National News

Montana man rescued on Grand Teton climb

Posted: Aug 22, 2011 8:54 PM by Dennis Bragg - KPAX
Updated: Aug 22, 2011 9:43 PM

National Park rangers are warning about the proper use of SPOT rescue locators for "true emergencies" in the backcountry, after being called to rescue a stranded Florence man climbing Grand Teton.

Grand Teton National Park rangers initiated the rescue just before dark Friday when the Teton County Sheriff's office reported someone had activated one of the handheld GPS emergency devices somewhere on the landmark mountain.

Using a helicopter, they soon located climber Jesse Selwyn and his companion, who'd gotten into trouble while trying to climb the Black Ice Couloir on the northwest side of the mountain. The pair had missed their route and ended up on the Grand Stand, which rangers say is a common climbing mistake.

Rangers used a whiteboard to ask whether the climbers were okay, but they received a "thumbs down" sign with the pair indicating they needed rescue.

Rescuers flew the helicopter to a nearby landing zone, with a climbing ranger able to reach Selwyn and then airlift him uninjured to the floor of the valley using a "short-haul" evacuation when the climb is suspended below the helicopter on a rope.

Selwyn wasn't hurt, and because it was so late, his companion stayed overnight on the mountain and was able to get down safely the following morning. Rangers who'd helped with the high elevation landing were able to be retrieved and brought down just minutes before the chopper would have had to stop flying because of darkness.

The park says this is the second time in a week that a stranded party has used a SPOT beacon. An ultralight pilot had to be rescued a few days earlier. Rangers say while the SPOT devices "can be valuable tools when used appropriately", technical high-mountain rescues can put rescuers at risk. They say the beacons should only be used in a "true emergency." Rangers say hikers and climbers should "stick to hikes and routes that are within their ability and comfort levels."

Rangers had to rescue a 25-year old Oregon woman who was injured in a fall in "Death Canyon" on the Teton range Saturday night in another operation that had to be launched right before dark.