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Body Of Climber Recovered In Grand Teton National Park

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By NPT Staff - August 26th, 2017

The body of a climber from North Carolina was recovered in Grand Teton National Park on Friday/NPS

The body of a solo climber from North Carolina has been recovered in a rock field below a nearly 12,000-foot peak in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Rangers believe Alexander Kenan, 24, of Chapel Hill, died in a fall from Peak 11,840. 

A commercial mountain guide and his client discovered Kenan's body as they were rappelling down from Peak 11,840, described by park staff as "a notable obstacle along the traverse between Teewinot Mountain and Mount Owen." The guide notified Jenny Lake Rangers of the discovery at 10:15 a.m. Friday.

Two rangers were flown by the Teton Interagency Contract Helicopter to a backcountry landing zone near the summit of Peak 11,840. The rangers made three rappels down to the scene, conducted a preliminary investigation, and prepared Kenan's body for extraction by helicopter long line.

Kenan's body was found among rocks approximately 400 feet below Peak 11,840 on the peak's southwest side. He was found with a climbing rope, helmet, and climbing gear appropriate for the terrain. Due to the location and condition of the body, rangers believe Kenan died from a fall within the past week.

The young man's body was flown to Lupine Meadows at 3:30 p.m.

There are no known witnesses to the incident which led to Kenan's death. The incident is under investigation by the Jenny Lake Rangers. They request anyone who was climbing in the Teewinot Mountain or Mount Owen area on or after Monday, August 21, to call Teton Interagency Dispatch Center at 307-739-3301 whether or not they saw Kenan.

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