The Fine Line

Sep 26 2024 59 ep. 36 mins 667

The Fine Line Podcast artwork

The Fine Line podcast tells real stories of adventure, risk and rescue in the backcountry of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The Fine Line is produced by Backcountry Zero, a project from the Teton County Search & Rescue Foundation that uses storytelling to elevate backcountry preparedness.

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59: No Name: How Far Are You Willing to Go?

Sep 26 2024 49 mins

Season 8 of The Fine Line concludes with a wild story that demonstrates how there will always be people who go right up to the edge in the Tetons, and venture beyond it despite the risks. The story includes the keen perspectives of Teton County Search & Rescue volunteer Anthony Stevens and TCSAR Chief Pilot Steve Wilson, and how they rescued local snowboarder Sasha Motivala after

58. Glory Days: Don't Let Them Pass You By

Aug 22 2024 29 mins

Mount Glory is well known among backcountry skiers and snowboarders. But as a summer hiking trail? Not quite the same draw. And yet, for Lou and Kathy Fatkin, it made for the ideal location when they set out for a hike up the steep, dusty trail on July 16, 2023. Their story about the consequences of that day, despite the hardship, lends inspiration for experiencing some of our c

57. Tougher Than A Spud Bar

Aug 01 2024 19 mins

There are a million and one ways for people to get into trouble in the backcountry. And it is unfair to assume that everyone is being reckless. Sometimes, they just get their foot stuck. In this episode of The Fine Line, Teton County Search & Rescue volunteer Doug Van Houten takes us back to an incident from 2018 when the SAR team had to pull out all the stops in order to help a N

56. A Bridge Too Far: The Phillip's Log Strikes Again

May 23 2024 34 mins

Season 8 of The Fine Line rolls onward with a story about a mountain bike crash with potentially serious consequences on a trail near Teton Pass, Wyoming. The episode dives into the effectiveness of the BackcountrySOS app, and how Teton County Search & Rescue volunteers responded with delicate treatment of potentially life-altering injuries. Thanks to Rick Gordon and Dr. Tobin Den

55. A Whistle in the Dark

May 09 2024 13 mins

Teton County Search & Rescue volunteer Carol Viau, one of the longest tenured members on the team, shares this memorable story from her very first rescue. It was October 26, 2000, a time before cell phones were ubiquitous, and when most callouts for TCSAR required good old-fashioned boots on the ground. "A Whistle in the Dark" reveals how and why someone is drawn to be a first res

54. Big Little Decisions: The Long, Weary Road to Mosquito Lake

Apr 18 2024 55 mins

Two bikepackers embark on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, a 2,700-mile journey that traverses the Rockies from the Mexico border all the way to Canada. During their trip, a seemingly little decision comes back to haunt them in a big way, right as their route enters one of the most remote parts of Teton County, Wyoming. This episode not only reveals the challenges of prepari

53. No Fall Zone: Central Couloir

Mar 21 2024 49 mins

Season 8 of The Fine Line begins with a story from one of the most recognizable features of the southern Teton range, and a ski line that makes even the bravest skiers buckle their boots a little bit tighter: Cody Peak’s Central Couloir. On Saturday March 18, 2023, skiers Will Brown and Jacqueline Dickey dropped into Central after hiking out to the top of Cody from the Jackson H

52. Classic Rock: A Little Piece of Orange Grip

Aug 24 2023 59 mins

There aren’t many mountain bike trails in Jackson Hole as classic as the one called Ferrin’s. Built in 2005, the trail is one of the most popular in Jackson due to its challenging terrain, proximity to town, and linkage to other trails. But like any classic trail, it has inherent dangers that can take down even the best riders. In this episode of The Fine Line, we close out Se

51. Decision Point: No Guarantees for Tomorrow

Aug 10 2023 36 mins

On March 29, 2023, skier Dave Brown felt a sudden onset of extreme fatigue that was entirely new to him, and terribly serious. At 67 years old, the former ski patroller had never had any previous medical issues. But during a backcountry ski tour near Teton Pass, he knew he needed to get help—and get it fast. In this episode of The Fine Line, we’ll hear how Brown and his ski p

50. Cornice Fall: Heli Rescue in the Salt River Range

Jul 27 2023 45 mins

How far back is far enough from the edge of a cornice? 10 feet, 20 feet, 30? On March 5, 2023, Jordan Bluse found out the hard way. He was riding his snowmobile with a group of friends in the Salt River Mountain Range outside of Afton, Wyoming, when a large cornice sheared off below him. He and his snowmobile fell through the cornice and tumbled down 1,200 vertical feet over mult