Man falls to death during climb at Grand Teton

GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) - Officials at Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park say that a National Forest employee fell to his death while climbing at the park with friends.

Park officials said in a release that rangers recovered the body of 31-year-old Eric Tietze on Friday. Rangers say Tietze fell about 500-600 feet to his death while trying to climb the Cathedral Traverse on Thursday.

Friends of the Salt Lake City man say he separated from them as they were rappelling in an area west of Teewinot Mountain. They reported him missing Thursday night after he failed to meet up with them.

Park officials say air crews spotted his body about 500 feet below an area known as a climbing challenge.

Tietze had been a member of the Bridger-Teton National Forest trail crew.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)