TCSAR and JH Ski Patrol Team Up For Injured Skier

Jackson, Wyo. — Just past noon on Thursday, February 19, Teton County Search & Rescue received an alert from the Jackson Hole Ski Patrol requesting helicopter assistance for an injured skier outside the resort boundary. The 44-year-old female from Jackson had sustained an injury while skiing an area known as Four Pines and was unable to ski out on her own.

Coordinating with Jackson Hole Ski Patrol, Teton County Search & Rescue deployed a heli team to pick up an injured skier in the backcountry of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Photo: TCSAR

As they often do in such incidents, ski patrol made the initial response. After assessing the patient’s injury, patrol called TCSAR for heli assistance. TCSAR fired up the ship and flew to the scene. Coordinating with patrol, the team landed nearby and loaded the patient for internal transport to the base of Teton Village, completing the mission in 1 hour, 35 minutes.

Big shout out to Jackson Hole Ski Patrol for their help in coordinating this rescue effort.

TCSAR and JH Ski Patrol Coordinate Rescue of Injured Skier

Just before 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 31, Teton County Search & Rescue received a call from Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Ski Patrol for helicopter assistance to evacuate an injured skier from the resort-adjacent backcountry. 

The view of No Shadows from the top of the line. This photo is not from the incident described. Photo: Maddie Johnson

The skier in question—a 33-year-old male—had fallen and sustained injuries while skiing No Shadows, a run off the north shoulder of Cody Peak. No Shadows is a well-known ski descent that lies outside the resort boundary. To access this area, skiers must leave the resort and hike an exposed ridgeline to the top of the line.

After ski patrol responded and requested heli assistance, TCSAR mobilized a heli crew consisting of the pilot and two volunteers. Coordinating with ski patrol, the heli team was able to land near the patient and load him for internal transport. The helicopter then transported the patient to a landing zone at the base of Teton Village, from where the patient was transferred to higher medical care.

TCSAR appreciates the coordination and partnership with Jackson Hole Ski Patrol to help resolve this incident in 1 hour, 35 minutes.