TERT History
Several tragic deaths on Mt. Timpanogos led to the creation of TERT.
For over 40 years, our volunteers have worked to keep small things small, protect hikers, and protect Timp.
1980 Two fatalities in the same ice crevasse
On June 8th and 9th, 1980, two men on unrelated hikes fell into the same snow hole near the Lower Falls. Lt. Owen Quarnberg of the Utah County Sheriff's Office said the hole was about 60 feet deep.
1982 Another fatality in the same area; deputies to dynamite area
Two years later, another hiker died in a crevasse in the same area. On May 23, 1982, Terrance Brown of Nephi fell to his death. To help prevent any further fatalities, the Utah County Sheriff's Office and U.S. Forest Service dynamited the area to break up the ice bridges and crevasses.
In these images, UCSO deputies prepare to dynamite, and then dynamite the area of the "Killer Snow Holes." Photos courtesy of TERT member Glen Meyer.
July 1982 Another fatality on Aspen Grove Trail
1983 Timpanogos Emergency Response Team is formed
To help prevent tragedies like those of 1980 and 1982 and mitigate the consequences of accidents on the trail, Dr. Wayne O. Kearney, Vice President for Student Services at Utah Technical College Orem, organized TERT.
The team began to address emergencies and provide first aid on scene - a need which was evident right from the start.
Article from first season compares TERT camp to a high altitude hospital
In a short article on September 2, 1983, Dr. Kearney described the scene on the mountain as a "battle zone."
