Grand Teton Falls

Wyoming, Grand Teton
Author: National Park Service Search and Rescue Reports. Climb Year: 2017. Publication Year: 2018.

On August 18, at around 4:15 p.m., rangers were notified that a climber had sustained traumatic injuries in an unroped fall while descending about 200 feet below the summit of the Grand. The climber, one of four brothers climbing together, had tumbled headfirst approximately 20 feet over steep rock. He was not wearing a helmet. Rangers were flown to the scene about two hours later. After the patient’s injuries were stabilized, he was short-hauled from the accident site and transferred to an air ambulance at Lupine Meadows.

On August 28, a climber fell 15 to 20 feet on the first pitch of the Lower Exum Ridge, likely breaking his foot and possibly his tailbone. The climber had placed protection about 20 feet above the belayer, moved up and slightly off-route to the left, and attempted unsuccessfully to place more protection. He then attempted to pull through a roof without pro and fell, impacting a ledge. The belayer lowered him, and the two, who had met online and had only climbed together once before, managed to descend several hundred feet of fourth class to reach a point where, a few hours later, the patient could be short-hauled from the scene. (Source: National Park Service Search and Rescue Reports.)