Travelers stranded in Grand Teton Nat’l Park storm
Feb 27, 2012, 4:00 PM
GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) – A winter storm over the weekend stranded travelers overnight in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park and slowed down the search for a snowboarder missing in the backcountry amid high avalanche danger.
Rescuers were able to find 31-year-old Sam Hoerr of Dunlap, Ill. around 8 p.m. on Saturday. He was able to leave the backcountry with them on his own.
High winds and blowing snow prevented rescuers from using a helicopter to find him. Rangers also couldn’t respond from their rescue headquarters because of the highway closure so they requested help from Teton County search volunteers.
Blowing snow also closed down a 22-mile stretch of the park’s main highway, stranding about 160 travelers. They spent the night at two lodges and an elementary school in the park.
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