A recovery team has found a body deep in Jackson Lake that authorities believe is Wesley Dopkins, the St. Paul man who vanished while kayaking in Grand Teton National Park more than a year ago.
Park officials said Dopkins, 43, was last seen on June 15, 2024, paddling on Jackson Lake. He and a friend had set out around midday aiming for Waterfalls Canyon on the lake’s west shore when strong winds separated them. The friend made landfall at Leeks Marina and reported Dopkins missing. By nightfall, rangers had located Dopkins’ foldable Oru kayak, paddle, and a dry bag floating off Moose Island on the lake’s east side.
Despite an extensive search with boats, ground teams, search dogs, and a helicopter, Dopkins wasn’t found.
That changed this week. The nonprofit recovery group Bruce’s Legacy, which specializes in deep-water searches using advanced sonar, located remains on Sunday and recovered them Monday from roughly 420 feet below the surface. Formal identification now rests with the Teton County Coroner, but park officials say the location and characteristics of the remains point to Dopkins.
What exactly happened on the water remains unclear. But conditions that day were unforgiving: park reports note gusts up to 25 mph and water temperatures below 45°F—cold enough to trigger cold-water shock and hypothermia within minutes. Officials also said Dopkins wasn’t wearing a life jacket when last seen.
Even seasoned paddlers can get caught out by Jackson Lake’s size and mood swings. It’s a sprawling Snake River reservoir pressed against the base of the Teton Range, where wind can stack short, choppy waves and the water stays cold well into summer. A flipped boat, one missed brace in a crosswind, or a long swim in frigid water can turn perilous fast.
How the search unfolded
- June 15, 2024: Dopkins is last seen on Jackson Lake; his companion reaches Leeks Marina and alerts authorities.
- That evening: Rangers recover Dopkins’ kayak, paddle, and dry bag off Moose Island.
- Following days: Air, water, and shoreline searches turn up no sign of him.
- Fall 2024: Bruce’s Legacy assists in initial deep-water efforts.
- 2025: The nonprofit returns with specialized sonar, locates remains at ~420 feet, and assists with recovery.
In a statement, park officials thanked Bruce’s Legacy for the kind of technical capability that makes deep recoveries like this possible. They also repeated a blunt safety reminder: wear a properly fitted life jacket. It’s the single biggest step to surviving an unexpected capsize—especially in cold water.
Jackson Lake is one of the West’s marquee mountain waters—big, beautiful, and deceptively tough. It sprawls across the upper Snake River inside Grand Teton National Park, with iconic peaks as a backdrop and a long fetch that can whip up waves quickly. Even on warm days, the lake often feels like meltwater.
As the coroner works to confirm the identity of the recovered remains, the case is a somber coda to a long search and a stark reminder of how fast conditions here can turn.
With input from NBC News, WyoFile, Buckrail, Cowboy State Daily, and AP.
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