ATV Crash on Shadow Mountain Triggers Response from Teton County Search & Rescue and Multiple Agencies

Jackson, Wyo. — At 1:32 p.m. on Tuesday, August 6, Teton County Search & Rescue was contacted by dispatch regarding an ATV crash on Shadow Mountain, a popular recreation site about 20 miles north of Jackson in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The patient, a 16-year-old female visiting from out of town, sustained serious head trauma. 

The TCSAR ship prepares for a short-haul operation on August 6, 2024. Photo: TCSAR

The girl and two family members were riding two machines as part of a larger guided group, but they were separated from the group at the time of the crash. The girl was wearing a helmet and it is unknown what caused the accident.

After receiving the emergency alert, TCSAR sent volunteers into the field in the helicopter and ground vehicles as backup support. Meanwhile, the team also called in Air Idaho, a medical air ambulance to provide flight-for-life transport if necessary. 

With the accident site in a densely forested area on Shadow, the TCSAR helicopter inserted two volunteers onto the scene via a long line. The volunteers detached from the helicopter to begin initial treatment and patient packaging for a short-haul operation. As the TCSAR ship prepared to pick up the patient and rescuers, a thunderstorm moved in and caused the helicopter to be grounded on the valley floor.

Multiple agencies responded to the ATV crash on Shadow Mountain on August 6, 2024. Photo: TCSAR

TCSAR volunteers in a RZR side-by-side vehicle subsequently drove to the scene and picked up the patient and transported her down a dirt road. Taking advantage of a weather window, the TCSAR helicopter lifted off and picked up the patient from the RZR team and transferred her to a Jackson Hole Fire/EMS ambulance and the Air Idaho ship parked at a landing zone at Lost Creek Ranch.

Medical providers continued caring for the patient, who was transported by Air Idaho to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls. TCSAR extends our most sincere thoughts and prayers to the girl and her family during this difficult time. The team is grateful for the support from participating agencies, and offers its gratitude to Lost Creek Ranch, which was not involved in this incident, for providing a landing zone for two helicopters and a safe space to conduct this rescue.

Join us August 15 for "Lessons at 13,000 Feet: Stories from the High Alpine"

Jackson, Wyo. — On August 15, Teton County Search & Rescue Foundation, Teton Climber’s Coalition and Jenny Lake Rangers are proud to present an evening where stories of close calls, misadventures, and first-responder perspectives are being given a stage for listening and reflection. 

This free event features live storytelling at the Black Diamond store in downtown Jackson.

As we enter the prime season for high altitude adventures, ‘Lessons at 13,000 Feet: Stories from the High Alpine’ will share insights to how people survive, and respond to, backcountry accidents above the treeline.

Storytellers include local climbers Lars Schou and Hadden Goodman, along with Jenny Lake Climbing Rangers Zack Little and Ken Kries, and TCSAR volunteer Jen Reddy. Each speaker will go into detail about how an experience in the mountains influenced their relationship to risk and adventure. 

While Little and Kries will discuss their points of view from a first-responder perspective, Reddy, Schou and Goodman will discuss incidents involving serious injuries: what happened, how they each responded to the trauma, and how it may have changed their relationship to risk and mountain adventures. 

Incidents like this are not uncommon in the Tetons, but getting to understand the decisions that contributed to them, and the reflections they’ve catalyzed, is an experience few get to have.

Doors open at 6 p.m., stories begin at 6:30 p.m. Roadhouse Beer and Yeah Buddy pizza provided. Register HERE to let us know you’re coming and be entered into a raffle!

The Fine Line Presents: "Tougher Than A Spud Bar"

As you know from following Teton County Search & Rescue, there are a million and one ways for people to get into trouble in the backcountry. And it is unfair to assume that everyone is being reckless.

Sometimes, they just get their foot stuck.

Doug Van Houten has been a volunteer with Teton County Search & Rescue since 2015. Photos: David Bowers

In the next episode of The Fine Line, Teton County Search & Rescue volunteer Doug Van Houten takes us back to an incident from 2018 when the SAR team had to pull out all the stops in order to help a Nordic skier get out of a jam, literally, in Teton Canyon. It goes to show you never know what you might need to get the job done.

“Tougher Than A Spud Bar” airs today, August 1, at 2 p.m. on KHOL 89.1 FM, and afterward on your preferred podcast platform.

Produced by Backcountry Zero, Season 8 of The Fine Line is presented by Stio, with support from Arc'teryx and KHOL. Original art above by Jen Reddy.