Avalanche Awareness Night, En Español, Coming Up On January 28

Jackson, Wyo. — For the first time, an avalanche awareness workshop is being held in Spanish in order to reach a broader demographic in Jackson Hole. Presented and organized by a diverse group of educators and backcountry safety advocates from Teton County Search & Rescue, Camina Conmingo, Coombs Outdoors, Exum, Jackson Hole Mountain Guides, and the Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center, Noche de Concientización Sobre Avalanchas will take place from 6:00-8:30 p.m. on January 28, at the Virginian’s Wister Hall.

The goal of the event is to increase access to essential safety information for community members for whom Spanish is their preferred language. Based on TCSD #1 demographics, an estimated 40 percent of county residents have a home language other than English, and the majority of those are Spanish-speakers.

"Language access is one of the important first steps in ensuring that everyone in our community has the tools and knowledge they need to make informed decisions in the backcountry,” said Piper Worthington, a language access advocate and event co-coordinator. “This event will be educational, but also a celebration of local people and organizations who have changed the ways we think about who is represented in the outdoor industry."

Presenters will offer a dynamic line-up of content for backcountry users of all levels of experience and modalities, and for those who want to learn and be inspired by our local resources.

No registration required and attendance is free. All attendees get one free raffle ticket upon entry for the chance to win some great prizes at the conclusion of the event. For more information, visit BackcountryZero.com/events.

If you have questions about this event, please reach out to TCSAR Foundation Preventative SAR Manager Maddie Johnson: maddie@tetoncountysar.org.

PRESENTATION AGENDA

Avalanche Awareness: Christian Santelices, IFMGA/AMGA Certified Guide
State of the Snowpack: Laura Gaylord, Coombs Outdoors + Exum Mountain Guides
Emergency Response & First Aid: Ryan Mertaugh, Teton County Search & Rescue + JHMG
Backcountry Panel: Backcountry Program Participants, Coombs Outdoors
Keynote Speaker: Vanessa Chavarriaga Posada
Raffle

Season Finale from The Fine Line: "No Name: How Far Are You Willing To Go?"

Season 8 of The Fine Line concludes with a wild story that demonstrates how there will always be people who go right up to the edge in the Tetons, and venture beyond it despite the risks.

The story includes the keen perspectives of Teton County Search & Rescue volunteer Anthony Stevens and TCSAR Chief Pilot Steve Wilson, and how they rescued local snowboarder Sasha Motivala after a traumatic accident on No Name Peak on April 12, 2024.

Please tune in for this thought-provoking conversation about risk tolerance, decision-making, and the lifesaving skillsets of Teton County Search & Rescue.

Produced by Backcountry Zero, Season 8 of The Fine Line is presented by Stio, with support from Roadhouse Brewing Co., Arc'teryx and KHOL.

Editing for The Fine Line is by Melinda Binks, with original artwork by Jen Reddy. The theme song is by Anne and Pete Sibley, with additional music produced by Ben Winship. Interview and storytelling by Matt Hansen.

Thank you so much for listening to The Fine Line. Find it today wherever you get your podcasts. And if you like what you hear, please leave us a review and share it with a friend.

TCSAR Responds Again to No Name Peak

Just before 1 p.m. on Friday, April 12, Teton County Search & Rescue received a call regarding an injured snowboarder on No Name Peak. It was the second time in the last 10 days that the volunteers were called out to No Name, a large mountain prized by local skiers and snowboarders for its steep and immense northeast-facing slope. It is typically accessed from the boundary gates at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and is uncontrolled backcountry terrain.

TCSAR volunteers respond to a snowboarder who was injured riding No Name Peak on April 12, 2024. Photo: TCSAR

The snowboarder, a local male, had been severely injured after striking rocks while descending the peak. TCSAR volunteers were able to communicate directly with the patient over the phone, and informed him the team would be arriving by helicopter.

Within 25 minutes of receiving the initial rescue call, the TCSAR helicopter lifted off with two volunteers and pilot on board. As they approached No Name, they could easily see the patient from the air and landed within 50 feet of his location. Jackson Hole Ski Patrollers, en route from the top of the aerial tram, arrived on scene simultaneously. 

After assessing the man’s injuries and treating him, the team loaded him internally into the helicopter for transport. The team then flew the patient to the TCSAR hangar where they transferred him to a waiting ambulance with Jackson Hole Fire/EMS. 

The entire mission was completed in 58 minutes. TCSAR appreciates the partnerships that allow the volunteers to bring injured patients out of the backcountry and into higher medical care.

TCSAR would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that they should dial 911 in case of a backcountry emergency. If you have cellular service, that is the quickest and most efficient way to get a rescue started.