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TCSAR Midyear Report reveals one of busiest seasons in history

TCSAR responded to 64 rescue calls in winter 2024–25, including avalanches, stranded snowboarders, and snowmobile incidents. Read the full midyear report.

Teton County Search and Rescue (TCSAR) has released its 2024–25 midyear report, revealing one of the busiest winter seasons in the team's history.

Between December 1, 2024, and May 31, 2025, TCSAR responded to 64 calls for service—many involving complex, high-risk backcountry rescues.

“Most of the calls this winter came from skiers and snowboarders, which alerted TCSAR 27 times. The majority of those calls, 18, were from skiers and snowboarders who entered the backcountry from a resort boundary gate. Many of these lift-served backcountry incidents were handled by local ski patrol, underscoring the critical partnership between TCSAR and our three local ski resorts.

A big theme for this winter had to do with stuck or stranded snowmobilers. Snowmachiners accounted for 17 rescue calls, with five rescues leading to all-night operations from TCSAR volunteers.”

Notable Rescues from Winter 2024–25

February 8 – Snowboarders Cliffed-Out Near Grand Targhee

Around 11:30 a.m. on February 8, three snowboarders—an adult male, an 18-year-old female, and a 16-year-old male—became stranded in steep, cliffed-out terrain after exiting Grand Targhee Resort’s boundaries. None of the riders were carrying avalanche gear or other essential backcountry equipment. Unable to find a safe way down, they used a cell phone to call for help.

TCSAR volunteers quickly developed two contingency plans: a helicopter short-haul operation or a rope-assisted descent, coordinated by Grand Targhee Ski Patrol, followed by snowmobile extraction in Teton Canyon.

Ski Patrol was first to make contact and determined that a short-haul was the safest and most efficient course of action. TCSAR’s helicopter team successfully extracted the group in two trips and returned to base after refueling at Driggs Airport.

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January 4 – Avalanche Fatality at Breccia Cliffs

On January 4, TCSAR responded to a serious avalanche incident in the Breccia Cliffs area, involving a group of four experienced skiers. One skier was fully buried and another partially buried after triggering a slide in complex terrain.

Due to weather conditions, helicopters were grounded, forcing ground teams to approach on skis. Rescuers reached the site by late afternoon, navigating deep debris fields. One skier who suffered a leg injury was transported by litter to an ambulance, but a 36-year-old man—described as highly experienced-- did not survive.

This winter saw 23 avalanche deaths nationwide, and TCSAR’s record setting 64 calls underscore the growing risk as more people venture into remote terrain. Many incidents involved well-prepared and experienced individuals—highlighting the unpredictable nature of the backcountry and the necessity of emergency preparedness.

TCSAR emphasizes the importance of reliable communication, weather awareness, and knowing when to turn back. As helicopter rescues can be delayed or grounded, self-rescue and self-preservation until help arrives (which can be hours) must always be part of the equation.

For more information or to support TCSAR’s volunteer mission, visit tetonsar.org.

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