Rodney Albert Newcomb

Rodney Albert Newcomb was born in Riverside, California in 1934 to Margaret Root and Daniel Albert Newcomb. He grew up during World War II, and his father was an air raid warden. By high school, he and his family had moved to the desert in the Coachella Valley outside of Indio.

Rod helped with his father’s citrus nursery, hiked the desert hills, and became an EagleScout. He attended Occidental College, was drafted for two years in the peace time army, and traveled around Europe on a motor bike.

He first came to the Tetons in 1953 to work at the Square G Ranch and later at Jackson Lake Lodge and Jenny Lake Lodge. Rod, Frank Ewing and Jake Breitenbach hiked the Saint Elias mountain range in Alaska. Rod, Frank and Dick Pittman skied the Thorofare from Blackrock to Cody, and also the Wind Rivers from Fremont Lake to Burns. And in 1963, Rod, along with Peter Lev, Al Read, Fred Wright, Jed Williamson, and Warren Bleser made a first ascent of Denali East Buttress. Frank Ewing towed them up Teton Pass to get them on the road to Alaska because only five out the six cylinders worked inthe car they were driving.

In 1963, he began working for Exum Mountain Guides. He met his wife Annie through mutual friends Angie and Pitt, and in 1965 he and Annie brought their first baby, Lisa, home to a tent cabin in Guide’s Camp. Son, Mark, was born in 1967 and daughter, Maria, in 1968. The summer of 1968 Rod took time off from guiding to work on building a home on Heck of a Hill, where the family lived for 48 years.

He began ski patrolling at the newly opened Jackson Hole ski area and became assistant snow ranger to Juris Krisjansons. He then spent three winters in Silverton, Colorado working for INSTAAR (Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research) ) studying the effects of cloud seeding on the snowpack around Silverton, Colorado. In 1974 Rod founded the American Avalanche Institute, the first privately owned avalanche school in the country. He designed the four-day course, half in the field and half in the classroom, and hired expert instructors. He taught avalanche courses throughout the Rocky Mountain West and a few in Alaska and back East.

Snow safety, back country travel, and his family shaped his life. His humble demeanor and enduring and practical kindness contributed to him being a remarkable father, grandfather, and mentor to many. He died October 9, 2025 in St. John’s Hospital, with family by his side. Rod is survived by his wife of 61 years, Annie Newcomb; children Lisa, Mark, and Maria Newcomb; grandchildren Tristan and Skylar Moehs, Charlie and Bowen von Maur-Newcomb; and sister Barbara (Joe) Jayne.

A service will be held on December 13, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at the Lodge Room at the Snow King Sports and Event's Center in Jackson (located at 100 E Snow King Ave). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Coombs Outdoors. Condolences to the familiy can be sent to Grand Teton Funeral Home, P.O. Box 9059, Jackson, WY 83002.