Mission Critical

TCSAR's New Helicopter Arrives, Completing Mission Critical Campaign

Teton County Search & Rescue is excited to announce that it has received its year-round rescue helicopter, completing the capital campaign to provide an on-call rescue ship to Teton County and surrounding areas. The helicopter—a single-engine H125 aircraft built by the France-based Airbus and then customized as a rescue ship by Kansas-based EuroTec—officially arrived on Saturday, October 14, 2023. TCSAR volunteers have already begun training in and around the helicopter in preparation for the winter rescue season.

After raising $7.25 million in private donations from the community in a nine-month campaign known as Mission Critical, TCSAR Foundation, the nonprofit that supports TCSAR volunteers, handed over the title and deed of the H125 helicopter to Teton County. Moving forward, the County owns the ship and employs the chief pilot through the Teton County Sheriff’s Office, which oversees SAR operations as stipulated by Wyoming state statute. The process has been a prime example of the community benefits resulting from the public/private partnership between the TCSAR Foundation, Sheriff’s Office, and County.

“The new H125 helicopter comes at a time when Teton County Search & Rescue continues to see a high volume of rescue calls, within and outside our county,” says TCSAR Chief Advisor Cody Lockhart. “Having a rescue-ready helicopter year-round can be the difference between life or death for locals and visitors alike. We are incredibly grateful to our entire community and partners for helping to make this vital rescue tool a reality for Teton County.”

To view the entire press release, learn more about TCSAR’s helicopter program, and see more photos of the new ship, go to TetonCountySAR.org/helicopter.

TCSAR Foundation completes Mission Critical, Invites Public to Celebration on May 24

Jackson, Wyo. — Two months after the launch of its public campaign, Teton County Search & Rescue Foundation is excited to announce that it has completed Mission Critical, successfully raising the necessary funds to bring a year-round rescue helicopter to Teton County, Wyo.

“With over 1,200 donations to the campaign, our community has stepped up to show the importance of bringing this critical asset to Teton County,” said TCSAR Foundation Executive Director Stephanie Thomas. “We are humbled and in awe by the efforts of everyone who made this happen.”

TCSAR Foundation opened its public campaign on March 18 knowing they needed to raise over $1.25 million—out of a total goal of $7.25 million—to finish out Mission Critical. The community stepped up to the challenge and accomplished the goal, ensuring the arrival of a year-round rescue helicopter to Teton County by this fall. 

To celebrate the end of Mission Critical and as a gesture of their sincere gratitude, TCSAR Foundation and TCSAR volunteers invite the entire community to a special helicopter demo at Phil Baux Park at the base of Snow King from 4:30-7 p.m. on May 24. At 5:15 p.m. sharp, TCSAR volunteers will conduct a short-haul operation, a method of rescue in which first responders use the helicopter to lift a patient harnessed to the end of a rope attached to the belly of the ship for a flight out of the backcountry. The Snow King demo will give viewers a rare chance to see the operation in action in the front-country. 

The event includes pizza from Pinky G’s, popcorn from JH Pop, tacos from La Fiera, beer from Roadhouse Brewing, beverages from local suppliers, and ice cream from St. John’s Episcopal Church. Food and beverages will be FREE while supplies last. This is an all-ages event and everyone is invited.

Bike Safety, Brews, and support for TCSAR set for Snake River Brewery on May 18

With trail season coming into swing, TCSAR is excited to highlight the importance of backcountry bike safety at the Snake River Brewery on Thursday, May 18. The community is encouraged to ride a bike to the Brew Pub where local bike shops will be giving out free safety checks, advice on how to outfit your bike for the summer, and where Friends of Pathways will have bike course set up for test rides. (Please, wear your helmet and obey all traffic laws!)

Recent trends show mountain biking accidents on the rise in the Jackson Hole area. Last summer, TCSAR volunteers responded to 13 bike accidents—the most ever in a single season. Not only were bike accidents more frequent, the severity of the injuries were also a cause for concern.

Deemed “Mission Critical Mass,” the May 18 event is also a great opportunity to publicly support TCSAR’s campaign to bring a year-round rescue helicopter to Teton County. The Brew Pub has generously offered to donate $1 for every beer to TCSAR. Plus, the event includes a special raffle supporting the helicopter campaign featuring some incredible prizes, including:

Raffle tickets cost $50 and are in limited supply. As of May 17, there were only 20 tickets left! Winners will be announced during Mission Critical Mass, but you don’t have to present to win.

A heartfelt thank you to all the sponsors of Mission Critical Mass!