JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — Two snowmachiners were buried and killed in an avalanche outside of Driggs Friday.
Teton County Idaho Sheriff’s Office received a report of an avalanche near Relay Ridge in the vicinity of Ryan Peak, west of Driggs at approximately 2:49pm on December 17. The reporting party said two people were buried under an avalanche of snow and debris. The slide was reportedly triggered by a person riding a snowmobile. That person and another skier below were buried.
Search and Rescue teams from Teton County Idaho, Madison County and Teton County, Wyoming as well as Air Idaho took part in rescue operations at the scene.
The bodies of two juvenile males were recovered from the avalanche location. The cause of the avalanche is under investigation. The victims have been identified as Kade McKinlay and Janson Webster, both 17 and both from Rigby, Idaho.
The Sheriff’s Office encourages all persons to make themselves aware of avalanche conditions and other adverse weather conditions before recreating in backcountry areas.
Meanwhile, gates accessing the backcountry at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort were closed yesterday and remain so due to a shallow snowpack below 8,000 feet.
“Safety is our number one priority, and to reduce exposure to the public and rescue personnel in the backcountry, the gates will be closed until conditions improve to where search and rescue response is reasonably feasible,” said Tim Mason, JHMR vice president of operations.
The decision made in collaboration with Bridger-Teton National Forest (BTNF), Teton County Search and Rescue (TCSAR), Grand Teton National Park (GTNP), and Sheriff Matt Carr.
While closing the backcountry gates is infrequent, the move is not unprecedented. Sheriff Carr, TCSAR, BTNF, GTNP, and leadership at JHMR agree that low snow below 8,000 feet may force a skier to walk back into the ski area once they drop into the backcountry, potentially trapping skiers with no reasonable access back to the ski area. This safety mitigation falls within our special use permit and a Forest Supervisor special order.
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