Man killed in avalanche in Teton County, Wyoming
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The following is a news release from the Teton County Wyoming Sheriff’s Office.
JACKSON, Wyoming — The Teton County Wyoming Sheriff’s Office reports that on Jan. 19 at approximately 12:59 p.m. the Teton County Communication Center received a call from a community member that stated he had observed an avalanche on Pyramid Peak just south of Jensen Canyon and was concerned that someone may have been caught in the slide.
At the time of the call Teton County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (SAR) members were conducting training with the SAR helicopter just south of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Rock Springs Canyon.
The SAR helicopter was quickly diverted to the area of the avalanche. According to SAR members the helicopter crew was able to see a single track in the slide area. An avalanche transceiver beacon sweep was conducted from the air but no signal was detected. Upon further investigation the helicopter crew was able to spot what appeared to be a snowboard at the base of the avalanche.
Using a “short-haul” technique two SAR members were then delivered directly to the area of the snowboard. They were able to locate the body of 30-year-old Jed Wesley Foster of Jackson, Wyoming, who was pronounced dead on the scene. Foster’s body was released to the Teton County Coroner’s Office for further investigation.
Coordinated efforts from the Teton County Sheriff’s Office SAR, Patrol, and Dispatch members along with Jackson Hole Mountain Resort’s Avalanche Dog Team and the Bridger-Teton Avalanche Forecast Center worked together in an effort to affect a safe rescue mission.
According to the Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center the avalanche danger for today was listed as “considerable” with several human triggered avalanches occurring yesterday at similar aspects and elevations.