A Salt Lake City-based snowboarder died of injuries suffered when he plunged 1,500 feet from Teewinot Mountain in Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park.
Park spokeswoman Jackie Skaggs identified the victim of the Monday morning accident as Joseph Lohr, 24. Lohr had most recently lived in Salt Lake City, though he originally was from Anchorage, Alaska.
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Skaggs said that Lohr and two companions had summited the 12,325-foot mountain around 10 a.m. Monday. The accident occurred as they were descending the snow-covered peak on snowboards and skis.
His friends used a cellphone to call for help soon after they reached Lohr, who they found unconscious but still breathing on a steep slope of Teewinot's eastern flank, Skaggs said.
A helicopter out of Ogden, Utah was dispatched to the mountain while park rangers skied 3,000 feet up to the scene to render medical aid. However, high winds and low visibility due to snow squalls prevented an aerial rescue and at 4 p.m., Lohr died of his injuries, Skaggs said.
Rangers and Lohr's friends managed to lower the body to the valley floor but had to wait until Tuesday morning to complete its retrieval.
Lohr and his companions were all experienced and well-equipped backcountry snowboarders and skiers, Skaggs said.
Lohr's death marked the first fatality for the park's backcountry this year.
remims@sltrib.com
Twitter: @remims