Search operations for missing skiers suspended due to inclement weather
by Grand Teton National Park
April 21, 2011
Grand Teton National Park rangers were forced to suspend the search for missing skiers Walker Pannell Kuhl, age 27, of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Gregory Seftick, age 31 of Columbia Falls, Montana today, April 21, due to adverse weather conditions. The Teton Range and Jackson Hole experienced continual winter-like storms with heavy snow and gusty winds throughout the day. These conditions made it impossible to insert rescue teams and K9 search teams into the Teton backcountry.
The decision to "stand down" rescue teams came fairly early in the day as weather conditions worsened. Similar weather is forecasted for Friday, April 22, so rescue teams will be on standby. Saturday’s weather holds more promise and will likely allow for rescuers to resume searching the most probable location where Kuhl and Seftick may be found. That location is a large avalanche debris field in the Garnet Canyon Meadows.
Further information about the ongoing search will be made available as weather permits renewed operations.
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