Rangers and search and rescue workers in Grand Teton National Park have been busy this past week, using a helicopter to pluck one climber from a rock face where he had boxed himself in and retrieving the body of another climber who apprently fell to his death.
There is a long and rich history of mountaineering in Grand Teton National Park, but for visitors who may not be familiar with the Tetons, it might be puzzling to hear of rescues and fatalities each year.
A 2010 video from Men’s Journal magazine showing a climb to the 13,770-foot summit of Grand Teton with Exum Mountain Guides offers a glimpse at what some of the climb is like. While the climb, one of hundreds in the park, is described in the video as a relatively “attainable” ascent, it also requires being a fit and technically proficient climber.
So if you’re planning on doing any mountaineering while visiting Grand Teton National Park, it’s important — as with any outdoor recreational activity — to know your limits and stay within them.