A backcountry skier survived an down Middle Teton Mountain, near Jackson Hole, Wyoming, on Saturday.Ryan Redmond, 33, had hiked Ellingwood Couloir with three friends and was descending on skis when he lost balance, eventually falling 800 feet. Witnesses and park rangers believe that poor snow conditions contributed to the accident. Rangers found Redmond, who was wearing a climbing helmet but was unconscious, and airlifted him to a hospital in critical condition. Redmond was well outfitted with crampons and an ice axe, but was unable to self-arrest. A Wisconsin native, Redmonds works at a Jackson Hole school. He was taken to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho. As of Tuesday, he was in critical condition but expected to recover.
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