JACKSON, Wyo. — Teton County Search and Rescue (TCSAR) made an early season rescue from the Teton Crest Trail on Monday afternoon.
The full Teton Crest Trail runs approximately 39 miles between Phillips Pass and String Lake in Grand Teton National Park (GTNP). According to the park, the full route includes over 9,000 feet of elevation gain and “is best enjoyed over multiple days. … The route is very popular and the camping zones along this trail are full almost every night late July through early September.”
TCSAR received the call just before 1 p.m. on Monday, reporting that two out-of-state backpackers ages 20 and 22 in a group of four were vomiting and having difficulty walking through the snow. Their first call came from south of Hurricane Pass in Alaska Basin, TCSAR shared via social media.
When the TCSAR volunteer spoke to the hiking party, they indicated they would attempt to hike the rest of the trail. They called back an hour later and said the two hikers could not continue.
Volunteers responded in the helicopter, which landed near the hikers, who were loaded internally and flown back to TCSAR headquarters. The mission was complete in 4 hours and 1 minute. The team had also readied a ground team in case of inclement weather.
“This incident serves as a good reminder that the Tetons are still holding quite a bit of snow above 9,500 feet, which can make traveling on foot difficult and dangerous,” TCSAR posted Tuesday. “Hikers should be prepared to use ice axes and crampons, and be acclimatized for high alpine adventures.”
