New episode of The Fine Line: Avalanche on Taylor Mountain

It’s human nature for all of us to want to prove ourselves. But in the backcountry, where margins for error in avalanche terrain can be razor thin, this can be a dangerous path—for experts, beginners, and everyone in between.

In the latest two-part episode of The Fine Line podcast, Jackson snowboarder Anna Meteyer confronts these and other complexities from April 1, 2020, when she lost her friend and touring partner Trace Carrillo in an avalanche on Teton Pass, Wyo. Meanwhile, TCSAR volunteer Jennifer Sparks talks about how psychological first aid has become a priority for first responders in Teton County.

Aerial drone photo by Will Smith/TCSAR.

With this incident playing out during the height of uncertainty at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, it generated national headlines and caused a stir among backcountry users in the Jackson Hole area. Though the accident seems straightforward at first glance, Meteyer shares how painfully complicated it was that day and for many days afterward, and reveals lessons that all backcountry users should take to heart.

Thank you to Meteyer for sharing her story, and to Carrillo's family and friends for supporting backcountry safety in his name through a scholarship fund at the University of Utah.

Subscribe to The Fine Line on Apple podcasts, Spotify, and SoundCloud, and listen to it every Thursday at 2 p.m. on KHOL 89.1 FM.

Over $25,000 in Prizes to be Given Away at Winter Welcome, presented by JH Sports

Skis, snowboards, avalanche airbags, goggles, a week’s stay at a premier Teton Village property…and much more is being given away during the 2021 Winter Welcome, presented by JH Sports.

From now until January 30, we are selling raffle tickets for these prizes in support of TCSAR volunteers. In its fifth year, Winter Welcome is intended to showcase the spirit of giving back in the name of backcountry safety. The recipe is simple: Get a mountain of awesome gear, sell raffle tickets to likeminded folks, and give it away in support of a good cause.

Though Winter Welcome has typically involved free food and drink and a shindig, the ongoing pandemic means the event will be all virtual. But no more Zoom meetings. All you have to do is buy your tickets—with all proceeds going to TCSAR—go skiing, and we’ll let you know if you win.

Winter Welcome is the brainchild of JH Sports general manager Larry Hartenstein, who has organized the event each of the last five years. A JH Sports employee for 21 years, Hartenstein is a devoted skier who knows what it’s like to be cast under the spell of the Tetons. From the day he arrived as a young skier, many of his life decisions have been influenced by the desire to ski as much as possible. But he also knows how that desire can put people in dangerous situations, and he is adamant about spreading the message of backcountry safety. Winter Welcome is a major step forward in that cause.

“I put on this event to call attention to what TCSAR does for all of the staff of JH Sports and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort,” says Hartenstein. “TCSAR has impacted the lives of our staff over the years and I believe it is 100 percent appropriate to give back to this incredible organization, as the funds are used to continue supporting all of our backcountry users.”

Backcountry Zero releases "Check Yourself, Check Your Friends" Campaign

Project of Teton County Search and Rescue Foundation urges backcountry users to be cautious, patient and respectful this winter

With the Jackson Hole backcountry continuing to see increased use this winter, Teton County Search and Rescue Foundation is amplifying its efforts to stress the importance of safe and responsible backcountry use. As the ongoing pandemic has created shifts in behaviors and added new stresses to everyone’s daily outlook, the Foundation is urging all backcountry users to be extra cautious, patient and respectful. 

Highlighting these efforts is a short film from Backcountry Zero, a project of the TCSAR Foundation to reduce fatalities and serious injuries in the Jackson Hole backcountry. Called “Check Yourself, Check Your Friends,” the film is sponsored by the Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism Board and emphasizes the importance of doing safety checks. As history has taught us, taking shortcuts in the backcountry—even those that seem small and insignificant—can have deadly consequences. The film complements the numerous outreach and educational efforts that have become a staple of Backcountry Zero.

“Check Yourself, Check Your Friends” is a call to action highlighting four critical steps every time you head into the backcountry:

• Check the daily avalanche forecast at JHAvalanche.org.

• Pack the essentials, and know how to use them.

• Do a proper beacon check.

• Be patient and show respect toward others and the environment.

“There is a critical need for locals and visitors to elevate their backcountry safety this winter due to the unprecedented challenges caused by Covid-19,” said TCSAR Foundation Executive Director Stephanie Thomas. “With our hospital and first-responders already stressed from the virus, we need to make sure that backcountry users don’t add unnecessary weight to the system.”

With Jackson Hole Mountain Resort limiting daily skier capacity due to Covid-19 and retailers selling out of backcountry equipment, the wilds of Jackson Hole will be an attractive option for many people. But it’s critical that such enthusiasts don’t let the pandemic cloud their judgment in an unforgiving, uncontrolled environment.

“Check Yourself, Check Your Friends” was shot and produced by KGB Productions and Backcountry Zero, and features Jackson skiers Morgan McGlashon, Daniel Tisi and Riis Wilbrecht.

For more information, to learn about furthering your backcountry education, or to find an outfitter, please visit BackcountryZero.com.