A week-long search for two missing skiers in Grand Teton National Park ended Sunday when the bodies of 27-year-old Walker Kuhl of Salt Lake City, and 31-year-old Greg Seftick of Columbia Falls, Montana, were found under 13 feet of avalanche debris.
The two men went backcountry skiing in Wyoming’s Grand Tetons on April 16 to explore the Teepee Pillar and Teepee Glacier, but they never returned home. The search and rescue effort began when Kuhl and Seftick didn’t show up for work on Monday.
Late Saturday, the search was winding down when a ranger picked up signals from the men’s avalanche beacons. The next morning, crews returned via helicoptor to the scene and dug the skiers out from under the debris of a massive avalanche. The men were apparently sleeping in a tent near a large boulder between the Platforms and the Meadows of Garnet Canyon when the slide hit during the night. The avalanche released off the north face of Nez Perce Peak.
According to park officials, Kuhl and Seftick both carried the proper avalanche and overnight gear for their trip.
Khul was known to friends and family as a passionate, avid outdoorsman. He worked in Salt Lake City for the Department of Treasury.
To learn more about Walker Kuhl, visit www.walkerkuhl.com
Sources:
KUTV 2 News
Grand Teton National Park