OB Skier Has Close Call
A Teton Village Man skiing just north of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort boundary in an area known as Northwest Passage was caught in an avalanche yesterday afternoon and propelled into a tree. Grand Teton National Park Spokesperson Jackie Skaggs says 41-year-old Mark Gardner, who was not buried, suffered relatively minor injuries which could have been much worse had he not been wearing a helmet. Park officials arranged for the helicopter contracted to Teton County Search and Rescue to respond to the call and remove the injured skier and his friend to safety. Skaggs says the accident was reported by cell phone at about 3:00 pm and Gardiner and his companion were evacuated from the scene by about 4:00 pm. Skaggs describes the avalanche as about sixty feet wide and 2½ feet deep.
