Skier Dies In GTNP’s Apocalypse Couloir

Grand Teton National Park's Apocalypse Couloir. | Max Ritter photo.

On Sunday, February 13, NPS Rangers and Teton County Search and Rescue responded to a backcountry skier fatality inside Grand Teton National Park. A skier fell while descending the Apocalypse Couloir, a technical ski mountaineering line in the Park’s southern reaches. Rescuers responded via helicopter but the victim tragically died as a result of the accident. Our thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends, and the Teton community today. A GTNP press release states:

A climber in Death Canyon reported witnessing an individual fall in the Apocalypse Couloir, who appeared to be unresponsive. Park rangers, Teton County Search and Rescue personnel and the Teton County Search and Rescue helicopter responded to provide medical care. Radcliff Spencer, a 27-year-old Jackson, Wyoming resident, suffered a fatal fall while attempting to ski the couloir. Resuscitation efforts were attempted but proved unsuccessful due to the nature of injuries sustained. The remains of the deceased were flown from the backcountry and transferred to the Teton County Coroner. The four remaining members of Spencer’s party were transported out of the canyon via helicopter. While the snowpack remains generally stable, hazards still exist and may carry high consequence in technical terrain.

The Apocalypse Couloir is considered one of the Teton’s testpiece ski mountaineering objectives, and involves several rappels and technical steep skiing. A skier was killed by an avalanche in 2013 in the same location.