MOOSE, Wyoming (AP) An avalanche swept a skier a thousand feet down a mountainside to his death in Grand Teton National Park, officials said. Matthew Brien, 33, of Jackson, Wyoming was leading a group through a narrow couloir known as the Broken Thumb on Monday when an avalanche broke off above him, park officials […]
A skier was killed after getting swept up in an avalanche Monday in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, the National Park Service said in a news release.
The following is a news release from Grand Teton National Park
Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received an emergency call at approximately 12 p.m. today, Monday, February 22, about a skier involved in an avalanche in the Broken Thumb Couloir on the peak known as 25 Short in Grand Teton National Park.
Park rangers, Teton County Search and Rescue members, and Bridger-Teton National Forest personnel jointly responded to the incident.
A party of three local residents departed from the Taggart Lake Trailhead this morning, with an intent to ski the Broken Thumb Couloir. The party was skiing one at a time in the upper part of the couloir. Matthew Brien, a 33-year-old Jackson, Wyoming resident, was leading the group, entering the narrow area of the couloir above the rappels when an avalanche occurred.
(Moose, WY)- Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received an emergency call at approximately 12 pm on Monday, February 22nd, about a skier involved in an…
Avalanche claims life of Jackson man
Bridger Teton Avalanche Center
Route of Broken Thumb Couloir
MOOSE, Wyo. (KIFI)-A Jackson man was killed at around 12:30 p.m. Monday when he was caught in an avalanche while skiing in Grand Teton National Park.
Park Rangers said Matthew Brien, 33, was leading a group of three from the Taggart Lake Trailhead Monday morning, with intent to ski the Broken Thumb Couloir. Brien was entering a narrow area above the rappels when the avalanche occurred.
The avalanche was up to two feet deep and fractured 50 to 100 feet above Brien, sweeping him over the rappel and downslope for about 1,000 feet.