Training:

This weekend TCSAR members trained on Winter packaging and transport on Teton pass. Thanks to all those who tolerated our presence.  This training is important as there are many means to transport injured people in the winter.  During this training we used the sked (a hard plastic shell), ski toboggan, and a litter to prepare for sort haul (helicopter extraction).

The photos were taken by Eric Helgoth, one of our members and an amazing photographer.  Thanks Eric!

Triple Threat:

Members of the TCSAR team mobilized for 3 separate incidents today during our first sunny day since the storm that dumped more than 50 inches in the mountains.

The first call came early Tuesday morning when concerned parties contacted TCSAR, noting a slide in Little Tuckerman’s with a possible ski track going into the slide.  The TCSAR team was paged to respond but stood down after helicopter recon flights indicated lots of old avalanche activity but no new slide.

The team was then put on standby for an out of bounds skier near four pines, south of JHMR.  The skier reportedly had a lower leg injury.  Luckily the Ski Patrol from JHMR, going above and beyond their duty, responded and were able to locate and extricate the individual.

Finally, TCSAR members were paged to respond to a massive avalanche on the East Face of Taylor Mountain.  The same area that claimed the life of a local skier just a few short years ago.  Multiple parties reported the slide and noted that it ran to the valley floor and crossed Coal Creek.  Again, the members of TCSAR were stood down after a reconnaissance flight and interviews on scene indicated that the slide was initiated by a ski cut made by a party interested in skiing the route.

It has been a busy time for TCSAR with multiple calls regarding avalanches and possible injuries in the backcountry.  Please remember that the Avy Danger is still Considerable. Expert terrain and route finding skills are needed to safely navigate the backcountry at this time.  Also, please consider what may be below your intended route as the slide from Taylor crossed Coal Creek at a time when there were several people in the area that could have been affected.  Stay safe out there.

TRIO OF CALLOUTS KEEP TCSAR BUSY

Members of TCSAR responded to 3 separate incidents on Thursday, the last stretching well into the night.

The first callout was an interagency assist requested by Fremont county.  Members were mobilized to assist with a search for a missing snowmobiler.  Luckily the snowmobiler was located near Union pass quickly and TCSAR members were stood down.

The second and third callouts occurred simultaneously.  TCSAR received a 911 call from a a skier who had gone out of bounds at JHMR.  The skier had attempted to ski a line in Four Pines.  An avalanche caught and stranded the skier in the backcountry, and they were unable to ski out.  

At the same time that the team was mobilizing to respond to this call a second call came in for a stranded snowmobiler up the Cache Creek drainage.  The Team split into separate units and responded to both incidents.  The snowmobiler up Cache Creek was located and with help able to ride out without difficulty.

The other members of TCSAR responded to JHMR and fielded two hasty teams into blizzard like conditions to search for the avalanched skier.  911 had provided GPS coordinates and with the help of GPS and good old Whistle blowing the skier was located. The teams then packaged the skier in a sked (a bendable plastic toboggan) and skied out of the backcountry.  Members of the JHMR ski patrol then assisted the team with snowmobiles back to the base of the village. The team arrived back at the JHMR around 9pm tired but happy with the outcome of a hard days work.

Please consider the backcountry conditions carefully before deciding to head out.  Stay safe.

The members of TCSAR set out this weekend to brush up on their snow machine skills.  Despite the shallow snowpack they managed to find some fun ‘biling.