STRANDED, INADEQUATE KNOWLEDGE OF ROUTE

Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park, Grand Teton

On the evening of June 21, 1994, the Teton County Sheriff’s Communications Center forwarded a 911 call to Ranger Renny Jackson at his local residence. The call was placed by three climbers on the Upper Exum Ridge using their cellular phone. With inclement weather and darkness approaching, the climbers were requesting route information. “Should we go up or should we go down?” Unable to ascertain their exact position on the ridge, and the climbers didn’t know, Ranger Jackson offered his best advice. The climbers returned safely, grateful for the information and grateful for their cellular phone.

(Editor’s Note: During the past several years, numerous rescues in the Tetons have been initiated by valid reports via cellular phone. This was the first informational call. It should be noted that staff at the American Alpine Club Climber’s Ranch received a similar call this summer from a party requesting information on how best to negotiate the bergschrund at the base of the North Ridge on the Grand Teton. Who knows, in the future we may be faxing route information to such callers!)