JACKSON, Wyo. — Teton County Idaho Search and Rescue (TCISAR), Exum Mountain Guides and the American Avalanche Institute (AAI) paid homage to longtime mountain guide and avalanche expert Rod Newcomb. Newcomb passed away at the age of 91 in Jackson on Thursday, Oct. 9.
WyoFile reported that Newcomb died of natural causes and was surrounded by family.
The TCISAR and AAI shared on Facebook that Newcomb, who founded the AAI in 1974, was a pioneer in professional avalanche education in North America.
“It is with great sadness and profound gratitude we honor the passing of our founder, mentor and friend Rod Newcomb,” the AAI wrote via Facebook. “Rod’s insatiable curiosity and dedication to his craft left a profound impact on AAI, our instructors, his thousands of students and the entire US Avalanche community. We are all better for what Rod gave us. Thank you Rod, we’re honored to carry the legacy forward.”
Newcomb shared his expertise and love of the mountains as a former co-owner of Exum Mountain Guides. According to Exum, Newcomb climbed the Grand Teton more than 400 times, including a one-day ascent at age 75. Exum wrote on its website that Newcomb celebrated his 55th season of climbing the Grand Teton with the ascent in July 2009, along with his son Mark Newcomb, who serves as chairman on the Teton County Board of County Commissioners.
“Rod kept the hammer down the entire trip, taking only short breaks and leading a couple pitches on the Owen-Spalding route,” Exum wrote. “The only other folks on the mountain that day were five other Exum guides and their 10 clients, all of whom were on or near the summit as Mark and Rod topped out.”
Mark Newcomb told WyoFile that his father “devoted his career to giving people the tools they could use to build whatever they wanted out of their lives.”
Newcomb is survived by his wife, Anne, daughters Lisa and Maria, son Mark and four grandchildren.
