BackcountrySOS

Latest Rescue Has TCSAR Helping Mountain Biker in Black Canyon

Jackson, Wyo. — At 11:35 a.m. on Wednesday, June 25, Teton County Search & Rescue received an alert regarding an injured mountain biker in Black Canyon. The biker, a local 27-year-old woman, was descending the trail when she clipped a tree and went over the handlebars. The crash caused injuries that prevented her from riding or walking out on her own.

TCSAR volunteers transport an injured mountain biker down the Black Canyon trail on June 25, 2025. Photo: TCSAR

Without cell service in the canyon, the woman’s companion pedaled back up the trail until she could make an emergency call, and then returned to the scene. A TCSAR volunteer who lives near Wilson responded directly and ran up the trail from the Old Pass Road trailhead. This volunteer was followed by other volunteers on foot and on bikes.

Once on scene, the volunteers assessed the woman’s condition and packaged her for transport in the wheeled litter. The team transported the patient in the litter for about three miles down to the Old Pass Road, where a family member drove her to higher medical care.

As a friendly reminder, here are some options to help backcountry users contact 911 when there is little to no cellular service:

  • BackcountrySOS is a free app that allows you to connect to dispatch with minimal cell service. A great option for those who live in the region.

  • New Apple iPhones have satellite text-to-911 capability, as long as you have a clear view of the sky and horizon.

  • Satellite communication devices, such as the Garmin inReach, can connect you to emergency services as well, and require a subscription.

Got a New iPhone? Here's How to Use Apple's Satellite Text-to-911 During an Emergency

So far this winter, Teton County Search & Rescue has been alerted four times via Apple iPhone’s new satellite SOS function. Due to questions surrounding this new technology, we would like to provide some information about best practices regarding how to use this application during a backcountry emergency. 

This PSA is not intended to shame or cast judgment on anyone—we empathize with all those who go through the complicated stress of an emergency—only to provide useful information regarding a new technology that can help serve our backcountry community.

Apple’s satellite text function was introduced in the iPhone 14, released in 2022, and is available in all new iPhones with the IOS 18 update. When activated outside of cellular range, the device connects the user to the nearest satellite in order to send an emergency text message, which is then routed to the Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center. Apple encourages iPhone users to set up a Medical ID and emergency contacts that are included in a SOS text message.

But if you’ve ever used a Garmin inReach or SPOT, you know that messages via satellite are not automatic. Transmission depends on the location of the user in relation to the satellite, and relaying a message often takes longer than what we’re all used to with standard text messaging while in cell range. During the chaos of an emergency, it’s easy to appreciate how complicated this procedure can be, especially if you’ve never used it before.

It’s also important to know that someone outside of the original text thread—such as a SAR member at Incident Command—will not be able to contact you directly with this technology. Contact with the reporting party must be done through dispatch. In other words, the reporting party must initiate the text in order to receive a response.

For those equipped with this capability, Apple recommends going through the demo available on your phone. Familiarize yourself with its functionality, and then remember to include the following info during an emergency:

When texting 911 via satellite with your iPhone, please provide the following:

  • Nature of emergency and number of people in party.

  • Mechanism of activity (ski, snowmobile, etc.)

  • Anything SAR should know (previous medical history, allergies, other hazards, etc.)

And please remember:

  • Make sure you have an unobstructed view of the sky and horizon.

  • Satellite transmission is not automatic.

  • SAR response may take some time.

  • Watch for additional questions or instructions via text from the 911 dispatch center.

The Fine Line Podcast Presents: A Very Close Call in Phillips Canyon

Jackson, Wyo. — Season 8 of The Fine Line podcast rolls onward with a story about a mountain bike crash with potentially serious consequences on a favorite local trail. The episode dives into the effectiveness of the BackcountrySOS app, and how Teton County Search & Rescue volunteers responded with delicate treatment of potentially life-altering injuries in the field.

“A Bridge Too Far: The Phillip’s Log Strikes Again” airs today, May 23, at 2 p.m. on KHOL 89.1 FM, and afterward on your favorite podcast platform.


Thanks to Rick Gordon and Dr. Tobin Dennis for sharing their experiences so the rest of us can learn—right as mountain bike season ramps up across the Mountain West.

Produced by Backcountry Zero, Season 8 of The Fine Line is presented by Stio, with support from Arc’teryx and KHOL. Original art by Jen Reddy Ink. The Fine Line’s theme song is by Anne & Pete Sibley, with additional music produced by Ben Winship. The Fine Line is produced and hosted by Matt Hansen, with editing and sound by Melinda Binks.

Learn more about The Fine Line atBackcountryZero.com.