A skier was rescued on Friday in Teton County, Wyoming, close to Jackson Gap after getting caught in an avalanche and carried about 500 yards.
Matt Hansen, communication director for Teton County Search and Rescue Basis, informed CNN that two skiers had been on a ski tour that started on a path head on prime of Teton Cross within the backcountry.
“At noon, whereas utilizing climbing skins hooked up to their skis, they crossed a southeast-facing slope on Rendezvous Peak after they triggered a big avalanche,” the Teton County Search and Rescue stated in a Fb publish.
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One of many skiers bought caught within the slide and carried about 500 yards down the mountain.
“When the avalanche stopped, he was buried as much as his torso, as much as about his chest, so his head was above the snow and he had one or two arms above the snow as nicely,” Hansen stated.
The skier’s accomplice was in a position to come to his help and assist dig him out of the snow.
“After he was recovered by his accomplice, he realized he had suffered a leg harm on account of the avalanche,” the Fb publish stated.
Following the incident, the skiers referred to as authorities and knowledgeable them concerning the avalanche, Hansen stated.
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The skiers initially believed they may “self-rescue and ski out of the backcountry on their very own,” based on Hansen, however about an hour later they reconnected with “members of our search and rescue group on a cellphone they usually acknowledged that they’d not have the ability to get out on their very own and that they wanted a rescue.”
A group was then deployed to rescue the skiers by way of helicopter and had been in a position to convey them to security.
Hansen stated the incident serves as a reminder for anybody going snowboarding to take correct security precautions. He advises being accustomed to avalanche security sources and to examine Avalanche.org for extra data.
With a bevy of new federal bills filed this week, Rep. Harriet Hageman is looking to reverse the outcomes of three high-profile Wyoming public land and wildlife issues that have made headlines in the waning weeks of the Biden administration.
The sophomore representative from Fort Laramie introduced companion pieces of legislation on Tuesday that would prohibit the implementation of Bureau of Land Management resource management plans for its Rock Springs and Buffalo field offices. Then on Thursday, she introduced a bill that would require the U.S. Department of Interior to delist grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem from the Endangered Species Act — the opposite of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s just-released plans, which continue federal protections.
She’s attempted to pass all three bills before.
All failed, though they now face better prospects in the 119th Congress, which includes Republican majorities in both chambers and a president who’s more likely to sign them into law.
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A Yellowstone National Park grizzly bear. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
Hageman’s staff did not respond to WyoFile’s interview requests for this story. On grizzly bears, she told the Federalist, a conservative publication, that Fish and Wildlife’s “refusal to delist the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem grizzly bear is just the latest example of the agency’s utter failure to follow the intent and purpose” of the Endangered Species Act.
Past attempts
Hageman’s new legislation wasn’t unexpected.
Nearly two years ago, she ran a similar bill, the Grizzly Bear State Management Act, that would have required federal wildlife officials to delist Yellowstone-region grizzlies.
Although Hageman blasted the Fish and Wildlife’s grizzly bear plans, other members of Congress praised the proposed policy changes.
“The compounding threats of climate change and politically motivated state policies have the potential to decimate grizzly bear populations and dramatically impact their habitats,” Rep. Jared Huffman (D-California) said in a statement. “I’m glad the Fish and Wildlife Service understands these threats, has listened to stakeholders and scientists, and decided to maintain Endangered Species Act protections for this iconic species.”
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The Oregon Buttes, pictured, are located within the Bureau of Land Management’s Rock Springs Field Office. (Ecoflight)
Hageman also attempted to override the BLM’s planning process for 3.6 million acres of federal land in southwest Wyoming during the last Congress. Her effort was opposed by BLM officials, with Deputy Director Nada Wolff Culver telling lawmakers the legislation “would undermine the public’s right to provide input on the management of public lands, as well as the BLM’s ability to steward them.”
Plans in crosshairs
Dissatisfaction with the Rock Springs Resource Management Plan revision intensified in December when the agency finalized its update without making any changes requested by the state of Wyoming.
There’s also been speculation that Hageman and other lawmakers could be eyeing the Congressional Review Act as a vehicle for discarding the Rock Springs plan.
Hageman similarly tried and failed to throw out BLM’s resource management plan for the Buffalo Field Office during the last time Congress was in session. The revision has proven controversial in Wyoming because the federal agency decided to phase out coal leasing in the Powder River Basin — a decision that Wyoming answered with a lawsuit.
Trucks haul coal at a mine in the southern Powder River Basin. (Alan Nash)
Hageman this week was named chairwoman of the House Committee on Natural Resources’ Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee. Remarking on the appointment on social media, the representative said that she was “honored.”
“I look forward to working with my colleagues on Natural Resources to return wildlife and resource management to local control,” Hageman posted.
CASPER, Wyo. — “On Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 I kayaked into Fremont Canyon at Alcova,” writes photographer Dino Wenino. “The air was still, the sun was shining, the water was like glass and the reflections were beautiful. I didn’t hit ice until 1.7 miles in.”
Do you have a photo that captures the beauty of Wyoming? Submit it by clicking here and filling out the form, and we may share it!
Starting Friday evening, rain and snow will start to move into northeastern Wyoming and southeastern Montana. Winds will begin to pick up out of the NW and gust up to 40-50 MPH. Even if snow accumulations don’t match projections, you only need 1″-2″ of snow to cause major disruptions, given the higher winds.
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Anywhere from Sheridan, Wyoming through Sturgis along I-90 will likely be difficult for travel through at least Sunday afternoon due to blowing snow and icy roads. Anywhere east of Sturgis along I-90 including Rapid City and areas east of Rapid City should see diminished impacts with only an inch or two of snow over the same 48 hour period.
Outside of Lawrence County and perhaps Belle Fourche in South Dakota, most of the state should see manageable conditions, with blowing snow from time to time. However, be ready for snow squalls to quickly change driving conditions even if no winter weather bulletins are active for your area.
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5″-9″ seems reasonable for the northern hills, with localized areas of southwest Lawrence County in the conversation for a foot or more of snow. There will be a sharp cutoff of snow accumulations as you push further east, particularly around Sturgis/Tilford area.
Stay tuned for updates, as our winter storm watches will likely be replaced by winter storm advisories and winter storm warnings in the next 24 hours.
By
NewsCenter1 Weather staff
Our weather department occasionally publishes stories under a byline of “Weather staff.” Most frequently, the “Weather staff” byline is used for straightforward forecasts. At times, this byline is used when a weather story is a collaboration by members of the weather department.
