Avalanche Kills Snowboarder in Grand Teton National Park

A man was killed in an avalanche on Monday in Grand Teton National Park on the north side of 25 Short. National Park Rangers and Teton County Search and Rescue officials were called to the avalanche which occurred in the Broken Thumb Couloir. Avalanche danger was reported as Considerable, with concern about persistent slabs and wind slabs. The victim was identified as Matthew Brien, a 33-year-old local snowboarder. This is the third avalanche death in the Tetons in the last seven days, following the tragic death of local snowboarder and builder Michael McKelvey on Togwotee Pass on Thursday and the death of a snowmobiler in the Greys River Range on Wednesday. More details are not available at this time. Our thoughts are with the victim's family and friends, and with the whole Teton backcountry community at this time.