A skier from Lander, Wyoming has died after being caught in an avalanche on Togwotee Pass Saturday morning.
The Teton County Search & Rescue (TCSAR) said they were dispatched to a known avalanche burial at Togwotee just before noon on Saturday, January 4. “Initial reports indicated that a group of four was in the Breccia Cliffs area when they triggered an avalanche,” state Teton County S&R. “As TCSAR mobilized, the team learned that it was a party of four skiers who’d triggered the slide as they were ascending a skin track. The avalanche partially buried on skier and fully buried another. The partially buried skier sustained a lower leg injury.”
TCSAR responded with teams in a helicopter, on snowmobiles and on skis. The helicopter team lifted off but returned when weather conditions did not permit an air response. The snowmobile team was also unable to reach the party of skiers due to the challenging conditions. TCSAR said the team of skiers were able to approach the area on skins and were able to get on scene at approximately 3:47 p.m.
“They began to apply treatment to the injured skier and remaining members of the party. The volunteers also worked to begin recovering the deceased skier for transport out of the backcountry. The volunteers worked into the evening, skiing the injured skier out of the backcountry in a litter to a waiting ambulance from Grand Teton National Park. The team also skied the deceased skier out via a sked.”
The Teton County Coroner’s Office has identified the deceased skier as Kenneth Goff, 36, of Lander. The cause of death is still pending. The incident remains under investigation by the Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center.
TCSAR reminds those using a satellite text in an emergency to include as much information as possible, saying it was initially unclear if the avalanche involved snowmobilers or skiers. “For anyone using this relatively new function, please include the nature of your emergency, mechanism of injury, and number of people in your party. Including that info can help first responders efficiently develop solutions to the problems,” stated TCSAR.
“This serves as an important reminder of how much longer a mission can take when the helicopter is grounded,” concluded TCSAR. “And is another factor to consider in your backcountry planning should an accident occur.”
