By: randosteve|Posted on: May 1, 2007|Posted in: TCSAR | 11 comments

UPDATE!!!!

I arrived back in Jackson this morning to a SAR call-out regarding some overdue climbers on the Grand Teton.

Details are very sketchy right now, but it appears that climbers Alan Rooney and Jonathan Morrow were attempting to climb the Black Ice Couloir, a well known (but rarely ever ‘in’) ice climb on the north side of The Enclosure. The Jenny Lake Rangers spotted the bodies in Valhalla Canyon, below the north side of the Grand Teton and The Enclosure. They were evacuated by late Tuesday.

Enclosure north-side ice climbsBlack IceVisionquestEnclosure Couloirs

For now, it is uncertain whether the climbers fell due to an avalanche or rockfall, but both climbers were still clipped to a single runner and tied together by a climbing rope. This indicates a possible anchor failure. Conditions were very warm the night prior to their climb, and a hard freeze was unlikely. Please click here for a report from the Jackson Hole News and Guide.

Please visit this website and leave your thoughts and memories of Jonathan Morrow.

My condolences to all involved…it is another sad day in the valley.