A Special Short Story from The Fine Line Podcast

Teton County Search & Rescue Foundation is excited to release the next episode of The Fine Line podcast. "A Whistle in the Dark" takes us back to TCSAR volunteer Carol Viau's very first rescue. It was October 26, 2000, a time before cell phones were ubiquitous and when most callouts for TCSAR required good old-fashioned boots on the ground.

Carol’s story reveals how and why someone is drawn to be a first responder, how intuition and basic skills can be invaluable during a cold, dark search, and how gentle conversations with a person in need can help us gain a deeper understanding of ourselves.

Original art by Jen Reddy.

"Whistle in the Dark" airs at 2 p.m. on May 9 on KHOL 89.1 FM, and afterward on your preferred podcast platform.

Produced through TCSAR Foundation's Backcountry Zero initiative, The Fine Line is presented by Stio, with additional support by Roadhouse Brewing Co. and KHOL. This episode was produced by Matt Hansen, with editing and sound by Melinda Binks. The story was recorded in the studios of KHOL 89.1 FM. The Fine Line theme song is by Anne and Pete Sibley, with additional music provided by Ben Winship. Original artwork by Jen Reddy. Find all episodes at Backcountry Zero, and wherever you get your podcasts.

TCSAR Completes "Mayuary" Rescue in Cache Creek

On Friday, May 3, two men from Michigan were backpacking about fives miles up Cache Creek when they became stranded by a snowstorm. After being caught by several inches of snow, that morning they issued an emergency text message to Teton County Dispatch, which alerted TCSAR of their predicament.

The calendar says May. Old Man Winter says, “Not so fast.” Photo: TCSAR

Volunteers responded up Cache Creek with two RZR side-by-sides after obtaining permission from the U.S. Forest Service to access the area with motorized vehicles.

The volunteers located the men, who were cold but otherwise okay, and transported them out of Cache Creek to their hotel in Jackson, completing the rescue in 3 hours, 13 minutes. Our team was happy to be able to help these men get out of a cold and snowy situation.

With this incident, it’s a good opportunity to remind everyone that mountain weather can change at any time, no matter the season and especially in the spring. If you're heading out into the backcountry, always be prepared for cold weather, including rain and snowfall.

TCSAR Provides Heli Assist for Injured Skier in Yellowstone National Park

Jackson, Wyo. — On Wednesday, April 24, Teton County Search & Rescue received an alert for an injured female Nordic skier in the Fairy Falls area of Yellowstone National Park near Old Faithful. The 55-year-old woman and her partner had skied about a mile into the backcountry before an injury prevented them from continuing on their own. They issued an emergency call that was picked up by the Yellowstone Communications Center.

Yellowstone National Park has been the site of numerous interagency rescues over the years by Teton County Search & Rescue. Photo: TCSAR

Yellowstone park rangers skied in to help the injured skier. Upon arrival, rangers requested helicopter assistance from TCSAR. At present time, TCSAR has the region's only SAR-dedicated helicopter. Though Yellowstone is not a regular location for TCSAR missions, the team has done and will continue to perform rescues in the park if and when requested by park officials. 

TCSAR was able to find and emergency evac an injured nordic skier from the Fairy Falls area of Yellowstone National Park on April 24, 2024. Photo: TCSAR

TCSAR responded to this incident with a heli team consisting of three volunteers and a pilot, with an initial plan of doing a possible short-haul extraction. The team departed the hangar in Jackson at 3:36 p.m.

Flight time to the Fairy Falls area was about 30 minutes. The helicopter circled several times before spotting the injured party. After locating the patient, they landed the ship and were able to load the injured skier and partner into the helicopter. The team then flew the skiers to a landing zone on the Grand Loop Road inside the park, where they transferred the patient to a waiting ambulance.

Thanks to the coordinated response between YNP and TCSAR, the mission was completed in 3 hours, 30 minutes. Photo: TCSAR

Afterward, the team flew back to Jackson, completing the mission in 3 hours, 30 minutes. TCSAR appreciates the coordinated effort from Yellowstone National Park to bring this operation to a successful close.