Stephen Koch, 39, is still snowboarding, but after riding the highest mountain on every content (the Seven Summits) and being the first to snowboard the Grand, Middle and South Tetons, he’s now focusing on family, Real Estate, and the lecture circuit according to a story in the Jackson Hole Star Tribune.
His closest brush with death came in 1998 when an avalanche swallowed him up on his first attempt at a solo summit and snowboard descent of Mount Owen, one of the most difficult peaks to climb in the Teton Range. He was hit with a wall of snow that sent him tumbling down the mountain. He could hear ligaments snapping in each knee as he was tossed violently down the slope. When the avalanche stopped he was lucky enough to be able to crawl out of the snow. Not knowing his back was broken, he painfully inched his way down the mountain, scooting part of the way on his backside. He battled hypothermia through the night until he was rescued.
Sounds like an interesting lecture. . . on what not to do.
[Link: Jackson Hole Star Tribune]
