Climber Dies Near Mt. Owen

Grand Teton National Park Rangers located and recovered the body of a 31-year-old seasonal member of the Bridger-Teton National Forest trail crew.  Eric Tietze of Salt Lake city had been climbing the Cathedral Traverse on Thursday, when he separated from his three companions and was not heard from again.  His companions reported him missing after spending several hours Thursday afternoon trying to locate him.  Park Spokesperson Jenny Anzelmo says rangers then searched a full day Friday. She says search efforts involved two helicopters flying the area after rangers on the ground also were unable to locate the missing climber.  While, rangers surveyed the area from inside one of the helicopters, a ranger suspended via short-haul method below the second helicopter examined inside crevasses and moats too dangerous to access on foot.  Anzelmo says rangers located Tietze on the East Prong feature between Teewinot and Mount Owen about 500 feet below an area that requires a notably challenging climbing move. Poor weather conditions in the area complicated the search and later the recovery of Tietze’s body which was finally recovered late Friday evening. Tietze had worked the past ten summers here on the forest trail crew.