Four cited for triggering dangerous search

Four people who violated a boundary closure and triggered a Teton County Search and Rescue Operation during dangerous avalanche conditions have been cited by Grand Teton National Park Rangers.

The four, Andrew Richards, 24, and Ruth Schwietert, 28, both of Jackson, Natalie Burns, 32, of Breckinridge, Colorado, and Joseph Higgins, 25, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire each received two citations. The citations are for violation of an emergency boundary closure and disorderly conduct with creation of a hazardous condition. Each citation requires a mandatory federal court appearance and carries a maximum penalty of up to $5,000 and/or six months in jail.

The search began late on the night of February 28 and continued into the next day. According to the park, the group exited the ski area boundary by going under the boundary rope and entered an area closed due to hazardous conditions. As they skied down, two of the individuals got lost and the other two individuals were able to ski back to the Resort boundary.