Falling Rock – Wyoming, The Tetons

Publication Year: 1978.

FALLING ROCK—Wyoming, The Tetons. Paul Potters (25), Ivan Rezucha and William Parks were climbing the north face of the Grand Teton on the morning of July 11. Potters was leading approximately 150 feet above the bergschrund when he pulled off a large block of rock which fell against him crushing his pelvis. Potters then fell 15 feet to a ledge below him, landing 50 feet to the left of his belayer, breaking his left ankle. His partners carried him to the belay spot; Rezucha went to notify the rangers for help, and Parks, who is an EMT, stayed to care for Potters. Rangers were notified at 12:40 a.m. and responded by helicopter and technical rescue equipment to lower the victim 200 feet to the Teton Glacier. At 1:45 p.m. the helicopter took the first rangers to the victim. Lowering was begun at 7:15 p.m. and the victim was flown out by helicopter to St. John’s Hospital at 10:20 p.m. Rangers were then flown out. Condition of the victim: fractured pelvis, fractured transverse process and fractured left ankle. (Source: Ralph Tingey, Grand Teton National Park.)