This Independence Day, Remember That A PFD Will Save Your Life #justwearit

Summer in Jackson Hole symbolizes a lot of things: Long days in the mountains, dusty mountain bike shuttles, floating on lakes at sunset, backyard barbecues, campfires, music, weddings, wildflowers, whitewater, and fireworks. 

For Teton County Search & Rescue’s 39 volunteers, summer also evokes the first-responder trifecta of vigilance, anxiety, and adrenaline. Especially on July 4.

Since 2017, TCSAR has responded to 45 swiftwater incidents. Five of those occurred on the Fourth of July. Three of those calls ended with fatalities.
 

None of the people who died were wearing life jackets.

Incident data shows us trends we have to pay attention to: People see the river as a place to have fun before they see it as an environment that's actively trying to kill them.

At Backcountry Zero, the education arm of the Teton County Search & Rescue Foundation, we intend to create a culture of accountability on the river.

"We want to see a community of river ambassadors who know what to look out for and how to take action when something is trending from fun to reckless to dangerous," says Maddie Johnson, TCSAR Foundation's Prevenative Search & Rescue Manager.

July 4 makes TCSAR volunteers nervous for a reason. Our swiftwater safety messaging will inevitably miss some people, but this year we’re approaching our prevention efforts with a tone of ‘friends don’t let their friends be irresponsible on the river.’

We can all have fun on the river, just be safe about it. Please wear a properly fitting life jacket, avoid excessive drinking, and have the skills to pilot your vessel. Photo: TCSAR

So far this year, our community has already seen three swiftwater incidents on the Snake River. All three occured during high flows earlier this summer, but dangers still lurk even after runoff. Our rivers run swift and cold and contain hazardous undercurrents and debris that you can't see.

Combine this with the classic summer cocktail of visitors, newly purchased inner tubes, alcohol, cliff jumping, and forgotten PFDs, and you have a recipe for high frequency, high consequence incidents. Cue our first responders keeping their pagers close.

Orion Hatch of the Snake River Fund reminds us, "There's nothing more tragic than a fatal accident that feels preventable."

This swiftwater season, be prepared, practiced and present on the water, and please be an ambassador for responsible recreation.

Happy Fourth from all of us at TCSAR.

This Fourth of July, Be Safe and Considerate on the Water, and Always wear a Life Jacket

We know that our beautiful rivers and lakes will be busy this coming Fourth of July holiday, and for good reason. But given recent trends, Teton County Search & Rescue and the Snake River Fund are encouraging everyone to increase their safety protocols and awareness out on the water.

In the last 10 years, there have been nine water fatalities in Teton County. Nearly all of those who died were not wearing a life jacket or personal flotation device (PFD).

If you are heading out on the water this summer, please remember:

Listen to the Radio Clip from KMTN:

• Our rivers are no joke! They are cold, swift and powerful.

• Always wear a properly fitting life jacket.

• So-called scenic stretches have many hazards, including deadly log jams and strainers, braided channels with blind corners and closeouts, and hazardous undercurrents and eddylines. Don't let the lack of whitewater lull you into complacency.

• Excessive drinking and swiftwater don't mix!

• Have fun, respect others and the environment, and please be prepared, practiced and present.

From all of us at TCSAR, have a fun and safe Fourth of July!

TCSAR Responds to Two Callouts Over the Weekend, including One that Ends in Fatality

Jackson, Wyo. — Teton County Search & Rescue responded to a pair of accidents this weekend, including one that tragically ended as a fatality on Togwotee Pass on Sunday, March 12.

The first call came at 1 p.m. on Saturday from a husband and wife floating in a raft on the Snake River. That morning, the couple from Twin Falls, Idaho, had rented a raft and launched at the Wilson Bridge with the goal of floating to the South Park Landing 13 miles downriver. A few miles into their voyage, they realized they would not be able to navigate the river, which typically splits into different channels about a mile downriver of the put-in. Deep snow also made it hard for them to walk on the banks. On March 11, the Snake was flowing about 800 cfs, which is close to the 27-year median flow for this time of year, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

TCSAR helps some floaters out of a jam on the Snake River on Saturday, March 11. Photo: TCSAR

Recognizing they’d gone as far as they could safely go, the couple parked their raft along the side of the river next to the levee and called for help. TCSAR volunteers responded by driving snowmobiles down the levee to the waiting couple. The volunteers lifted the raft out of the water and towed it behind a snowmobile back to a private road where the couple could pick it up later. The couple were given a lift on snowmobiles back to the Wilson Bridge.

This incident is a good example of why it’s important to call Search & Rescue before a situation escalates into a more challenging or dangerous scenario—not just for yourself but first responders as well. TCSAR was happy to help out this couple and bring this incident to a safe conclusion.

At 2:45 p.m. on Sunday, TCSAR received a call about a snowmobiler who had been trapped under his machine in deep snow. A 42-year-old man from Casper was riding with a partner when the two lost sight of each other on Togwotee Pass. They had been riding near the X Trail, which is a spur of the larger CD Trail near the top of the pass. The partner eventually found the man from Casper pinned under his sled in the snow. The partner was able to send out an SOS alert on a satellite device, which mobilized first responders. 

TCSAR responds to a snowmobile accident that had a tragic outcome on Togwotee Pass on March 12. Photo: TCSAR

TCSAR responded via snowmobiles and the helicopter. Multiple partner agencies also responded to the effort, including Teton County Sheriff Deputies and Jackson Hole Fire/EMS. Once on scene, it was determined that the patient was deceased and that the cause of the accident was not avalanche-related.

TCSAR extends its sincere condolences to the man’s family and friends, and wishes to thank the cooperating agencies for the response.