Photo: Teague Holmes
On May 30th, while filming for an upcoming project, TGR athletes Kai Jones and Nick McNutt set out on the Grand Teton alongside legendary guide Doug Workman and Adam Fabrikant, as well as cinematographer Erich Roepke, to ski one of the most notable lines in the Teton Range, the Otter Body. At 18, Kai became the youngest to ski this route, pioneered by Doug Coombs and Mark Newcomb in 1997.
The Otter Body is legendary in the mountain community. The descent starts with steep skiing down the exposed East Face from the summit, leading to a mandatory rappel onto a snowfield shaped like an otter’s body. Following this section, the route requires another series of rappels onto the Teepee Glacier snowfield, which offers another incredible skiing pitch. This run is regarded as one of the most demanding and prestigious ski descents in the Teton Range and possibly all of North America.
Photo: Chris Figenshau/ TGR
Making this accomplishment even more impactful is the fact that 15 months ago, Kai shattered both of his legs while skiing in the Wyoming backcountry, requiring a helicopter rescue, four surgeries, and over a year of grueling recovery. While in the hospital in Jackson, WY, Kai could see the top of the Grand above the town's foothills. He told himself he would return to form and ride the Otter Body the following spring. Experts and critics publicly doubted Kai’s ability to return to his pre-accident performance level. Despite this, Kai's determination saw him return to the mountains this winter.
To achieve his goal of skiing the Otter Body this spring, Kai knew he needed a team of accomplished peers and mentors to pull it off. Kai called Doug Workman, an elite mountain guide, whom Kai has trained and skied with over the years, and the two began to devise a game plan. The trip would also involve skiing prominent lines from the top of the Middle and South Teton over the span of two days. Doug brought in Adam Fabrikant, an accomplished skier and guide known for his bold first descents and significant contributions to ski mountaineering in the Tetons and around the world. Rounding out the crew was Nick McNutt, a fellow pro skier and mentor to Kai.
Photo: Chris Figenshau/ TGR
The team monitored the weather through an unsettled spring and decided to head into the mountains on May 29th. Over the next 48 hours, they achieved their goal of skiing these iconic runs off of the Grand, Middle, and South Teton.
“It was so amazing to be out there with Doug, Adam and Nick and to pull all of this off. Considering everything I had fought through over the last year plus, this was the most surreal experience of my life and also the most rewarding” - Kai Jones
Photo: Chris Figenshau/ TGR
The team successfully returned from the mountains on Sunday to friends and family awaiting their return and to celebrate their accomplishments. More details on the film project will be announced at some point this summer, with an anticipated fall release.
