Just one ridge to the south from the top of Teton Pass, Chivers Ridge is known as an entry level backcountry ski run for its ease of access, as well as a quick hit that can be easily lapped by doing car shuttles from the trailhead at the bottom of the pass.

But that doesn’t mean it can’t be dangerous. There are numerous steep drop-offs on either side, and Chivers also contains manmade infrastructure such as power lines and cables that you may not always expect to find on a backcountry run.

On January 23, 2022, Matt Bambach, a 29-year-old skier, found this out the hard way. That morning, he gathered on the pass with a bunch of friends to celebrate his roommate’s birthday. It was supposed to be a fun day of party skiing. But on their very first run, it all came crashing down when he sustained a life-threatening injury about halfway down Chivers Ridge. Despite how close he was to the road, it presented some very real challenges for his companions as well as the response from Teton County Search and Rescue.

Left to Right: KC Bess, Matt Bambach, and Anthony Stevens.

This incident is the focus of the next episode of The Fine Line, our podcast about adventure, risk and rescue in the Jackson Hole backcountry. In “Chivers Ridge: So Close, but So Far,” Bambach recounts his freak accident and the subsequent response from TCSAR volunteers Anthony Stevens and KC Bess. The volunteers also offer an in-depth look at TCSAR’s short-haul operations to help accentuate the importance of the current Heli-Yes! campaign. Meanwhile, Jules Bell explains how she was suddenly put into the position of keeping Bambach from bleeding to death while maintaining composure to dial for help.

The episode also presents an opportunity to learn some cool history about early skiing on Teton Pass.

Thank you to Roadhouse Brewing Co. for the generous sponsorship of The Fine Line.

Listen to "Chives Ridge: So Close, but So Far"