Three skiers unintentionally ended up in Grand Teton National Park's Granite Canyon backcountry on Friday, February 7, prompting a search and rescue mission by park rangers the following day during a significant winter storm. Despite a high and rising avalanche danger, park rescuers successfully assisted the three out of the Teton backcountry by 9:30 p.m. Saturday, February 8.
Tom Barry, 59, of Jackson, Wyoming, Zoe Tong, 49, and Dave Catero, 52, from San Francisco, California, left the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort boundary from Gate 1 at about 11 a.m. on Friday with the intention of skiing an area called Four Pines, adjacent to the ski resort. The three mistakenly skied into Granite Canyon instead, and became lost in Grand Teton's more remote backcountry.
By 4 p.m. Friday, the three skiers realized they were lost, so they decided to dig a snow cave and stay put for the night. By Saturday morning, the group was out of food and water, and only one of them was carrying an avalanche transceiver. They decided to send a text message to a friend indicating they were lost and needed help.
Teton County Sheriff's Office dispatchers received the call for help, and notified park rangers at 8:30 a.m. The skiers were able to provide their location by GPS coordinates derived from their cell phone, and through a text message, rangers determined that no one in the party was injured. Due to high winds and low visibility, a helicopter reconnaissance and rescue was not possible, so rangers prepared for a ground-based rescue.
Rangers spent most of the day weighing options to help the trio while analyzing the risk to rescuers. With concerns that the three might not survive a second night in the backcountry, rangers ultimately decided to attempt a rescue. If rescuers had encountered signs of slope instability, or if the avalanche danger had been any higher, rangers would not have attempted the rescue. Ultimately, four park rangers departed the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort on skis at 4:00 p.m. Saturday and reached the party at 7:30 p.m. The group was then escorted out of the backcountry and back to the base of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.
Rangers remind backcountry users and those who leave the ski resort boundary that a rescue is not guaranteed. Pursing these activities requires a high level of personal accountability and responsibility. All members of a backcountry party should have appropriate avalanche gear, including a transceiver, shovel, and probe. Backcountry skiers and snowboarders need to be prepared to spend more time than anticipated by bringing extra clothing, high energy snacks and water. They should also consider their physical limitations and time restrictions when choosing a destination, and bring a map of the area and know how to use it before setting out.
The Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center reported the avalanche danger as "considerable" to "high" on Saturday with increasing danger due to strong winds, warming temperatures and abundant new snow. It's important to note that the avalanche forecast center does not provide reports for extreme terrain.
This was the first major search and rescue in Grand Teton National Park this winter.
Jeff
Hiking in Glacier National Park
Showing posts with label Search and Rescue. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Search and Rescue. Show all posts
Monday, February 10, 2014
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Rangers Rescue Stranded Climber from Middle Teton
An Olympia, Washington man who became stranded on the Middle Teton on Monday, July 9, was rescued by Grand Teton National Park rangers the following day. Eric Rohner, 27, intended a solo summit of the Middle Teton on Monday but traveled off route and became 'cliffed out.' Rohner ended up in a location from which he did not feel he could safely get down without risk of injury.
Rohner placed a 911 call for help just after 1 a.m. Tuesday morning. The call was received by Teton Valley, Idaho and transferred to Teton Interagency Dispatch Center in Grand Teton National Park. The ranger who was scheduled to coordinated rescues on Monday was able to communicate directly with Rohner via cell phone and determine that he had enough food and water, as well as appropriate gear and extra clothing, to spend the night on the Middle Teton. Rescue operations began at 4:30 Tuesday morning as two rangers started hiking at first light.
Rangers were not able to locate Rohner from the ground. Fortunately, a Teton Interagency contract helicopter was scheduled to be at Lupine Meadows for short-haul training that day, so rangers decided to deploy that ship for a reconnaissance flight to pinpoint Rohner's location on the mountain.
During a 10:15 a.m. flight, rangers and the helicopter pilot determined the best rescue plan was to short-haul Rohner from his precarious location to a landing zone in the South Fork of Garnet Canyon. From there, park rangers escorted Rohner down the canyon. A technical lowering and rescue by ground was estimated to require six people and approximately six hours to perform, exposing more rescuers to hazardous terrain for a longer period of time.
Once in a hazardous situation, Rohner made sound decisions; he stayed put, called for help, followed rescuer instructions, and he was prepared to spend an unexpected night having brought extra food, water, and clothing. This decision may very well have prevented Rohner from getting seriously injured or worse.
The Middle Teton is viewed as having a relatively straightforward route to a high summit. However, it is imperative that climbers attempting the summit have good route finding skills, pay attention to where they are, and follow the directions of park rangers. Tempting shortcuts and a lack of attention, among other factors, have resulted in a need for numerous rescue operations on this peak.
Short-haul is a rescue technique where an individual is suspended below the helicopter on a 100 to 200 foot rope. This method allows a rescuer more direct access to an injured party, and it is often used in the Teton Range where conditions make it difficult to land a helicopter in the steep and rocky terrain. This is the third major search and rescue in the mountain for summer 2012.
Jeff
Hiking in Glacier.com
Rohner placed a 911 call for help just after 1 a.m. Tuesday morning. The call was received by Teton Valley, Idaho and transferred to Teton Interagency Dispatch Center in Grand Teton National Park. The ranger who was scheduled to coordinated rescues on Monday was able to communicate directly with Rohner via cell phone and determine that he had enough food and water, as well as appropriate gear and extra clothing, to spend the night on the Middle Teton. Rescue operations began at 4:30 Tuesday morning as two rangers started hiking at first light.Rangers were not able to locate Rohner from the ground. Fortunately, a Teton Interagency contract helicopter was scheduled to be at Lupine Meadows for short-haul training that day, so rangers decided to deploy that ship for a reconnaissance flight to pinpoint Rohner's location on the mountain.
During a 10:15 a.m. flight, rangers and the helicopter pilot determined the best rescue plan was to short-haul Rohner from his precarious location to a landing zone in the South Fork of Garnet Canyon. From there, park rangers escorted Rohner down the canyon. A technical lowering and rescue by ground was estimated to require six people and approximately six hours to perform, exposing more rescuers to hazardous terrain for a longer period of time.
Once in a hazardous situation, Rohner made sound decisions; he stayed put, called for help, followed rescuer instructions, and he was prepared to spend an unexpected night having brought extra food, water, and clothing. This decision may very well have prevented Rohner from getting seriously injured or worse.
The Middle Teton is viewed as having a relatively straightforward route to a high summit. However, it is imperative that climbers attempting the summit have good route finding skills, pay attention to where they are, and follow the directions of park rangers. Tempting shortcuts and a lack of attention, among other factors, have resulted in a need for numerous rescue operations on this peak.
Short-haul is a rescue technique where an individual is suspended below the helicopter on a 100 to 200 foot rope. This method allows a rescuer more direct access to an injured party, and it is often used in the Teton Range where conditions make it difficult to land a helicopter in the steep and rocky terrain. This is the third major search and rescue in the mountain for summer 2012.
Jeff
Hiking in Glacier.com
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Rangers Conduct First Mountain SAR of Season in Grand Tetons
Grand Teton National Park rangers conducted the first short-haul rescue of the 2012 summer season late in the afternoon on Wednesday, June 6. Danielle Mendicino, 21, of Las Vegas, Nevada was attempting to summit Albright Peak (10,552 ft.) with a climbing partner when she slipped on snow and fell approximately 50 feet before coming to rest in a rocky talus field.
Park rangers were completing a day of short-haul training when Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received the call for help just before 5 p.m. Two rangers boarded a Teton Interagency contract helicopter from the training site and accompanied the pilot for a reconnaissance flight of Albright Peak and the Death Canyon area. During the initial flight, the pilot and rangers located the injured climber and determined they would land the helicopter on the summit of Albright Peak. At 5:50 p.m. one ranger exited the ship on the summit and descended about 750 feet, reaching Mendicino at 6:10 p.m.
Once on scene, the ranger stabilized Mendicino's injuries and prepared her for a short-haul extraction in an aerial evacuation suit. At 7:05 p.m. Mendicino was flown via short-haul to the historic White Grass Dude Ranch where she was met by a park ambulance just five minutes later and transported to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson, Wyoming. Mendicino's injuries prevented her from hiking out on her own. Rangers estimated that it would have likely taken 12 rangers approximately 10 hours to perform a ground evacuation over rough, steep, and difficult terrain, exposing many more rangers to the hazardous terrain.
Short-haul is a rescue technique where an individual is suspended below the helicopter on a 100 to 200 foot rope. This method allows a rescuer more direct access to an injured party, and it is often used in the Teton Range where conditions make it difficult to land a helicopter in the steep and rocky terrain. Patients are typically flown out via short-haul with a ranger attending to them below the helicopter, as was the case for this rescue.
Mendicino was carrying an ice axe, but was unable to self-arrest. Additionally, Mendicino was not properly equipped for her intended trip; she was wearing tennis shoes, and did not have experience on snow.
Officials warn that backcountry users should be in good physical condition and stick to hikes and routes that are within their ability and comfort levels. Appropriate equipment, and the knowledge of how to use it, is essential for a safe trip. Rangers remind backcountry users that variable snow conditions persist above 9,000 feet. Hikers, climbers and skiers should also note that most accidents involve slips on snow or ice, and most occur on the descent at the end of the day. Users are advised to stop in or call a visitor center or ranger station on the day of travel to obtain the most current trail, route and snow conditions.
Jeff
Hiking in Glacier.com
Park rangers were completing a day of short-haul training when Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received the call for help just before 5 p.m. Two rangers boarded a Teton Interagency contract helicopter from the training site and accompanied the pilot for a reconnaissance flight of Albright Peak and the Death Canyon area. During the initial flight, the pilot and rangers located the injured climber and determined they would land the helicopter on the summit of Albright Peak. At 5:50 p.m. one ranger exited the ship on the summit and descended about 750 feet, reaching Mendicino at 6:10 p.m. Once on scene, the ranger stabilized Mendicino's injuries and prepared her for a short-haul extraction in an aerial evacuation suit. At 7:05 p.m. Mendicino was flown via short-haul to the historic White Grass Dude Ranch where she was met by a park ambulance just five minutes later and transported to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson, Wyoming. Mendicino's injuries prevented her from hiking out on her own. Rangers estimated that it would have likely taken 12 rangers approximately 10 hours to perform a ground evacuation over rough, steep, and difficult terrain, exposing many more rangers to the hazardous terrain.
Short-haul is a rescue technique where an individual is suspended below the helicopter on a 100 to 200 foot rope. This method allows a rescuer more direct access to an injured party, and it is often used in the Teton Range where conditions make it difficult to land a helicopter in the steep and rocky terrain. Patients are typically flown out via short-haul with a ranger attending to them below the helicopter, as was the case for this rescue.
Mendicino was carrying an ice axe, but was unable to self-arrest. Additionally, Mendicino was not properly equipped for her intended trip; she was wearing tennis shoes, and did not have experience on snow.
Officials warn that backcountry users should be in good physical condition and stick to hikes and routes that are within their ability and comfort levels. Appropriate equipment, and the knowledge of how to use it, is essential for a safe trip. Rangers remind backcountry users that variable snow conditions persist above 9,000 feet. Hikers, climbers and skiers should also note that most accidents involve slips on snow or ice, and most occur on the descent at the end of the day. Users are advised to stop in or call a visitor center or ranger station on the day of travel to obtain the most current trail, route and snow conditions.
Jeff
Hiking in Glacier.com
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Lost Snowboarders Rescued in Grand Teton National Park
NPS Digest is reporting that rangers in Grand Teton National Park conducted their first backcountry search and rescue operation of the 2011/12 winter season on Monday night.
Joe Tauro, 55, and Mike Fasciolli, 36, both from New Jersey, left the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort just before 3 p.m. on Monday. Their plan was to go to the Rock Springs Bowl, but they went the wrong way and ended up in Granite Canyon inside the park instead.
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Ski Patrol first received notification that they needed help around 7 p.m. Teton County Search and Rescue was notified, and members of that team were able to ping the GPS location of the pair from their cell phone and determine that they were in the park’s backcountry. The Teton Interagency Dispatch Center was notified of the out-of-bounds boarders at 7:30 p.m. Rangers were able to communicate directly with the duo via cell phone and determine that a search and rescue response was needed based on a medical condition of one of the two men, combined with their inadequate preparation for backcountry travel.
Rangers used a snowmobile to access the mouth of Granite Canyon and reached the pair around 10 p.m. at a location in the lower canyon. Although the snowboarders were not injured or in need of medical aid, they lacked winter backcountry experience and did not possess food, water, lights or the appropriate avalanche gear.
The Bridger-Teton National Forest Avalanche Center reported the general avalanche hazard for February 13th to be “moderate” above the 9,000 foot level and “low” for low elevations (6,000-7,500 feet). Backcountry users were also cautioned to be prepared with appropriate emergency equipment and the knowledge and skill of how to use such gear before attempting a winter excursion.
Jeff
Hiking in Glacier.com
Joe Tauro, 55, and Mike Fasciolli, 36, both from New Jersey, left the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort just before 3 p.m. on Monday. Their plan was to go to the Rock Springs Bowl, but they went the wrong way and ended up in Granite Canyon inside the park instead.
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Ski Patrol first received notification that they needed help around 7 p.m. Teton County Search and Rescue was notified, and members of that team were able to ping the GPS location of the pair from their cell phone and determine that they were in the park’s backcountry. The Teton Interagency Dispatch Center was notified of the out-of-bounds boarders at 7:30 p.m. Rangers were able to communicate directly with the duo via cell phone and determine that a search and rescue response was needed based on a medical condition of one of the two men, combined with their inadequate preparation for backcountry travel.
Rangers used a snowmobile to access the mouth of Granite Canyon and reached the pair around 10 p.m. at a location in the lower canyon. Although the snowboarders were not injured or in need of medical aid, they lacked winter backcountry experience and did not possess food, water, lights or the appropriate avalanche gear.
The Bridger-Teton National Forest Avalanche Center reported the general avalanche hazard for February 13th to be “moderate” above the 9,000 foot level and “low” for low elevations (6,000-7,500 feet). Backcountry users were also cautioned to be prepared with appropriate emergency equipment and the knowledge and skill of how to use such gear before attempting a winter excursion.
Jeff
Hiking in Glacier.com
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Cross-Country Skiers Rescued in Bowman Lake Area
This morning's NPS Digest is providing more details on the two cross-country skiers that were rescued after an unplanned, overnight bivouac near Bowman Lake this past weekend.
Glacier National Park, the Flathead County Search and Rescue Mountain Rescue Team, and the Kalispell Regional Medical Center’s A.L.E.R.T. air ambulance responded to and rescued two cross-country skiers who were lost and stranded overnight in the North Fork area of the park.
The married couple from Kalispell sent a 911 message using a SPOT messenger device, reporting that they were lost and stranded in the park. Flathead County dispatch received the message at approximately 8 p.m. on Saturday evening and determined that the message originated from a remote location approximately one mile north of the Akokala Creek Trail near Bowman Lake in the North Fork area of park (approximately six miles north of Polebridge). Park rangers were immediately notified and an incident team was organized.
Due to bad weather, downed trees, difficult trail conditions, darkness and overall unsafe conditions for ground or aerial searches, it was determined that a response would need to take place early Sunday morning. Operations resumed that day with rangers and members of the county’s rescue team snowshoeing and cross-country skiing toward their location. A helicopter joined them when weather conditions improved. The crew spotted tracks on the ground, landed briefly, and dropped off two crew members, who hiked a half mile to the couple’s location. They were treated at the scene and flown out. Rangers met them and transported them to the Polebridge Ranger Station. The couple then returned home.
It's a good thing the couple carried the SPOT messenger device with them. Moreover, based on local media reports, the couple was extremely conscientious about using the SOS device. In recent years, technology such as SPOT has been abused by people who aren't really in a search and rescue situation. There has been much controversy around people using the device out of convenience and putting SAR personnel in danger, not to mention the costs involved.
Jeff
Hiking in Glacier.com
Glacier National Park, the Flathead County Search and Rescue Mountain Rescue Team, and the Kalispell Regional Medical Center’s A.L.E.R.T. air ambulance responded to and rescued two cross-country skiers who were lost and stranded overnight in the North Fork area of the park.
The married couple from Kalispell sent a 911 message using a SPOT messenger device, reporting that they were lost and stranded in the park. Flathead County dispatch received the message at approximately 8 p.m. on Saturday evening and determined that the message originated from a remote location approximately one mile north of the Akokala Creek Trail near Bowman Lake in the North Fork area of park (approximately six miles north of Polebridge). Park rangers were immediately notified and an incident team was organized.
Due to bad weather, downed trees, difficult trail conditions, darkness and overall unsafe conditions for ground or aerial searches, it was determined that a response would need to take place early Sunday morning. Operations resumed that day with rangers and members of the county’s rescue team snowshoeing and cross-country skiing toward their location. A helicopter joined them when weather conditions improved. The crew spotted tracks on the ground, landed briefly, and dropped off two crew members, who hiked a half mile to the couple’s location. They were treated at the scene and flown out. Rangers met them and transported them to the Polebridge Ranger Station. The couple then returned home.
It's a good thing the couple carried the SPOT messenger device with them. Moreover, based on local media reports, the couple was extremely conscientious about using the SOS device. In recent years, technology such as SPOT has been abused by people who aren't really in a search and rescue situation. There has been much controversy around people using the device out of convenience and putting SAR personnel in danger, not to mention the costs involved.
Jeff
Hiking in Glacier.com
Friday, October 7, 2011
Dead Men Walking: Search and Rescue in US National Parks
The September 2009 issue of Wilderness and Environmental Medicine published the results of a study called Dead Men Walking: Search and Rescue in US National Parks.
The study was conducted by Travis W. Heggie PhD and Michael E. Amundson BS from the University of North Dakota to identify search and rescue (SAR) trends in US National Parks.
There are some interesting statistics and conclusions from the study that I thought hikers and backpackers might be interested in:
* From 1992 to 2007 (the time period for the study) there were 78,488 individuals involved in 65,439 SAR incidents. This translates into 4090 SAR incidents, on average, each year.
* These incidents ended with 2659 fatalities, 24,288 ill or injured individuals, and 13,212 saves during the 16-year period.
* On average there were 11.2 SAR incidents each day at an average cost of $895 per operation.
* Total SAR costs from 1992 to 2007 were $58,572,164.
* In 2005, 50% of the 2430 SAR operations occurred in just 5 NPS units: Grand Canyon National Park (307) and Gateway National Recreation Area (293) reported the most SAR operations. Yosemite, Rocky Mountain National Park and Nevada’s Lake Mead National Recreation Area rounded out the top 5.
* Yosemite National Park accounted for 25% of the total NPS SAR costs ($1.2 million); Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve ($29,310) and Denali National Park and Preserve ($18,345) had the highest average SAR costs.
* Hiking (48%) and boating (21%) were the most common activities requiring SAR assistance.
* Hiking (22.8%), suicides (12.1%), swimming (10.1%), and boating (10.1%) activities were the most common activities resulting in fatalities.
* On average, one person dies every other day throughout our national park system.
* The study revealed that during those 16 years, young males, day hikers, and boaters needed rescue more than anyone else.
Conclusions:
Without the presence of NPS personnel responding to SAR incidents, 1 in 5 (20%) of those requesting SAR assistance would be a fatality. Future research and the development of any prevention efforts should focus on the 5 NPS units where 50% of all SAR incidents are occurring.
Perhaps all of this will serve as a reminder to be extra careful while exploring our national parks, forests and wilderness areas, and to be thankful that there are emergency personnel close by if we need them.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
The study was conducted by Travis W. Heggie PhD and Michael E. Amundson BS from the University of North Dakota to identify search and rescue (SAR) trends in US National Parks.
There are some interesting statistics and conclusions from the study that I thought hikers and backpackers might be interested in:
* From 1992 to 2007 (the time period for the study) there were 78,488 individuals involved in 65,439 SAR incidents. This translates into 4090 SAR incidents, on average, each year.
* These incidents ended with 2659 fatalities, 24,288 ill or injured individuals, and 13,212 saves during the 16-year period.
* On average there were 11.2 SAR incidents each day at an average cost of $895 per operation.
* Total SAR costs from 1992 to 2007 were $58,572,164.
* In 2005, 50% of the 2430 SAR operations occurred in just 5 NPS units: Grand Canyon National Park (307) and Gateway National Recreation Area (293) reported the most SAR operations. Yosemite, Rocky Mountain National Park and Nevada’s Lake Mead National Recreation Area rounded out the top 5.
* Yosemite National Park accounted for 25% of the total NPS SAR costs ($1.2 million); Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve ($29,310) and Denali National Park and Preserve ($18,345) had the highest average SAR costs.
* Hiking (48%) and boating (21%) were the most common activities requiring SAR assistance.
* Hiking (22.8%), suicides (12.1%), swimming (10.1%), and boating (10.1%) activities were the most common activities resulting in fatalities.
* On average, one person dies every other day throughout our national park system.
* The study revealed that during those 16 years, young males, day hikers, and boaters needed rescue more than anyone else.
Conclusions:
Without the presence of NPS personnel responding to SAR incidents, 1 in 5 (20%) of those requesting SAR assistance would be a fatality. Future research and the development of any prevention efforts should focus on the 5 NPS units where 50% of all SAR incidents are occurring.
Perhaps all of this will serve as a reminder to be extra careful while exploring our national parks, forests and wilderness areas, and to be thankful that there are emergency personnel close by if we need them.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park
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