TCSAR Responds to Distressed Hunter in Horse Creek

At 7:32 p.m. on Friday, September 26, Teton County Dispatch received an emergency alert for a hunter having a medical issue in the North Fork of Horse Creek, a remote area that lies to the southeast of the Cache Creek drainage. The alert regarded a 66-year-old man from Oregon who was reported to be in severe distress. 

The man was in a guided group of elk hunters. After dusk, the group had been hiking down a steep trail back to camp when the man could go no further.

Teton County Search & Rescue responded with two ground teams, each taking side-by-side vehicles up Cache Creek. When the vehicles could go no further, two volunteers continued on bikes. When the bikes could go no further, they continued on foot until they reached the patient about a mile past the divide between Cache Creek and Horse Creek. The second ground team came in on foot carrying the wheeled litter.

As the team treated the patient, they considered going down into Horse Creek, but opted to go back up to Cache Creek toward their vehicles and a potential landing site for an emergency helicopter. The team placed a request for an air ambulance out of Riverton but it was called off due to darkness and challenging terrain (the TCSAR ship was not available because it cannot fly at night).

The team then packaged the patient in the wheeled litter and transported him back up the divide and into Cache Creek. From there, they placed the man in one of the side-by-sides and drove him to the trailhead and waiting ambulance from Jackson Hole Fire/EMS.

The volunteers returned to TCSAR HQ at 2:30 a.m., and prepped the equipment for the next mission.

Teton County Search & Rescue To Host the World’s Largest Gathering of Alpine Rescuers

Jackson, Wyo. — Teton County Search & Rescue is excited and proud to host the International Commission for Alpine Rescue (ICAR) in Jackson, on October 7-12, 2025. It is just the second time in 77 years that this annual Congress will be held in the U.S. With approximately 600 alpine rescuers from 25 countries planning to attend, ICAR Jackson Hole will be the biggest international event in Jackson’s history.

The world’s premier alpine rescue conference, ICAR serves as a pivotal gathering for experts and stakeholders in the field of mountain rescue. During ICAR Jackson Hole, attendees will go through field trainings in the Tetons and hear presentations on the cutting-edge of alpine rescue. 

As the host organization, TCSAR is excited to offer the public two unique opportunities to get involved in ICAR to help celebrate the intersection of mountain rescue, backcountry safety, and our community’s unique Western heritage.

“We are honored to be able to bring the world of mountain rescue into our home,” said TCSAR Chief Advisor Cody Lockhart. “ICAR in general has made our SAR team better, and by hosting this event in Jackson, we will be able to learn from the very best professionals in the field of mountain rescue. Plus, we get to show our mountain community to a bunch of folks from other mountain communities. There’s no better stage than Jackson to do this.”

As Jackson residents can attest, search and rescue services are vital to the adventure tourism sector. By increasing awareness of the essential service, ICAR Jackson Hole will demonstrate sustainable, responsible recreation that respects our mountain playground's environment, wildlife, other users, and backcountry safety.

From 3:30-5 p.m. on Thursday, October 9, TCSAR welcomes the public to a helicopter display at the base of Snow King Mountain. On view will be the Colorado National Guard Hoist Aircraft Lakota, Wyoming National Guard Hoist Aircraft Blackhawk, a Bell 407, and of course, the Teton County Search & Rescue Airbus H125.

From 5-8 p.m. on Friday, October 10, TCSAR is excited to invite the community to be part of Heritage Night, a celebration of the roots and culture that make the American West so special. From 5-8 p.m. at the Teton County Fairgrounds, local businesses, nonprofits, artists, and food and beer trucks will be on hand during a special Jackson Hole Rodeo, and a “ReMatriate” performance from the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative, where dancers and singers/drummers will bring the buffalo to life. 

Both the helicopter display and Heritage Night are free and all are welcome.

TCSAR is looking forward to this once-in-a-lifetime experience that the entire community can be proud of. 

ICAR Jackson Hole is sponsored by: the Jackson Hole Travel & Tourism Board, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, and Snow King Mountain, with additional support from Airbus, Arc’teryx, and Bell, as well as CalTopo, Momentous, Motorola, Rocky Talkie, CMC, Backcountry Access, Breeze Eastern, and Safeback. Local business support comes from: Jackson Hole Still Works, Lockhart Cattle Co., Roadhouse Brewing Co., Snake River Brewing, Snake River Roasting Co., Stinky Prints, and The Liquor Store and Wine Loft. TCSAR is enormously grateful for this critical support. 

For more information and all media inquiries, please contact Matt Hansen, TCSAR Foundation Communications Director: (970) 846-7766; matt@tetoncountysar.org.

Old Bill's 2025: TCSAR Always Answers The Call

TCSAR volunteers are on call 24/7/365. This means they often step away from their families and normal everyday activities in order to answer an emergency call from someone in need in the backcountry.

Since January 1, TCSAR has been called nearly 120 times, an all-time record. Though not every call has resulted in a full-team callout, anytime the phone rings, a volunteer is there to answer.

By donating to TCSAR this Old Bill's giving season, you are supporting trainings, physical and mental wellness, meals, and personal safety equipment that empower TCSAR volunteers to answer the call—and come home to their families.

Thank you for supporting our volunteers.