Rangers Again Rescue Lost Skiers From Granite Canyon

Just four days after rescuing two skiers who got lost in Granite Canyon after heading out from Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, rangers found and rescued another pair of skiers in a similar incident. On the afternoon of Wednesday, January 28th, Darin Gamba, 32, and Patrick Thornberry, 39, both residents of Jackson, became disoriented in whiteout conditions and accidentally took a wrong turn after exiting an out-of-bounds gate at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. The two men spent the night out in the mountains with temperatures hovering near zero. They were located during an aerial reconnaissance flight at 9 a.m. the following day and flown from the backcountry at 9:30 a.m. Gamba and Thornberry exited the upper gate at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort on Wednesday afternoon, intending to ski into the Rock Springs drainage. Whiteout conditions obscured the route, causing them to ski westward and ultimately into Granite Canyon, rather than southwest into the Rock Springs area. The two men searched for ski tracks to confirm their whereabouts, but by 2:30 p.m. they realized that they were not where they intended to be. About an hour before sunset, they decided to make preparations to spend the night in the backcountry. They dug a snow cave, collected pine boughs to insulate themselves against the snow and made a fire. The two men were carrying food and water, but also melted snow to replenish their supplies. While they did not have a map, compass or GPS device, they did have extra clothing and full avalanche gear –recommended equipment for anyone entering the Teton backcountry. Early on Thursday morning, Gamba and Thornberry began skiing upslope in order to get a clear view above tree line and determine their location. When they spotted Mount Hunt, they realized they were in Granite Canyon. The Teton County Search and Rescue contract helicopter, carrying a park ranger and county rescue staff, spotted the skiers’ tracks and eventually located them about 9 a.m. near the Shady Lady Couloir. Rescuers communicated to the two men, directing them to ski to a landing zone where the ship could safely touch down. Gamba and Thornberry were then flown to the base of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Park rangers credit the pair with doing everything right to keep themselves safe and attempt their own self rescue. They carried the basic necessities and kept their wits about them during an unexpected night out in the Tetons.