JACKSON, Wyo. — On Tuesday, Feb. 11, Teton County Search and Rescue (TCSAR) shared information about two rescues involving skiers and snowboarders in the backcountry.
According to the Facebook post, the first rescue occurred on Saturday, Feb. 8, at approximately 11:30 a.m. TCSAR was notified of three snowboarders – one adult male, one 18-year-old female and one 16-year-old male – stranded out of bounds in the Grand Targhee backcountry. Everyone was reported uninjured, but unable to return to the resort or find a safe descent through complex terrain.
According to TCSAR, the group was reportedly not carrying backcountry safety equipment.
TCSAR confirms that Grand Targhee Ski Patrol made initial contact and requested helicopter assistance from TCSAR due to the steep terrain. A TCSAR pilot and short-haul team flew in and initially extricated two members, then returned for the third snowboarder and a TCSAR volunteer who stayed with him. According to TCSAR, all were flown to the Teton Canyon Trailhead before the team refueled in Driggs and returned to Jackson.
“TCSAR appreciates the coordination and efforts from Grand Targhee Ski Patrol to help resolve this incident,” the post reads.
The second rescue occurred on Monday, Feb. 10, at 10:15 a.m. when two backcountry skiers on the south side of Teton Pass called 911 after encountering a male skier experiencing a medical issue.
TCSAR writes that a TCSAR short-haul team was about to begin routine training in Jackson at that time, so the pilot and three volunteers immediately diverted to the scene in Olympic Bowl. The helicopter dropped off two volunteers who skied to the patient and initiated treatment.
“Given his condition, they called for a short-haul operation, lifting him to an ambulance near the top of Teton Pass,” TCSAR writes.
The time from the 911 call to ambulance transfer was only 40 minutes. TCSAR stresses the importance of calling 911 at the first sign of an emergency, even when details are unclear.
