At 8:42 p.m. on Monday, April 15, Teton County Search & Rescue received a call from Tip Top Search & Rescue for helicopter assistance to help a female skier having a medical issue deep in the Wind River Mountains.
The 29-year-old patient and her partner were on a multi-day ski traverse of the Winds when her condition deteriorated on Downs Mountain. Downs is a large flat-topped mountain that straddles the Continental Divide at 13,355 feet above sea level.
On their first approach to Downs Mountain, TCSAR encountered low-lying clouds that inhibited their ability to find a proper landing zone.
On Monday, the skiers used a satellite communication device to issue a distress call that was picked up by Tip Top SAR in Sublette County. Tip Top mobilized a ground response and called Teton County SAR for heli assistance. As TCSAR currently has the area’s only SAR-dedicated helicopter, the Jackson-based team was ready and willing to offer its help.
Special permission was granted by the U.S. Forest Service to enter wilderness with both helo and sleds due to the extreme conditions and life-saving measures needed.
Early in the morning on Tuesday, April 16, TCSAR assembled a team consisting of the pilot, one TCSAR volunteer, and one Grand Teton National Park Climbing Ranger. The heli team departed the TCSAR hangar in Jackson at 7 a.m.
The clouds parted on the team’s second approach, giving them a narrow window to land the helicopter and retrieve the patient before the weather closed back in.
On their initial approach to Downs, the team encountered low-lying clouds that prevented their progress. They came within a mile of the distressed party but had to turn around for their own safety. The team flew back to Jackson to refuel before departing again. Knowing the forecast called for inclement weather starting this afternoon, the team believed Tuesday morning was their best window of opportunity to reach the patient
As they approached Downs on the second flight, the clouds parted, allowing the ship to land near the distressed skier. The team assessed her condition, loaded her into the ship, and flew back to Jackson and transferred her to an ambulance with Jackson Hole Fire/EMS.
Downs Mountain is a large, flat-topped mountain in the middle of the Wind River Range. It straddles the Continental Divide at 13,355 feet. The skiers were camped near the top.
Due to weight, flight distance, and the power needed for high-altitude flying, the team could not pick up the woman’s partner. He eventually met up with Tip Top SAR, who brought him out via snowmachine.
This successful rescue is a great example of why TCSAR asked for the community’s help in purchasing a rescue-dedicated helicopter. We are grateful to have this resource, and we are honored to work with our interagency partners and regional SAR teams to bring people out of the backcountry safely. Thank you to Tip Top SAR for coordinating this rescue, and to everyone who has supported these efforts along the way.