Jackson, Wyo. — This past winter, Teton County Search & Rescue responded to fewer backcountry emergencies than the previous three winters, but also confronted several challenging rescue scenarios that demonstrated the volunteers’ commitment to training, professionalism and teamwork.
TCSAR volunteers conduct a short-haul training session. Photo by Dirk Collins
These details and more are included in TCSAR’s recently released 2026 Midyear Review & Rescue Report, a 32-page booklet published twice each year documenting the team’s rescues, backcountry safety programming, and community outreach.
From December 1, 2025, to May 31, 2026, TCSAR received 45 calls for service. Over the same time period last year the team had 62 calls. Snowmobilers made the most rescue calls this winter with 19. Four of these snowmobile accidents tragically ended with fatalities.
Conversely, there were relatively few ski– and snowboard-related rescues. Three calls came from the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort backcountry, zero from the Grand Targhee backcountry, and eight on Teton Pass, which included one fatality. Local rescuers received zero ski-related calls for the entire winter in Grand Teton National Park. The one call that came from the park was for an injured climber on the Middle Teton, a rescue handled by the Jenny Lake Rangers with an assist from the TCSAR’s aviation team.
“These past six months have been a busy and productive time for our team,” Anthony Stevens, TCSAR Chief Advisor and volunteer since 2015, writes in the report’s opening letter. “We have continued to strengthen our operational readiness through training, collaboration, and experience in the field. Whether responding to emergencies, supporting partner agencies, or assisting members of our community during difficult moments, our personnel have consistently demonstrated the values that define this organization: commitment, teamwork, and service above self.”
The report also announces a new logo for Backcountry Zero, the preventative search and rescue programming from the TCSAR Foundation. Backcountry Zero was launched in 2015 to help the local community prioritize backcountry safety and preparedness. The new logo makes it more recognizable as a key initiative of TCSAR. Through accessible and effective education and outreach, the Backcountry Zero program strives to create a positive shift in backcountry culture while reducing SAR-related incidents.
Rescue Reports can be picked up at participating businesses all over Jackson Hole, and downloaded for free at TetonCountySAR.org/rescue-reports.
Media Contact: Matt Hansen, TCSAR Foundation Communications Director: matt@tetoncountysar.org, (970) 846-7766