{"id":8979,"date":"2026-03-19T00:35:52","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T00:35:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/?p=8979"},"modified":"2026-03-19T00:35:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T00:35:52","slug":"teton-county-is-a-brutal-place-for-backcountry-rescue-volunteers-use-a-ford-bronco-to-get-it-done","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/?p=8979","title":{"rendered":"Teton County Is a Brutal Place for Backcountry Rescue. Volunteers Use a Ford Bronco\u00ae to Get It Done."},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"justify-start\">\n<nav class=\"align-left col-span-full mb-base\" data-pom-e2e-test-id=\"breadcrumbs\"\/>\n<p>Steep slopes, harsh weather, and unforgiving terrain make Teton County one of the toughest places in the country to get rescued. But it just got a little easier thanks to this first-response vehicle.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/p>\n<p class=\"fp-leadCaption py-tight text-left font-utility text-utility3-size leading-utility3-line-height text-secondary\">Teton County Search and Rescue&#8217;s new Bronco\u00ae.<!-- --> (Photo: Ford)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-body\">\n<p>Published March 18, 2026 06:34PM<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Teton County was already one of the country\u2019s most unforgiving places for search and rescue. The spectacular alpine terrain comes with sheer cliffs, gaping ravines, and avalanche-prone slopes. But recently, a hard job has gotten even harder. That\u2019s because the number of backcountry accidents is skyrocketing while budgets are shrinking\u2014leaving rescuers without the tools they need to reach recreationists in need.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve seen a huge uptick in rescues over the last 20 years, especially after Covid,\u201d Teton County Sheriff Matt Carr says. During the pandemic, new residents and visitors alike flocked to Jackson, desperate for fresh air and easy recreation access. The result? A lot more emergencies.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2733968\" class=\"pom-image-wrap photo-alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Up close\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2733968\" style=\"color:transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Bronco-Tetons_inline_1.jpg?width=1920&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 1x, https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Bronco-Tetons_inline_1.jpg?width=3840&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 2x\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Bronco-Tetons_inline_1.jpg?width=3840&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover\"\/><figcaption class=\"pom-caption\"><span class=\"article__caption\">Each SAR Bronco\u00ae is customized for the team receiving it.<\/span> (Photo: Ford)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cThere was a huge spike, and our numbers are still above our pre-Covid levels,\u201d Carr says. \u201cIt comes at a time when county budgets are getting tighter. Everyone in Wyoming is feeling it. As our revenue goes down and our costs go up, it\u2019s getting harder to be able to provide these services.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>By \u201cservices,\u201d he means life-saving rescues. For a hiker lost in the off-grid wilds of the Gros Ventre mountains or a climber with a traumatic brain injury, the county\u2019s ability to respond could mean the difference between life and death.<\/p>\n<p>To fill the gaps, Carr\u2019s team increasingly relies on unpaid search and rescue volunteers. But manpower can only get you so far if you don\u2019t have the tools to get folks where they need to go.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA lot of the county is really remote,\u201d Carr says. Think: dirt roads, singletrack trails, and rutted 4\u00d74 tracks\u2014routes that most volunteers\u2019 personal vehicles aren\u2019t equipped to handle. On top of that, cell service is rare, and the mountainous terrain interferes with radio signals. That makes large-scale rescue operations a nightmare to manage.<\/p>\n<p>These were the problems Carr was juggling when Ford called in the fall of 2025.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey reached out to us and asked if we wanted to partner up,\u201d Carr says. It wasn\u2019t the first time a sponsor had approached <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"sponsored\" data-afl-p=\"2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tetoncountysar.org\/\">Teton County Search and Rescue<\/a> (TCSAR). After all, the team\u2019s extreme work environment basically makes them celebrities in the rescue world. TCSAR has turned down plenty of sponsor requests over the years. But this time, things felt different.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2733970\" class=\"pom-image-wrap photo-alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Dog jumping out of car\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2733970\" style=\"color:transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Bronco-Tetons_inline_3.jpg?width=1920&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 1x, https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Bronco-Tetons_inline_3.jpg?width=3840&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 2x\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Bronco-Tetons_inline_3.jpg?width=3840&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover\"\/><figcaption class=\"pom-caption\"><span class=\"article__caption\">Teton County\u2019s terrain makes it a difficult place for search and rescue teams to operate.<\/span> (Photo: Ford)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cIt felt really genuine,\u201d Carr says. \u201cFord\u2019s CEO, Jim Farley, had a real connection with search and rescue and genuinely wanted to help our team. There weren\u2019t a lot of deliverables on our end, either\u2014it was truly a gift, and it seemed to come from the heart.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The donation comes from the Bronco\u00ae <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"sponsored\" data-afl-p=\"2\" href=\"https:\/\/nasar.org\/page\/AnswerTheCall\">Answer the Call<\/a> grant program. Ford launched the program after Farley witnessed just how effective a Bronco\u00ae could be in helping search and rescue teams\u2014many of them staffed by volunteers\u2014reach victims in need. SAR teams were able to apply for their own purpose-built Search &amp; Rescue Bronco\u00ae Badlands\u00ae through the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"sponsored\" data-afl-p=\"2\" href=\"http:\/\/nasar.org\">National Association for Search and Rescue<\/a>, Ford\u2019s partner in making Farley\u2019s vision a reality.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s what that looked like for TCSAR. Ford worked with Carr and his team to customize a Bronco\u00ae to their needs, adding a roof mount for a rescue litter, mirror-mounted off-road lights, a massive auxiliary battery, and Starlink connectivity. The result is a nimble, backcountry-capable vehicle that also functions as a mobile command center.<\/p>\n<p>The new Bronco\u00ae arrived just a few months after that first call. It filled a critical gap in TCSAR\u2019s rescue operations, and not just on the communications side. While the team often relies on helicopters to reach remote rescue sites, that approach becomes impossible during harsh Teton storm cycles. Now, rescuers finally have a way to access backcountry zones when bad weather grounds the choppers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Bronco\u00ae is supercapable, and it has all the standard 4\u00d74 features we need to get into these remote places,\u201d Carr says. \u201cThe winch is also huge for us, whether we\u2019re dragging trees out of the way, pulling swiftwater rescuers up a steep embankment, or belaying folks into a river bottom.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2733969\" class=\"pom-image-wrap photo-alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Off road\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2733969\" style=\"color:transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Bronco-Tetons_inline_2.jpg?width=1920&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 1x, https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Bronco-Tetons_inline_2.jpg?width=3840&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 2x\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Bronco-Tetons_inline_2.jpg?width=3840&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover\"\/><figcaption class=\"pom-caption\"><span class=\"article__caption\">The off-road capabilities of the Ford Bronco\u00ae are essential to search and rescue teams in environments like Teton County.<\/span> (Photo: Ford)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Carr expects the new Bronco\u00ae to get a ton of use as soon as the snow melts and the summer busy season rolls around. With a purpose-built vehicle on standby, TCSAR will be able to respond to more rescues more quickly. They\u2019ll be able to direct teams more efficiently, even in the deep backcountry, getting patients to safety faster and freeing up man hours to use elsewhere. In short, the Bronco\u00ae will allow the TCSAR team to maintain their stellar response record\u2014even with fewer resources.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re looking forward to using the vehicle to help keep our community safe,\u201d Carr says. \u201cIt really couldn\u2019t have come at a better time.\u201d<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p><i>Always consult the Owner\u2019s Manual before off-road driving, know your terrain and trail difficulty, and use appropriate safety gear. Learn more at <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" rel=\"sponsored\" data-afl-p=\"2\" href=\"https:\/\/sr.studiostack.com\/c\/link?l=2280223&amp;s=2280221\">ford.com<\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><!-- --><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.outsideonline.com\/adventure-travel\/news-analysis\/teton-county-is-a-brutal-place-for-backcountry-rescue-volunteers-use-a-ford-bronco-to-get-it-done\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Steep slopes, harsh weather, and unforgiving terrain make Teton County one of the toughest places in the country to get rescued. But it just got a little easier thanks to this first-response vehicle. Teton County Search and Rescue&#8217;s new Bronco\u00ae. (Photo: Ford) Published March 18, 2026 06:34PM Teton County was already one of the country\u2019s<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8980,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-8979","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-wild-living"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8979","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8979"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8979\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8980"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8979"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8979"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8979"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}