JACKSON, Wyo. — Today, Feb. 15, marks 11 years since the tragic helicopter crash that took the life of founding Teton County Search and Rescue (TCSAR) member Ray Shriver.
On Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012, Shriver, along with TCSAR volunteer Mike Moyer and helicopter pilot, Ken Johnson, responded to an emergency call for an injured snowmobiler in the Togwotee area.
The skies were clear and blue that February day but the helicopter went down quickly in the Togwotee Pass area after landing and then taking back off again. Shriver passed away from his injuries while a TCSAR team was en route to the crash site.
Moyer and Johnson survived the accident. Shriver’s sons, Matt and Zack, and Moyer recounted the experience in a two-part series on the Fine Line podcast.
The Fine Line is produced by Backcountry Zero with support from the Teton County Search and Rescue Foundation and aims to reduce fatalities in the backcountry.
This morning, TCSAR shared an Instagram post honoring Shriver and thanking TCSAR volunteers and their families for the sacrifices they make in order to help others.
“Ray was a tremendous mentor to me and the entire team. He was also the hardest-working guy on TCSAR. No slack Shriver! He really led by example and is a huge reason why the team is where it is today,” said Chris Stiehl, TCSAR volunteer since 2000.
The Shriver Society was created in his honor. The society consists of donors who support TCSAR and who make long-term significant contributions to the volunteer team.
According to Teton County Search and Rescue Foundation, “during his nearly 20 years of service, Ray volunteered more hours to rescues and training than anyone else in Teton County history. Ray specialized in training canines and his search dogs were renowned.”
Shriver served on the TCSAR team from its inception in 1993 until his death in 2012.
