UPDATE: Thanks to the persistent week long efforts of a variety of local and national agencies, search and rescue personal have located and extracted the bodies of Walker Kuhl and Gregory Seftick from Garnet Canyon today. Their bodies were located under 13′ of avalanche debris, packed up against a boulder and still in their tent. For more information, please visit the Grand Teton National Park news website. Garnet Canyon is now open to ski-touring. May you rest in peace Walker and Greg.
***NOTE***
Garnet Canyon Closure on Saturday.
Please click HERE for more information.
UPDATE:It is being reported that faint beacon signals were heard yesterday from deep in the debris field of an avalanche on the north side of Nez Perce. Rescuers are in the canyon today trying to locate the source of the signals. This hopefully will give some closure to this tragic event.
UPDATE: There’s not much more to report so far on this SAR mission. Yesterday teams got a bit higher on the mountain and the helicopter flew for quite some time, but there have not been any sightings or evidence of Greg and Walker. The search dogs got a couple “hits” in one of the avalanche debris piles below The Meadows and the rescue personnel have been focusing on that area with probes and shovels, since they didn’t get any signals when they did a beacon check. The debris pile must be rock solid by now, so I’m sure probing and shoveling is very difficult. One theory is that the pair may have been in their tent with their transceivers off when an avalanche came down on them. The weather looks to be pretty wet today (Thurs), which might hamper search efforts.
After a suspended aerial search of the Garnet Canyon region yesterday, a reported 40 personal set off today to begin an intensive “grid-search†for missing persons, Gregory Seftick and Walker Kuhl. Seftick, age 31 from Columbia Falls, MT, and Kuhl, age 30 from SLC, UT, were visiting Grand Teton National Park with intentions of climbing the Grand Teton, but their plans may have changed due to current weather and snow conditions in the Teton Range. They obtained a camping permit for Garnet Canyon on Saturday and were reported to have been seen at the mouth of Garnet Canyon at 3pm the same day. The party had planned to exit the backcountry on Sunday, but when Kuhl didn’t return to work on Monday, the pair was reported missing.
Garnet Canyon region.
Coincidentally and not knowing about anyone being missing, my partner and I happened to be in Garnet Canyon yesterday (Monday) and after seeing the article in the Jackson Hole News and Guide this morning, I called the rangers to report what I had seen. This is more-or-less what I saw and told them.
It seemed as though we were the only people venturing into the backcountry from the Taggart Lake trailhead on Monday, and I’m sure the rain in town and recent warm temps didn’t get people too stoked to go skiing. However, it was snowing quite hard when we arrived at the trailhead and there was 2-3†of new snow on the ground, on top of a slight frozen crust. Below that, the snow was pretty iso-thermic from the warm temps and rain reported above 10k’ on Sunday. The snowpack wasn’t pretty, but we pushed out of the parking lot hoping things would get better as we gained elevation.
The skinning started off nice and easy, but we did note a large wet slide (A) on the headwall just above the west shore of Bradley Lake. There is some rocky terrain in that area and the snow I’m sure is quite faceted on that part of the headwall. I typically stay away from this part of the headwall when descending to the lake, as it often can be hazardous.
As we continued higher up, we noticed numerous small wet-slides on both the north and south-facing sides of the canyon. None really looked dangerous, but I wouldn’t have wanted to have been run over by them either. About midway to The Meadows, yet still below The Platforms, I did see what appeared to be fresh-ish tracks on the south-side of the canyon and the typical exit route people ski…maybe from Sunday afternoon. As we skied past The Platforms, all signs of ski tracks, up or down, had been whipped away by the wind and snow.
We continued towards The Meadows, but were quite surprised when we encountered another slide and quite a large amount of avalanche debris (B) that appeared to have come off the north side of Nez Perce. This also looked to be a wet-slide and appeared to have started in an area that is not really conducive to skiing. But, the debris pile was right where everyone skis as they move into The Meadows region of the canyon. The snow was now coming down hard, but we pushed higher.
We skinned up canyon and then towards the Hourglass Couloirs of Nez Perce. Our intended route was the West Hourglass Couloir, but the current conditions and the looming steep headwall one climbs to gain access into the couloir looked dangerous, so we set our sights on the shorter, East Hourglass couloir. Still skinning and about two switchbacks in as I was breaking trail, the slope fractured about 20-30 above me and began to slide. I was hyper-aware of the situation, and was able to quickly step backward and out of the way of the moving debris. Both of us unscathed, we figured we had pushed things far enough, pulled the plug and skied down canyon.
We didn’t really see anything different or new as we skied down to Bradley Lake, but I did try to “ski light†as we descended the final headwall above the lake, probably the most hazardous part of the day considering the warm and wet snowpack.  We saw no real sign of any camp during the entire day and my guess is that most of the slide activity occurred on Sunday, when it rained above 10k’.
I hope there is a positive outcome to this event and I wish good luck and safety to all the parties involved in the search. The is a ton of new snow in the high country right now, and, at least in the near future, any breaks of sunshine will probably only make things more hazardous. -Steve
oh, man. there were no names in the article in the daily. i met greg and showed him around in years past–solid guy with a good head on his shoulders.
hope that all turns out ok despite these signs.
Skied rainier with Greg last may. Really good guy, smart, cautious and always over prepared. Been in my thoughts all day after his brother told me the news. Thanks rando for the first hand observation…hearing any information when not a lot if known is always always wanted. thanks. and my thoughts go out to the SAR parties and the families involved.
i heard the search was unsuccessful today, but more is planned for tomorrow. best wishes to all those involved.
Rando, thanks for the updates, ditto ianh’s comment. I have been starving for info all day. Grew up with Greg and have climbed a wonderful list of rock and ice with him around Montana and Wyoming. Best to all involved in finding these guys.
glad to help joel. i’m afraid there probably won’t be much more info to relay until tomorrow.
Looking ever more like the mountain took Walker Kuhl, 30, of Salt Lake City and Gregory Seftick, 31, of Columbia Falls, Mont. Could have been Chin the other week. To a certain extent, we all roll the dice. Good to see you “pulled the plug and skied down canyon”.
Thanks for posting this information Steve. Greg is a good friend of mine and I’ve shared many fun and beautiful moments with him on skis. It kills me to hear this news, but I am grateful for all the manpower going into the search. Good vibes and prayers for these two and and the searchers…
I was up on Shadow Peak and Nez Pierce today and the heli was flying most of the afternoon. I also heard at least 6 bombs go off. Anyone know what that’s about?
Saw the SAR camp in the meadows. The way out was covered in their tracks. Never seen it so “skied out”. Must have had a lot of folks up there.
brian…maybe avalanche mitigation work in the north fork of garnet to protect the numerous searchers looking for these guys?
Wow.. I pray for all involoved. Stay safe Steve and everyone else.
I hope this turns out with some good news.
After the thousands of people he helped and dozens of lives he has saved, Dr. Seftic deserves all the search efforts that are being done. Greg is a strong friend and one of the greatest people I have ever and probably will ever meet. Please try your best to find him. My thoughts are with him and his family.
Our prayers go out to Greg and his friend and all those involved in the search and rescue effort.
Thank you for your observations Steve and everyone’s support. Please keep the families involved and the amazing searchers in your thoughts.
-Chris
Our thoughts and prayers are with the boys, families, and all involved. They are both amazing people. May god and love protect them and guide the searchers their way.
I went to college with Greg, only one way to describ him simply amazing. If any one can survive out there like this it’s him. Please find them both.
Greg flew with our aeromedical program while in his residency in WV. Great person and we are all followning the news. We send our prayers for him, his companion and their families. We knew Greg loved the outdoors and all the adventures it offered and was doing something he loved. From the crews of HealthNet Aeromedical
Doctor Greg has blest our Family for 25 years…school, soccer, climbing, camping. It is always a treat to hear his rapid fire enthusiasm and see his engaging smile. Greg, Walter and their fmailies, friends and searchers are forefront in our minds. Our support goes out to all. Steve, thanks for the post.
Greg is a wonderful person and a fantastic emergency physician. I am currently on medical mission in Ghana and everyone here is praying for him, Walker, and the search teams. Thank you so much for the update. Love to their families and friends
Walker and Greg, you are two of the most badass dudes I’ve known. There is a tidal wave of love and support building as thousands of people await the final verdict… If you could only see the impact you’ve both made on the lives of all who crossed your paths… You are both mountains. You see everyone from your lofty hight, and everyone sees you and your stunning beauty. Mountains catch water, giving life to all creatures as the two of you did through your life-giving energy and love for your friends/family, and the outdoors. Mountains are immovable pillars of fortitude and strength, you both had minds capable of anything… Med school, economics, poetry, chess… I’m a lucky man to have been so close to you both. You will live on in my heart forever. DTA
Rip. So tragic to get hit when still in the tent.
A great effort by many people. “Those groups include trained rescue personnel, volunteers and support staff from Teton County Search and Rescue, Teton Interagency Fire personnel, Bridger-Teton National Forest and Bridger-Teton National Forest Avalanche Center staff, a Yellowstone National Park employee, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ski patrol, Wyoming K9 Search and Rescue teams, and Grand Targhee Resort ski patrol and canine teams, as well as experienced professional mountaineers from Jackson Hole Mountain Guides and Exum Mountain Guides.”
Walker taught me to ice climb, to cross country ski, to back country ski, he killed me in chess every time and he rolled me out of bed early every weekend to go see those beautiful mountains. zac you are so right, he is such a mountain, everything about him. thank you for writing such beautiful words. i’m gonna miss him so very much.
whew… that’s heavy. Be careful everyone!
http://www.bradshawfuneral.com/ASIMAS/bradshawfuneral/obituaryDescription.jsp?domain_id=3&deceased_id=242825