Missing Skiers Found after Six-Day Search

Searchers probed an avalanche field with 10-foot poles on Saturday.

Helicopter 7HL piloted by Nicole Ludwig staged
at the Highlands NPS housing area on Sunday.

April 24, 2011

11-23

On the evening of Saturday, April 23, after a long day of searching an avalanche debris field in Garnet Canyon Meadows, a Grand Teton National Park ranger picked up two discernible beacon signals deep in the snowpack. Due to the late hour—coupled with the need to evacuate all search teams from the Teton canyon and cease helicopter operations before day’s end—a handful of rescuers were not able to dig deep enough to locate the source of the signals. Early Sunday morning, a core group of park rangers flew back into Garnet Canyon to resume digging. After two hours, they reached Walker Pannell Kuhl and Gregory Seftick, buried under 13 feet of snow near a large boulder in the avalanche path.

Over 35 rescue personnel and four canine teams methodically searched the large avalanche field in Garnet Canyon for more than ten hours on Saturday. With the help of good weather, rescuers hoped to find any clue as to the fate of Kuhl and Seftick. At 7 p.m. with just two teams left to airlift from the canyon, Ranger Nick Armitage made one final sweep with his avalanche transceiver over an area that had been probed by rescuers earlier in the day. After Armitage picked up first one beacon signal, and then another, five additional rescuers joined in digging through the dense snowpack to reach the source. Although five feet of snow was cleared away, rescuers were not able to reach the beacon before the last helicopter flight needed to be made. Upon removing the snow, however, rescuers also made a positive probe hit. It should be noted that avalanche probe poles are generally 10 feet long and the beacon was deeper than their initial reach.

On Sunday morning, helicopter pilot Nicole Ludwig—flying a Teton County Search and Rescue contract helicopter out of Hillsboro, Oregon—airlifted six park rangers back into the Garnet Canyon Meadows to resume digging toward the two beacons. Rangers continued to excavate through another ten feet of snow before they reached Walker and Greg. Rangers then prepared them for a helicopter flight to the valley floor where a Teton County coroner met the ship and took Greg's and Walker's bodies to a local mortuary.

It appears that Walker and Greg were buried by a large avalanche that shed off the north face of Nez Perce Peak sometime Saturday night, April 16, while they were in their tent, located near a large boulder between the Platforms and the Meadows of Garnet Canyon. Walker and Greg carried avalanche beacons and other appropriate gear with them on their trek into the Teton Range, and their beacons were transmitting when the avalanche enveloped their campsite. 

The concentrated search for Kuhl and Seftick lasted six days, due in part to stormy weather, new snowfall and ongoing concerns about avalanche danger for rescue teams. Search operations involved park rangers and staff, as well as numerous Jackson Hole community rescue personnel. Grand Teton National Park appreciates the cooperation and dedication of the organizations and companies who assisted during the past several days. Those groups include trained rescue personnel, volunteers and support staff from Teton County Search and Rescue, Teton Interagency Fire personnel, Bridger-Teton National Forest and Bridger-Teton National Forest Avalanche Center staff, a Yellowstone National Park employee, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ski patrol, Wyoming K9 Search and Rescue teams, and Grand Targhee Resort ski patrol and canine teams, as well as experienced professional mountaineers from Jackson Hole Mountain Guides and Exum Mountain Guides.

The Seftick and Kuhl families extend their heartfelt thanks to all rescuers for their work in helping to locate their sons and brothers.

Search for Missing Skiers Enters Sixth Day

Pilot Nicole Ludwig ferries search teams from helispot to Garnet Cyn.

Jason O'Neill loads his search dog Murphy onto the helicopter.

Garnet Canyon lies between the Middle Teton (L) & Grand Teton (R)

April 23, 2011
11-22

The search for Walker Pannell Kuhl, age 27, of Salt Lake City, Utah and Gregory Seftick, age 31, of Columbia Falls, Montana resumed today, Saturday, April 23 in Grand Teton National Park. Kuhl and Seftick began an overnight camping and skiing trip one week ago, and were reported missing on Monday, April 18, when Kuhl failed to show up for work. This marks the sixth day for a concentrated search to locate the missing skiers.

A high pressure system brought sunny skies and calm winds this morning, creating perfect weather conditions to continue search operations. Four K9 search and rescue teams from nearby Grand Targhee Resort in Alta, Wyoming, and more than 35 search and rescue personnel were airlifted from a helispot on the Teton Park Road (elevation 6,685 feet) into a high elevation helispot in Garnet Canyon (9,500 feet) near the base of Nez Perce Peak to begin another full day of combing through a large avalanche debris field. A broad snowfield on the north face of Nez Perce gave way sometime after Friday, April 15, and the resulting avalanche path covers Garnet Canyon Meadows where it is presumed that the two men may be found. The avalanche debris field is approximately 200 feet wide, 200-300 yards long and 15 feet deep.

Grand Teton National Park rangers again enlisted the assistance of trained rescue personnel and support staff from Teton County Search and Rescue, Teton Interagency Fire, Bridger-Teton National Forest, Yellowstone National Park, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ski patrol, Wyoming K9 Search and Rescue, and Grand Targhee Resort ski patrol and K9 teams, as well as experienced professional mountaineers from Jackson Hole Mountain Guides and Exum Mountain Guides (two park concession companies) to provide the best possible and most complete exploration of the snow-covered area where Kuhl and Seftick may be located.

Local weather forecaster Jim Woodmency, who joined the search effort today, reminded the search teams that over three feet of new snow has fallen on the Teton Range over the past week. Bridger-Teton National Forest Avalanche Center has recorded 661 inches of snowfall at the Raymer snow plot (elevation 9,300 feet) so far this winter. The Tetons receive an average of 400 inches of snowfall per year.

Further information about today’s search effort will be available after individual teams return to the incident command center near park headquarters at day’s end.  

Garnet Canyon Closed to Public Entry on Saturday, April 23

April 22, 2011
4:30 p.m.

Garnet Canyon will be close to public entry on Saturday, April 23 to conduct ongoing search operations.

This closure is necessary to allow for avalanche control work, and to minimize contamination (fresh human scent) of the search area for the K9 teams.

We appreciate your compliance with this temporary closure.

Search for Walker Pannell Kuhl & Greg Seftick to Resume Saturday

North face of Nez Perce Peak where an avalanche began
from a large snowfield just below the summit.
The avalanche debris settled in Garnet Canyon Meadows

April 22, 2011
11-21

Grand Teton National Park rangers plan to resume the search for Walker Pannell Kuhl and Greg Seftick on Saturday, April 23. A forecast for better weather conditions this weekend prompted rangers to prepare for another sizeable search period. Several rescuers and search dog teams will be airlifted to a helispot in the Platforms area of Garnet Canyon. Search teams will focus their attention on a large avalanche debris field that lies in Garnet Canyon Meadows.

Adverse weather completely grounded search operations all day Thursday. As clouds clear today, April 22, rangers will conduct a helicopter overflight of the area to determine whether avalanche control work needs to be done in preparation for inserting rescue teams tomorrow.

Grand Teton rangers intend to continue searching for the missing skiers—as weather and snowpack conditions allow.

Garnet Canyon is a popular backcountry area for skiing and mountaineering; therefore, rangers request that anyone traveling into Garnet Canyon over the next days or weeks to be on the lookout for items such as skis, poles, backpacks and other gear. If such items are found, please leave them in place and contact rangers as soon as possible with a good description or GPS plot of their exact location. This information will help direct further progress in the ongoing search.

If any items are found, please call Teton Interagency Dispatch Center at 307.739.3300.

Search Operations for Missing Skiers Suspended Due to Inclement Weather

Rescuers & K9 search teams will resume
exploring a large avalanche debris field, as weather permits.  

April 21, 2011
11-20

Grand Teton National Park rangers were forced to suspend the search for missing skiers Walker Pannell Kuhl, age 27, of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Gregory Seftick, age 31 of Columbia Falls, Montana today, April 21, due to adverse weather conditions. The Teton Range and Jackson Hole experienced continual winter-like storms with heavy snow and gusty winds throughout the day. These conditions made it impossible to insert rescue teams and K9 search teams into the Teton backcountry.

The decision to “stand down” rescue teams came fairly early in the day as weather conditions worsened. Similar weather is forecasted for Friday, April 22, so rescue teams will be on standby.  Saturday’s weather holds more promise and will likely allow for rescuers to resume searching the most probable location where Kuhl and Seftick may be found. That location is a large avalanche debris field in the Garnet Canyon Meadows.

Further information about the ongoing search will be made available as weather allows renewed operations.

Missing Skiers Not Found Despite Extensive Search on Wednesday

Two search dog teams arrived by helicopter on Wednesday.

Four dog teams will be used to search avalanche debris fields today.

Rangers aboard Teton County SAR helicopter
do aerial search of high terrain.

Search teams use probes to examine

large avalanche debris field in Garnet Canyon.

April 21, 2011
11-19

Rescue teams on the ground and in the air, along with two search dog teams with Wyoming K9 Search and Rescue, conducted a thorough and extensive search of multiple locations in Garnet Canyon on Wednesday, April 20; still no clues were discovered that might lead to the whereabouts of Walker Pannell Kuhl and Gregory Seftick—missing for four days after they entered Garnet Canyon on Saturday, April 16, for on an overnight camping and ski trip.

Because of clear skies and stable weather conditions on Wednesday, multiple rescue teams made significant progress in searching areas that were inaccessible on Tuesday due to low visibility, erratic winds and high avalanche probability. Three rangers aboard the Teton County Search and Rescue helicopter were able to thoroughly conduct an aerial search of high terrain areas and typical climbing routes on the Grand Teton, Middle Teton, South Teton and other secondary peaks adjacent to Garnet Canyon. In an effort to eliminate all possible outlier locations where Kuhl and Seftick might have traveled, the aerial search also covered the Shadow Peak area to the south of Garnet Canyon, Black Dike Couloir and Cascade Canyon to the north of Garnet Canyon. 

Three teams of four people each searched high elevations in the south and north forks of Garnet Canyon after being shuttled by helicopter to a helispot in the Meadows area of the canyon. One team combed over Jackson Hole Mountain Guides’ high camp area and the toe of Teepe Glacier where an avalanche had occurred days before. A second team explored the Middle Teton glacier area, the North Fork moraine and the North Fork headwall above the Meadows. A third team searched the South Fork of Garnet Canyon to the saddle between the South Teton and Middle Teton. These areas contain substantial snow drifts, large boulders, and other features where someone might take cover from the elements. No evidence of the missing skiers was found during these widespread searches.

Joined by two search dog teams, other rescue teams methodically searched a massive debris field on the lower Meadows area of Garnet Canyon, Rescuers used avalanche transceivers, probe poles and a device called “recco” that works similar to sonar and can pick up a dense object that is not otherwise visible. Some mountaineers wear clothing embedded with “recco” chips that can help in directing a visual signal from a hand-held device much like the audio sounds received from an avalanche beacon.

Today, April 21, rescuers will focus their efforts on the large avalanche debris that sits in the lower Meadows. This debris field is approximately 250 feet wide, 200-300 yards long and over 15 feet deep. It apparently shed off of the north face of Nez Perce Peak on the south flank of Garnet Canyon.

Four fresh K9 search teams will join two six-person rescue teams today to carefully comb over, and through, the jumble of avalanche debris in the Meadows area.

The weather forecast calls for increased winds and 70 percent chance of snow showers with two to four inches accumulation possible. Inclement weather conditions may hamper or delay search operations on Thursday and Friday.

Search Continues for Missing Skiers in Garnet Canyon

Teton Co. Search & Rescue helicopter delivers
search dog teams to Garnet Canyon during snow squall.

Search teams fan out over the lower Meadows in Garnet Canyon

in low visibility conditions on Tuesday, April 19.

April 20, 2011
11-18

Several rescue teams were flown by helicopter into the Meadows area of Garnet Canyon early this morning, April 20, to resume a methodical search for Walker Kuhl, age 27, of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Gregory Seftick, age 31 of Columbia Falls, Montana. The two men skied into Garnet Canyon at Grand Teton National Park on Saturday, April 16, with plans to camp overnight and explore areas around the Grand Teton. They were reported overdue for work at 11:15 a.m. on Monday, April 18.

Today, three rescue teams of four people each, as well as two dog teams continue to explore the lower Meadows—an area that is one of several possible locations where the missing men may be found. Rescuers are also probing areas higher in elevation in the south and north forks of Garnet Canyon. Search teams were not able to check the steeper terrain in those areas yesterday because of unstable snow conditions.

Improved weather conditions today have provided better visibility and allowed for additional helicopter flights. Rescue teams will continue to both expand their search areas and focus on likely locations that might provide clues as to the whereabouts of the missing skiers.

At this time, similar rescue operations are planned for tomorrow, weather permitting. While weather conditions today are nearly ideal for the search operation, the forecast is calling for increasing clouds and snow by tomorrow.

Overdue Skiers Prompt Large-Scale Search

April 19, 2011
11-17 

Grand Teton National Park rangers organized a full-scale search for two overdue backcountry skiers on Tuesday morning, April 19, after an initial search late Monday proved unsuccessful. Approximately 40 rescuers and support staff assembled at first light on Tuesday to begin an extensive search of the Meadows area and other locations within Garnet Canyon near the Grand Teton and other high peaks. Walker Kuhl, age 27, from Salt Lake City, Utah and Gregory Seftick, age 31, of  Columbia Falls, Montana set out to camp overnight in the Teton Range on Saturday, April 16. According to their backcountry permit, they intended to explore Teepe Pillar and Teepe Glacier—features near the Grand Teton. When Kuhl failed to report to work in Salt Lake City on Monday morning, park rangers were notified and the initial search began.

Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a call from the Teton County Sheriff’s Office at 11:15 a.m. on Monday, informing them of concern for the whereabouts of Kuhl and his friend, Seftick. Kuhl’s girlfriend contacted the Sheriff’s Office with information that he failed to report to work that morning after a weekend trip to Grand Teton National Park. Upon receiving notification of overdue backcountry skiers, rangers checked the Taggart Lake trailhead and found the vehicles owned by the two men. This discovery prompted a search and rescue operation.

Because of unstable snow conditions on Monday afternoon, rangers chose not to use a ground search, which would put rescue personnel at risk. Instead, a helicopter reconnaissance flight took place late Monday. Erratic winds and poor visibility pre-empted a thorough search and at sunset, rangers were forced to suspend the operation and make plans for a larger search effort Tuesday.

Four teams with four rescuers each began skiing into Garnet Canyon from the Teton Park Road, followed by an operation team that will support the advance teams with radio communications and other needs. A helicopter flight was launched at 11:20 a.m. after weather conditions allowed and visibility improved. The rescue teams will conduct a methodical search of several areas throughout the Garnet Canyon area, and focus on probable locations where Kuhl and Seftick might have gone.

Both Kuhl and Seftick have some knowledge of the Teton backcountry and have previously climbed and skied in the Teton Range. They carried avalanche equipment with them and are familiar with the use of such equipment.

Avalanche conditions over the past few days were rated as “considerable,” by the Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center, meaning that human-triggered avalanches were likely. Today’s avalanche report states that  moderate danger exists in high elevations above the 9,000 feet and low danger for mid to low elevations from 6,000 feet to 9,000 feet. Six to seven inches of new snow fell overnight at the 9,300 and 9,580-foot elevation snow plot stations on Rendezvous Mountain. 

Further information will be available as the search effort progresses.

Celebrate Nat'l Park Week & View Sage Grouse

Male sage grouse display & strut during their annual mating dance.

April 12, 2011
11-16

To celebrate the arrival of spring and National Park Week, park ranger naturalists will lead early-morning tours to observe strutting sage grouse as they perform their annual mating dance on an historic lek (strutting arena) located just off the Antelope Flats Road near Mormon Row. Strutting grouse trips will be offered on both Saturdays and Sundays of the following weekends: April 16–17,
April 23–24, and April 30–May 1, 2011.

Strutting grouse tours begin from the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center at 5:30 a.m. Reservations are required; to obtain information about what to wear and bring along on these free, ranger-led trips and make a reservation, call 307.739.3399.

Ranger-led excursions offer a unique opportunity to witness this spring-time ritual, as sage grouse congregate and perform animated mating displays. As participants view the antics of strutting grouse, rangers will provide information about their natural history and conservation efforts underway for sage grouse populations that are declining throughout much of the American West.

National Park Week is slated for April 16-24, and sage grouse tours are just one of many opportunities to connect with this year's theme, “Healthy Parks, Healthy People.”  The 2011 motto highlights the connection between human and environmental health and the vital role that America's national parks play in both. National Park Week also salutes the individuals, groups and associations that help make the National Park System one of America’s greatest assets.  

To highlight National Park Week, Grand Teton National Park—along with the entire 394 national park units across America—will waive entrance fees throughout the week. A seven-day pass to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park is normally $25 for a private vehicle.

Additional information about National Park Week is available on the National Park Service website at www.nps.gov/npweek .

Junior Ranger Day & National Park Week Offer Fun Family Activities

April 12, 2011
11-15

Grand Teton National Park will celebrate National Junior Ranger Day and the start of National Park Week on Saturday, April 16, with several fun activities planned for the whole family. The activities are free of charge and will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Moose.

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., families will have an opportunity to talk with park rangers and explore the vehicles and equipment regularly used in operating the park and keeping visitors safe; vehicles will include an ambulance, fire engine, patrol car and snowplow. Staff from the Teton Raptor Center will also be on hand to introduce families to live birds and provide information about birds of prey that live in Grand Teton.

From 12 noon to 3 p.m., children can participate in a Ranger Bootcamp Obstacle Course, where they will compete in physical activities that mimic park ranger jobs. Youngsters can also test their skills against the abilities of certain wildlife species during a game called Animal Olympics. Other activities include a story corner, a touch table with animal furs, feathers and bones to examine, and a chance to dress up in an actual ranger uniform. Children who participate in at least three of the activities will earn either a Junior Ranger patch or badge.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar proclaimed April 16-24, 2011, as National Park Week. To highlight this annual observance, Grand Teton National Park—along with the entire 394 national park units across America—will waive entrance fees throughout the week. A seven-day pass to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park is normally $25 for a private, noncommercial vehicle.

Junior Ranger Day offers just one of many opportunities to connect with this year's National Park Week theme, “Healthy Parks, Healthy People.”  The 2011 motto highlights the connection between human and environmental health and the vital role that America's national parks play in both. 

Grand Teton Association will offer a 15-percent discount in the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center bookstore on Junior Ranger Day. Numerous educational and informational books and other interesting items (videos, posters, ornaments, plush animals, toys, etc.) can be purchased using the special Junior Ranger Day discount.

Bear Biologist Stephen Herrero to Speak

Dr. Stephen Herrero with bear cub.

April 11, 2011

11-13

Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott invites the public to celebrate bears, and our fascination with these charismatic creatures, with Dr. Stephen Herrero, world-renowned bear biologist. Herrero’s public appearance is free and will take place from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 16, in the new Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center auditorium at Moose. Internationally known for his work on human-bear conflicts, Herrero is also the author of Bear Attacks: Their Causes and Avoidance, among other books and scientific papers.

Through a question-and-answer dialogue, Herrero will explore considerations for bear safety outside the bounds of the most typical human-bear encounters. Attendees are encouraged to bring their questions and engage in an informal conversation. This session will be particularly interesting to those who spend a lot of time out-of-doors in bear habitat. It will include provocative discussions on topics such as cyclist-bear interactions, and how people might chose between using bear spray and playing dead.

Dr. Herrero will present a public talk at 6 p.m. on Friday evening at the Teton County Library in Jackson, Wyoming, prior to his Saturday morning appearance in Grand Teton. His evening presentation will focus on discoveries about bear behavior, and will include interesting highlights and insights about the magical moments that he and others have experienced in observing bears. Local residents and area visitors are encouraged to join both presentations, as each will spotlight different aspects about bears, their behavior, and human safety around bears.

Born in San Francisco, Dr. Herrero earned his Ph.D in animal behavior and ecology from the University of California at Berkeley, and currently serves as professor emeritus with the University of Calgary in Alberta. His extensive research in carnivore ecology, behavior, conservation and management led to the development of policies in bear safety and improved bear conservation across the U.S. and Canada. Herrero is recognized throughout the world as a “leading authority” on bear ecology, behavior and attacks.

Herrero’s book, Bear attacks: Their causes and avoidance, has sold over 115,000 copies and been translated into German and Japanese: a testament to our human attraction to—and fear of—bears. He is a founding member of the Staying Safe in Bear Country Society, which produced four bear safety videos in cooperation with the International Association for Bear Research and Management. These videos include, “Staying Safe in Bear Country,” “Working in Bear Country,” Living in Bear Country,” and “Polar Bears: A Guide to Safety.”  

Grand Teton National Park Foundation will provide breakfast pastries, hot coffee and tea before Dr. Herrero’s Saturday morning session to mark the first public event to be held in the new Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center auditorium. Members of the public should come early to enjoy the refreshments and get a first peek at the newly completed auditorium wing; construction of the new auditorium was funded 100 percent by Grand Teton National Park Foundation donors.

Seating will be first-come, first-served for Dr. Herrero’s appearance; the new auditorium accommodates 154 people.

Backcountry Skier Triggers Avalanche on Shadow Peak

April 1, 2011
11-13
A backcountry skier escaped injury in a large avalanche he triggered on the south aspect of Shadow Peak in the "Four Hour Couloir" in Grand Teton National Park Friday.


The Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a 911 call at 2:20 p.m. Friday reporting a large slide originally thought to be on Albright Peak, but later corrected to be Shadow Peak. Park rangers mobilized for a search and rescue, but stood down at 3 p.m. when the reporting party called back to say everyone was safe and uninjured.


Rangers later spoke with skier Jimmy Chin, who said a "large, wet slab cracked around him with a two-foot crown." He said he rode the slide for at least 1,000 feet. Rangers will conduct a more thorough interview once Chin returns from the backcountry.


"Backcountry skiers need to stay informed of the latest snow conditions, especially with warm temperatures, a deep snowpack and a lack of freezing temperatures at night," said Park Ranger Ryan Schuster.


Skiers are advised to obtain current avalanche forecasts before entering the backcountry by visiting the Bridger-Teton National Forest avalanche website at http://www.jhavalanche.org/, or calling the avalanche center at 307.733.2664. The website rated the avalanche danger Friday as “moderate” for high and mid-level elevations and “considerable” for low elevations during the afternoon. The advisory also stated, “At the high elevations, pockets of dense surface slabs with depths to two feet could be triggered in very steep wind loaded avalanche terrain. Avalanches are unlikely at the mid and low elevations this morning in the mostly stable snowpack. As warm temperatures and sunlight weaken the snowpack today wet slides will become possible this afternoon.”


Backcountry users are reminded that weather and other factors may prevent the ability of rescuers to effectively reach locations in the Teton Range to perform an evacuation. Anyone entering the backcountry of Grand Teton National Park should be prepared with appropriate emergency equipment such as avalanche beacons, extra clothing, water and high energy snacks, among other items.

Roads Open to Traditional Spring Activities

The Teton Park Road becomes a solitary & unique corridor
on which to ride a bike, take a hike or rollerblade during the month of April before vehicles are allowed to drive on it, beginning May 1.

March 28, 2011
11-12

Grand Teton National Park road crews recently used rotary snow removal equipment and plows to clear a substantial snowpack off the Teton Park Road that runs from the Taggart Lake parking area to Signal Mountain Lodge. Consequently, non-motorized activities such as hiking, biking, and inline skating will be allowed on this segment of road starting Friday, April 1.

Although the Teton Park Road will open to non-motorized use, visitors should be alert for park vehicles that may occasionally travel the road for administrative purposes and for snow plowing operations that continue as a result of recurring snowstorms.

For the next two weeks, plows and rotary equipment will continue to work on the Moose-Wilson Road; anyone walking or cycling on this roadway should be extra alert for heavy equipment.

The Teton Park Road and Moose-Wilson Road will open to vehicle traffic on Sunday, May 1.

The Antelope Flats Road will open to vehicle traffic when conditions allow. While it was plowed in mid March, continuing snowstorms and windy conditions have caused new drifting and delayed its opening.

Leashed dogs are permitted on the Teton Park and Moose-Wilson roads, as well as other park roadways. Dogs are restricted to roads and turnouts—they are not permitted to travel beyond the roadbeds, or into the park’s backcountry, and pets are not allowed on the multi-use pathway in the park. Owners are required to keep pets on a leash (six foot maximum length). Mutt Mitt stations are in place at the Taggart Lake parking area and pet owners are required to use waste disposal bags to pick up after their dogs. 

As a reminder, entrance stations are operating and collecting fees. Fee options are as follows:

         $12   7-day permit for foot/bicycle entry into Grand Teton & Yellowstone national parks

         $20   7-day permit for motorcycle entry into Grand Teton & Yellowstone national parks

         $25   7-day permit for vehicle entry into Grand Teton & Yellowstone national parks

         $50   Grand Teton/Yellowstone Annual Pass valid for one-year entry into both parks

         $80   Interagency Annual Pass valid for one year entry to all fee areas on federal lands

        

When entering the park using a pass, please be sure to bring personal identification. Bicyclists are required to stop and show a pass before proceeding through the gates, just as motorized vehicles are required to do.

Important Note: the multi-use pathway running from Dornan’s to South Jenny Lake will not be open for public use until the snow recedes naturally.

New this year is a self-serve fee station for pathway users. Bicyclists, rollerbladers and walkers will be required to stop and pay at this fee station and obtain an entry permit before proceeding on the path from the Moose entrance station.  

Backcountry Skier Injured during Avalanche in Granite Canyon

March 15, 2011
11-11

Grand Teton National Park rangers enlisted the help of the Teton County contract helicopter to rescue a backcountry skier who was injured during an avalanche on Tuesday morning, March 15.  Benjamin Shortledge, a 32-year-old Jackson resident, triggered an avalanche around 11:20 a.m. while skiing with friends on the northwest side of Cardiac Ridge in Granite Canyon. He received several injuries as a two-foot deep and 40-foot wide soft slab avalanche carried him about 400 feet down a slope near a feature known as Shady Lady.

Because of the remote location in Granite Canyon, the ski party could not get cell phone reception. Consequently, one of the Shortledge’s companions donned his skins and made his way back up the slope they had just skied in order to reach a saddle just northwest of Rendezvous Mountain from where a 911 call could be made. Teton County dispatchers received that call for help about 1:15 p.m. and in turn notified the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center in Grand Teton National Park. Rangers immediately contacted the Teton County Search and Rescue coordinator and requested assistance from their contract helicopter and pilot Ken Johnson. In the meantime, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ski patrollers made preparations to ski into Granite Canyon from the resort boundary to help with the rescue. Two ski patrollers met Shortledge’s companion at the mountain saddle and the three of them skied to his location, arriving at approximately 2:30 p.m. The patrollers provided emergency care and prepared Shortledge for the arrival of the ship.    

Rangers aboard the County helicopter reached Shortledge at 3:28 p.m., and he was flown to the base of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. After the ship landed at 3:51 p.m., a Teton County ambulance transported him to St. John’s Medical Center in Jackson. The remaining members of the ski party were also evacuated by air from Granite Canyon.

The Bridger-Teton National Forest avalanche report rated the avalanche danger on Tuesday as “low” for all elevations. However the advisory also stated, “Strong southwesterly to westerly ridge top winds have created isolated pockets of wind slab 6 to 12 inches deep at the upper elevations. Backcountry travelers could trigger these easily identifiable slabs in steep, wind loaded terrain.” For up-to-date avalanche forecasts, visit http://www.jhavalance.org/, or call the avalanche center at 307.733.2664.

While this rescue operation proceeded quickly and smoothly, it is important for backcountry users to realize that weather and other factors may prevent the ability of rescuers to effectively reach locations in the Teton Range to perform an evacuation. Anyone entering the backcountry of Grand Teton National Park should be prepared with appropriate emergency equipment such as avalanche beacons, extra clothing, water and high energy snacks, among other items. Such basic gear may make all the difference if an unexpected event happens and an unplanned night in the backcountry becomes a reality.

NPS Academy Designed for College Students

College students will learn about Park Service careers

during the NPS Academy at Grand Teton National Park

March 4, 2011

11-10 

Grand Teton National Park is working in partnership with the Student Conservation Association and Teton Science Schools, an environmental education center, to launch an innovative program titled the National Park Service (NPS) Academy. The Grand Teton-based NPS Academy, scheduled for March 12-18, is structured as a week-long, alternative spring break program for college students with diverse backgrounds from across the United States. This program is part of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar’s 21st Century Youth Conservation Corp Initiative—a broad outreach effort designed to engage America’s youth with the great outdoors and help prepare the next generation of natural resource professionals.

College students attending Grand Teton’s NPS Academy will learn about the range of career opportunities within the Park Service through a variety of seminars, workshops, field trips and recreational activities. After successful completion of the spring break program, students will be placed into summer internships at a number of parks throughout the entire National Park System: national parks that range from Acadia in Maine to Mount Rainier in Washington, from the Grand Canyon in Arizona to Glacier in Montana and many others in between.   

Prominent Park Service professionals will address the students and help to inspire them toward future NPS careers. Special guest speakers will include former NPS Director Robert G. Stanton (1997-2001), currently serving as a senior advisor to Secretary Salazar with a focus on youth and diversity in the Interior’s public programs and workforce.

The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is the only national organization that develops tomorrow's conservation leaders by providing high school and college students with conservation service opportunities in all 50 states, from urban communities to national parks and national forests. Since 1957, SCA's hands-on practice of conservation service has helped to develop new generations of conservation leaders, inspire lifelong stewardship, and help to save the planet. For more information, visit www.thesca.org.

Teton Science Schools (TSS) is a private, non-profit educational organization, operating year-round in Jackson Hole, Wyoming in partnership with Grand Teton National Park. Since 1967, TSS has provided education about the natural world and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The organization educates and inspires hundreds of children, youth and adults each year through the study of nature and place-based experiences. TSS’ innovative programs serve students from across Wyoming, the Intermountain West, the nation and the world. Visit TSS at http://www.tetonscience.org/.

For further information on the NPS Academy, contact Susanne McDonald at 307.739.3656 or at susanne_mcdonald@nps.gov.

Plowing of Teton Park Road Begins March 14

Park maintenance staff use heavy-duty rotary equipment
to remove snow from the Teton Park Road each spring.

March 3, 2011

11-09 

The annual snow plowing of the Teton Park Road in Grand Teton National Park will begin on Monday, March 14, weather depending. As plowing operations get underway, recreation on the snow-packed trail will cease for the 2010/11 winter season. Park visitors may continue to use other winter trails—or areas adjacent to the Teton Park Road—for skate skiing, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing until snow conditions are no longer favorable for such activities.

For safety reasons, visitors may NOT access the Teton Park Road while rotary snow removal equipment and plows are working; the roadway is closed to ALL users during this period of time.  

Skiers and snowshoers using areas adjacent to the Teton Park Road are cautioned to avoid the arc of snow being blown from the rotary equipment because pieces of ice and gravel can be mixed with the snow spray. Park rangers will enforce the temporary road closure to ensure safe conditions for plow operators and park visitors alike.

Depending on weather, snow conditions and plowing progress, the roadway should become accessible to traditional springtime, non-motorized activities in early April; the opening of the Teton Park Road to bikers, hikers and inline skaters will be announced once snow removal equipment is no longer operating.

The Grassy Lake Road in the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway is scheduled to close for the winter season on Tuesday morning, March 15, in conjunction with other winter closures in nearby Yellowstone National Park. This road remains closed to all motor vehicles from April 1 to May 31, due to springtime grizzly bear activity.

Depending upon snow conditions, ranger-led snowshoe hikes from the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center will continue through mid March and perhaps beyond. To make a reservation for this activity, or to inquire whether snowshoe hikes are still being offered, please phone 307.739.3399. The Discovery Center will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. throughout March, April and May.

Pet owners are reminded that dogs are not allowed in the park’s backcountry, which includes all areas away from park roadways and turnouts. Pet owners are required to have their dogs on a maximum 6-foot leash whenever they are outside of a private vehicle. Pet owners must clean up their dog waste. A “mutt-mitt” station is conveniently located near the Teton Park Road closure gates to provide bags for this purpose.

The paved, multi-use pathway running from Dornan’s to South Jenny Lake will not be open for public use until the snow recedes naturally.

The Teton Park Road will open to vehicle traffic for the 2011 summer season on Sunday, May 1.

Backcountry Skier Injured in Slab Avalanche

February 25, 2011
11-08

Grand Teton National Park rangers enlisted the help of a Teton County Search and Rescue helicopter to evacuate an injured backcountry skier who was caught in an avalanche in the park on Thursday afternoon, February 24. Mark Gardner, age 41, of Teton Village, Wyoming triggered a soft slab avalanche while skiing with a friend in the Northwest Passage area of Granite Canyon. A 60-foot-wide and 2.5-foot-deep mass of snow carried Gardner over 50 feet down slope before he collided with a tree and came to a stop. While the force of the shifting snow injured Gardner’s leg, he did not become buried. Gardner was wearing a helmet which likely protected him from other injuries.

Gardner and his partner were not able to make a cell phone call from their location in the canyon, so they sidestepped from the Northwest Passage down through Endless Couloir. An off duty ski patroller from the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort encountered the two and ultimately made a call for help after getting cell reception near the mouth of the canyon. Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received notice of the situation at 3 p.m. and rangers initiated a rescue effort that involved the assistance of the Teton County helicopter. The pilot and crew were able to quickly respond and locate the two backcountry skiers near an area where the aircraft could conveniently land. Teton County rescue personnel assisted Gardner and his partner to the waiting ship and then flew them to the base of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, landing at 4 p.m. An ambulance then transported Gardner to St. John’s Medical Center in Jackson, Wyoming.

The Bridger-Teton National Forest Avalanche Center reported the general avalanche hazard on February 24 to be "considerable" for high elevations (9,000 - 10.500 feet).  A considerable rating means that natural avalanches are possible and human-triggered avalanches are likely. The report also stated, “Recent snow and strong west to southwest winds have formed dense slabs in steep avalanche terrain. At the high elevations these slabs could be triggered by skiers or riders to depths of three feet and may release in small pockets or involve wider slabs in exposed bowls or wind loaded terrain features.” Travel advice from the avalanche center stresses careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route finding, and conservative decision making for these conditions.

Rangers recommend that backcountry users get the latest avalanche conditions, be prepared for backcountry travel, carry basic avalanche equipment and go with others. For local avalanche conditions visit http://www.jhavalanche.org/ or call 307.733.2664.

Ira Blitzblau Named Deputy Chief Ranger at Grand Teton National Park

Ira Blitzblau, deputy chief ranger at Grand Teton NP

Bonnie Taylor, EMS coordinator at Grand Teton NP

February 14, 2011
11-06

Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott announced today that Ira Blitzblau has been selected to become deputy chief ranger at Grand Teton National Park. Blitzblau will support Chief Ranger Michael Nash and assist with the management of daily operations for the park’s Division of Visitor and Resource Protection: a division that includes the branch of ranger activities, branch of fire and aviation management, the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center, and the fee and revenue program. Blitzblau currently serves as the South Rim district ranger at Grand Canyon National Park. He will begin his new post at Grand Teton in late March.

Blitzblau began his National Park Service career in 1997 as a seasonal law enforcement ranger in the Wahweap sub-
district at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (NRA). He took a seasonal law enforcement ranger position at Yosemite National Park in 1999 and worked in the Yosemite Valley portion of the park before transferring to a permanent park ranger post at Dangling Rope in Glen Canyon NRA later that same year. During his time at Dangling Rope, Blitzblau conducted search and rescue missions on Lake Powell and along its shorelines, and provided emergency medical care in remote locations of this vast recreation area that straddles the Utah-Arizona border. Blitzblau transferred from his remote post at Dangling Rope to the busy, high-use Wahweap subdistrict where he worked as a patrol ranger for over a year. In November of 2001, Blitzblau took a park ranger position on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park: a job he held through June of 2005. From 2005 to 2009, Blitzblau worked as a supervisory park ranger at the South Rim and also worked a detail assignment for several months in 2008 with the Intermountain Region chief ranger’s office in Lakewood, Colorado. While serving the detail, Blitzblau worked with national parks located along the United States border with Mexico to perform risk assessments and provide assistance in developing priorities and strategies for field operations. Blitzblau has served as the South Rim district ranger for the past two years.

Blitzblau was born in Montague, Massachusetts. He graduated in 1998 from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst with a Bachelor of Science in natural resource policy and a minor in political science and environmental science. He completed his federal law enforcement training at Glynco, Georgia in 2001.

Blitzblau’s wife, Bonnie Taylor—also an NPS career employee—has been selected to become the emergency medical services (EMS) coordinator position at Grand Teton. Taylor began her career in 2000 as a dispatcher in the communications center at Grand Canyon National Park. At Grand Canyon, Taylor also served as a preventative search and rescue (PSAR) ranger, as the PSAR supervisor, and later as the EMS coordinator. 

Taylor has extensive experience in all facets of EMS operations; she will oversee the training, recertification program and all aspects of emergency medical operations at Grand Teton, and will coordinate ambulance calls for both the park and the northern reaches of Jackson Hole.


Taylor was born in Show Low, Arizona and completed two years of coursework towards a Bachelor of Arts in broadcast media at Columbia Union College in Takoma Park, Maryland. She maintains several professional qualifications including, NREMT paramedic and S271 helicopter crewmember certifications. Taylor is also an American Heart Association CPR instructor, and she serves as part of a technical rescue team trained in short-haul rescue at Grand Canyon.  

February Full Moon & Winter Festival Weekend

Ranger-led snowshoe hikes offer fun for all ages
during the winter festival weekend

February 10, 2011
11-06

To celebrate February’s full moon and the peak of the winter season, Grand Teton National Park ranger naturalists invite visitors and local residents to enjoy a winter festival weekend filled with astronomy, snowshoe hikes and family-orientated fun. A host of activities will take place over President’s Day weekend from Friday, February 18 through Sunday, February 20.

On Friday evening at 6 p.m., rangers will present a 45-minute interactive program in the Director’s Room at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Moose. Titled Rangers of the Lost Dark, the program examines the incredible nighttime skies of Grand Teton National Park in the warmth and comfort of the visitor center auditorium. Reservations are not required for this indoor presentation.

Following the Rangers of the Lost Dark program, a ranger-led snowshoe walk by the light of a full moon will begin at
7 p.m. from the Discovery Center. The full moon walk offers a chance to experience the winter wonderland of Grand Teton and learn about the unique characteristics that make this season so incredible, and often challenging for park wildlife. The snowshoe walk traverses a mostly level,
1-2 mile roundtrip distance along the forests and meadows near the Snake River. This two-hour-long activity does not require previous snowshoeing experience, and snowshoes are provided for anyone without their own. Headlamps are required for this activity.

Festivities will resume on Saturday, February 19 at
1:30 p.m. with a ranger led snowshoe walk from the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center to the historic Murie Ranch. Along the way, rangers will talk about the Murie family and their contributions to wilderness preservation and a fledgling conservation movement that culminated in protection of numerous nationally designated wild areas and the passage of the 1964 Wilderness Act. At the Murie Ranch, snowshoers will explore Olaus and Mardy’s cabin home and enjoy hot beverages and snacks in the Homestead Cabin. The Murie Center staff will be on hand to share additional facts about the Murie Ranch’s history and legacy. This walk takes place on mostly level terrain and is suitable for beginning snowshoers. Total distance roundtrip is 1-2 miles.

The winter festival will conclude on Sunday, February 20 with a family-oriented snowshoe hike. Bring the whole family for an hour-long walk and fun activities for all ages; anyone who is able to spend an hour outside on snowshoes is welcome. The snowshoe hike will begin at 12 noon at the Discovery Center and various sizes of snowshoes will be available for participants.

Those attending any of the weekend activities should wear warm layered clothing, sturdy insulated boots, and a face scarf or ski mask, plus bring along an energy snack and water, or hot beverage in a thermos.

Space is limited on the full moon snowshoe walk, the Murie snowshoe walk and the winter family program; therefore, reservations are required. Please phone 307.739.3399 to reserve a spot, or to learn more about the winter festival weekend.

For a complete list of ranger-led programs, please refer to the park’s newspaper, Grand Teton Guide, online at www.nps.gov/grte, or call the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center at 307.739.3399.

Rangers Evacuate Ailing Snowshoer from Phelps Lake Moraine

Febraury 7, 2011
11-05

Grand Teton National Park rangers conducted a lengthy rescue operation on Sunday, February 6, to evacuate an incapacitated snowshoer from the Phelps Lake overlook. Michelle Harvey age 40, from Sacramento, California, became ill while snowshoeing to the overlook with her husband, Don Happel, and she could not continue hiking the final 2.5 miles to their parked vehicle at the Death Canyon trailhead. Ten rangers and park staff coordinated a multi-phase evacuation that involved both rescue skiers and snowmobiles. Rescue skiers hauled a toboggan with Harvey aboard down the steep Phelps Lake moraine, and rangers on snowmobiles—staged on the northwest shore of Phelps Lake below the moraine—transported her the remaining distance to the trailhead located on the Moose-Wilson Road. The rescue and evacuation took nearly eight hours to complete.

The rescue mission began at 3:15 p.m. after Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a 911 cell phone call from Happel explaining his wife’s predicament. Rangers and park staff used snowmobiles to cross the frozen surface of Phelps Lake and get close to the location where Harvey and Happel were waiting for help. Five rescuers skied up and over the Phelps Lake moraine and reached Harvey and Happel at 8 p.m. Harvey was then placed in a rescue toboggan and gradually lowered from the top of the moraine (7,200 feet elevation) to the lakeshore (6,633 feet elevation). Harvey was then transported by snowmobile to the Death Canyon trailhead where the evacuation concluded at 10:15 p.m.

Although Sunday’s weather was sunny with mild afternoon temperatures, physical conditions changed as the evacuation stretched into the evening hours. With darkness and colder temperatures, rangers resorted to using headlamps for visibility and emergency gear to keep Harvey warm and protected from the cold nighttime air. After reaching the trailhead on the Moose-Wilson Road, Harvey declined further medical attention and departed the area with her husband in their personal vehicle.

Harvey and Happel, who arrived in Jackson Hole on February 3, had a couple of days to acclimatize to the higher elevations of the Teton backcountry before their Sunday excursion. They were equipped with good winter clothing, water, and high energy snacks for their snowshoe outing. They also carried a GPS unit, a compass, and a cell phone—which they used to summon help.

While most rescue operations involve injured, stranded and/or lost persons, rangers and other park staff often conduct rescue missions to locate individuals—who are incapacitated for whatever reason—and bring them to safety and/or medical care. Emergency responses for persons "in need" are part of the proud National Park Service tradition. However, visitors and local residents should accept responsibility for their own safety and welfare, and always be prepared to self rescue as a first option.

Park rangers and other staff schooled in emergency medical procedures regularly train for events like Sunday’s rescue. Coincidently, park rangers conducted a scheduled training for wintertime open-water rescues on Monday morning, February 7. Many of the same rangers involved in the late day rescue of Harvey on Sunday, also participated in Monday’s practice session.