Search and rescue backers are trying to raise $6.6 million in private donations to buy and outfit a helicopter that would ensure year-round access for rescues while asking the county to commit public dollars to monthly operational costs.
Teton County Sheriff Matt Carr unveiled the Teton County Search and Rescue Foundation campaign, dubbed “Mission Critical,” during a Monday workshop with the Teton County commissioners. Carr described year-round, reliable access to a helicopter as “vital” amid rising calls for aid with more people recreating on surrounding public lands. In 2021, the team received 105 calls for service, the most ever.
“We had 43 rescues last winter,” TCSAR Chief Advisor Cody Lockhart told commissioners. “Of those, 21 used a helicopter.”
Currently, search and rescue leases a helicopter for eight months, from October to May, Lockhart said. The lease costs $41,000 per month for eight months ($328,000), according to Lockhart, paid for by the sheriff’s department budget. Having a year-round heli could cost the county about $600,000 to operate annually. The county does get reimbursed by the state and National Park Service for heli rescues, according to the proposal.
Even during contracted months in the fall, the helicopter may not be available due to federal operators withholding helicopters to fight fires. Also, in peak tourism season, June 1 to Sept. 30, search and rescue does not have a readily available helicopter as Jackson Hole Fire/EMS and Grand Teton National Park have first dibs.
That means access isn’t “reliable,” according to Jackson Hole Fire/EMS Chief Mike Moyer, who is a founding member of search and rescue, officially formed in 1993. With local agencies sharing access to a contracted helicopter, he said, “there are periods in the shoulder seasons where no helicopter is available in the valley.”
At the same time, Moyer said, “the volume and complexity of rescues continues to grow and in 2022, consistent, year-round availability remains our challenge.”
Read more about the proposed costs and timeline in this week’s Jackson Hole News&Guide.
Kate Ready covers criminal justice and emergency news. Originally from Denver, Kate studied English Literature at UC Berkeley and is excited to bring her love for the mountains and storytelling to Jackson.
Please note: Online comments may also run in our print
publications. Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. Please turn off your CAPS LOCK. No personal attacks. Discuss issues & opinions
rather than denigrating someone with an opposing view. No political attacks. Refrain from using negative
slang when identifying political parties. Be truthful. Don’t knowingly lie about anyone or
anything. Be proactive. Use the “Report” link on each
comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with us. We’d love to hear eyewitness
accounts or history behind an article. Use your real name: Anonymous commenting is not
allowed.
.
The News&Guide welcomes comments from our paid subscribers.
Tell us what you think. Thanks for engaging in the conversation!
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Please note: Online comments may also run in our print publications.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Please turn off your CAPS LOCK.
No personal attacks. Discuss issues & opinions rather than denigrating someone with an opposing view.
No political attacks. Refrain from using negative slang when identifying political parties.
Be truthful. Don’t knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the “Report” link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with us. We’d love to hear eyewitness accounts or history behind an article.
Use your real name: Anonymous commenting is not allowed.
.
The News&Guide welcomes comments from our paid subscribers. Tell us what you think. Thanks for engaging in the conversation!