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Arizona Man Survives Tumbling 400-Foot Fall In Grand Teton National Park

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Published Date

May 30, 2020

An Arizona man sustained "significant injuries" in a tumbling 400-plus-foot fall in the backcountry of Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.

Alex Curry, 20, of Scottsdale, was hiking with three friends on the way to Amphitheater Lake on Friday when they got off route, according to a park release. As they traveled along the ridge line north of Surprise Lake, Curry slipped on snow and fell more than 400 vertical feet. He fell into Glacier Gulch and landed near the shore of Delta Lake, sustaining significant injuries, the release said.

The other three members of the hiking party down climbed to Curry and called 911 communicating their location as Amphitheater Lake. Shortly after 5 p.m. Friday the Teton County Search and Rescue helicopter and members flew to Lupine Meadows to meet park rangers and coordinate the rescue at Amphitheater Lake.

As rescuers flew the area, the hiking party was not located at Amphitheater Lake, but rather at Delta Lake. With no landing zones in the area, a decision was made to short-haul the injured hiker. A park ranger and a county search-and-rescue member were inserted to the location and provided medical assistance to Curry. He was then short-hauled to Lupine Meadows and transported by a park ambulance to St. John’s Health Center.

The park ranger guided the remaining members of the hiking party to Lupine Meadows, arriving safely at about 9 p.m. Friday.

Navigational skills are beneficial when hiking in the Teton Range. All recreationalists are encouraged to obtain a map of the area they plan to visit, and have map reading skills, park staff said.

Additionally, snow persists in many areas of Grand Teton National Park and hikers and climbers should be prepared for travel over snow. Anyone traveling in higher elevations should carry both an ice axe and crampons and know how to use them or adjust your route.

Currently, overnight camping in the park is only available at the Gros Ventre Campground. The remainder of the park, including the Teton Range, is only accessible to day use.

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