Locals mourn man killed in skiing accident

A 26-year-old man who spent five or six years working here in Sisters at Earthwood Homes and Ponderosa Forge & Ironworks was killed in a fall while skiing on the south Teton on Wednesday, February 15.

The Jackson Hole Daily reported that, "John 'Jack' Fields Jr. aimed to ski the Amora Vida Couloir with three other mountaineers when he fell 1,400 feet to his death, according to a press release from Grand Teton National Park."

Fields had just recently moved to Jackson. He had many friends in Sisters who are mourning his death. The young man had a reputation as someone who loved to work with his hands - and who loved outdoor adventure. According to his friends, he was also a singularly kind and generous soul.

Benji Nagel was one of his many friends in Sisters. He paid tribute to him in a Facebook post:

"For his last year or so living in Sisters, he would stop by our house almost every day after work, usually tired from a long day, and maybe crack a beer, or play some guitar or fall asleep in the backyard sunshine or show us whatever Prairie Home Companion clip he was stoked about that day.

"What I have heard over and over again the last few days is that Jack always made a point of telling friends how much he really loved and appreciated them. He inspires me and so many others to be more present, more giving, more selfless, more open to change and other perspectives. His death is a tragedy beyond my comprehension, but I do hope that it will inspire more people to be a little bit more like Jack."