Jes Scott and Erica Ellefsen set out to travel 80km from Mt. Washington to Flower Ridge over eight days. Their goal was to climb eight of Strathcona Park’s tallest and most remote mountains. Strathcona Provincial Park is the oldest provincial park in British Columbia, Canada, and the largest on Vancouver Island. They wanted a trip that was physically demanding but less scary than their usual mountaineering trips. Listen in to this episode to hear what went wrong during their traverse and how their Garmin InReach device was the tool they needed to get rescued. 

You can read more about this accident on Jes’s personal blog: https://webelongoutside.com/2020/08/a-long-traverse-in-strathcona-park-where-many-things-go-wrong/

This podcast is produced by Ashley Saupe and backed by the American Alpine Club. Episode sponsors include Rocky Talkie, Garmin, Wilderness Medicine Reference App and Desert Mountain Medicine.

Sign up to win the Garmin InReach Mini on Instagram by tagging a friend AND sharing one thing you learned from this episode. I will do the drawing May 15th. Good luck! 

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Strathcona Park Heli Rescue (Episode 64)

Matt and Trevor had plenty of experience hiking 14ers in Colorado, so when Matt's Dad was in Colorado visiting they decided to take him up Mt. Bierstadt so he could check off his first 14er to celebrate turning 70. On May 8, 2021 the group was nearing the top when weather changed dramatically from what the forecast had informed them of earlier. They suddenly found themselves (along with another group of hikers) caught in a lightning storm with extremely low visibility and rapidly dropping temperatures.

We all will inevitably be faced with unexpected situations in the backcountry that require us to make decisions on the fly as a group. These situations require the use of that extra gear we keep with us "just in case.” In this episode, find out why Trevor and Matt learned the importance of planning for unpredictability and for planning for overnights.

This podcast is produced by Ashley Saupe and backed by the American Alpine Club. Episode sponsors include Rocky Talkie, Garmin, and Desert Mountain Medicine. This episode was edited by Podboarder. 

Get 10% off Rocky Talkie radios at www.rockytalkie.com with code SHARPEND

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Stormed off Mount Bierstadt, a Colorado Fourteener (Ep. 65)

Four friends set off to climb Mount Rae. A 4.9 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Kananaskis Improvement in Alberta, Canada that features a beautiful forest setting and is only recommended for very experienced adventurers. On the descent, one women slipped and fell and wasn’t able to self arrest in the snow. Ultimately, she pressed the SOS on her Garmin InReach and what ensued was a heroic heli rescue. Listen in to all four perspectives of this accident. Two of the women who were there, the rescuer and even the heli pilot all share their perspective from the day Vi broke her neck. 

This podcast is produced by Ashley Saupe and backed by the American Alpine Club. Episode sponsors include Rocky Talkie, Garmin, and Desert Mountain Medicine. 

Get 10% off Rocky Talkie radios at www.rockytalkie.com with code SHARPEND

Become a Patreon: patreon.com/thesharpendpodcast!
Buy a Sharp End top: https://www.bonfire.com/sharp-end-tops/
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Broken Neck On Mt Rae (Ep. 66)

Foster and his two best friends were in the sport multi pitch climbing paradise that is El Potrero Chico in north eastern Mexico. It was their fourth visit to that climbing area and they had their eyes on a 15 pitch climb called ‘Devotion 5.11d.’ It’s a lesser known climb that is notorious for being a bit run out, hard for the grade, and chossy. Listen in to this episode to hear Foster’s account of his huge fall that resulted in a remote helicopter rescue. 

This podcast is produced by Ashley Saupe and backed by the American Alpine Club. Episode sponsors include Rocky Talkie, MyMedic and Desert Mountain Medicine. 

---> 10% off Rocky Talkie radios at www.rockytalkie.com with code SHARPEND
—> 20% off First Aid contents at MyMedic.com with code SHARPEND20
—> 10% off Four Sigmatic product at foursigmatic.com with code SHARPEND

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Cut Ropes In El Potrero Mexico (Ep. 69)

Aaron and Ian are a father / son climbing team. Aaron is a teacher and Ian is a student and they both had summer break off. In June of 2021, they decided to take advantage of their summer break and head to Zion National Park, a climbing destination they try and go to at least once a year. Listen in to episode 71 to hear what went wrong and how they were rescued off this multi-pitch climb. 

This podcast is produced by Ashley Saupe and backed by the American Alpine Club. Episode sponsors include Rocky Talkie, CRUDE Conversations, and Desert Mountain Medicine. 

—> Nominate your favorite SAR team at
https://americanalpineclub.org/rocky-talkie-award

--> 10% off Rocky Talkie radios at www.rockytalkie.com with code SHARPEND
—> 20% off First Aid contents at MyMedic.com with code SHARPEND20
—> 10% off Four Sigmatic product

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Visit my website: www.thesharpendpodcast.com

Getting Rescued in Zion National Park (Ep. 71)

In late July 2016, Ed and three other climbers in his group were caught in a sudden storm on top of 180 foot, two pitch climb called ”Waves" in the Black Hills behind Rushmore. With estimated 50 mph winds, a dangerous plunging temperature, and golf-ball-sized hail, getting off the climb was a test of experience, concentration, and teamwork. Listen to the end of this episode to hear Desert Mountain Medicine’s Program Director Morgan Matthews (RN, CEN, WFR) talk about why Hypothermia is no joke. 

This podcast is produced by Ashley Saupe and backed by the American Alpine Club. Episode sponsors include Rocky Talkie and Desert Mountain Medicine. 

Get 10% off Rocky Talkie radios at www.rockytalkie.com with code SHARPEND
Get 20% off First Aid contents at MyMedic.com with code SHARPEND20

Become a Patreon: patreon.com/thesharpendpodcast!
Buy a Sharp End top: https://www.bonfire.com/sharp-end-tops/
Buy me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thesharpend
Poke around my shiny NEW website: www.thesharpendpodcast.com

Caught In A Storm On The Second Pitch  (Ep 68)

Kyle Broxterman was consistently climbing strong. He was stoked on pushing himself physically and to continue to push the grades. Kyle and a couple of friends went out to a new crag on Donner Summit outside of Lake Tahoe, California. It was a beautiful day, they climbed a few routes and then Kyle decided to attempt to onsite a slightly overhanging, lightening bolt crack. Listen in to hear why Kyle is taking a step back from letting his ego drive his climbing and how he is managing his recovery from a terrible fall. 

This podcast is produced by Ashley Saupe.  Episode sponsors include Rocky Talkie and the American Alpine Club.

Pulling Pieces In California - (Ep. 72)

Mount Emerson is located in the Sierra Nevada in eastern California. It’s the 116th highest mountain in California. Christian and a friend set out to climb it and ended up spending an extremely cold and uncomfortable night out on the mountain side at 13,000 feet. Listen in to hear Christian’s learning from the unplanned bivvy. 

This podcast is produced by Ashley Saupe.  Episode sponsors include Rocky Talkie and the American Alpine Club. 

--> 10% off Rocky Talkie radios at www.rockytalkie.com with code SHARPEND
—> 20% off First Aid contents at MyMedic.com with code SHARPEND20

If you’re interested in reading one of Christian Kiefer’s novels, here are a couple of book titles: Phantoms, The Infinite Tides, and The Animals 

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An Unplanned Bivy At 13,000 Feet (Ep. 73)

In this episode, Ken Wylie, author of the book “Buried,” recounts the horrific accident of La Traviata in Revelstoke, British Columbia. On January 20, 2003, thirteen people were caught in an avalanche while ascending the La Traviata West Couloir. Seven people died. 

This podcast is produced by Ashley Saupe.  Episode sponsors include Rocky Talkie and the American Alpine Club. 

--> 10% off Rocky Talkie radios at www.rockytalkie.com with code SHARPEND
—> 20% off First Aid contents at MyMedic.com with code THE_SHARP_END_PODCAST20

Check out Ken Wylie’s book BURIED. 

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Buried By Ken Wylie (Ep. 74)

While many Jackson Hole locals flocked to the Tetons for a day of powder skiing on February 15, 2020, Teton County Search & Rescue volunteers loaded up their heavy packs for routine training on Snow King Mountain.


But the training session quickly turned into a life-or-death emergency when longtime TCSAR volunteer Robb Sgroi came down with a rare and severe form of anaphylaxis.


Most people associate anaphylaxis with bee stings, which of course is not possible in Jackson Hole in the middle of February. Anaphylaxis can also be brought on by food allergies that kick someone’s immune response into overdrive and may therefore shut down vital organs. But that’s not what happened here, either.


So how did Sgroi—a tall, lean husband and father—end up itchy, on the ground, and spiraling into unconsciousness? This episode explores the mysterious reasons for his condition, how the team was able to diagnose it in the field, and ultimately save his life.


Interviews by Matt Hansen. Editing by Melinda Binks.


Thank you to Roadhouse Brewing Co. for sponsoring The Fine Line and supporting backcountry safety in Jackson Hole.

43. A Life-Threatening Encounter with Anaphylaxis

A podcast produced/hosted by Ashley Saupe, and supported by the American Alpine Club aimed at minimizing future outdoor accidents by way of story telling. Real people sharing real stories. 
"Play Hard and Be Smart"
www.thesharpendpodcast.com

The Fine Line is a podcast that tells real stories of adventure, risk and rescue in the backcountry of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The podcast is produced by Backcountry Zero, a vision of the Teton County Search and Rescue Foundation to reduce fatalities in the backcountry.

New tracks tagged #backcountrymedicine