On Monday morning, June 17, Teton County Search & Rescue received a call regarding an off-road vehicle accident on upper Flat Creek Road below Sheep Mountain. Deputies with the Teton County Sheriff’s Office were first on scene and helped provide initial information and patient assessment.
The patient, a 23-year-old male from Colorado, had rolled his machine off the dirt road onto a steep embankment. He sustained serious injuries, while a female passenger reported minor injuries. The group was part of a larger family outing on rental side-by-sides. The deputies were able to bring the vehicle rightside up and provide critical patient support before TCSAR could arrive.
A TCSAR volunteer gets ready to receive the long line from the helicopter for a short-haul extraction on June 17, 2024. Photo: TCSAR
TCSAR dispatched two RZR side-by-sides along with a short-haul team in the SAR helicopter. Though the RZR teams brought gear to stabilize the vehicle and perform a potential high-angle rigging operation, they opted for a short-haul extraction due to the nature of the man’s injuries and rugged terrain.
Short-haul is a method of rescue where a patient can be removed from the scene via a long line connected to the belly of the helicopter. It is often used in places where the helicopter is not able to land.
The team successfully short-hauled the man to a Jackson Hole Fire/EMS ambulance on Flat Creek Road, and all volunteers returned to the hangar in Jackson.
With eight calls since June 1, the busy summer season has officially begun. Photo: TCSAR
The incident was the latest in a series of rescues that have kicked off the start to an already busy summer season, with eight calls coming in since June 1. On Saturday, June 15, a local woman suffered a lower leg injury while hiking on the Sink-or-Swim trail, and on Sunday, a hiker became too ill to continue in Darby Canyon. Both incidents required volunteer response and patient transport out of the backcountry. TCSAR has also provided helicopter assistance for operations in Grand Teton National Park.
The team appreciates the coordination and partnership from various first-responder organizations during backcountry emergencies, and urges all backcountry users to be prepared, practiced, and present during their outdoor adventures.
