Lightning Strike Survival: The Most Spectacular Rescue in American Mountaineering History | E 174
On July 26, 2003, a lightning strike on Grand Teton's Exum Ridge killed one climber and left 12 others injured at 13,000 feet, triggering what became known as the most spectacular rescue in American mountaineering history. Jenny Lake Rangers executed a dangerous helicopter rescue operation using short-haul techniques to evacuate climbers scattered across the cliff face, including one man hanging upside down for over four hours. This Crux True Survival Stories episode analyzes the critical decisions that led to the tragedy and the extraordinary technical skills required to save lives in extreme mountain conditions. The rescue operation influenced modern mountain rescue protocols and remains a landmark case study in wilderness survival and emergency response.