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Some decisions are really hard. Especially at the TCSAR hangar, where the team has an assortment of snacks and goodies to keep them Rescue Ready. There is also equipment for every kind of call out. But which one are you gonna use?
As we enter the final stretch of Old Bill’s Giving Season, watch this video to find out, and please consider making a donation to TCSAR Foundation through OldBills.org. We’ll make sure to keep the volunteers’ pockets full with whatever they need to be successful.
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.
Matt Bambach receives patient care from friend Jules Bell. The two give their unique perspectives on an accident on Chivers Ridge in the next episode of The Fine Line. Courtesy photo.
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.
Teton County Search and Rescue is excited to bring on 10 new volunteers to the team. But first, each new member must be equipped and trained to handle rescues in the Jackson Hole backcountry. For the next six months, each new member will attend roughly 18 training sessions, including Land Navigation, Swiftwater Rescue, Wilderness Medical Response, Avalanche Rescue, and Rigging for Rescue.
"Our goal with training the new class is to both build on the amazing skills they bring to the team and reframe their existing skill sets to a Search and Rescue mindset," says TCSAR volunteer KC Bess, who will help train the new class. "We plan on getting hands-on with the training using SAR-specific scenarios and techniques. Bringing them on board we hope to help them integrate as quickly and seamlessly as possible with the operational team."
Due to the cost associated with adding new SAR members, TCSAR Foundation is looking for community support. As with any new class, the new members stand to be the future of the team. It's the Foundation's goal to help set them up to maintain the legacy of excellence established by all those who have come before.
Help us bring on the new class. Who are they, you ask? We'll let you know next week!
