to just above the Lower Saddle of the Grand Teton. This effort involved descending across rock, ice and snow and required multiple rappels. Rangers commend J.W. for self-rescuing with his client to the extent that he did. Rangers assessed several factors relevant to a ground-based evacuation via rescue litter, including terrain conditions, distance to the trailhead, and the potential for injury to rescuer, and decided to have J.W. flown to the valley floor via helicopter. The aerial evacuation meant that fewer rescuers spent less time in precarious conditions. To conduct the aerial evacuation, rangers requested a ship from Yellowstone National Park because neither of the two Teton Interagency contract helicopters was available for the rescue operation. After the contract ship landed at Lupine Meadows, J.W. transported himself to medical care in Jackson, Wyoming. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers handled back-to-back rescue missions in the Tetons last Thursday, one of which involved a fatality. At the same time, other rangers dealt with a cardiac arrest in Buffalo Valley. Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a call for help from a location on Mount Owen (12,928 feet) just before 2:30 p.m. J.J., 38, of Lander, Wyoming, and his climbing partner were on an ascent of the Crescent Arête (11,200 feet) when a door-sized rock broke free as J.J. was pushing himself onto it. J.J. fell about 15 feet before hitting a sloping ledge below, then another five feet before his climbing protection caught him. Luckily, neither of the climbers was hit by the rock. Two rangers were inserted via short-haul to a nearby ledge just before 5 p.m. and they prepared the two climbers for short-haul extrication from the accident site to Lupine Meadows. This rescue was completed at 5:15 p.m. The Crescent Arête is adjacent to the Northeast Snowfields route on Mount Owen, and is an uncommon climb due to its technical nature. It is rated a 5.7 on the Yosemite Decimal System. Fred Beckey and Yvon Chouinard made the first ascent of this climb in September of 1959. Moments after the first mountain rescue was completed, Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received another call for help after a climber fell into a moat in the North Fork of Garnet Canyon. G.M., 55, from Colorado Springs, Colorado, was descending from the Lower Saddle of the Grand Teton after a successful summit of the peak earlier in the day when he slipped on snow and slid into an icy water moat near a rock band. G.M. was on a climb being guided by one of the park's authorized concessioners. Climbing guides successfully extricated G.M. from the moat before rangers arrived at the site. Six rangers were flown to a temporary landing zone near the moat location in Garnet Canyon. Rescuers raised G.M. to a site where he could be flown in a rescue litter via short-haul to Lupine Meadows by a Teton Interagency contract helicopter. A ranger attended G.M. below the helicopter on the flight to the park's rescue cache. Once at the rescue cache, they were met by a team of park medical providers led by Dr. Will Smith of St. John's Medical Center and an Air Idaho Life Flight ship waiting to provide transport to critical care in Idaho Falls. G.M. was pronounced dead at 8:35 p.m. at the rescue cache and his body turned over to the Teton Country coroner. Earlier in the day, Teton County requested assistance from rangers for a cardiac arrest underway in Buffalo Valley. A park ambulance and six rangers responded jointly with Jackson Hole Fire/EMS personnel to the incident location. The 56-year-old man was pronounced dead after nearly an hour of resuscitation efforts. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Just after 1:30 a.m. on the morning of Friday, June 28th, rangers were called to an employee dormitory adjacent to the Jackson Lake Lodge to deal with a serious assault that had occurred there. The assailant was arrested and the victim received emergency medical care before being taken by park ambulance to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson. An investigation into the assault is currently underway. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
A local paraglider sustained serious injuries in a forced landing in Death Canyon on Wednesday afternoon. R.B., 29, an expert paraglider, launched from Teton Village with a companion with intent of gliding north over the Teton Range before returning to land at Teton Village. While she was over Death Canyon, R.B. lost her thermal lift, causing a forced descent to the canyon floor. Hikers who witnessed her descent assisted R.B. in moving her paraglider and other gear down the canyon trail, where she subsequently met park rangers responding to the scene. Rangers and a Teton interagency contract helicopter flew to a landing zone about a half mile above R.B.'s location. They provided emergency medical care and prepared her for a short-haul evacuation from the canyon to the valley floor. With a ranger attending, R.B. was short-hauled in a litter to a landing zone at the historic White Grass Ranch, where she was met by a park ambulance and transported to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers orchestrated the rescue and aerial evacuation of two injured climbers from the Lower Saddle of the Grand Teton on Thursday, July 11th. The two climbers were injured in separate, unrelated accidents while ascending the Grand Teton - one accident occurred on Wednesday afternoon and the other on Thursday morning. Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a call for assistance from the first climber early on Thursday morning. He reported that he'd injured an ankle on Wednesday when a rock he grabbed pulled loose and he fell during a guided climb of the Grand Traverse. After his fall, he was able to scale the North Ridge, where he was met by other guides who assisted him to the Lower Saddle. He then spent the night at a base camp there, but his injury prevented him from hiking out from the high elevation camp on Thursday morning. Rangers summoned the Teton interagency contract helicopter to evacuate the climber. Three rangers were flown to the Lower Saddle to assist with the mission. While loading the man into the ship, rangers were approached by other climbers in the area who reported a second injured person. While climbing with a companion, the second climber took a fall at the Golden Staircase on Exum Ridge on the Grand Teton and sustained a facial injury and possible head injury. Rangers treated her and placed her on the helicopter with the first climber for a quick flight to the Lupine Meadows rescue cache. The double rescue of injured climbers was completed by late morning. Both climbers were transported via private vehicles to St. John's Medical Center for further care. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
On July 12th, rangers rescued a climber who seriously injured his leg while glissading down a snowfield in Hanging Canyon. L.H. and a companion successfully climbed a feature known as The Jaw in Hanging Canyon on Mount St. John and were on their way down from the climb when L.H. punched through thin snow near a rock and sustained the injury that ultimately prevented him from hiking much further. L.H. and his climbing partner spent an arduous four hours moving just one mile from the accident site to their backcountry campsite near Ramshead Lake. L.H.'s partner then hiked further down canyon until he reached a point where he could get cell service. The Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received that call for help at 3:45 p.m. L.H.'s partner then hiked further until he could connect with park rangers at Lupine Meadows rescue cache who were making arrangements for a reconnaissance flight to the scene via a Teton interagency contract helicopter. Although there are limited landing zones within Hanging Canyon, one was located near Ramshead Lake and only 100 yards from the climber's backcountry campsite. Consequently, the helicopter was able to get relatively close for the rescue mission. The contract helicopter carrying two park rangers arrived on scene at 5:45 p.m. L.H. was loaded inside the ship and flown to the Lupine Meadows rescue cache on the valley floor by 6:10 p.m. Hel was then transported by private vehicle to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson. L.H. and his companion did not carry ice axes during their excursion into Hanging Canyon. While rangers do not believe an ice axe would have necessarily prevented this injury, they recommend that backcountry users carry an ice axe as basic gear and as a safety measure for glissading and/or crossing most snow slopes in the Tetons. On the evening of Sunday, July 14th, a second rescue was conducted in Hanging Canyon in as many days. A 52-year-old hiker injured his leg and subsequently called for help. Two rangers hiked in to assist the injured man and helped him walk to the Jenny Lake boat dock, where he took a shuttle boat to the east shore and his parked vehicle at South Jenny Lake. The injured hiker then transported himself to medical care. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Five rangers conducted one of the more physically taxing ground-based rescues in the last several years during the afternoon and evening of Monday, July 22nd. A 61-year-old Colorado woman sustained an injury somewhere below the very steep talus slope that runs from Lake Taminah to the bottom of Shosoko Falls. Dispatch was notified of the injured hiker by cell phone around 5 p.m. The woman tried to continue her descent, but her injury made it too challenging for her to bear weight. Avalanche Canyon has some of the most difficult terrain of any of the mountain canyons in the park. There is no maintained trail through the canyon, so hikers have to "bushwhack" their way through dense marsh and vegetation in the lower part of the canyon. Higher in the canyon, hikers must scramble up long sections of steep scree and boulder fields. Due to the challenges of the terrain, rangers were unable to use standard rescue devices such as a wheeled litter to carry the woman out of Avalanche Canyon. Instead, rescuers traded off physically caring her on their backs for short segments, slowly making their way down the canyon. Once they reached the maintained trail near Taggart Lake, rangers placed her in a wheeled litter to carry her the last two miles to the trailhead. Both of the Teton interagency contact helicopters were out of the valley on fire assignments and unavailable. If the incident had occurred earlier in the day or if Nielsen's injuries had been life threatening, rangers would have likely sought assistance from a short-haul capable helicopter. This was the park's 17th major search and rescue operation this year. [Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles, Public Affairs Specialist]
Just after 11 p.m. last Sunday, a ranger attempted to pull over the driver of a 2002 Ford pickup heading north on Highway 89 for repeatedly crossing the road's centerline. The 57-year-old California man declined to do so and instead increased his speed to 60 mph, well above the posted nighttime limit. She contacted dispatch and asked for assistance. Two North District rangers responded and placed HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spike_strips" spike strips across the highway near the Triangle X Ranch. The strips were successful in slowing the fleeing vehicle, although the driver continued traveling on flat tires before coming to a stop near Cunningham Cabin nearly one mile further down the road. While in pursuit, the ranger also saw the driver toss something from the truck window just before the vehicle came to a stop. Another ranger with a drug dog responded to search for the tossed item, which turned out to be a controlled substance. The driver was arrested for interference with agency functions, and charged with several additional violations - operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs, refusing to submit to a blood alcohol/drug test, and possession of a controlled substance. While the California man has no current warrants, he has a lengthy criminal history. He was taken into custody and placed in the Teton County jail pending an appearance before the federal magistrate. This arrest marked the second time within the last month that park rangers have resorted to the use of spike strips to stop a fleeing vehicle. The first incident occurred on July 15th when the Jackson Police Department requested the park's assistance in stopping a driver suspected of drunk driving. The 19-year-old driver of that vehicle reached speeds of 90 mph before she crossed a spike strip near the Jackson Hole Airport Junction on Highway 89. She was taken into custody by Jackson police officers and remains in jail on multiple federal charges. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
A slight misstep on a rocky trail up Blacktail Butte triggered the ground-based rescue of an injured hiker on the evening of Saturday, August 10th. A 53-year-old New York woman seriously injured her ankle on a steep section of the trail just before 6 p.m. while hiking near the butte's summit with a companion. A park ranger responding to a 911 call reporting the accident drove from the Jenny Lake ranger station, some 15 miles away, and hiked up the Blacktail Butte trail to meet the woman, assess her injury, and make arrangements for a ground-based rescue via wheeled litter. Employees from the park's vegetation management crew, staff from Teton Interagency Fire, and additional rangers from the Gros Ventre subdistrict helped transport the woman via wheeled litter. Due to the steepness and loose rocky surface of the trail, it required seven people to navigate the wheeled litter over a distance of more than a mile and a decline of about one thousand vertical feet from a point near Blacktail Butte's summit, elevation 7,688 feet, to a waiting park ambulance at 6,600 feet on the southern end of Mormon Row Road. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers had to employ a taser during the arrest of a 47-year-old seasonal concession employee late on the evening of Thursday, August 15th. Jackson Lake Lodge security officers called rangers at 10:45 p.m., seeking assistance with an intoxicated man near their employee residential area. Rangers found a man walking along the side of the road leading to the employee residential area who matched the description provided by security officers and stopped to question him and assess his condition. The man, identified as E.S., 47, refused to comply with rangers' requests and instead took an aggressive, assault-like stance with clenched fists and lowered head. After repeated requests to comply with their lawful orders, which were ignored, the rangers used a taser to subdue E.S. and take him into custody. He was then transported to Teton County Jail. After the arrest, a number of witnesses came forward and reported that E.S. made reference to having multiple bombs set to 'go off' in the morning. Additional rangers were called out to investigate this threat and a thorough search of the employee residential area was conducted. The bomb threat was determined to be baseless. On Tuesday, August 20th, E.S. appeared before the federal magistrate, where he pled guilty to driving under the influence and to resisting rangers (18 U.S.C. § 111). He was sentenced to 20 days in custody and two years' probation. He was also banned from Grand Teton National Park for two years and ordered to consume no alcohol for that same period. No injuries were sustained by the involved rangers or E.S. This incident marked the second use of a taser in just one week. In the first, a taser was used to subdue a combative mentally-disturbed young man. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
A 54-year-old Wisconsin man sustained multiple traumatic injuries when he was buried by a rockfall in the South Fork of Garnet Canyon yesterday morning. The rockslide occurred at 9:15 a.m. and was followed by numerous calls for help and multiple HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SPOT_Satellite_Messenger" SPOT device activations. The large slide came from the north aspect of Nez Perce Peak, west of the Hourglass Couloir. Nez Perce lies to the south and east of the Grand Teton. The man and his two climbing partners intended to summit the Middle Teton on Tuesday. The rockfall came from above an area not typically on the route climbers use to access the Middle Teton. Shortly after the slide occurred, two Exum guides in the area, one of whom is also a climbing ranger in Denali National Park, responded to the accident location. The guides and bystanders stabilized the man and worked to unbury him until park rangers arrived on scene at 11:19 a.m. Three rangers, assisted by the Exum guides and other bystanders, moved the injured man to a better location for extrication via short haul. With a ranger attending him below the helicopter, he was flown to the park's rescue cache at Lupine Meadows. A team of park medical providers and an Air Idaho life flight crew provided additional medical care there. He was transported to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls by Air Idaho Rescue. No other people reported injuries and rangers swept the area to verify that no one else was buried by the slide. [Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles, Office of Public Affairs]
Six days of commercial vehicle inspections within the park came to a conclusion on August 21st. This coordinated effort by rangers, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration inspectors and Wyoming Highway Patrol commercial carrier group officers continued an ongoing partnership to improve visitor safety and resource protection in the park. The three two-day-long inspections were held in Colter Bay beginning on June 19th and resulted in 165 vehicles being inspected and 70 violations being issued. Twenty-nine vehicles were placed out of service for significant equipment malfunctions, multiple safety violations or inappropriate/unlicensed drivers. Infractions and serious safety issues this year included air brake connections with leaks, brake pads worn to less than 20%, tires worn through to the steel belts, cracked frames, fractured leaf springs and significant hydraulic fluid leaks. One driver was also charged with having an open container of alcohol, but was not intoxicated, and three could not read or speak English at a level sufficient to be operating a passenger carrier in the United States. During the more than 500 inspections conducted over the past four years, rangers have found that 60% of inspected vehicles have violations, with 21% of being placed out of service. [Patrick W. Hattaway, North District Ranger]
A 40-year-old Colorado climber fell to his death on the evening of September 8th while scouting for a campsite in Garnet Canyon following a storm with heavy rain and hail. E.T. and his climbing partner intended to spend Friday night at a backcountry camping area known as the Petzoldt Caves before climbing the Grand Teton (13,770 feet) on Saturday. E.T. was in the Caves area looking for a campsite when he apparently fell over a nearby cliff band. Multiple 911 calls were placed just before 6 p.m. Friday, reporting that a man had fallen nearly 100 feet and was unconscious. Two physicians in the area rappelled to E.T.'s location and with the help of bystanders attempted to provide emergency medical care. Three park rangers were flown into the Meadows of Garnet Canyon, arriving on scene just after 7 p.m. Teton Interagency dispatchers and rescuers used text messages to communicate with the bystanders on scene due to challenges with phone reception. This allowed park rangers to have a better understanding of what was happening and to provide support remotely until they arrived on scene. CPR efforts were underway when rangers arrived, but were terminated shortly thereafter. Due to lingering weather and fading light, rangers determined they would need to complete the recovery operation the following day. On Saturday morning, four rangers were flown to a nearby landing zone in Garnet Canyon. One ranger served as a lookout for rockfall while the three others completed the recovery and scene investigation. Using a Teton Interagency contract helicopter, rangers then flew E.T.'s body from Garnet Canyon to the park's rescue cache at Lupine Meadows, where his body was turned over to the Teton County coroner. [Public Affairs]
A team of 20 National Park Service employees and Jackson Hole Fire/EMS staff responded to a medical emergency involving a hiker on the Hermitage Point trail on the evening of September 4th. Responders located and assisted a 74-year-old woman from Holland who was reported to be in cardiac distress. She was assessed and treated on scene for cardiac atrial fibrillation and subsequently flown to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls. The woman and her husband were hiking the Hermitage Point trail near Colter Bay around 5:30 p.m. when she began to experience apparent heart problems. Her husband hiked approximately three miles to the Colter Bay Ranch House restaurant to seek help. Two hasty teams with park paramedics set out from separate trailheads and quickly reached the woman, who was several miles out on the east side of the Hermitage Point trail. Jackson Hole Fire/EMS personnel were conducting a training exercise at Station 4 in Moran, and six members of the team also responded to assist in the rescue operation. While the Hermitage Point rescue operation was ongoing, a second emergency call came in to Teton Interagency Dispatch Center for a person experiencing difficulty breathing at the Colter Bay cabin office. Some of the rescue responders diverted to the second medical incident, which turned out to be a person suffering from anaphylactic shock. That person was transported to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson via park ambulance. The incident with the Dutch visitor was the 27th major search and rescue operation conducted in the park this year. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
A small plane crashed near North Springs Gulch Road in the park just after noon yesterday, killing both people who were on board. The plane was a two-seat, single-engine, low-wing HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van's_Aircraft_RV-7" Van's RV-7. The cause of the accident is not yet known. A joint investigation will be conducted by the park and the National Transportation Safety Board. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers responded to an assault in the Jackson Lake Lodge employee dormitory area in the early hours of June 28th and arrested V.H. for stabbing another concession employee. V.H. and the victim had reportedly gotten into an argument over a HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CamelBak" Camelbak filled with alcohol. The victim was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Jackson. On November 25th, V.H. appeared in federal court and was sentenced to time served, a year's supervised release, and restitution in the amount of nearly $7,000. He was also ordered to attend substance abuse and anger management programs and submit to additional terms and conditions that were included as part of the supervised release. A felony assault indictment was dismissed. Rangers and ISB special agents from Yellowstone investigated the case. [Investigative Services Branch]
Three skiers unintentionally ended up in the Granite Canyon backcountry on Friday, February 7th, prompting a search and rescue mission by park rangers the following day during a significant winter storm. Despite a high and rising avalanche danger, park rescuers successfully assisted the three out of the Teton backcountry by 9:30 p.m. the next day. The threesome left the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort boundary from Gate 1 at about 11 a.m. on Friday with the intention of skiing an area called Four Pines, adjacent to the ski resort. They mistakenly skied into Granite Canyon instead and became lost in Grand Teton's more remote backcountry. By 4 p.m. Friday, they realized they were lost, so they decided to dig a snow cave and stay put for the night. By Saturday morning, the group was out of food and water and only one of them was carrying an avalanche transceiver. They decided to send a text message to a friend indicating that they were lost and needed help. Teton County Sheriff's Office dispatchers received the call for help and notified park rangers at 8:30 a.m. The skiers were able to provide their location by GPS coordinates derived from their cell phone, and, through a text message, rangers determined that no one in the party was injured. Due to high winds and low visibility, a helicopter reconnaissance and rescue was not possible, so rangers prepared for a ground-based rescue. Rangers spent most of the day weighing options on how to help the trio while analyzing the risk to rescuers. With concerns that the three might not survive a second night in the backcountry, rangers ultimately decided to attempt a rescue. If rescuers had encountered signs of slope instability, or if the avalanche danger had been any higher, they would not have attempted the rescue. Ultimately, four park rangers departed the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort on skis at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday and reached the party at 7:30 p.m. The group was then escorted out of the backcountry and back to the base of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
A skier was caught in an avalanche and seriously injured in the park's backcountry on the afternoon of Sunday, March 9th. G.E., 43, from Wilson, Wyoming, was preparing to descend one of the Air Force Chutes within Granite Canyon with two companions at the time of the avalanche. G.E. was reportedly carried over a thousand feet by the slide. Neither of his companions was injured. The park learned of the incident just after 2 p.m. Rangers began coordinating a rescue operation with Teton County Search and Rescue personnel. Jackson Hole Ski Patrol made the initial response to the scene, stabilized G.E., and transported him 300 to 400 feet down to the bottom of the chutes. A Teton County Search and Rescue helicopter flew two rangers to the area; G.E. was placed inside the ship with an attending ranger and flown to the base of Teton Village and a waiting ambulance. This was the second backcountry ski run of the day for G.E. and his companions. All three are expert skiers with extensive knowledge of backcountry skiing and avalanche danger. The three skiers were well equipped for their expedition and were carrying all the appropriate safety gear, including avalanche beacons and probes. The Air Force Chutes are among the many popular backcountry ski areas accessible from Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. The Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center listed the avalanche danger on March 9th at mid and high elevations as moderate in the morning and considerable in the afternoon. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
On Monday, May 5th, a backcountry snowboarder died, likely from traumatic injuries he sustained during a 1,500-foot fall on Teewinot Mountain. J.L., 24, of Anchorage, Alaska, and had summited the 12,325-foot mountain with two companions around 10 a.m. They were descending the snow-covered peak on snowboards and skis when the accident occurred. J.L.'s partners made an emergency call for help via cell phone soon after they reached their friend, who lay unconscious but breathing on a steep slope of Teewinot's eastern flank. J.L.'s companions worked continually to keep him warm and breathing while awaiting rescue. Upon receiving the emergency call, rangers immediately mobilized a response and summoned a helicopter from Ogden, Utah, to assist with the rescue operation. A hasty team of rangers skied 3,000 vertical feet up the eastern flank of Teewinot Mountain to reach J.L. and assist with emergency medical care while preparing him for transport. When the ship arrived around 3 p.m., snow squalls, high winds and low visibility prevented an aerial rescue attempt. J.L. died from his injuries at 4 p.m., not long after rangers arrived on scene. One ranger assisted J.L.'s companions to the valley floor while the remaining rescue personnel used a litter, ropes and pulleys to move J.L.'s body to a less hazardous area down the mountain slope. Due to hazardous snow conditions and waning light, rescuers secured the rescue litter on the mountain for the evening and returned to the valley floor at approximately 10 p.m. Rescuers returned to the mountain on Tuesday morning to retrieve J.L.'s body. Although most recently a resident of Salt Lake City, J.L. was in the process of moving to Jackson. His parents happened to be in the valley on a visit and were present for much of the park's rescue effort on Monday and recovery mission on Tuesday. According to his father, J.L. and his companions were all experienced backcountry snowboarders/skiers who knew how to handle themselves well in such mountainous terrain. J.L. was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Two different backcountry users - one a climber with serious injuries and the other a hiker suffering physical exhaustion - required separate late day rescue missions involving multiple rangers and helicopters on Sunday, June 29th. At the time the two mountain rescues got underway, rangers were also summoned by Teton County Search and Rescue to assist with a search for missing boaters from an accident on the Gros Ventre River, just east of the park's boundary. Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received the first emergency call at 5:55 p.m. from two hiking partners of X.A., 39, of Spain. X.A.'s companions reported that their friend was exhausted and physically unable to either continue walking out of Granite Canyon (a distance of 12 miles) or hike back upslope to the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort tram from where their backcountry trip began. In the first couple of miles, the hiking party missed the snow-covered trail and instead, dropped down a steep intermittent snow and loose rock slope into a rugged area of large boulders and talus. X.A.'s partners retraced their route over hard and crusty snow to reach the top of Rendezvous Mountain and make their call for help. They also provided GPS coordinates for X.A.'s location, which greatly facilitated the rescue operation. A Teton Interagency contract helicopter was dispatched to an area just below Cardiac Ridge in upper Granite Canyon with two park rangers on board. Despite erratic winds, the ship was able to land on a patch of snow near X.A.. He was assisted across the snowfield to the waiting helicopter for an evacuation to Lupine Meadows Rescue Cache, where rangers assessed his overall health and released him. X.A. was not adequately prepared for the snowy conditions that persist in this area of Granite Canyon. He wore just light hiking shoes and carried only hiking poles, where conditions demanded sturdy hiking boots and ice axes for safer travel. Shortly after the first alert, Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a second emergency call at 6:30 p.m., reporting an injured climber on the east flank of the 11,618-foot Disappointment Peak. A.L., 27, of Jackson, Wyoming and her partner were climbing in the Lake Ledges area above Amphitheater Lake when she slipped and tumbled over snow and rock before coming to rest in a snow moat near the base of the cliff. A second Teton Interagency contract helicopter flew six park rangers to provide emergency medical care and make preparations for a short-haul evacuation. To assist with the rescue, four additional rangers hiked to Amphitheater Lake (9,750 feet) from the Lupine Meadows Rescue Cache. High winds ultimately prevented the helicopter from completing a short-haul evacuation. Instead, rangers resorted to placing A.L. into a rescue litter and lowering her over steep, snow-covered slopes until they could carry her via wheeled litter-a distance of five miles-over an intermittent snow-covered and rocky trail to the Lupine Meadows trailhead. The rescue operation took over 10 hours to conduct; it did not conclude until 5 a.m. Monday, June 30th. A park ambulance met the rescuers and transported A.L. to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for further care. A.L. was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, which may have prevented a head injury. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
A commercial tour bus carrying 26 passengers and a driver crashed approximately four miles north of Colter Bay Village just after 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 10th. Twenty-four people were transported by three Grand Teton ambulances, a Jackson Hole Fire/EMS ambulance and a Grand Teton Lodge Company passenger van to receive medical care at St. John's Medical Center in Jackson, Wyoming. Two seriously injured passengers were flown to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls via two life-flight helicopters that were able to land near the accident site. The single-vehicle accident caused the complete closure of Highway 89/287 (both lanes) between Colter Bay and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway for nearly five hours on Wednesday afternoon and evening. Motorists traveling between Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks were diverted to Jackson Lake Lodge and Colter Bay Village during the highway closure. Southbound motorists were sent to Headwaters Lodge and Cabins at Flagg Ranch and Grant Village in Yellowstone National Park to wait out the travel delay. The vehicle wreckage was cleared and Grand Teton rangers reopened the highway at 9:10 p.m. Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers and Grand Teton National Park rangers are jointly conducting an accident investigation. The 33-foot-long bus came to rest on its side in the center of the roadway and perpendicular to the traffic lanes. Although the bus did not completely roll over, the impact of the crash caused some level of injury to all 27 bus occupants, making this a mass casualty incident. The tour bus was northbound on Highway 89/287 en route to West Yellowstone, Montana, through the south entrance of Yellowstone National Park when the accident occurred. Most patients were treated and released from the Jackson hospital by 9 p.m. Five of the more seriously injured passengers were kept for overnight observation and additional medical care. The two patients flown to Eastern Idaho Medical Center were listed in fair condition as of Friday morning. The extensive coordination and partnerships between Grand Teton National Park rangers, EMS providers and other park personnel together with Jackson Hole Fire/EMS providers, Grand Teton Lodge Company employees, Yellowstone National Park rangers, Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers, and the extremely organized and experienced emergency room staff at the St. John's Medical Center helped to make this mass casualty incident progress efficiently and with success. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
A rafting accident on the Snake River resulted in the death of one member of a private boating party on the evening of Sunday, July 13th. A 63-year-old Jackson woman was riding in a rubber raft just north of the Moose Landing with five other people, including her husband, when the raft hit a mid-stream obstruction, overturned, and spilled all six rafters into the river. After the raft flipped, five of the boaters were able to reach a gravel bar in the middle of the river. A passing private raft picked up the stranded boaters and floated them the remaining three-quarters of a mile to the Moose Landing, where they were met by park rangers and emergency medical providers. The woman, though, was caught in the fast-moving current and swept downstream. Bystanders near the Dornan's landing on the east bank of the Snake River saw something floating in the water and determined that it was a person. They quickly reached the riverbank, pulled the woman out of the water, and started CPR in an attempt to revive her. Paramedics took over and continued for 45 minutes, but couldn't revive her. Numerous rangers and EMTs responded to both the Moose Landing and Dornan's to rescue the boaters and provide medical care. The circumstances leading to this rafting accident are under investigation. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
A climbing accident on the 13,770-foot Grand Teton resulted in the death of one member of a guided climbing party on Monday, July 14th. M.B., 43, of Edmond, Oklahoma, was ascending to the Upper Saddle of the Grand Teton (elevation 13,160 feet) with her climbing partner and a guide from Jackson Hole Mountain Guides when she fell while negotiating a short section above the Exum Gully around 8:30 a.m. Rangers were notified of the accident at 8:40 a.m. and a rescue response was quickly begun. Two rangers on routine patrol on the Lower Saddle of the Grand Teton (11,600 feet) climbed to the accident site to begin emergency medical care and prepare the injured climber for a helicopter evacuation. M.B. was unresponsive when park rangers arrived on scene and could not be revived. She was pronounced dead in consultation with the park's medical director and rangers on scene. Other Jackson Hole Mountain Guides staff responded to the area and escorted M.B.'s climbing partner to the Corbet High Camp near the Lower Saddle, and later escorted her to Lupine Meadows trailhead on the valley floor. The circumstances leading to this climbing accident are under investigation by Grand Teton National Park rangers and no further details are available at this time. Rangers began to coordinate a body recovery on the Grand Teton when Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a second emergency call at approximately 11 a.m. from a hiking party near Paintbrush Divide. S.P. of Santa Fe, New Mexico fell while descending Paintbrush Divide into Paintbrush Canyon and sustained multiple injuries. Although S.P. was using an ice axe, he slid down a steep snow-covered slope, could not self-arrest, and fell an additional 150 feet through steep loose rock. S.P.'s hiking partner called 911 to report the accident. Another party ascending from Paintbrush Canyon witnessed the event and also called 911. That party then hiked to S.P. to provide first aid until rescuers arrived. A Teton Interagency contract helicopter readied to assist with the rescue operations on the Grand Teton was diverted to transport rescuers to Paintbrush Divide. Two rangers were short-hauled to the Divide from the Lupine Meadows Rescue Cache, and they descended snow and rock to reach S.P. at 11:45 a.m. A rescue litter was also flown to the scene. S.P. was provided emergency medical care and evacuated from Paintbrush Divide via short-haul with a ranger attending. Upon arriving at Lupine Meadows Rescue Cache, S.P. was treated by the park's medical director before being transported at approximately 1:15 p.m. via an Air Idaho life-flight helicopter to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho for further medical care. S.P. and his partner were on the final day of a six day Teton Crest Trail backpacking trip. Both rescue operations were affected by the forecast and subsequent arrival of severe thunderstorms that pummeled the Teton Range and Jackson Hole valley with lightning strikes and several waves of rain, hail and high winds. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
A 45-year-old Jackson resident died in a single vehicle rollover accident a mile north of the park's Moose entrance station sometime during the early morning hours of July 16th. Just before 5 a.m., the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a call from a passerby who reported seeing a single car tire in the road. A park maintenance worker on his way to report for an early morning shift also saw the tire and then caught sight of the vehicle down the Teton Park Road embankment, lying upside down on its rooftop. He advised the dispatch center and rangers and EMS personnel were on scene within minute. The operator was found to have died in the crash. Circumstances surrounding the accident have yet to be determined. Multiple reports of a thick fog lying across this area during the early morning hours were provided by passersby and park staff; the foggy conditions may have been a contributing factor. An accident reconstruction was conducted by Teton County sheriffs mid-morning on Wednesday and the vehicle removed by noon. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
A backcountry hiker received a serious injury to her leg as she jumped from a rock while descending the Cache Couloir above the Platforms in Garnet Canyon last Sunday afternoon. After jumping from the rock, the woman was unable to move her leg. A member of her hiking party of five dialed 911 to report the need for assistance. Rangers launched a short-haul rescue operation to extricate the 23-year-old woman with assistance from a Teton Interagency contract helicopter. The helicopter flew three rangers into Garnet Canyon on a reconnaissance flight to pinpoint the woman's location. They soon spotted her and the pilot landed in Garnet Meadows and dropped off the rangers. They were joined by two other rangers who hiked in, arriving around 8 p.m. A decision was made to short-haul the woman via an aerial evacuation suit, with an attending rescuer, to the Jenny Lake rescue cache at Lupine Meadows. The ship landed there a half hour later and the woman was taken to St. John's Medical Center for further care. The woman and members of her party told rangers that they did not have specific hiking plans for the day. Because they were unsure of their exact location when the accident occurred, rescuers had to use 'pings' from three separate cell phone calls to obtain GPS coordinates. Only the third call provided accurate coordinates. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
The body of an overdue hiker was discovered on Tuesday afternoon near the mouth of Cascade Canyon. W.C., 36, of San Francisco, California, did not have a pulse when one of several search teams found him lying below a steep cliff band near Inspiration Point. He was pronounced dead at the scene by park EMTs in consultation with the park's medical director. W.C. headed out late on Sunday afternoon from the southeast shore of Jenny Lake with the goal of hiking to Lake Solitude in the North Fork of Cascade Canyon. He did not return to his campsite at Jenny Lake Sunday evening and was reported overdue by his girlfriend at noon on Monday. W.C. had not planned on an overnight stay in the backcountry and did not carry equipment necessary for spending a night in the mountains. A hasty search was conducted on Monday afternoon by rangers who were on routine patrol and additional rangers were called into service. Two rangers also flew in the Teton Interagency contract helicopter to conduct an aerial search until darkness prevented further efforts. The aerial search was temporarily delayed by intense thunderstorms that passed across the Teton Range and battered the peaks with heavy rain, strong winds and lightning strikes. Seventy-four people gathered early Tuesday morning to begin a full-scale search for the missing hiker. Park employees and Teton Interagency fire personnel-plus a Teton Interagency helitak crew, a Teton Interagency contract helicopter, four search dog teams from Wyoming K-9 and JH Search Dogs, and several park volunteers-thoroughly searched numerous backcountry locations in Cascade Canyon and Paintbrush Canyon and surrounding areas in a coordinated effort to locate the overdue hiker. After nearly six hours, one of 19 assigned search parties discovered W.C. His body was extricated from Inspiration Point via a helicopter long-line and turned over to the Teton County coroner. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Grand Teton engine companies, with support from two Jackson Hole Fire and EMS stations, responded to two fires and two alarms within Jackson Lake Lodge within four days. On the evening of Thursday, July 30th, a flash fire broke out when a server opened the door of a "hot box" designed to keep food warm during catering events. While lodge personnel attempted to extinguish the fire with water, the building alarm activated and the building was evacuated. The fire was contained to the hot box and responding engine companies checked the building to ensure that no other ignition had occurred. Investigation revealed that the seals on the hot box had failed, allowing pyrolysis to create off-gassing from the fiberglass insulation. The gases that had built up inside the hot box had been instantly ignited by open sterno flames in the bottom of the box when the server opened the door. Around 2:30 p.m. on the afternoon of Sunday, August 3rd, alarms were activated in the Jackson Lake Lodge by smoke coming from HVAC vents in the Explorers Room, a large conference room capable of hosting more than 400 people. Responding units included engines, an ambulance and a truck company. During an extended search of more than two hours, teams followed the smoke back to a heat exchanger in the HVAC system, where charred debris from an unknown source was found in the heating system. The facility was reopened to the public at 5 p.m. There were also two fire alarms on August 3rd. One occurred in the morning, when an unknown individual pulled a fire alarm box on the rear deck of the Jackson Lake Lodge; the other occurred during the HVAC incident when an alarm activated in the Jackson Lake Lodge employee laundry for an unknown cause. The effective responses to these incidents came about through cross training between the park and Jackson Hole Fire/EMS and Teton County, including weekly fire meetings, EMS refreshers, in-service opportunities, and county-wide emergency drills. [Patrick W. Hattaway, North District Ranger]
An out-of-state climber sustained life-threatening injuries in an apparent fall while attempting to make a solo summit of the 13,770-foot Grand Teton on the morning of Friday, August 8th. Despite dense clouds and bad weather, rangers were able to rescue S.M., 60, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, with the support of a Teton Interagency Fire helicopter. Free climbing alone-without a climbing harness, rope or helmet-S.M. had reached an elevation of 13,300 feet on the Grand Teton and was climbing midway between the Friction Pitch and V-Pitch on the upper Exum Ridge route when the accident occurred. Although unable to recall exactly what happened, he believes he may have been struck by a rock, which caused him to fall or tumble possibly 100 feet down the steep, granite slabs strewn with loose rock that lies above the Friction Pitch. He incurred extensive traumatic injuries during his 'tumbling' fall. Two climbers in a separate party came upon S.M., but did not have a cell phone to call for help. They continued to the summit of the Grand Teton, about 400 vertical feet beyond, where they located other climbers with a cell phone and called the Jenny Lake Ranger Station. In the meantime, another party of two climbers encountered S.M. and began to provide first aid as they also placed a 911 call. About an hour later, while the park's rescue operation was underway, a third climbing party with four firefighters from Boston, Massachusetts, also came upon S.M. and the two climbers who were assisting him. Two of the Boston climbers had medical training; they stayed with S.M. to provide advanced medical assistance until park rangers arrived. Due to the threat of an approaching storm, all the other climbers continued to the Grand's summit. Because of the cloud cover high on the mountain, a ground-based rescue mission was begun. The helicopter flew seven rangers and a Teton Interagency Fire helitack crew member to the Lower Saddle of the Grand Teton (elevation 11,600 feet), which was below the thick clouds. From the Lower Saddle, two rangers made a 'blitz' ascent with minimal gear to quickly reach the critically injured climber and begin emergency medical care. Four additional rangers carried all the equipment necessary for a possible extended ground rescue. Fortunately, a break in the weather made it possible to short-haul a ranger and a rescue litter to the accident site. S.M.'s injuries were serious enough to warrant a life flight to Eastern Idaho Medical Center in Idaho Falls, but bad weather prevented the Air Idaho flight. Instead, Grand Teton rangers, emergency medical technicians and paramedics set up a temporary emergency room inside the Jenny Lake Rescue Cache to stabilize S.M. before transporting him by park ambulance to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson, Wyoming. S.M. arrived at the local hospital at 4:20 p.m., over five hours after his fall. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
The Teton County Sheriff's Office and Grand Teton National Park yesterday began a search for a missing Russian visitor. A.S., 21, was last seen at 1 p.m. on Sunday, August 17th, in Moose, Wyoming, using his cell phone near the bar at Dornan's Pizza & Pasta Restaurant, which is located within the park. A.S. has black hair and brown eyes, stands approximately 5'7" tall and weighs 155 pounds. When last seen, he was wearing tan shorts and a camouflage shirt. He may also be wearing a metallic blue jacket with the words "Sochi" on it. Anyone with information regarding A.S.'s whereabouts is asked to contact the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center at 307-739-3301. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
The ongoing search for A.S., a Russian national employed at Dornan's, a restaurant in Moose within the park, was complicated yesterday by a simultaneous manhunt for three people who attempted to break into an employee dorm room at Jackson Lake Lodge. Rangers and Teton County Sherriff's Office personnel began the manhunt yesterday morning. Jackson Lake Lodge security officers had reported that three young men were actively breaking into and entering an employee dorm room at the Lodge around 9:00 a.m. When they attempted to contact the three men, they fled into the woods. Security officers also reported that one of the three men matched a description of Aleksandr A.S., the subject of an ongoing search reported in yesterday's edition. Rangers and deputies set up containment around the lodge. Roadside checkpoints were also set up around the park, and drivers were instructed not to pick up hitchhikers. At no time during this incident were visitors in any danger. All three men were found around noon. They received mandatory citations to appear in federal magistrate's court on trespassing charges. The three were not associated with A.S., as first thought. The two incidents are not related. A tip received by park staff on Thursday afternoon indicated that A.S. began a hike from the Taggart Lake trailhead at 9 a.m. on Monday. Efforts to locate him yesterday were unsuccessful and the search continues. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Search teams from the park and Teton County Search and Rescue found the body of A."S."S., 20, of Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, below Cache Couloir in Cache Gulch on Friday, August 22nd. He'd been the subject of a three-day-long search. A.S., a seasonal employee of Dornan's in Moose, Wyoming, was reported missing on the morning of Monday, August 18th. He had not been seen by coworkers since the previous afternoon. The preliminary investigation and search focused on areas in and around Moose. New information received on Thursday afternoon indicated that A.S. may have started a hike from Taggart Lake Trailhead around 9 a.m. on Monday. With a break in the inclement weather, an aerial search was conducted Thursday afternoon over Taggart and Delta lakes, but no sign of A.S. was found. Approximately 60 searchers gathered on Friday morning to explore areas where A.S. may have hiked in the Tetons. For a second day, the weather was extremely rainy with dense clouds covering the Teton peaks. Search teams found A.S.'s body that afternoon in Glacier Gulch about a third of a mile west of Delta Lake. He was declared dead at the scene by the searchers in consultation with the park's medical director. The circumstances of A.S.'s death are still under investigation. A.S. was wearing the metallic blue "Sochi" jacket described in missing person flyers distributed to the public, which helped in locating his body in the rocky terrain. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Just before noon on Thursday, September 4th, rangers and park paramedics responded to a boat accident with an unresponsive kayaker on the Snake River, about three-quarters of a mile downstream from the Pacific Creek landing. G.S., 80, of Brentwood, Tennessee, was kayaking with his son near the Snake's confluence with the Buffalo Fork River when he apparently overturned his boat and lost consciousness. G.S.'s son made a 911 call for help, and that emergency call was routed to the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center at 11:50 a.m. Park rangers quickly responded to the scene by foot and by boat. Within a couple of minutes of the accident, a private fishing party of two EMT/firefighters from Colorado happened to float by and they stopped to assist. The two EMTs began providing emergency medical care to G.S. They also delivered updates to the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center while rangers were en-route. The first park ranger arrived on scene at 12:10 p.m., after traveling by vehicle from the Buffalo Fork Ranger Station and then bushwhacking on foot to the river bank location. A second park ranger and two park paramedics also launched from Pacific Creek landing via boat and they arrived at 12:12 p.m. Rangers transferred G.S.-who was breathing, but still unresponsive-to a sandbar in the middle of the river, where a Teton Interagency Fire contract helicopter was able to land. The helicopter made a quick flight with G.S. and the two park paramedics aboard from the river island to a nearby ballfield at the Moran School. Upon landing, G.S. was transferred into a waiting park ambulance. Emergency care continued in the ambulance until Classic Air Ambulance, a life flight service out of Riverton, was able to arrive and provide transport to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls. An investigation into what caused the boating accident is still underway. Both G.S.s were wearing life vests at the time of the incident. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers and park paramedics saved the lives of three people - two visitors and a concession employee - over the course of a six-day period. On August 30th, a 64-year-old visitor from California who was staying at the Jackson Lake Lodge was reported to be in distress and experiencing chest pains. Prior to the arrival of rangers, he lost consciousness and suffered a cardiac arrest. Grand Teton Lodge Company security officers and bystanders began CPR immediately; arriving rangers and paramedics then used an AED to restore a heart rhythm. Utilizing a LifePak cardiac monitor, paramedics recognized that the patient had suffered a massive heart attack and arranged for medical evacuation by air ambulance to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, where he is reported to be in a stable condition. On September 2nd, a 20-year-old concession employee was reported to be unresponsive in his dormitory room. Responding rangers found him lying face down on the floor with a compromised airway. Although he was breathing, he remained unresponsive and had obviously consumed an inordinate amount of alcohol. He had been aspirating liquids, thereby requiring park paramedics to intubate him and utilize a portable transport ventilator. He was taken to St. John's Hospital in Jackson and admitted. Once he was stabilized by the hospital staff, the breathing tube was removed and he was subsequently discharged from treatment - but he has been charged with several offenses, including being intoxicated to such a degree that he was a danger to himself. As reported previously in this publication, rangers responded on September 4th to a report of an unconscious 80-year-old kayaker on the Snake River. The emergency care and treatment provided by the first on-scene Colorado firefighters and responding rangers and park paramedics were successful; although he remains in intensive care, he is responsive and expected to recover. [Patrick W. Hattaway, North District Ranger]
On January 11th, rangers arrested S.G., 39, for camping in an undesignated area and possession of about four ounces of marijuana. He was also found to have a loaded firearm in his possession. In addition to being a wanted person in two states, S.G. was also found to be a previously convicted felon who'd been found guilty of domestic violence. A special agent from the Investigative Services Branch and a special agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation in coordination with the U. S. Attorney's Office. On August 12th, S.G. was sentenced in federal court for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The sentence includes 27 months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised probation and payment of a $500 fine, a $250 fee to offset drug testing and treatment, and a $100 special assessment for the crime victim's fund. [Investigative Services Branch]
A Utah climber required a helicopter rescue after falling on the Lower Exum Ridge of the Grand Teton on Sunday, October 5th. Rangers were able to conduct the late-season rescue despite low staffing levels and challenging weather conditions. T.M., 39, of Murray, Utah, was climbing with a partner below the first pitch of the Lower Exum Ridge when he fell approximately 20 feet and sustained a leg injury. T.M.'s first piece of rock protection failed during the fall. He had taken a smaller fall without injury moments earlier on the same piece of rock protection, possibly contributing to the failure. T.M.'s partner was able to lower him to a ledge and contact the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center via 911 shortly after the accident. The center received the cell phone call for help at 11:15 am. Fortunately, three seasonal climbing rangers, all of whom had completed their seasons and were making preparations to return to their winter homes, were available to assist from the Lupine Meadows Rescue Cache. Permanent climbing rangers were also able to assist. High winds and rapidly changing cloud conditions were a concern for the rescuing rangers. They were able to conduct a reconnaissance flight with a Teton Interagency contract helicopter and determined that a short-haul evacuation was possible. Two rangers were taken to the Lower Saddle by helicopter and made their way to the scene of the accident. The helicopter later returned and evacuated T.M. and an attending ranger via short-haul to the Lupine Meadows Rescue Cache, where he was transferred to a park ambulance and transported to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson. The helicopter later returned to the Lower Saddle and extracted the remaining ranger and T.M.'s partner. [Andrew White, Public Affairs Officer]
Spray-painted graffiti on an important cultural site in Grand Teton National Park was recently removed through an extensive cleanup effort. Sometime last September, the Luther Taylor homestead cabin, located along the Gros Ventre Road between Kelly Warm Springs and the eastern boundary of the park, was defaced with graffiti. A black and blue spray-painted depiction of a devilish creature wearing a crown was discovered by a park visitor on the inside wall of the homestead cabin and reported to park law enforcement rangers. The subsequent investigation yielded no suspects and provided inconclusive answers as to the possible source or meaning of the graffiti. Historic preservationists from both Grand Teton and the Western Center for Historic Preservation painstakingly removed the graffiti in mid-December, though evidence of the damage remains. Their efforts were largely successful, though some paint remained in the cracks and crevices of the wood. Unfortunately, the cleaning process also removed the 100-year-old gray patina from the logs. To remedy this problem and return the cabin wall to its historic appearance, park cultural resource specialists plan to use a wood product that will help accelerate the ageing process along with exposure to sunlight and moisture. The site was originally homesteaded in 1916 by John Erwin and purchased by Luther Taylor in 1923, who built a cabin and outbuildings. The culturally significant site is now famous for its appearance in the 1953 western film Shane, starring Alan Ladd. In fact, the site is commonly recognized as the "Shane cabin." Though currently in a state of decay, this site is eligible for—and soon to be listed on—the National Register of Historic Places. Anyone with knowledge about this act of vandalism is encouraged to call Teton Interagency Dispatch Center at 307.739.3301. Callers can remain anonymous. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
A team of rangers, emergency medical personnel, Teton County SAR team members and a contract helicopter quickly swung into action Sunday morning to rescue four backcountry ski mountaineers who were involved in an avalanche on the northeast face of Mount Moran. L.L., 38, was killed in the avalanche and one of his companions, S.P.A., Jr., 42, sustained life-threatening injuries, prompting evacuation by helicopter. Two other companions - B.Y., 37, who suffered minor injuries, and Z.B., 37, who escaped injury - were also evacuated via helicopter as continuing avalanche activity and a steady cycle of snow squalls across the Tetons made the multi-staged rescue operation more challenging. Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a 911 transfer call from Teton County at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday and quickly contacted park rangers, who immediately began a coordinated rescue operation. Because of the remote location on Mount Moran and the report of multiple injured persons, rangers quickly staged at and responded from the Jenny Lake Rescue Cache, located at Lupine Meadows near the base of Teewinot Mountain. Rangers also summoned the Teton County SAR contract helicopter. The four ski mountaineers were ascending the steep Sickle Couloir on Mount Moran when a shallow wet slough avalanche released from above. The snow slide swept three of the mountaineers downslope for approximately 500 feet over rock and ice covered terrain. Z.B. was able to move out of the heavier portion of the debris flow and was not caught in the slide. He quickly descended to his teammates, called 911, and began the difficult task of administering aid to his three companions. Light snowfall on the slopes above continued to cause additional sloughs that repeatedly hit the group, requiring Z.B. to work desperately to move S.P.A. and L.L. to a safer location. Although injured, B.Y. was able to descend slowly downslope under his own power. After a slight lull in the recurring snowstorms over the Teton peaks, the Teton County SAR helicopter was able to deliver several rescuers to the base of the couloir. A Teton County SAR member was short-hauled to the scene to aid in the evacuation of S.P.A., who receiving emergency medical care by park rangers on site and getting package for airlift off the mountain. S.P.A. and the Teton County SAR member were both short-hauled directly to the Jenny Lake Rescue Cache where a team of medics and the park's medical director, Dr. Will Smith, provided additional emergency care before S.P.A. was transported by park ambulance to the Jackson Hole Airport. Upon reaching the airport, S.P.A. was transferred to a fixed wing air ambulance that flew him to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho. The Teton County SAR helicopter subsequently returned to pick up the two other avalanche survivors and transport them out of the backcountry. Additional flights were made to bring out L.L.'s body, as well as the remaining park rangers and their rescue gear. All rescue personnel were safely out of the mountains by 3 p.m. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
A strong windstorm blew through Grand Teton National Park and surrounding areas shortly before 6 p.m. on Monday, June 1st, temporarily stranding visitors on the Teton Park, Moose-Wilson, and Signal Mountain Summit roads and blocked traffic in many other areas. Park rangers, road crews, and fire engines quickly responded to clear park roads of over 150 downed trees and search teams were able rescue all park visitors by 11 p.m. Despite the number of falling trees, no injuries were reported. High winds were observed throughout the park, with wind speeds of 52 mph recorded at the Jackson Hole Airport. The Teton Interagency Dispatch Center son received reports of many downed trees and power lines blocking park roads and disrupting access and service to campgrounds and other park areas. Park rangers quickly built a list of affected areas, which included the Teton Park Road at Cottonwood Creek, Catholic Bay, and Mount Moran Turnout; Moose-Wilson Road; Signal Mountain Summit Road; North Park Road near the Moran Entrance Station; Colter Bay Visitor Center and Campground; Pilgrim Creek Road; Cattleman's Bridge Road; Deadman's Bar Road; as well as other ancillary areas in the park. While response efforts were complicated by power, phone, and internet outages, park crews were able to clear over 150 trees and rescue all park visitors by 11 p.m. Park rangers staffed downed power line areas on the Teton Park and Pilgrim Creek roads through the night. Lower Valley Energy crews were able to remove downed lines from the Teton Park Road around 6 a.m. on Tuesday and the road was reopened. Only minor property damage to vehicles and structures was reported. While most park areas and services are open at this time, many areas are operating on backup power generators. Park maintenance crews and Lower Valley Energy are continuing to restore full functionality to utility systems, water systems, wastewater treatment facilities, and other park infrastructure. Full repair of this infrastructure is expected to take a few days. [Andrew White, Public Affairs Officer]
On Tuesday afternoon, rangers conducted a rescue operation via helicopter for an injured climber who fell on a wet rock slab just above the Meadows area of Garnet Canyon in the heart of the Teton Range. C.E., 31, of Marietta, Georgia was solo climbing a fourth class rated rock slab when he slipped and slid approximately 150 to 200 feet before coming to rest in a snowfield at the base of the rock feature. C.E. was not wearing a helmet at the time of his fall. Two Grand Teton employees conducting a research project in Garnet Canyon witnessed C.E.'s sliding fall and immediately began hiking to his location. These park employees are certified as emergency medical technicians and they were able to effectively assess C.E. and provide emergency medical care until park rangers could arrive by helicopter. A separate backcountry party also reached C.E. and placed an emergency call for help via cell phone. That call was received by Teton Interagency Dispatch Center at 12:30 p.m. Because wet, snow sloughs were shedding off areas above the accident site, responders carefully moved C.E. to a more secure area out of harm's way. Park rangers happened to be conducting early season training at the time at the Teton Interagency Helibase, located at the Jackson Hole Airport. Their preseason training included a Helicopter Express ship that just came under contract with Grand Teton and Bridger-Teton National Forest to support firefighting and search and rescue operations during the coming season. The helicopter flew from the helibase to the Jenny Lake rescue cache located near the base of the Teton peaks at Lupine Meadows and picked up two rangers for transport to Garnet Canyon. After the ship landed on a snow-covered area near the accident site, the two rangers traversed about 200 yards to reach C.E. and place him in a rescue litter. They carried him back to the helispot and placed him inside the ship for a quick flight to the Jenny Lake rescue cache. C.E. was then transferred into a waiting park ambulance and transported to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for further care of his multiple injuries. C.E. did not receive a head injury, which was lucky given the fact that he was not wearing a helmet and that he was crossing wet and likely slippery rock slabs. While rock features in Garnet Canyon can be easy to ascend, they are often more difficult to descend. As these rock slabs melt out, they can be covered with slippery silt or sand, which makes good traction more challenging. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
A large boulder struck and seriously injured a climber during a rockfall yesterday morning. M.P., 27, of Bethesda, Maryland, was ascending the Middle Teton near its black dike feature when a boulder—described by his wife, S.P., as "the size of five to six microwave ovens"—suddenly rolled down slope toward M.P. and hit his left arm, causing severe injuries. A former park employee, who happened to be nearby, reported hearing the rockfall and a subsequent call for help at approximately 8:30 a.m. He immediately made his way to the rockfall site and began to help S.P. stabilize her husband's injured arm. He placed an emergency call to Teton Interagency Dispatch Center at 9:00 a.m. that activated a rescue response by park rangers with aerial support from a Teton Interagency contract helicopter. At the request of Grand Teton's rescue coordinator, this first responder moved M.P. roughly 200 feet away from the accident site because of concern for additional rockfall activity. S.P. reported that she was belaying her husband up the initial pitch of the Black Dike route on the Middle Teton and that he was approximately 30 to 35 meters above her when the boulder came crashing down the slope without warning. Fortunately, Stephanie was not hit by any of the debris. Although severely injured, Michael used his non-injured arm to create an anchor and his wife was able to lower him by rope to her location. Three park rangers were flown to a provisional helispot near the Cave Couloir at the base of the Middle Teton (approximately 600 linear feet and 300 vertical feet from M.P.) at 10:00 a.m. They provided emergency medical care, stabilized M.P.'s injured arm and helped him traverse the distance to the waiting helicopter. M.P., accompanied by one attending ranger, was flown to the Jenny Lake Rescue Cache at Lupine Meadows, where he was then transferred to a park ambulance and transported to St. John's Medical Center. Once the helicopter cleared the mountain helispot, the other two rangers ascended from the accident site to the Lower Saddle of the Grand Teton to begin a scheduled backcountry patrol. The cause of the sudden rockfall is undetermined. However, recent thunderstorms and a sequence of mountain showers may have loosened the boulder and nearby soils. It appears that M.P. was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time when this natural event took place. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
A large-scale, multi-day search for three missing sisters began on Tuesday, July 7th, after the girls' mother notified Grand Teton National Park that they were overdue from a backpacking trip in the Teton area. Concern for their welfare mounted after they failed to meet their mother for a planned rendezvous in Chicago before a flight to Switzerland. Rangers initially combed parking lots, trailheads and developed areas in the park to locate the vehicle in which they were traveling, but failed to find their SUV. On Wednesday, July 8th, the search expanded beyond Grand Teton, and the Teton County sheriff took over as the SAR incident commander after the girls' SUV turned up at a trailhead on the Bridger-Teton National Forest, about 30 miles south of Jackson, Wyoming. A total of 43 Grand Teton National Park personnel, along with a Teton Interagency contract helicopter, joined additional Teton County and Bridger-Teton National Forest searchers during the extensive search effort that lasted all day Wednesday and well into Thursday morning. Search personnel consisted of ground crews, dog teams, riders on horseback, and the interagency helicopter. Crews focused on nine search areas south-southeast of the Jackson area in the Gros Ventre Wilderness of Bridger-Teton National Forest. The search for three missing sisters culminated when they were found at 10 a.m. on July 9th after a helpful tip from an area outfitter redirected the search effort. M.A.-S., 25, and her sisters E., 22, and K., 16, were spotted by searchers during a reconnaissance flight over a remote area in upper Horse Creek drainage, approximately seven miles west of where their vehicle was found on July 8th at the Swift Creek trailhead. The hikers were cold, wet, and hungry but otherwise healthy, having spent several rainy and chilly nights in the backcountry. The girls left with appropriate clothing, a tent, sleeping bags, a water purifier, and other equipment for their multi-day trip, and these provisions allowed them to survive their unexpected situation. By staying together, using their tent, and rationing their food, they were able to wait for help to arrive. Shortly after they were spotted, the girls were flown to the Swift Creek trailhead and reunited with their father. Searchers later learned that the three girls lost the trail on July 4th and decided to stick together and stay put in an effort to be more easily found and to not get into further trouble. This decision greatly increased their odds of being found. Their one significant mistake was not telling anyone what trailhead they were leaving from and their intended route. Finding the SUV at the trailhead proved to be helpful because it reduced the search area from the 3.7 million acres and every highway between Jackson, Wyoming and Chicago, Illinois, to a search area of roughly 100 square miles. The A. family gave a final press conference on July 10th in Jackson, which was well attended as this incident attracted both local and national media attention. The girls' father wanted an opportunity to meet the agencies involved in the search and to thank them in front of the media. He specifically and favorably noted the support and substantial participation by NPS staff during the press conference. This incident served as another great example of interagency cooperation among Grand Teton National Park, the Investigative Services Branch, the National Elk Refuge, Bridger Teton National Forest and the Teton County Sheriff's office. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
On Tuesday, July 21st, a large boulder dislodged and rolled over the arm of a hiker/climber, causing severe injury to his limb and prompting a helicopter-assisted rescue by Grand Teton National Park rangers. T.Z., 26, of Jackson, Wyoming and his partner were on their descent after making a day trek to the Upper Saddle of the Grand Teton when he was injured by the boulder. Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received an emergency call for help at 12:40 p.m. from T.Z.'s partner and several other climbers, and park rangers immediately initiated a rescue operation. A backcountry ranger and a retired Jenny Lake Subdistrict ranger happened to be approaching the base of the headwall, just below the Lower Saddle of the Grand Teton, when the call came in. They promptly advanced to the Lower Saddle, picked up essential gear at the park's backcountry rescue cache, and ascended another 1,200+ feet to the accident site. They reached T.Z. at 2:15 p.m., assessed his condition, and provided emergency medical care until additional park rangers could arrive. Due to nature of T.Z.'s injury and concern about attempting to hike him downslope over steep and rocky terrain to reach the Grand Teton's broad and somewhat flat Lower Saddle for an aerial evacuation, a decision was made to use the Teton Interagency contract helicopter to instead short-haul T.Z. directly from his high elevation site on the Grand Teton to the Jenny Lake Rescue Cache on the valley floor. To prepare T.Z. for the short-haul flight, one additional park ranger was flown to the Lower Saddle. Carrying additional emergency medical gear and a short-haul evacuation suit, the ranger hiked upslope to reach the accident site—a distance of nearly one mile and 1,200 vertical feet of steep terrain. After he was placed into the evacuation suit and tethered to a short-haul line attached to the belly of the helicopter, T.Z. was flown suspended below the ship—and in tandem with an attending ranger—directly to the Jenny Lake Rescue Cache at Lupine Meadows. He was then transferred to a waiting park ambulance and transported to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson. It appears that T.Z. stepped on and dislodged several small boulders during his descent, which in turn loosened a large boulder and allowed it to roll over his arm. Because they were pursuing just a day hike to the Upper Saddle and not attempting a technical climb, T.Z. and his partner did not have climbing ropes or harnesses with them. They did have helmets at the time of the incident. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
On Saturday, July 25th, two climbers fell and slid on a patch of snow while descending from the Dike Pinnacle on the south face of the Middle Teton. The climbers, J.L. and C.S., both 25 and residents of Jackson, Wyoming, slid approximately 200 feet on snow and rocky terrain before coming to a stop on a grassy ledge. J.L. sustained serious injuries requiring an evacuation by helicopter while C.S. sustained minor injuries. Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a call for assistance at 5:22 p.m. from C.S. Park rangers quickly responded from the Jenny Lake Rescue Cache at Lupine Meadows. They were joined by the Teton Interagency contract helicopter, which had been assisting with an extensive search for a missing person near Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park. The helicopter was able to land relatively near to the grassy ledge and insert three park rangers, who made a short climb to reach the injured climbers. Rangers provided medical care while preparations were made for an expeditious short-haul evacuation of J.L.. J.L. and an attending park ranger were short-hauled from the grassy ledge directly to the rescue cache on the valley floor just before sunset. There, J.L. was transferred to a waiting park ambulance and transported to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson, Wyoming. The helicopter then returned to the site of the accident and short-hauled C.S. and the two remaining rangers to the rescue cache. The rescue mission was completed shortly after 9:00 p.m., just before darkness would have made further operations impossible. The fall occurred while the two climbers were descending on snow about 400 feet below the summit of the Dike Pinnacle. This type of fall—one that occurs while descending on snow—is a very common cause of mountaineering-related injuries in Grand Teton National Park. Rangers encourage climbers to pay special attention while descending on snow, and to wear helmets whenever moving about in the vertical terrain of the Teton Range where rockfalls, or a slip and fall in rock-strewn areas, can pose a danger. This rescue was the second helicopter-assisted rescue mission of the day in the park. Rangers also flew a climber who had become ill from the Lower Saddle of the Grand Teton around 7:30 on Saturday morning. After completing this rescue, the Teton Interagency contract helicopter flew to Yellowstone to assist with the continuing search efforts for the missing person. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
One person died and four others were injured on Friday during an early morning structural fire at the Grand Teton Lodge Company's Colter Bay employee dormitory. A quick response by Grand Teton's structural firefighters and personnel from Jackson Hole Fire/EMS helped contain the fire to a single dorm room. Adjacent rooms sustained smoke damage. Approximately 70 people were evacuated from the two-story dormitory building and all were assessed for injuries and/or smoke inhalation by park EMS providers. Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received an emergency call at 12:04 a.m. on Friday morning and immediately summoned structural firefighters and equipment to the scene. The first responders used fire extinguishers in an attempt to suppress the blaze before fully-equipped park and county fire response teams could arrive. A Grand Teton National Park fire engine stationed at Colter Bay arrived within 10 minutes of the call for help. Firefighters with Engine 2 were informed that at least one person and possibly others were still inside the dormitory on the second floor. They quickly located and carried out one individual, who was unresponsive, and helped evacuate others from the building. Although CPR was begun on the unresponsive person and continued by paramedics for nearly an hour, efforts to revive him proved unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Four other people were treated for minor injuries and smoke inhalation. They were transported to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for further care. One additional structural fire engine and three ambulances from Grand Teton National Park, plus one aerial ladder truck, one engine, and one water tender from Jackson Hole Fire/EMS, arrived shortly after the first fire engine and quickly joined the suppression efforts. The fire was suppressed by 2:00 a.m. While most rooms were not affected by the fire, residents of the facility were temporarily housed in other locations as a safety precaution for the remainder of the evening. A joint interagency investigation is being conducted. The cause of the fire has not been determined, but fire investigators have determined that the dormitory was not started by electrical or other facility-related deficiencies. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
A heavy snow load appears to have caused the collapse of the front porch roof on the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve Center. The collapsed roof was discovered on the morning of March 23rd. The seasonally-used building is closed each winter from late September through late May and was unoccupied at the time of the porch roof collapse. The main building structure and its contents appear to be undamaged. The collapsed porch roof was discovered by two park maintenance employees conducting a routine wintertime building check. Maintenance crews have been busy this winter clearing large amounts of snow off park buildings. Area measurements show the current snow water equivalent is around 150 percent of median, and recent rain and warm temperatures may have contributed to the weight of the snow on the roof. The area immediate around the preserve center is closed to the public. Once the snow melts and the area dries, the porch roof will be safely demolished and a comprehensive building inspection conducted before opening the building for summer visitation. Source: Press Release, Grand Teton NP.
On April 9th, rangers joined members of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ski patrol in the rescue of a 26-year-old man who'd been caught in a soft slab avalanche in Granite Canyon. A.T. was snowboarding in the park's backcountry with three companions when the avalanche occurred. A.T. was traversing the top of Air Force Couloir when the slab broke above him. The sliding snow carried him approximately 1,000 feet downhill until he came to a rest atop the snow. He suffered injuries during the fall from collisions with rocks. One of A.T.'s companions called Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ski patrol. Three ski patrollers skied down to A.T.'s location with a rescue toboggan and medical gear. They assessed his condition and prepared him for ski-toboggan transport to the bottom of Granite Canyon and eventual aerial rescue. Meanwhile, two Grand Teton rangers met the Teton County Search and Rescue helicopter and flew to A.T.'s location. The helicopter landed near A.T.'s location and the rangers brought him aboard. A.T. was flown out to a temporary staging area along the Chapel of the Transfiguration road just as deteriorating weather conditions began making visibility difficult. He was transferred to a park ambulance and transported to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson. A.T.'s group was aware of the avalanche hazard for the day, which was listed as moderate by the Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center. They were adequately equipped for winter backcountry travel, wore helmets, and carried avalanche beacons, shovels, and probes. Source: Public Affairs Office.
On Monday, June 19th, rangers rescued a climber who fell after slipping and falling on snow. R.H., 68, was descending the Southeast Ridge of Disappointment Peak when he fell. Rangers responded quickly and transported him to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson. R.H.'s fall, which took place just before 1:30 p.m., was witnessed from below by two hikers in the Amphitheater Lake area. Those hikers were the first to call Teton Interagency Dispatch Center and report the accident. Shortly thereafter, R.H.'s climbing partner, D.M., called the dispatch center and reported that R.H. had lost his footing and slid on the snow before disappearing from view. R.H.'s fall carried him a total of 400 feet downhill, including a 60- to 80-foot-high cliff, to a location amongst snow and trees approximately 300 feet above Amphitheater Lake. A ranger who was climbing on Disappointment Peak met up with D.M., assisted him on the technical descent to Amphitheater Lake, and reached R.H.'s location at about 3:00 p.m. The ranger assessed R.H., who was alert but had suffered leg and shoulder injuries. D.M. continued downhill with a bystander. At 4:20 p.m., the Teton Interagency contract helicopter lowered two rangers to R.H.'s location via short-haul. The rangers loaded R.H. into a rescue litter and prepared him for extraction by short-haul. One ranger attended R.H. during the short flight out to the Lupine Meadows Rescue Cache. While he was taken to the hospital, the helicopter returned to retrieve the remaining two rangers. Though R.H. and D.M. were planning to climb on snow and had all the necessary gear to do so, park rangers recognize that many visitors to the Tetons may not be expecting wintertime conditions in June. Rangers advise that elevations above 9,000 feet are mostly still snow-covered, and appropriate knowledge and experience using an ice ax and crampons is necessary for traversing steep terrain. Source: Grand Teton NP.
Rangers have joined with officers from other local, state and federal agencies in a major manhunt for a man wanted in connection with a triple homicide. His car was found parked in a remote campground in the Bridger-Teton National Forest near its border with Grand Teton National Park. The man — G.B., 60, of Caldwell, Idaho — has been the subject of a nationwide manhunt for nearly a month, ever since the bodies of two women and a teenage girl were found hidden in a shed at his house in Caldwell. All three had been shot to death. The Canyon County Sheriff's Office reports that evidence suggests that the Ford Focus had been at the campground about three weeks before a law enforcement officer found it. The Teton County Sheriff's Office, National Park Service, US Forest Service, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Teton County Emergency Management, and FBI are currently searching the area for G.B.. G.B. is considered armed and dangerous; anyone who spots him is asked to contact law enforcement immediately. Source: News story, KTVB.com, Idaho, via member Mike Warren.
Rangers recovered the body of climber A.K., 24, on Friday, August 25th. A commercial mountain guide and his client discovered A.K.'s body as they were rappelling down from Peak 11,840, a notable obstacle along the traverse between Teewinot Mountain and Mount Owen. The guide notified Jenny Lake Rangers of the discovery at 10:15 a.m. Two rangers were flown by helicopter to a backcountry landing zone near the summit of Peak 11,840. The rangers made three rappels down to the scene, conducted a preliminary investigation, and prepared A.K.'s body for extraction by helicopter long line. A.K.'s body was flown to Lupine Meadows at 3:30 p.m. Shortly thereafter, a Teton County deputy coroner and investigating rangers were able to identify the body as that of A.K.'s. A.K.'s body was found among rocks approximately 400 feet below Peak 11,840 on its southwest side. He was found with a climbing rope, helmet, and climbing gear appropriate for the terrain. Due to the location and condition of the body, rangers believe A.K. died from a fall within the past week. There are no known witnesses to the incident which led to A.K.'s death. The incident is under investigation by the Jenny Lake rangers. They ask anyone who was climbing in the Teewinot Mountain or Mount Owen area on or after Monday, August 21st, to call Teton Interagency Dispatch Center at 307-739-3301 whether or not they saw A.K. Source: News release, Grand Teton NP.
On Monday, March 19th, rangers worked in concert with Teton County Search and Rescue volunteers to conduct a helicopter-based rescue of an injured skier who was caught in an avalanche in Death Canyon early in the afternoon. Later in the afternoon, rangers completed a ground-based rescue of a snowshoer who became injured while jumping off boulders near Taggart Lake. The first search and rescue effort began just before 1 p.m. when Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a report that a skier was caught in an avalanche in an area known as "Son of Apocalypse Couloir" on the south side of Death Canyon. Four people were skiing the couloir when a natural avalanche of fresh snow began above them. The sliding snow swept past one skier before gaining momentum, picking up snow, and hitting the remaining three. The first two were able to stop themselves, but the last skier, Y.T., 37, of Louisville, Colorado, was knocked down and tumbled a few hundred feet down the lower portion of the couloir and onto the apron of snow at its base. The three uninjured skiers, two of them emergency medical providers, skied down to Y.T.'s location and discovered she had suffered a leg injury and was unable to ski out. Y.T.'s partner carried a satellite communicator and was able to send a text message for help. Meanwhile, one of the medical providers skied out to Phelps Lake where he was able to make a broken call to rangers and discuss the patient's condition. Based on the patient's condition, rangers requested assistance from the Teton County Search and Rescue helicopter and prepared for short-haul evacuation. The helicopter flew one search and rescue volunteer into the patient's location. The volunteer then fitted Y.T. into a screamer suit and flew with her back to Sawmill Ponds Overlook along the Moose-Wilson Road. Y.T. was transferred to a park ambulance and transported to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson, Wyoming. The remaining three individuals skied out on their own. The second search and rescue effort of the day involved a party of two who snowshoed around Taggart Lake before heading a few hundred feet above the lake. C.D., 24, of Lexington, Kentucky, suffered leg injuries after jumping off a ten-foot boulder around 3:30 p.m. Cody's partner sent a text message for help to a friend at the Taggart Lake Trailhead, who in turn contacted the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center. One ranger skied into the area to locate the party and assess the patient's condition. Based on this assessment, four additional rangers skied into the area with a toboggan and medical gear. The rangers skied with C.D. in the sled back to Taggart Lake Trailhead, where C.D. and his partner chose to drive themselves to the hospital. Source: Grand Teton National Park.
Two people were killed in a glider crash in the park on Sunday, June 9th. The Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a call around noon reporting that two people had failed to return from a scenic glider ride that departed from Driggs, Idaho, which is just west of the park. The search at first focused on an area south of the park, but it was soon determined via pinging one of the person's cell phones that the glider was down in the park. The pilot of an independent helicopter then contacted the park and reported glider wreckage in the park between Middle Teton and South Teton. Rangers flew to the site, which was located above Icefloe Lake around 10,800 feet. They determined that both occupants of the glider had been killed in the crash. They recovered the bodies via a long-line aerial operation. Source: EastIdahoNews.com.
On Tuesday, June 12th, rangers rescued a Missouri teenager who was injured in fall while descending a mountain next to Jenny Lake. D.W., 18, fell about 30 feet around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday evening. The accident occurred at about 10,200 feet. D.W.'s climbing partner called for help and rangers reached the pair on foot at about 1 a.m. with food and shelter. Climbers and rescuers then awaited a morning evacuation. D.W. and his partner were flown by helicopter off the mountain at 9 a.m. on Wednesday. D.W. was taken to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson, where he was listed in good condition the following day. Source: Associated Press.
The body of B.A., 27, was found on the east face of Teewinot Mountain on Monday, June 25th. B.A. was solo climbing when he fell while descending. He was wearing a helmet and equipped with appropriate climbing gear, including an ice axe and crampons. When B.A. did not report to work Monday morning, coworkers who knew he had been climbing in the park called the park's dispatch center and went to the Lupine Meadows Trailhead to search for his vehicle. The vehicle was found at the trailhead parking area. Two rangers hiked the area at about 8:45 a.m. while other rangers scanned the peaks with spotting scopes and found an area of interest on Teewinot's east face. Rangers hiked to the location, confirmed the fatality at 11:45 a.m., and recovered the body. Source: Wayne Patch.
Rangers and Signal Mountain Lodge employees recovered the body of a kayaker from Jackson Lake on the night of July 23rd. Lodge employees found a single overturned rental kayak approximately 100 feet offshore in the Signal Mountain Marina early that evening. The kayak was unoccupied, but contained a life jacket and some personal items. They began a search of the surrounding waters and found the body of the 36-year-old woman about 30 feet away under approximately 15 feet of water at approximately 7:30 p.m. Three rangers arrived at the marina shortly thereafter. One of them dove from a boat and attempted to swim back to the surface with the woman, but was unable to do so. The ranger returned and wrapped a rescue rope around her; the rangers and lodge employees were then able to pull her back to the surface and into the boat. She was pronounced dead and her body was transferred to the Teton County coroner. Initial indications are that her death was a suicide. The investigation continues. Source: Grand Teton National Park.
On Thursday, October 4th, visitors in two separate vehicles were observed feeding fruit to three black bears along the Signal Mountain Road. Two of them were subsequently cited for feeding park wildlife; the mother bear had to be euthanized and her two cubs removed from the park due to their new association of humans and food and the consequent risks to future visitors. "Feeding wildlife in a national park is a serious offense and presents severe risks to the animal and to humans," said Gopaul Noojibail, the park's deputy superintendent. "Human carelessness doesn't just endanger humans, it can result in an animal's death." Feeding wildlife creates a safety risk for humans, as animals associate people with food; bears can also become aggressive in seeking additional food, especially when preparing to den for the winter. Animals that are fed by humans also have an increased likelihood of being drawn to roadways and killed by vehicles. The bears had been frequenting several developed areas in the Signal Mountain vicinity in very close proximity to people since June. Park staff and volunteers spent hundreds of hours trying to keep park visitors and these bears at safe distances from each other near a busy park campground and lodging area. The female had three cubs born this year, but by late summer the bear was seen with only two cubs. The fate of the third cub is unknown. The adult female was not a good candidate for an educational or zoo facility and was euthanized. The opportunity to place wild bears in an accredited facility is not always an option, but in this case the cubs were relocated to Oswald Bear Ranch in Newberry, Michigan. The facility provides educational opportunities about bears and information about how to protect their natural environment. Park staff followed National Park Service policies as well as guidance from agency veterinarian to conduct all actions in a humane manner. Source: Grand Teton NP.
A hunting guide from Jackson Hole who shot and killed a young female gray wolf inside the park late last year has pled guilty to unlawful taking of wildlife and been sentenced to a $5,000 fine, loss of wolf hunting privileges for a year, and a year's probation. His wife, who was with him at the time, was not charged. The penalties were not more significant because the guide, who said he didn't know he was in the park, complied fully with the investigation and readily admitted his guilt. He told rangers that he was hunting along the park's boundary and lost track of his location. Said Michael Nash, the park's chief ranger: "The individuals were just honest and forthright about it. We didn't detect any ill intent." Rangers were conducting a compliance check on two bison legally killed near the park boundary on Bridger-Teton National Forest land when they came across tracks and a blood trail telling of illegal activity north of Spread Creek. The park's eastern boundary where T. shot the wolf is "stair-stepped," Nash said, but also well marked with signs, including where the two hunters treaded through the snow. The wolf was shot approximately 2.5 miles west of the park's east boundary in an area where an otherwise straight-line east-to-west boundary jogs to the south for approximately 1.5 miles. The wolf was shot approximately a half mile inside the boundary. Rangers decided that the poaching, which occurred during the federal government shutdown, was likely accidental after conferring with the guide and his wife. The animal was checked in with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, a requirement that helped park rangers identify T. Source: Mike Koshmrl, Jackson Hole News and Guide.
On the evening of Thursday, February 28th, Teton Interagency Dispatch received a call from Jackson Hole Mountain Resort regarding two skiers who were lost in Granite Canyon, an area of the park located north of the resort. Four people — two men, each 24 years old, and two women, one 28 and the other 31 — had taken the Teton Chairlift late in the day for a final downhill run. They left the ski area by going under a boundary rope and entered an area closed due to hazardous conditions. Two of them made it down, but the other two got lost. The lost skiers had cell phone access and were able to contact a friend who in turn contacted the ski patrol and then park dispatch. A Teton County Search and Rescue helicopter conducted an aerial reconnaissance, using location information communicated by the lost skiers, but had difficulty finding them due to sunset and diminished light. Three rangers were transported to a location near the top of the chairlift so that they could search the canyon, using GPS coordinates from the cell phone. The pair were in a high avalanche and hazard area with steep terrain, cliffs, and numerous trees. The rangers employed ropes and belay systems as they moved down the canyon. They were finally able to verbally contact the pair and found them in the Spock Chutes area around 11 p.m. Both were okay. All five then climbed back up the mountain to the ski area boundary, reaching it at 2:30 a.m. then descending to the base of the slope. Source: Denise Germann, Grand Teton NP.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter: Grand Teton NP — Four people who illegally ventured into the park from a nearby ski area and had to be rescued could each be assessed a $5,000 fine and face some jail time (see the March 27th edition for the initial report). Each of the four received two citations requiring a mandatory court appearance. Citations are for violation of an emergency boundary closure and disorderly conduct with creation of a hazardous condition. Each citation carries a maximum penalty of up to $5,000 fine and/or six months in jail. Source: National Parks Traveler.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter: Grand Teton NP — A previous issue of this newsletter contained a report about a hunter who killed a female wolf in the park that described the light sentence he got because he convinced investigators that he'd been hunting along the boundary and accidentally crossed into the park. An FOIA filed by the Jackson Hole News & Guide has revealed that he walked right past a boundary sign before shooting the wolf. Gros Ventre Wilderness Outfitters owner Brian Taylor was pursuing wolves with two other hunters during a period when the federal government was shut down and some rangers were furloughed. The article contains other details about the incident. Source: Mike Koshmrl, Jackson Hole News and Guide.
On May 29th, emergency responders from the park, Teton County SAR and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort rescued a backcountry skier who was injured in a thousand-foot sliding fall on the west side of Cody Peak. Four people were hiking from the top of the resort's tram to go backcountry skiing when one member of the group — S.S., 24 — slipped on firm snow and ice and fell approximately a thousand feet. One member of the group called 911 while the remaining pair, joined by two people from another group who both happened to be EMTs, descended to S.S. Although the accident site was determined to be inside the park's boundaries, park and county search and rescue leaders decided that Teton County would maintain command in the interest of efficiency. The county helicopter dropped off a rescuer on a nearby ridge, who then skied to S.S. and determined that a short-haul extraction was appropriate. The park short-haul team responded and S.S. was short-hauled from the location, then taken by county ambulance to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson. Source: East Idaho News.
B.A., a 44-year-old river guide, died in a rafting accident on the Snake River on May 21st B.A. and employees from the Grand Teton Lodge Company were on a training trip when their raft got caught in a snag near the historic Bar BC Dude Ranch. A few of the passengers and eventually B.A. fell into the water trying to dislodge the raft. The passengers were able to climb safely onto the log snag and get back into the raft, but B.A. disappeared. Rangers responded to a call for help at about 3:30 p.m. and responded on several rescue boats; Teton County SAR searched for the man by air. B.A.'s body was found near the snag around 5:15 p.m. Source: Buckrail.com.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter: Grand Teton NP — Last February, A.R., 24, skied out of bounds from a slope at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort into an area that had been closed due to dangerous conditions, but returned to the resort's slope after a brief side trip. Two companions who followed his trail, though, missed his turn back and ended up skiing into Granite Canyon in the park and getting lost. A search ensued and the pair were found, both okay. Last month, A.R. appeared in court to face charges for his action. In a distinct departure from normal defendant behavior, he waived an attorney and confessed his guilt, despite facing a $6,000 fine. His subsequent comment to a reporter was as remarkable: "[One] of the most frustrating things I have experienced in society [is] people not owning up to things they have done wrong. I can't reiterate enough how thankful I am that everyone is OK and how sorry I am." Source: Allen Best, Summit Daily News.
On the afternoon of July 9th, J.S., 35, was injured in a sliding fall of over a thousand feet near Paintbrush Divide. J.S. was hiking with a friend in Paintbrush Canyon when he lost his footing and fell, sliding about 1,200 feet over snow fields and rock outcroppings toward Grizzly Bear Lake. His partner made a 911 call. Three rangers responded; they assessed his injuries and stabilized him for a short-haul extraction. J.S. was flown to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho, with serious injuries. His current condition is not known. Source: KSTP News.
A park visitor hiking with a group near Jenny Lake last week was bitten by a bat that fell from a tree. A group leader captured the bat and contacted rangers for assistance. Park staff transferred the bat to the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory for testing. The visitor was evaluated at St. John's Medical Center. Post-exposure treatment was deferred at the time, pending the results of the rabies testing. When the test results came back positive for rabies, the visitor was contacted and immediately began treatment. The park worked with the Teton County Health Department, Wyoming Department of Health, and National Park Service Public Health on this incident to assure an appropriate response. Source: Buckrail.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter. Grand Teton NP — Four people illegally skied into an area that was under emergency closure last February and had to be rescued. Three of the four subsequently pled guilty to various federal charges; the fourth appeared in court in mid-August and also pled guilty rather than go ahead with a scheduled trial. She was sentenced to two years of unsupervised probation and ordered to pay a few thousand dollars in court fines and restitution after pleading guilty to violating an emergency closure, a federal citation. In the last-minute plea agreement the U.S. attorney dropped a charge of disorderly conduct. Source: Emily Mieure, Jackson Hole News & Guide.
On October 16th, P.R. and his girlfriend were hanging in a hammock above a rock field at Surprise Lake when the tree broke, dumping them onto the rocks and knocking P.R. unconscious. Another visitor came upon the accident, ran to a place with cellphone reception, and called for help. As P.R. regained consciousness, he began having seizures, likely stemming from the head injury. Rangers were soon on scene and summoned a contract helicopter. P.R. was short-hauled to the Jenny Lake Ranger cache, then taken by park ambulance to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson. He was disoriented and didn't know where he was or what had happened. He also lost hearing in one ear but eventually regained it. Despite these injuries, he quickly recovered and was released that evening. Source: Emily Mieure, Jackson Hole Daily.
Rangers and Teton County SAR personnel rescued an injured 20-year-old man from a location near Amphitheater Lake on the evening of May 29th. Four people were hiking to the lake when they got off route. As they traveled along the ridgeline north of Surprise Lake, A.C. of Scottsdale, Arizona, slipped on snow and fell over 400 feet. He fell into Glacier Gulch and landed near the shore of Delta Lake, sustaining significant injuries. The other three members of the hiking party down climbed to A.C. and called 911. The Teton County SAR team members flew to Lupine Meadows to meet park rangers and coordinate the rescue. They found that the hikers were at Delta Lake, not Amphitheater Lake. Since there was no landing zone around Delta Lake, a decision was made to short-haul the injured hiker from the backcountry. A park ranger and a county SAR team member were lowered to the location and provided medical assistance to A.C. He was then short-hauled to Lupine Meadows and transported by a park ambulance to St. John's Health Center. Source: National Park Service.
Park trail crew members were working in the Inspiration Point area around noon on Tuesday, July 7th, when they were approached by a visitor yelling for help. The visitor explained that a man was pinned in fast moving water about a half mile above Inspiration Point and needed help. J.H., 23, was hiking Cascade Canyon with two other individuals when he slipped on some logs while playing in Cascade Creek. His leg was pinned between some rocks amid very cold and fast-moving water. His hiking companions and other hikers in the area tried to extract him from the situation with no success. Trail crew members arrived and assessed the situation, including J.H.'s injuries and deteriorating medical condition. J.H. was succumbing to the water's frigid temperature and pressure and was challenged to stay above the rushing water. Trail crew members and other bystanders used rope from the crew's supplies to leverage a system to maintain J.H.'s head and shoulders out of the water, as well as physically holding him above the water. They also created a rope system to remove J.H. from the rocks. After several attempts from a variety of angles, J.H.'s leg was freed. Park rangers arrived on scene to provide additional first aid and extract J.H. from the scene via helicopter short haul to Lupine Meadows. A park ambulance transported him to St. John's Health in Jackson. Source: KTAK News.
A band of dirt bike riders shredded an open field along historic Mormon Row last Saturday. The field is part of a long-running restoration project to erase thousands of acres of hayfields that once grew there. The incident is believed to have been an organized event involving about 50 people and a drone. An onlooker who filmed part of the event called the park's dispatch center to report the activity, but by the time rangers could arrive the group was gone. In their wake they left approximately 1,000 feet of track that is two to ten feet in width. Park rangers are seeking additional information from anyone who might know the participants. Information can be provided by call or text to the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch Tip Line at 888-653-0009 or email nps_isb@nps.gov. Information can be provided anonymously. The historic hay fields along Mormon Row are part of a ten-year project that started in 2014 to remove the non-native grasses and replant the area with 37 species of native plants to restore the site to sagebrush steppe habitat. The investment in the habitat restoration represents several years of effort to collect native seed and treat invasive plants prior to seeding the native species. This area is important habitat for elk, bison, pronghorn, moose, sage grouse, and a variety of other wildlife, which all depend on sagebrush steppe habitat. The area that was damaged by the dirt bikes was reseeded in 2019. This project is a collaborative effort between the National Park Service, Grand Teton National Park Foundation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Teton Conservation District. Source: Kurt Repanshek, National Parks Traveler.
Two hikers from Michigan were rushed to a hospital after falling about 500 feet down a slope on July 11th. S.E. and M.F., each 19 years old, were hiking from Cascade Canyon to Paintbrush Canyon over the Paintbrush Divide when they slipped on snow and slid down the slope into some large rocks. Another hiker found them and called for help. He transmitted GPS coordinates to park rangers and emergency crews, who reached them on a Teton Interagency Helicopter. A ranger accompanied each of the hikers on a rope suspended below the helicopter to a nearby meadow, where a waiting ambulance rushed them to a hospital in Jackson, Wyoming. Their conditions are not known. Source: WJRT News.
A climber survived a serious fall into a crevasse thanks to fellow climbers who came to his aid and likely saved his life. T.W., 34, of Evanston, Wyoming, and his partner had summited Mount Owen and were heading back down the mountain via the Koven Route across Teton Glacier when T.W. fell about 30 feet into a crevasse. Two other climbers were in the area and used their satellite communication device to call for help, then set anchors and used a roping system to haul T.W. from the crevasse. The Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a "fall into crevasse" notification from a satellite communication device around 10:30 p.m. on Friday, August 7th. The message included some GPS coordinates that indicated the incident was near the Teton Glacier. Attempts to establish two-way communications with the reporting party proved fruitless. Two rangers began hiking to Teton Glacier at approximately 12:30 a.m. Saturday, and at 4 a.m. located T.W. and his hiking partner, along with another climbing party of two that was in the area and assisting him. T.W. had been in the crevasse for over an hour before the other two climbers came on scene to assist. His condition had significantly deteriorated due to hypothermia and he was unresponsive. After pulling T.W. from the crevasse, the three climbers replaced his wet clothing with dry clothing. When the climbing rangers arrived on scene, they provided medical care and began a rewarming treatment, including adding additional insulating layers to warm him. T.W.'s condition slowly improved over the next few hours. At approximately 8 a.m. Saturday, T.W. was transported via short haul rescue by the Teton Interagency Helicopter to Lupine Meadows and then flown via Air Idaho Rescue to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls. The three other climbers were transported to Lupine Meadows by helicopter. Source: National Parks Traveler.
While camping in Grand Teton, a visitor failed to properly store garbage and beverages, resulting in a grizzly bear obtaining the items. Other campers took video and photos of the bear. The bear was tranquilized, collared, and relocated by boat to another area of the park. The visitor was charged with the misdemeanor offense of improper food storage and received a restitution fine that covers the costs of the NPS bear removal operation and the GPS collar now accompanying the bear to monitor its future behaviors. Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Wyoming
On September 4, the NPS received a report from a climber ascending Teewinot Mountain, that a deceased climber had been found at the base of Black Chimney climbing route. The climber appears to have been climbing alone, and based on his location and a map he had with him, he may have been intending to climb the East Face route. Route finding is known to be difficult in this area. Source: East Idaho News
On September 10, family of a 22-year-old reported her missing. Prior to her last communication, she was believed to have been in Grand Teton and headed toward Yellowstone. She had been traveling around the country with her fiancée since July 2. On August 12, the couple interacted with police in Moab, who responded to a domestic dispute between the two. The fiancée returned home to North Port, Florida alone on September 1 and is considered "a person of interest" by law enforcement. The family of the missing person has stated publicly that the fiancée refuses to answer their questions about the last place he saw her or other questions about her whereabouts. The primary investigating authority is North Port Police Department, and the investigation is being supported by the FBI, NPS, and other local law enforcement agencies. Source: Buckrail, New York Times, The Kansas City Star
Grand Teton National Park — On Sunday, September 19, remains were found in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. They were confirmed to be those of G.P., 22, who was reported missing after last being heard from in Grand Teton. The coroner's determination of death is homicide. G.P. had been traveling with her partner, B.L., who is now wanted under a federal arrest warrant. B.L. was last seen in the couple's home town of North Port, Florida. The search for B.L. is currently focused in Carlton Reserve, a 25,000 acre nature reserve. B.L. is also wanted for unauthorized use of a debit card during the period in which Petito was missing. Source: CNN, News4Jax
On October 21, park law enforcement received a call expressing concern about a visitor's welfare after an interaction with him outside the park's eastern boundary. His vehicle was located unattended at Game Warden Point parking area. A search was initiated by the NPS, Civil Air Patrol, and Wyoming Highway Patrol, and the victim's body was found on October 24 near Uhl Hill. The incident is under investigation. Source: CBS News
On October 16, NPS staff, in coordination with USFWS and Wyoming Game and Fish Department, put down a 4-year-old female grizzly bear that was known to be "highly food-conditioned" and exhibiting "increasingly bold behavior" toward humans over two years. Source: Jackson Hole News and Guide
The park is asking visitors to slow down and pay attention, as drivers have killed five bison, one elk, one mule deer, one pronghorn, one coyote, and one wolf pup in the last two weeks. Source: East Idaho News
Grand Teton National Park — The remains of B.L. were found on October 20 in Myakkahatachee Creek Environmental Park in Florida. B.L. was the only person of interest and chief suspect in the murder of his fiancée G.P., who was last heard from by her family while visiting Grand Teton and later found dead by strangulation in the nearby Bridger-Teton National Forest. B.L.'s remains had been submerged underwater for a period of time and were identified by dental records. An initial autopsy was inconclusive as to cause of death, and the investigation is ongoing. The investigation of G.P.'s death is also ongoing. Source: CNN, NBC New York
On January 22, a snowboarder started an small avalanche in Silver Couloir, above where two skiers were climbing up. One of the skiers was washed down the couloir and injured an ankle. Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received word of the incident via an InReach satellite device. The skier was able to scoot to a landing zone in Shadow Peak Cirque and a Teton County Search and Rescue helicopter was able to transport rangers there to help load the patient. The patient was flown to Windy Point Turnout on Teton Park Road, where a friend of the skier was able to pick them up. Source: Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park — The Federal Bureau of Investigation released final details of the murder of Gabby Petito, who was last heard from while visiting the park and later found in the nearby Bridger-Teton National Forest. Her fiancée B.L. alluded authorities for almost a month until found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Myakkahatche Creek Environmental Park in Florida. B.L. was determined to be the only suspect in the case, and a notebook found near his body revealed statements claiming responsibility for Petito's death. Source: Yellowstone InsiderFederal Bureau of Investigation
On February 13, a 27-year-old skier was witnessed falling in Apocalypse Couloir in Death Canyon. NPS rangers, Teton County Search and Rescue personnel, and a Teton County Search and Rescue helicopter responded to provide medical care. Resuscitation efforts were attempted, but were unsuccessful due to the victim's injuries. Four other skiers in the party were transported out of the canyon via helicopter. Source: Buckrail
On March 31 at 7:30pm, Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a call from a 27-year-old backcountry skier who reported he was unable to make it out of the mountains due to whiteout conditions. He had climbed the Koven Couloir on Mount Owen, planning to ski it, then decided he wanted to attempt the Cathedral Traverse. He climbed the East Prong, realized he would not be able to reverse course, and conditions began to deteriorate once he reached the top of East Prong. The skier was connected with a ranger, who discussed the skier's plan to stay overnight in a snow cave he had dug out, and ski out with better visibility in the morning. The mountains received over a foot of new snow that evening. On the morning of April 1, the skier sent a text message at 6:30am to report that he was awake and doing okay, and rangers asked him to advise them of their progress and plans. At 7am, the skier called to let them know he was unable to safely proceed due to technical and risky terrain. At 10:30am, NPS staff and Teton County Search and Rescue jointly responded in a TCSAR helicopter to rescue the individual via short haul to the Jenny Lake Rescue Cache. The skier was uninjured. Source: Grand Teton National Park
A 37-year-old has been charged with 10 misdemeanors from incidents on March 27 within the park, including reckless driving, having an open alcoholic container, speeding at 132 mph, driving under the influence, having expired license permits, attempting to elude police officers, driving on a suspended license, lack of insurance coverage, and failure to display a license plate. The individual was arrested after a high speed chase that involved five officers and ended when the suspect ran into traffic at the Gros Ventre roundabout. The suspect pleaded not guilty and was released on bail. Source: Jackson Hole News and Guide June 15, 2022 On June 21, 2021, a 40-year-old provided false information to NPS investigators about a missing person. The suspect gave an elaborate description about a fake interaction that led the search astray and wasted an estimated 532 hours of search time and roughly $17,600. Witnesses reported the suspect fabricated the sighting to ensure search efforts continued. Under a Deferred Prosecution Agreement, the individual has received a ban from Grand Teton National Park for five years and was ordered to pay $17,600 restitution to the Department of the Treasury. June 8 marked one year of the missing person's disappearance and search efforts will continue this summer. Source: Grand Teton National Park July 13, 2022 A judge has determined that Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt, the parents of Gabby Petito, may proceed with a lawsuit against Christopher and Robert Laundrie, the parents of Brian Laundrie. Petito's disappearance and murder in the Grand Teton area and the subsequent fugitive hunt for Laundrie were highly publicized nationwide. Laundrie was found dead by self-inflicted gunshot, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation found nearby evidence that incriminated Laundrie with Petito's death. The lawsuit claims that the Laundries concealed from authorities that their son had confessed the murder and that they intentionally inflicted emotional distress. Source: Buckrail August 24, 2022 On August 8, the NPS was made aware of a 21-year-old at Surprise Lake who was "disoriented." NPS staff were flown via the Teton Interagency helicopter and transported the patient via short-haul to Lupine Meadows, and then transferred the patient to an ambulance that brought them to St. Johns Health. Later that afternoon, a 22-year-old sustained a back injury after jumping into Phelps Lake from a rock known as "Jump Rock." Other members of their party called for help. NPS staff were flown to the location via the Teton Interagency helicopter, and the patient was transported via short-haul to White Grass Ranch. The patient declined further medical transport from there. The following morning, a 24-year-old climber took a several-hundred-foot un-roped fall on the traverse between Teewinot Mountain and Mount Owen. The other member of the party reported the incident, saying that the individual had a severe head injury and possibly broken bones in the extremities. NPS staff were flown to the location via the Teton Interagency helicopter. The patient was treated and flown to Lupine Meadows, where they received further medical treatment. They were then transported via Air Idaho Rescue to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. Source: Grand Teton National Park
An individual pled guilty to counts of property damage and operating a motor vehicle off road for holding what is believed to be nine years of illegal motorbike races in the Mormon Row area of the park. The individual was sentenced to 18 months of unsupervised probation and over $8,000 in fines. A witness video from July 2020 was the primary evidence. Source: Powell Tribune
On November 8, a collision occurred near Teton Point Turnout, involving a semi-truck and an SUV. The two occupants from the SUV were transported by ambulance to St. John's Medical Center. One died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash, and the other was treated and released. The semi-truck driver was treated on scene and released. Wyoming Highway Patrol is conducting an investigation. Source: East Idaho News
On January 16, a snowboarder was caught in an avalanche on the west side of Albright Peak and swept 600 feet into Death Canyon, hitting several objects before coming to rest against a tree. A member of the injured person's party called 911 and provided location information. NPS staff and Teton County Search and Rescue responded, including a TCSAR helicopter. The rescue crew located the injured individual and determined the patient could walk a short distance to the helicopter. The patient and two uninjured members of their party were flown to a landing zone near the Teton Park Road, where they met a waiting ambulance. The helicopter returned for the remaining two rescuers and the fourth member of the patient's party. After further assessment by the ambulance crew, the patient refused additional medical care and self-transported to St. John's Hospital. Observation of the avalanche site showed the total avalanche ran 2,400 feet, was 300 feet wide, and varied from one to five feet deep. Avalanche danger had been forecast as "moderate." Source: Grand Teton National Park February 8, 2023 On January 27, a law enforcement ranger attempted to make contact with a vehicle that was parked in the road at Jackson Lake Junction. As soon as the ranger put on their patrol vehicle lights, the driver fled the scene in their vehicle. The individual drove at speeds of up to 90 miles per hour for 24 miles from the Moran area to Highway 89. Due to the poor weather conditions and the risks involved, officers did not pursue the vehicle, and instead deployed spike strips at the Glacier View Turnout. All northbound traffic was stopped at Moose Junction, snowplow operations were paused, and Teton County Sheriff's Office deputies were staged at the Gros Ventre roundabout. The driver passed through the spike strips and continued southbound until passing another NPS officer, and they then pulled over. The 54-year-old driver was placed in custody and charged with obstructing traffic, speeding, violation of a traffic control device, unsafe operations, fleeing, and eluding. It was discovered that the individual had been cited by NPS officials an hour before the chase began because they got their vehicle stuck in a closed area north of Flagg Ranch, south of the southern entrance to Yellowstone. They had received a citation to appear by a Yellowstone law enforcement ranger for operating a non-oversnow vehicle on an oversnow route. Source: Jackson Hole News and Guide February 22, 2023 The 52-year-old who led law enforcement on a high speed chase through Grand Teton on January 27 after receiving a citation hours earlier in Yellowstone (see February 8, 2023 Coalition Report) has now been reported missing by friends and family. The individual has not been seen since January 30, the day they were released from Teton County Jail. The individual is due to appear in federal court on February 28 for an arraignment. Source: Jackson Hole News and Guide
On June 4, two individuals were observed approaching and touching a bison calf at the southern end of Elk Ranch Flats. The park has images of the incident and is asking the public for any information they might have about the incident or the individuals. Source: Grand Teton National Park
On May 25, the amount of water leaving the Jackson Lake Dam spiked from a steady 280 cubic feet per second at 7 pm to 1,500 cfs by 8:30 pm. Water flows then returned to 280 cfs around 11 pm. The Bureau of Reclamation has said that this was not a planned release and they are investigating the matter. The impacts of the surge on downstream ecosystems is said to be "minimal" and "didn't cause any harm." The BOR had recently run into disagreement with the Wyoming State Game and Fish Department over flow rates. The BOR had wanted to put the river at 50 cfs to prevent overage flows on the downstream Milner Dam, while Game and Fish wanted higher flows to protect fisheries in Oxbow Bend. A compromise was reached at 280 cfs. River runners and environmentalists have also criticized the low flows, leading to speculation that the flow spike may have been an instance of "monkeywrenching." The investigation is ongoing. Source: Jackson Hole News and Guide
On June 8, a bridge over Sheffield Creek, near the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway, collapsed and washed away. The bridge leads to the Sheffield Campground on the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Five families and concession employees were stranded at the campground. NPS staff were contacted and were able to find a bridge in their maintenance facilities that was no longer in use. Within 24 hours, they cut it from 62-feet to 45-feet, reinforced it, added safety edges, hauled it to the site, and set it in place. They tested the weight limit and were able to allow the group to cross the river. Source: Jackson Hole News and Guide
On June 24, a helicopter landed illegally at Moran Bay on the west shore of Jackson Lake. The individual claimed they landed there due to poor weather, while NPS officials said that when they reached the aircraft, the pilot and a passenger were "having a picnic." On July 10, the pilot was charged with two federal misdemeanor violations for landing in an illegal place and using an aircraft outside of Federal Aviation Administration guidelines. The individual will appear in front of a federal judge in August. This is the individual's second time being cited for illegal helicopter use in a park; the other was in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. The individual paid a $530 fine for that incident in February. The individual owns a company related to aircraft, but it is unclear whether either of these incidents is related to the business. Source: USA Today, KFYR
On July 20, an individual fell 40 to 50 feet while climbing on the Owen Chimney pitch on the Owen-Spalding route of the Grand Teton. NPS staff responded to the scene, and the individual was found deceased from their fall injuries. The individual's body was transported from the scene by helicopter short-haul and transferred to the Teton County (WY) Coroner's Office. The individual's two climbing partners were also helicoptered from the scene to the Jenny Lake Search and Rescue Cache at Lupine Meadows. Source: Grand Teton National Park
On August 11, a hiker fell off the west side of Teewinot Mountain. The hiker was one in a group of eight climbing the mountain. Upon arrival on scene, NPS rangers found the individual deceased due to "significant injuries during the fall." The individual's body was carried by helicopter short-haul from the scene and turned over to the Teton County (WY) Coroner's Office. The seven other members of the party were flown to the Jenny Lake Search and Rescue Cache at Lupine Meadows and transported to their vehicles at the trailhead. Source: Buckrail
Black bears have accessed human food several times recently along lakeshores in the park, including an incident with an unattended backpack on August 11 at Phelps Lake. The park is working to educate the public on not leaving food unattended, particularly while swimming, and reporting bear-human interactions to park staff. Source: Grand Teton National Park
In July, a hot air balloon carrying six passengers landed in the park. The pilot said that they were trying to return to their launch point at Snake River Ranch, but an unexpected wind took the craft into the Jackson Hole Airport airspace. Airport staff directed the balloon to land immediately, which they did. The pilot was charged with a Class B misdemeanor for illegally landing in the park. The bench trial for the incident occurred on October 17 and additional arguments were filed on November 7. A verdict has not yet been announced. Source: Cowboy State Daily
On Februrary 4, a 29-year-old was backcountry skiing with a group of four others near the top of Banana Couloir on Prospectors Mountain when they triggered an avalanche. Three of the individuals were able to self-arrest. One skier was carried 500 feet and the 29-year-old was carried 1,500 vertical feet. Neither skier was fully buried by the slide. The 29-year-old sustained serious injuries. The park requested helicopter assistance from Teton County Search and Rescue. They were able to short-haul the injured skier off the mountain to an NPS ambulance at Windy Point Turnout. The other four skiers were able to ski out on their own. Source: Grand Teton National Park
On May 19, while on a hiking and photography outing around the Signal Mountain Summit Road, a 35-year-old suddenly saw a grizzly bear cub running up a hill, about 70 yards away. The individual immediately took out their bear repellent and then saw an adult grizzly charging. They attempted to yell and deploy the spray but were attacked before being able to use it. While the bear attacked, the individual pretended to be dead, lying prone, and covered their neck with their hands, still holding onto the bear spray. The bear bit and scratched them several times, then bit into the can of bear repellent and was "hit with a burst of it," causing it to flee. The individual utilized their gear to improvise tourniquets to slow bleeding on their legs and called 911 to request help. Personnel from the NPS and Teton County Search and Rescue responded to the scene and the individual was airlifted by helicopter, transferred to an ambulance, and transported to St. John's Hospital. The patient was said to be in stable condition and "expected to fully recover." Park officials stated that they will not capture or kill the grizzly because it was protecting a cub, not engaging in habituated behaviors. The Signal Mountain Summit Road and Signal Mountain Trail were temporarily closed to the public and have since reopened. Source: Grand Teton National Park, CBS News, NBC News
On May 31, a federal judge heard proceedings in a full-day trial for a misdemeanor charge of obstructing traffic related to an October 2023 incident in the park. The defendant, a 78-year-old well-known photographer, was charged with operating a vehicle slowly enough to interfere with the normal flow of traffic while documenting the aftermath of a suspected vehicle strike that injured the bear known as "Grizzly 610." Rangers testified in court that the unknown location of the bear's three yearling cubs, combined with commercial vehicles traveling through the corridor, as well as it being a 55-mph zone, made the situation unsafe. The defendant's attorney argued that no cars were seen behind the individual's car on body cam footage and that they did not stop in the roadway except when the three yearling cubs crossed in front of their car. The individual also argued that the park has applied the law unequally, not charging any other people on scene and claiming in court that "[a local] should know better [than a visitor]." The individual had been given a similar citation before, in 2020, which was dismissed. Source: Jackson Hole News and Guide
On June 15, a 43-year-old was paddling with a friend on Jackson Lake from Elk Island towards Waterfalls Canyon when they went missing. The friend lost sight of the individual around 2 PM and had to turn around due to high winds on the lake. They reported the individual missing to NPS staff at Leeks Marina. Rescuers found the individual's kayak, paddle, and dry bag floating off Moose Island. As of June 23, the individual had not been located. Source: Grand Teton National Park Facebook page, FOX9
On June 18, the 78-year-old well-known photographer accused of operating a vehicle so slowly as to interfere with traffic in order to take pictures of a grizzly bear (see 6/12/24 Coalition Report) was found guilty in federal court. The individual is scheduled to be sentenced on June 27. The individual has stated that they will appeal the decision. Source: Nebraska Examiner/WyoFile
The individual that illegally landed a helicopter on the west shore of Jackson Lake in June 2023 (see 7/26/23 Coalition Report) pleaded guilty to not carrying their pilot's license and illegally operating an aircraft on NPS land. The individual was fined $5,550 and will serve two years unsupervised probation and a two-year ban from Grand Teton. Source: Jackson Hole News and Guide
On May 10 at 9:30 PM, during a time of high roadside visitation to watch the aurora borealis, a 58-year-old drove at speeds of up to 127 miles per hour in areas where the speed limit is 45 MPH. They struck and killed an elk, continued driving a few miles, then abandoned the vehicle near the Gros Ventre Campground before obtaining a ride out of the park. The individual pleaded guilty to reckless driving, speeding, failing to notify authorities of a motor vehicle accident, and impermissibly removing a motor vehicle from the scene of an accident. They were recently sentenced to three days of incarceration, and $1,820 in fines and court costs. Source: Cap City News
On August 28, a hiker fell between 300 and 400 feet off Arikaree Peak, located in the Indian Peaks Wilderness of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests to the south of Rocky Mountain National Park. The recovery efforts for the individual "went through a series of pauses...because of inclement weather and dangerous terrain." On October 3, ten agencies participated in a specialized search and recovery of the individual, including staff from Grand Teton National Park and Teton County (WY) Search and Rescue. They were able to offer "additional equipment and technical expertise" to the rescue. Other participating agencies included Grand County (CO) Sheriff's Department, Grand County Coroner's Office, Colorado Search and Rescue, Boulder County, Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, Alpine Rescue Team, Colorado Army National Guard, Med Evac, and the U.S. Forest Service. Source: The Denver Post
On September 2, a 32-year-old professional "mountain runner" attempted to set a speed record for the ascent and descent of the Grand Teton. In doing so, the individual cut a switchback, a park violation. The individual's route choice was published on their Strava account, as well as in their narrative description of the event. The individual was charged for their behavior. A park spokesperson stated, "It was a very public violation of NPS regulations, shared in such a public way by this influencer and sponsored athlete in association with [their] effort to achieve the fastest known time goal." The individual faces a court appearance for the misdemeanor on November 19, with the possibility of a fine of up to $5,000 and/or six months in jail. The site FastestKnownTime.com, which serves as "arbiter" of speed records, is not recognizing the record because of the violation of park rules. Furthermore, The North Face, a sponsor of the athlete, took down its post and narrative about the event after receiving backlash from the public. Source: Jackson Hole News and Guide
On October 22, the grizzly known as #399 was struck and killed by a vehicle on Highway 26/89 in Snake River Canyon, south of Jackson, Wyoming, outside of park boundaries. The grizzly was well-known due to her status as the oldest known grizzly bear to be still producing offspring, at 28-years-old. She was known to be with a yearling cub at the time of the accident. The status of the cub is unknown. Source: Grand Teton National Park
The ashes of the grizzly bear known as #399, which was hit and killed by a vehicle on October 22 (see 10/30/24 Coalition Report), were returned to the Pilgrim Creek area of Grand Teton, where the bear spent most of her life. The cremation and interment were coordinated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NPS, in response to "considerable public interest regarding how to honor the bear's legacy." Source: Grand Teton National Park | |