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Skier dead after falling in Grand Teton National Park's Death Canyon

Wyoming Nature
Posted at 3:27 PM, Feb 14, 2022
and last updated 2022-02-14 17:27:17-05

A skier fell to their death Sunday in Grand Teton National Park's Death Canyon, the National Park Service said.

A climber reported seeing a person fall in the Apocalypse Couloir of Death Canyon, park officials said in a statement. The witness said the skier appeared to be unresponsive after falling.

Park rangers and a Teton County Search and Rescue helicopter responded to provide medical care.

"Resuscitation efforts were attempted but proved unsuccessful due to the nature of injuries sustained," said the park service statement.

The victim was identified as Radcliff Spencer, a 27-year-old Jackson, Wyoming, resident. Officials did not indicate how far Spencer may have fallen.

Spencer's remains were taken to the county coroner, the park service said. The other four people who were with the skier were taken out of the canyon by helicopter.

At an elevation of 6,644 feet, Death Canyon is a U-shaped valley formed by glaciers about 15,000 years ago, and the Apocalypse Couloir is considered "highly technical and dangerous."

"While the snowpack remains generally stable, hazards still exist and may carry high consequence in technical terrain," the park service said.