SAR chopper in the air this afternoon. (Brian James Facebook)
JACKSON HOLE, WYO – As sun-warmed snow got hot and heavy this afternoon, at least two slides were reported in the backcountry involving Teton County Search and Rescue.
Search and Rescue was called out on an incident on Taylor Mountain earlier this afternoon. According to Sheriff’s Office Lt. Matt Carr, a party of four reported one of their members had been caught up in an avalanche on the west side of Taylor Mountain in the area of Squaw Basin.
A 48-year-old male snowboarder was swept into a tree and sustained injury to his lower leg. The victim was short-hauled from the mountain to the Coal Creek parking lot where he was transported by ground to St. John’s Medical Center.
During the mission, Search and Rescue was notified by ski patrol at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort that they were concerned about tracks leading into avalanche debris on No Name Peak but no tracks could be seen coming out.
Since the SAR helicopter was already in the air, it was dispatched to the resort for a flyover to try to ascertain whether anyone appeared to be caught in the avalanche at JHMR.
SAR member Jess King said it did not appear anyone was caught in that slide and Search and Rescue has now stood down from that call.
