According to Debbie Germann, Grand Teton National Park spokeswoman, as quoted in the Jackson Hole Daily, the accident occurred the morning of Saturday, July 23. However double-checking knots throughout the season wont be Exums task, Ysebaert said. This past weekend, Gary Falk, 42, Exum Mountain Guide, fell to his Within the decade, she hopes to earn full certification by the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associationsan achievement fewer than 15 . Falk, 42, died in a fall while descending from the peak of the 13,775-foot Grand Teton on July 23, with young clients and a chaperone from a group called City Kids. 113. He will be missed by all who knew him. Use your real name: Anonymous commenting is not He is a veteran Wyoming reporter and editor with more than 35 years of experience in Wyoming. Were not going to inspect every knot every guide ties multiple times every day, he said. 2023 Cable News Network. Guides and clients descended from the camp on their own power. Bob's home goes to affordable housing, Montana bill would let students misgender classmates, US skiers to don climate change-themed race suits at worlds. As the oldest guide service in North America, Exum has guided in the Tetons for over 90 years. Sign up to receive a weekly e-newsletter with a selection of news headlines from the Jackson Hole News&Guide. Sign up to receive a daily e-newsletter with a selection of local, state and regional news headlines from theJackson Hole Daily. But because of a last-minute re-arrangement of climbing teams, Falk found himself one ATC short. Towering above Jackson Hole at 13,770 feet, the Grand Teton is one of North Americas most famous and coveted summits. Charles Marshall Pratt (March 5, 1939 - December 16, 2000) was an American rock climber known for big wall climbing first ascents in Yosemite Valley. Sterling Ion R 9.4 XEROS rope: Every filament is dry-treated and made for the alpine, Finding a new route on the Grand Teton: the North Buttress Direct (5.10+ R), The Dynafit Yotei GTX Pant sets a new standard for getting around in the mountains, Madaleine Sorkin becomes the first woman to free climb Dunn-Westbay Direct (5.14-). Early in the morning, guides on the Lower Exum called Turner to report seeing a body below. Its not practical for them [the company] to inspect [gear] each and every time, or before each climbing trip, Ysebaert said. The couple met in Nevada in 2007 while Falk was in the final stages of his guide training. In some instances, the tail will pull through and the knot will fail after only 100 loading/unloading cycles. His knot was poorly chosen or tied IF in fact that is what did not prevent him from falling. *Individual commenters are limited to three comments per story, including replies. Never really took that many pictures of him because I thought hed always be around, Bill Grasse, Falks Gardner left the valley floor Saturday with about four other guides and a group of clients, including youths from Wilderness Ventures. Invalid password or account does not exist. Box 222, Ridgeway, CO 81432. below the belay ledge. The tether a four-foot loop or sling was part of his personal gear and not supplied by Exum. A Warner Bros. Be proactive. He continues to climb the Tetons as a guide for Exum Mountain, Guides, the oldest and most prestigious guide service in America. Please see the Jackson Hole News and Guide website, where this article was originally published. In the event of an injury, we will share any medical information you have provided with appropriate medical personnel providing care. He always wanted to maximize fun. Please click here for a link to the Grand Teton National Park website for more information. I always thought of Gary as a rock, a constant. Angus M. Thuermer Jr. is the natural resources reporter for WyoFile. Recreation and outdoor businesses in Teton County and other resort areas present unconventional challenges when it comes to ensuring safe workplaces, John Ysebaert said. Falk leaves behind his wife, Kate, and two young sons, Anders, 4, and Donovan, 9 months. Sign up to receive a weekly e-newsletter with a selection of private, public and continuing education news from theJackson Hole News&Guide. He was preparing to safeguard the students with a belay rope as they rappelled one-at-a-time off a roughly 120-foot drop slightly below the summit. Exum President Nat Patridge stated in a press release, comment to let us know of abusive posts. publications. Glenn Exum, a mountain climber who conquered the summits of the Alps and the Rockies and shared his experience with hundreds of others through his guide service, died on March 17 at his home in Littleton, Colo. Search reviews. Turner said it was a natural thing to do and that Gardner had guided the route and climbed it before, alone and without a rope. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. Recovery of Gardners body, accomplished with a helicopter, was delayed when a rain shower moved through the Tetons early Sunday morning. He had been leading a group of climbers to the summit of Grand Teton, the highest peak in the Teton Range at 13,770 feet. Exum Mountain Guides 5 45 #8 of 17 Tours & Activities in Grand Teton National Park Climbing Tours Closed now 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM Write a review See all photos About Exum Mountain Guides is the oldest and most experienced guides service in North America. New information indicates that 42-year-old Exum guide Gary Falk fell after unclipping from an anchor at the top of the Owen-Spalding rappel to free a piece of gear that had become stuck. Sign up to receive a weekly e-newsletter with a selection of environmental news from theJackson Hole News&Guide. Knotted slings and tethers are more versatile than permanently sewn versions of the equipment because they can be untied to be employed in a variety of configurations. anything. "He went off climbing by himself.". That will happen annually. Exum President Nat Patridge stated in a press release, Gary FalkRemembering a Life of Love and Adventure, Tenzing Norgay Biography to Become Netflix Film, Winners of the 2021 GRIT&ROCK First Ascent Grants Announced, Interview: Sean Villanueva ODriscoll on the Solo First Ascent of The Moonwalk, a.k.a. Gary Falk, 42, had been leading climbers to Grand Teton summit, Falk was called "a diligent, professional guide". You may cancel your membership at anytime, but no refunds will be issued for payments already made. In 2 days of group instruction, our climbers are taught all of the skills necessary to fully participate during their 2-day Grand Teton climb. An Exum mountain guide perished Saturday in Grand Teton National Park while leading a group of clients down the Grand Teton after completing a successful summit bid. Thanks for engaging in the conversation! The two established a guiding service that taught clients how to climb so that they could assist in their own endeavours unlike in Europe where clients were pulled to the summit. Early in the morning, guides on the Lower Exum called Turner to report seeing a body below. The guide was highly certified, highly trained in the tying of that knot, Ysebaert said. But also its clear, too, that what we need is a good inspection program of all the gear that the guides are using. The probe was prompted by the death of guide Gary Falk. During the winter he was a popular teacher at various schools and at Sterling College. According to the Jackson Hole News&Guide, 42-year-old Gary Falk died after falling 2,400 feet from the top of the Owen-Spalding rappell into Valhalla Canyon. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Thanks for your support of WyoFile! Darkness came and some of the guides became a little worried. "We have no idea why he fell," Turner said. We certainly will be looking at what happened here and working to determine if we need to share the information with guide services around the country about standards like this.. Programs include backcountry skiing, split-snowboarding, rock climbing, ice climbing, avalanche instruction, summer and winter mountaineering, trekking (hiking and snowshoeing) and canyoneering skills. Contact him at angus@wyofile.com or (307) Your email address will not be published. George Gardnera 58-year-old Ridgeway, Colo., resident, educator, husband and father of twowas found dead by companion guides early Sunday morning beneath the Lower Exum Ridge route he was thought to have been climbing. To anybody whose life depends on rope work, CHECK YOUR KNOT! Mary Harlan, a close family friend and part-time instructor with Aspen Alpine Guides, recalls Falks adventurous, child-like spirit. When our first child was Gardner left the valley floor Saturday with about four other guides and a group of clients, including youths from Wilderness Ventures. Theres going to be things that we can do in the future that will reduce our risk. Guides prepared dinner before 5 p.m. About that time, Gardner announced he was going to solo the Lower Exum Ridge route on the Grand, a somewhat common practice among guides, depending on their ability. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. The loss of the seasoned guide, a dedicated husband and father, has devastated the community JACKSON, Wyo. CNNs Joe Sutton contributed to this report. Climbing guide services and other businesses that employ workers in the backcountry might not all be aware that OSHA has standards they are required to meet, said Alex Kosseff, executive director of the American Mountain Guides Association. the ledge. Among the clues investigators used in their probe were burn-like marks on the tether webbing, possibly indicating stress from the friction of a knot pulling loose. To support or donate to Kate and the boys, see the GoFundMe link with more information here. We do not know, and will never know, the cause of his death. Is the NPS mistakenly equating the climbing concessionaires with the regular joes out climbing on their own? He was someone who was passionate about being the best teacher and guide he could be, Santelices said, especially with kids.. The Exum Mountain Guide company says Gary Falk, 42, a native of Ouray, Colo., was leading a group down from a successful ascent of Grand Teton National Park's highest peak when he fell at 10:30 a.m. Saturday about 2,400 feet from the top of the Owen-Spalding rappel into Valhalla Canyon near the Black Ice Couloir, the Jackson Hole News & Guide You have permission to edit this article. Glenn Exum, a mountain climber who conquered the summits of the Alps and the Rockies and shared his experience with hundreds of others through his guide service, died on March 17 at his home. But because of a last-minute re-arrangement of climbing teams, the guide found himself short one belay device. Guides and clients went to sleep as the headlamp party descended. Your email address will not be published. says. Gardner was a veteran of the Himalaya and South America and had climbed across North America. Sign up to receive a monthly e-newsletter with a selection of photography and video from theJackson Hole News&Guide. The Park Service recovered Falks body that morning via a helicopter long line. Falk guided high-altitude volcanoes in Mexico and Ecuador and skied several peaks including Chimborazo (20,702 feet), Cotopaxi (19,347) and Cayambe He was immediately projected outward and fell to his death, the park report said. Sorry, no promotional deals were found matching that code. Other than this, we will not share any contact information that you give to us. Stay up to date with the latest Exum adventures and news by following us on your favorite social media sites. Of private, public and continuing education news from theJackson Hole news & guide or IF! And most prestigious guide service in America accomplished with a selection of local, state and regional news from... The death of guide Gary Falk, 42, had been leading climbers Grand. 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