Park rangers responded early Christmas morning to rescue three backcountry skiers who had become disoriented the previous day, and had inadvertently skied into Granite Canyon within Grand Teton National Park. The three men, Drew McCord, 32 of Houston, TX; Kevin Livingston, 37, of Afton, WY; and Patrick Callihan, 24, of Jackson, WY had intended to ski Rock Springs Bowl in the Bridger-Teton National Forest but lost their way because of poor visibility just after leaving the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ski area boundary.
Teton County Search and Rescue initially received the call for assistance from McCord’s girlfriend around 6:30 p.m. December 24. She reported receiving a text message from the men stating they were in trouble and needed help. Upon realizing the party was within Grand Teton National Park, the call was forwarded to park rangers at approximately 7:00 p.m. Though initial communication with the men was difficult, they hiked back uphill into an area with better cell phone reception and were able to communicate directly with park rangers by text around 10:00 p.m.
Using this direct communication, rangers were able to confirm the men were uninjured and had the ability to dig a snow cave and build a fire. Given the darkness of the hour, rangers planned to ski in the following morning when conditions would be less hazardous for rescuers.
At first light Christmas morning, two park rangers were joined by two members of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Ski Patrol to begin the rescue. After riding the tram to the top of Rendezvous Mountain, the four rescuers descended into the Targhee Woods area where they located the missing party’s ski tracks. They followed the tracks and located the men in the area commonly referred to as “Cam’s Run.” The party was able to text their coordinates to the rescuers, which aided in their location.
The cold but uninjured men were escorted down Granite Canyon. Given the considerable avalanche risk, the resort’s ski patrol closed the backcountry gates above the descent route. Despite this safety precaution, the rescuers encountered multiple parties who had violated the closure thus putting the rescuers at increased risk of being caught in a skier-triggered avalanche. The group returned to Teton Village at approximately 1:15 p.m.
Park rangers commend the men for remaining calm during the incident, staying together, initially attempting to return the way they had come, and their ability to light a fire and build shelter. The men were equipped with basic backcountry ski gear including avalanche beacons, probes, and shovels. However, the men had very little food, water, extra clothing layers, or other emergency equipment.
Park rangers remind those that venture outside of the ski area boundary that they should be prepared for emergencies and the potential for extended stays outdoors. Granite Canyon presents challenging terrain that should be attempted only by expert backcountry skiers with the knowledge, skills, and experience to travel in avalanche zones. Backcountry closures should always be obeyed.
Jeff
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Tuesday, December 27, 2016
Friday, December 23, 2016
Ranger-Led Snowshoe Hikes in Grand Teton Begin December 26th
Ranger-led snowshoe hikes in Grand Teton National Park begin Monday, December 26th. The two-hour guided walks begin at the Taggart Lake Trailhead at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday each week through mid-March dependent on conditions. Previous experience is not necessary and snowshoes are available. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 307.739.3399.
The guided tours of the Taggart Lake area are a great way for beginners to get an introduction to winter recreation, and a way for the more experienced to delve deeper into the worlds of snow science and winter ecology. Topics covered during the hikes vary, but can include park history, winter wildlife adaptations, animal tracks, and snowpack.
The snowshoe hike experience is enhanced by the use of historic wooden snowshoes, the oldest of which dates to 1943. While the precise history of the snowshoes is unknown, some of them likely came from the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division. During and after World War II, soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division trained for combat in mountain areas and winter conditions using skis and snowshoes. Veterans of the division were in large part responsible for the growth of the snow sports industry after the war and many of them had ties to the Teton Range. The historic snowshoes are available to hike participants for a suggested donation of $5 per participant. All donations are collected by Grand Teton Association and used to maintain the snowshoes.
Skiers and snowshoers are also welcome to explore the park and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway on their own. While winter recreationists are not restricted to established trails, visitors are required to observe the following public closures which are in place for wildlife protection during the winter:
December 1 through March 31— Static Peak, Prospectors Mountain and Mount Hunt.
December 15 through March 31— Snake River floodplain from Moran to Menor's Ferry near Moose, Buffalo Fork River floodplain within the park, Uhl Hill, and Kelly Hill.
A map of the closed areas can be found on page four of the Grand Teton Guide and at https://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/upload/GRTE-Winter-Map.pdf.
Jeff
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TetonHikingTrails.com
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HikingintheSmokys.com
The snowshoe hike experience is enhanced by the use of historic wooden snowshoes, the oldest of which dates to 1943. While the precise history of the snowshoes is unknown, some of them likely came from the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division. During and after World War II, soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division trained for combat in mountain areas and winter conditions using skis and snowshoes. Veterans of the division were in large part responsible for the growth of the snow sports industry after the war and many of them had ties to the Teton Range. The historic snowshoes are available to hike participants for a suggested donation of $5 per participant. All donations are collected by Grand Teton Association and used to maintain the snowshoes.
Skiers and snowshoers are also welcome to explore the park and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway on their own. While winter recreationists are not restricted to established trails, visitors are required to observe the following public closures which are in place for wildlife protection during the winter:
December 1 through March 31— Static Peak, Prospectors Mountain and Mount Hunt.
December 15 through March 31— Snake River floodplain from Moran to Menor's Ferry near Moose, Buffalo Fork River floodplain within the park, Uhl Hill, and Kelly Hill.
A map of the closed areas can be found on page four of the Grand Teton Guide and at https://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/upload/GRTE-Winter-Map.pdf.
Jeff
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Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Historic White Grass Dude Ranch Rehabilitation Completed
Rehabilitation of the historic White Grass Dude Ranch located within Grand Teton National Park is complete after 11 years of meticulous preservation work. The former dude ranch has been transformed into the home and primary training center of the National Park Service’s Western Center for Historic Preservation. Earlier this fall a rope cutting ceremony was held for the ranch. Since that time, staff have completed the finishing touches, and the ranch has formally transitioned from a construction site to a full-fledged training center.
The National Park Service partnered with the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 2005 to rehabilitate White Grass. Rehabilitation work included repair of failed foundations, roofs, windows and doors; replacement of rotten logs; and upgrades to aging utility systems. The jointly-funded project cost approximately $3 million.
The Western Center for Historic Preservation is the only training center devoted to the preservation of traditionally-built architecture in the western United States, Alaska, and the Pacific Islands. While the Western Center is commonly associated with log structures, its staff also conducts remote trainings on the preservation of adobe and mine shack type buildings. “The completion of White Grass means that we can shift our attention to training the staff needed to tackle deferred maintenance projects in the 159 parks we serve.” said Center Director Katherine Wonson.
Western Center trainings are led by subject-matter experts from both within and outside the National Park Service. They are open to the general public and are provided at no charge to participants. Fourteen of the 20 trainings conducted in 2016 were hosted at other parks. While remote trainings will continue, completion of the ranch’s rehabilitation is beneficial as more workshops can be hosted at the historic ranch.
Wonson said, “We’ve conducted trainings in other parks, and while they meet our training objectives, they ultimately don’t provide the same transformative experience as trainings at White Grass. Trainings at White Grass have the power to completely change the course of people’s careers, which it has already done for a number of National Park Service staff. They come and it’s an immersive experience.” Trainings were first hosted at White Grass in 2014.
The rehabilitation also increases the center’s ability to host trainings that are contained entirely at White Grass, and are therefore more transformative for participants. The sleeping cabins have been rehabilitated to provide overnight accommodations to trainees and the Main, Hammond, and Bath House cabins serve as communal space for eating, teaching, and shop work.
Life-changing experiences are nothing new to White Grass. As the third oldest dude ranch in Jackson Hole, White Grass built a tight-knit community of devotees. “White Grassers,” as they have come to be known, often returned to the ranch year after year from their homes in other parts of the country. The place stuck with them and, for many, was their primary connection to nature and the western way of life. The rope cutting event offered many of those individuals an opportunity to reconnect with the ranch, which has been managed by the National Park Service since 1985, when the Galey family’s life estate expired.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
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HikingintheSmokys.com
The National Park Service partnered with the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 2005 to rehabilitate White Grass. Rehabilitation work included repair of failed foundations, roofs, windows and doors; replacement of rotten logs; and upgrades to aging utility systems. The jointly-funded project cost approximately $3 million.
The Western Center for Historic Preservation is the only training center devoted to the preservation of traditionally-built architecture in the western United States, Alaska, and the Pacific Islands. While the Western Center is commonly associated with log structures, its staff also conducts remote trainings on the preservation of adobe and mine shack type buildings. “The completion of White Grass means that we can shift our attention to training the staff needed to tackle deferred maintenance projects in the 159 parks we serve.” said Center Director Katherine Wonson.
Western Center trainings are led by subject-matter experts from both within and outside the National Park Service. They are open to the general public and are provided at no charge to participants. Fourteen of the 20 trainings conducted in 2016 were hosted at other parks. While remote trainings will continue, completion of the ranch’s rehabilitation is beneficial as more workshops can be hosted at the historic ranch.
Wonson said, “We’ve conducted trainings in other parks, and while they meet our training objectives, they ultimately don’t provide the same transformative experience as trainings at White Grass. Trainings at White Grass have the power to completely change the course of people’s careers, which it has already done for a number of National Park Service staff. They come and it’s an immersive experience.” Trainings were first hosted at White Grass in 2014.
The rehabilitation also increases the center’s ability to host trainings that are contained entirely at White Grass, and are therefore more transformative for participants. The sleeping cabins have been rehabilitated to provide overnight accommodations to trainees and the Main, Hammond, and Bath House cabins serve as communal space for eating, teaching, and shop work.
Life-changing experiences are nothing new to White Grass. As the third oldest dude ranch in Jackson Hole, White Grass built a tight-knit community of devotees. “White Grassers,” as they have come to be known, often returned to the ranch year after year from their homes in other parts of the country. The place stuck with them and, for many, was their primary connection to nature and the western way of life. The rope cutting event offered many of those individuals an opportunity to reconnect with the ranch, which has been managed by the National Park Service since 1985, when the Galey family’s life estate expired.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Sunday, December 18, 2016
U.S. Senate Unanimously Passes the National Park Service Centennial Act
Championed by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), the U.S. Senate passed the National Park Service Centennial Act, which will expand the Centennial Challenge, a public-private funding partnership, establish and fund a national parks endowment, and provide additional opportunities for young people and volunteers to serve in and learn from our parks. The act passed the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this week.
In a prepared statement on their website, Theresa Pierno, President and CEO for National Parks Conservation Association, said that “Our national parks safeguard our most significant places but face funding levels that are not adequate. Our park superintendents face tough decisions for distributing resources to maintain trails or repair historic buildings and are forced to cut youth education programs. Passage of this bill will help by advancing smart, effective initiatives that fund maintenance needs in our parks and enrich visitors’ experiences.”
The National Park Service Centennial Act (H.R. 4680) will help address some of the $12 billion in needed repairs to park infrastructure, such as unmaintained trails and deteriorating buildings and structures that help tell America’s story but are in danger of falling apart. These delayed repairs hamper visitor access and enjoyment just when parks are experiencing record-breaking attendance as they celebrate their centennial year. The legislation would also help fund educational programs to better connect younger Americans to parks.
Funding for these national park needs would come in part from formally establishing and providing dedicated funding for the Centennial Challenge, a proven and successful public-private partnership that leverages federal funds with private dollars for visitor-oriented projects in our national parks. Another important funding component is the establishment of an endowment to provide a path toward the long-term fiscal health of our national parks.
There is a successful track record for leveraging private dollars when Congress commits to a federal match. Over the last two years, a federal investment of $25 million from appropriated dollars cultivated twice that amount in private donations. This money was used for such projects as improving visitor walkways in Yellowstone and making critical repairs to the Old State House in Boston.
Other policy provisions provide clear authority to the National Park Service for better interpretation and education programs, offer additional opportunities for young people and veterans by expanding the Public Land Corps, and allow for extra funding support for volunteer programs.
Pierno also said that “One initiative is the Centennial Challenge Fund, a proven public-private partnership that uses federal funding to leverage private dollars for our national parks. Also, the bill establishes an endowment to build long-term funding support for our parks as they start their next 100 years. As the Park Service concludes its centennial year, there has never been a better time for Congress to help restore America’s national treasures. We hope the new administration and the next Congress continue this progress of better funding our national parks and directly addressing its $12 billion infrastructure repair backlog.”
Jeff
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RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
The National Park Service Centennial Act (H.R. 4680) will help address some of the $12 billion in needed repairs to park infrastructure, such as unmaintained trails and deteriorating buildings and structures that help tell America’s story but are in danger of falling apart. These delayed repairs hamper visitor access and enjoyment just when parks are experiencing record-breaking attendance as they celebrate their centennial year. The legislation would also help fund educational programs to better connect younger Americans to parks.
Funding for these national park needs would come in part from formally establishing and providing dedicated funding for the Centennial Challenge, a proven and successful public-private partnership that leverages federal funds with private dollars for visitor-oriented projects in our national parks. Another important funding component is the establishment of an endowment to provide a path toward the long-term fiscal health of our national parks.
There is a successful track record for leveraging private dollars when Congress commits to a federal match. Over the last two years, a federal investment of $25 million from appropriated dollars cultivated twice that amount in private donations. This money was used for such projects as improving visitor walkways in Yellowstone and making critical repairs to the Old State House in Boston.
Other policy provisions provide clear authority to the National Park Service for better interpretation and education programs, offer additional opportunities for young people and veterans by expanding the Public Land Corps, and allow for extra funding support for volunteer programs.
Pierno also said that “One initiative is the Centennial Challenge Fund, a proven public-private partnership that uses federal funding to leverage private dollars for our national parks. Also, the bill establishes an endowment to build long-term funding support for our parks as they start their next 100 years. As the Park Service concludes its centennial year, there has never been a better time for Congress to help restore America’s national treasures. We hope the new administration and the next Congress continue this progress of better funding our national parks and directly addressing its $12 billion infrastructure repair backlog.”
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
National Park Service Completes Purchase of Antelope Flats Within Grand Teton National Park
The Grand Teton National Park Foundation announced yesterday that the National Park Service has purchased a 640-acre tract of land within Grand Teton National Park from the State of Wyoming. The purchase was made possible by the successful completion of an eight-month fundraising campaign by Grand Teton National Park Foundation and the National Park Foundation that raised $23 million in private funds. These funds were matched by $23 million from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund.
The newly protected land, called Antelope Flats, preserves critical wildlife habitat, migration routes, and viewsheds, prevents private development within the park boundary, and helps to complete the original vision of the park. The proceeds of the $46 million sale will benefit Wyoming public school children.
“This is a historic achievement—a true win-win—for Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park and the state’s Permanent School Trust Fund,” said Leslie Mattson, president of Grand Teton National Park Foundation, a non-profit organization that raises private funds to support Grand Teton National Park. “The private fundraising effort was unprecedented. We are in awe of the incredible generosity of thousands of people who stepped forward to help protect Grand Teton National Park and support public education in Wyoming.”
Grand Teton National Park lies at the heart of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, connecting Yellowstone National Park with the Bridger-Teton and Caribou-Targhee national forests including the Upper Green River Valley and the Wind River, Gros Ventre, and Wyoming Range mountains. In addition to its outstanding wildlife habitat values, the property supports the park’s world-class scenery. The Antelope Flats tract provides unobstructed views of the Grand, Middle, and South Tetons at the heart of the range, Mormon Row and the prominent Blacktail Butte area to the south, and the Gros Ventre Mountains to the east.
Key conservation partners for this effort include National Fish and Wildlife Foundation via Walmart’s Acres for America Program, Jackson Hole Land Trust, National Park Foundation, and The Nature Conservancy in Wyoming. John and Adrienne Mars, the Hamill Family Foundation, Knobloch Family Foundation, The Sage Foundation, Mark Headley and Christina Pehl, and Rocky Mountain Power Foundation contributed leadership gifts to this effort. The David and Lucile Packard Foundation is providing a program related investment in the form of a bridge loan to support multi-year pledge commitments provided by many donors. Additionally, The Conservation Fund provided real estate expertise to support the transaction, and National Parks Conservation Association long advocated for the property to be included in Grand Teton.
Yesterday’s closing helps complete an effort that spanned 30 years to exchange, trade, or sell the school section. Since the late 1990s, Wyoming’s congressional delegation, governor, and state legislature have worked to resolve the school section inholding issue. The late U.S. Senator Craig Thomas passed legislation in 2003 to authorize exchanges, sales, or trades that would compensate Wyoming for the Grand Teton school section inholdings. A Wyoming constitutional mandate requires that school trust lands, created at statehood in 1890, must generate income for the common school trust.
“Antelope Flats sits within Grand Teton National Park. Its sale provides Wyoming a greater return on the land and allows the people of Wyoming and visitors from elsewhere greater opportunities to enjoy the wonders of the park,” said Wyoming Governor Matt Mead. “The state will receive the benefit of $46 million for our schools, and the park will have another 640 acres for people to appreciate. I thank the donors, Grand Teton National Park Foundation, the National Park Foundation, and the National Park Service for their efforts.”
This purchase, through a combination of private philanthropy and federal funding, continues the tradition of generosity that helped establish Grand Teton National Park. In particular, it carries on the vision and generosity of John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Laurance S. Rockefeller, and the Rockefeller family, who recognized the role of philanthropy in the permanent protection of critical lands for the public.
For more information on the history of the state lands, visit www.gtnpf.org/initiatives/state-lands/
Jeff
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“This is a historic achievement—a true win-win—for Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park and the state’s Permanent School Trust Fund,” said Leslie Mattson, president of Grand Teton National Park Foundation, a non-profit organization that raises private funds to support Grand Teton National Park. “The private fundraising effort was unprecedented. We are in awe of the incredible generosity of thousands of people who stepped forward to help protect Grand Teton National Park and support public education in Wyoming.”
Grand Teton National Park lies at the heart of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, connecting Yellowstone National Park with the Bridger-Teton and Caribou-Targhee national forests including the Upper Green River Valley and the Wind River, Gros Ventre, and Wyoming Range mountains. In addition to its outstanding wildlife habitat values, the property supports the park’s world-class scenery. The Antelope Flats tract provides unobstructed views of the Grand, Middle, and South Tetons at the heart of the range, Mormon Row and the prominent Blacktail Butte area to the south, and the Gros Ventre Mountains to the east.
Key conservation partners for this effort include National Fish and Wildlife Foundation via Walmart’s Acres for America Program, Jackson Hole Land Trust, National Park Foundation, and The Nature Conservancy in Wyoming. John and Adrienne Mars, the Hamill Family Foundation, Knobloch Family Foundation, The Sage Foundation, Mark Headley and Christina Pehl, and Rocky Mountain Power Foundation contributed leadership gifts to this effort. The David and Lucile Packard Foundation is providing a program related investment in the form of a bridge loan to support multi-year pledge commitments provided by many donors. Additionally, The Conservation Fund provided real estate expertise to support the transaction, and National Parks Conservation Association long advocated for the property to be included in Grand Teton.
Yesterday’s closing helps complete an effort that spanned 30 years to exchange, trade, or sell the school section. Since the late 1990s, Wyoming’s congressional delegation, governor, and state legislature have worked to resolve the school section inholding issue. The late U.S. Senator Craig Thomas passed legislation in 2003 to authorize exchanges, sales, or trades that would compensate Wyoming for the Grand Teton school section inholdings. A Wyoming constitutional mandate requires that school trust lands, created at statehood in 1890, must generate income for the common school trust.
“Antelope Flats sits within Grand Teton National Park. Its sale provides Wyoming a greater return on the land and allows the people of Wyoming and visitors from elsewhere greater opportunities to enjoy the wonders of the park,” said Wyoming Governor Matt Mead. “The state will receive the benefit of $46 million for our schools, and the park will have another 640 acres for people to appreciate. I thank the donors, Grand Teton National Park Foundation, the National Park Foundation, and the National Park Service for their efforts.”
This purchase, through a combination of private philanthropy and federal funding, continues the tradition of generosity that helped establish Grand Teton National Park. In particular, it carries on the vision and generosity of John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Laurance S. Rockefeller, and the Rockefeller family, who recognized the role of philanthropy in the permanent protection of critical lands for the public.
For more information on the history of the state lands, visit www.gtnpf.org/initiatives/state-lands/
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Monday, December 5, 2016
Moose-Wilson Corridor Record of Decision Approved
Intermountain Regional Director Sue Masica approved a Record of Decision for Grand Teton National Park’s Moose-Wilson Corridor Final Comprehensive Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (Final Plan/EIS). The Record of Decision marks completion of the planning phase of the project, which began in December 2013 and will be implemented beginning in the spring of 2017. The decision document can be viewed at go.nps.gov/moose-wilson (includes a map of the proposed changes).
“This planning process has been very encompassing. The National Park Service is very appreciative of all the input, both locally and beyond. The engagement and interest received is a testament to the care and concern people have for this special area within the park,” said Masica.
The Record of Decision selects alternative C for implementation, explains the National Park Service’s decision, describes the alternatives that were considered, and discusses plans for mitigating potential environmental effects and monitoring those commitments. Alternative C was identified as the National Park Service’s preferred alternative in the Final Plan/EIS, which was released on September 2, 2016. The Record of Decision affirms the analysis of the Final Plan/EIS and maintains the key strategies and elements of the preferred alternative.
The National Park Service selected alternative C because it exemplifies the conservation legacy stories of the Muries, Rockefellers, and tribes within the corridor. Of the alternatives considered, alternative C best protects the corridor’s natural and cultural resources by limiting new development and disturbances in the corridor, reducing the existing development footprint in some areas, providing some restoration of natural hydrologic processes, and carefully managing traffic levels. New development that does occur, such as the realignment of the northernmost section of road, will ultimately reduce resource impacts in the corridor.
As a result of the relocation of the Death Canyon Trailhead the NPS preferred alternative (Alternative C) would impact hikes to Phelps Lake Overlook, the Death Canyon Patrol Cabin, as well as Static Peak Divide by adding another mile - each way - to each hike.
A major component of the plan is visitor use management which will provide park visitors with opportunities to use and enjoy this area of the park while protecting park resources and the visitors’ experience. Visitor use management will be implemented adaptively beginning in 2017, when park staff will pilot mobile queuing checkpoints and other methods of managing visitation in the corridor. The system will be incorporated into park operations over time, and the Record of Decision gives park managers the flexibility to alter the corridor’s capacity or the management tools used if conditions dictate. Strategies that could be considered within the existing plan include a permit, reservation, or transit system.
Construction work associated with the plan is dependent on funding and staffing and will be completed in phases over four or more seasons. During construction, portions of the corridor may be temporarily closed to allow for the safe operation of heavy construction equipment in the narrow corridor. A key park management goal is to maintain access to the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve Center and other recreation sites in the corridor throughout construction. However, access to these sites may need to be closed or limited during specific phases of construction. These activities will be communicated to the public in advance.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
The Record of Decision selects alternative C for implementation, explains the National Park Service’s decision, describes the alternatives that were considered, and discusses plans for mitigating potential environmental effects and monitoring those commitments. Alternative C was identified as the National Park Service’s preferred alternative in the Final Plan/EIS, which was released on September 2, 2016. The Record of Decision affirms the analysis of the Final Plan/EIS and maintains the key strategies and elements of the preferred alternative.
The National Park Service selected alternative C because it exemplifies the conservation legacy stories of the Muries, Rockefellers, and tribes within the corridor. Of the alternatives considered, alternative C best protects the corridor’s natural and cultural resources by limiting new development and disturbances in the corridor, reducing the existing development footprint in some areas, providing some restoration of natural hydrologic processes, and carefully managing traffic levels. New development that does occur, such as the realignment of the northernmost section of road, will ultimately reduce resource impacts in the corridor.
As a result of the relocation of the Death Canyon Trailhead the NPS preferred alternative (Alternative C) would impact hikes to Phelps Lake Overlook, the Death Canyon Patrol Cabin, as well as Static Peak Divide by adding another mile - each way - to each hike.
A major component of the plan is visitor use management which will provide park visitors with opportunities to use and enjoy this area of the park while protecting park resources and the visitors’ experience. Visitor use management will be implemented adaptively beginning in 2017, when park staff will pilot mobile queuing checkpoints and other methods of managing visitation in the corridor. The system will be incorporated into park operations over time, and the Record of Decision gives park managers the flexibility to alter the corridor’s capacity or the management tools used if conditions dictate. Strategies that could be considered within the existing plan include a permit, reservation, or transit system.
Construction work associated with the plan is dependent on funding and staffing and will be completed in phases over four or more seasons. During construction, portions of the corridor may be temporarily closed to allow for the safe operation of heavy construction equipment in the narrow corridor. A key park management goal is to maintain access to the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve Center and other recreation sites in the corridor throughout construction. However, access to these sites may need to be closed or limited during specific phases of construction. These activities will be communicated to the public in advance.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Thursday, December 1, 2016
Teton Roads Transition to Over Snow Access
The status of Teton Park Road, Moose-Wilson Road, and Signal Mountain Summit Road within Grand Teton National Park has been changed from wheeled access to over snow access due to recent snow accumulation. The designated portions of these roads are now ready to accommodate winter recreational use and wheeled access is prohibited for the season.
Each year, Teton Park Road, Moose-Wilson Road, and Signal Mountain Summit Road are closed to public motor vehicle use beginning November 1. During the period of time that the roads remain free of snow, visitors are welcome to use the roadways for recreational activities such as walking, bicycling, and in-line skating.
Once snow begins to accumulate on the roadbeds, the status is changed to over snow access and approved winter season activities such as cross-country skiing, skate skiing, and snow-shoeing become possible. Snow bikes are not permitted on roads designated for over snow access. Snow bikes are allowed on all roadways open to motor vehicle use in Grand Teton National Park including the East Boundary and Gros Ventre roads as well as the plowed portions of Teton Park and Moose-Wilson roads.
This year, the 14-mile section of the Teton Park Road between the Taggart Lake Trailhead and Signal Mountain Lodge will be groomed approximately twice-weekly from mid-December to mid-March depending on snow and weather conditions. This year’s grooming is made possible through the support of Grand Teton National Park Foundation, Jackson Hole Nordic Alliance, and a Federal Highway Administration Recreational Trails Program grant managed by the State of Wyoming. Park visitors can call the park’s road condition line at 307-739-3682 for grooming updates.
Generally, pets are only permitted on park roadways open to motor vehicle use. However, pets are allowed on the over snow access portions of the Teton Park Road and Moose-Wilson Road by special exception. Pet owners are reminded that pets must be on a leash no longer than six feet and under physical restraint at all times. Pet owners are required to clean-up their pet's waste, and mutt mitt stations are provided for that purpose during winter.
Grassy Lake Road in the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway is closed for the season to wheeled vehicles and bicycles. The road opens to snowmobiling at the start of the Yellowstone Winter Use Season.
Jeff
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Each year, Teton Park Road, Moose-Wilson Road, and Signal Mountain Summit Road are closed to public motor vehicle use beginning November 1. During the period of time that the roads remain free of snow, visitors are welcome to use the roadways for recreational activities such as walking, bicycling, and in-line skating.
Once snow begins to accumulate on the roadbeds, the status is changed to over snow access and approved winter season activities such as cross-country skiing, skate skiing, and snow-shoeing become possible. Snow bikes are not permitted on roads designated for over snow access. Snow bikes are allowed on all roadways open to motor vehicle use in Grand Teton National Park including the East Boundary and Gros Ventre roads as well as the plowed portions of Teton Park and Moose-Wilson roads.
This year, the 14-mile section of the Teton Park Road between the Taggart Lake Trailhead and Signal Mountain Lodge will be groomed approximately twice-weekly from mid-December to mid-March depending on snow and weather conditions. This year’s grooming is made possible through the support of Grand Teton National Park Foundation, Jackson Hole Nordic Alliance, and a Federal Highway Administration Recreational Trails Program grant managed by the State of Wyoming. Park visitors can call the park’s road condition line at 307-739-3682 for grooming updates.
Generally, pets are only permitted on park roadways open to motor vehicle use. However, pets are allowed on the over snow access portions of the Teton Park Road and Moose-Wilson Road by special exception. Pet owners are reminded that pets must be on a leash no longer than six feet and under physical restraint at all times. Pet owners are required to clean-up their pet's waste, and mutt mitt stations are provided for that purpose during winter.
Grassy Lake Road in the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway is closed for the season to wheeled vehicles and bicycles. The road opens to snowmobiling at the start of the Yellowstone Winter Use Season.
Jeff
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Wednesday, November 16, 2016
National Park Service Announces 10 Fee Free Days for 2017
Combine great scenery and history with great savings and visit a national park for free on one of 10 fee free days in 2017. The ten entrance fee-free days for 2017 will be:
• January 16: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• February 20: Presidents Day
• April 15-16 & April 22-23: National Park Week Weekends
• August 25: National Park Service Birthday
• September 30: National Public Lands Day
• November 11-12: Veterans Day Weekend
“National parks are known for their priceless beauty,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “They are a bargain anytime but on these ten days in 2017, they really will be priceless. We want everyone to visit their national parks and the fee free days provide extra incentive to experience these amazing places.”
During the fee free days, all National Park Service sites will waive their entrance fees for all visitors. Usually, 124 of the 413 national parks charge entrance fees that range from $3 to $30. The other 289 sites do not have entrance fees. The entrance fee waiver for the fee-free days does not cover amenity or user fees for things such as camping, boat launches, transportation, or special tours.
To continue the national park adventure beyond these fee free days, the annual $80 America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Pass allows unlimited entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including all national parks,. There are also free or discounted passes available for senior citizens, current military members, fourth grade students, and disabled citizens.
The National Park System includes more than 84 million acres and is comprised of 413 sites including national parks, national historical parks, national monuments, national recreation areas, national battlefields, and national seashores. There is at least one national park in every state.
Last year, 307 million people visited a national park. They spent $16.9 billion which supported 295,000 jobs and had a $32 billion impact on the U.S. economy.
In addition to national parks, the National Park Service works with tribes, local governments, and partners across the country to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Programs such as the National Register of Historic Places, National Heritage Areas, National Wild and Scenic Rivers, and the Rivers, Trails, Conservation Assistance Program revitalize communities, celebrate local heritage, and provide places for people to get outside, be active, and have fun.
The fee free days gives hikers the chance to visit several of the crown jewels in our national park system, including Rocky Mountain, Glacier, or Grand Teton National Park. Of course the Great Smoky Mountains, the most visited national park, never charges a fee.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
• January 16: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• February 20: Presidents Day
• April 15-16 & April 22-23: National Park Week Weekends
• August 25: National Park Service Birthday
• September 30: National Public Lands Day
• November 11-12: Veterans Day Weekend
“National parks are known for their priceless beauty,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “They are a bargain anytime but on these ten days in 2017, they really will be priceless. We want everyone to visit their national parks and the fee free days provide extra incentive to experience these amazing places.”
To continue the national park adventure beyond these fee free days, the annual $80 America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Pass allows unlimited entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including all national parks,. There are also free or discounted passes available for senior citizens, current military members, fourth grade students, and disabled citizens.
The National Park System includes more than 84 million acres and is comprised of 413 sites including national parks, national historical parks, national monuments, national recreation areas, national battlefields, and national seashores. There is at least one national park in every state.
Last year, 307 million people visited a national park. They spent $16.9 billion which supported 295,000 jobs and had a $32 billion impact on the U.S. economy.
In addition to national parks, the National Park Service works with tribes, local governments, and partners across the country to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Programs such as the National Register of Historic Places, National Heritage Areas, National Wild and Scenic Rivers, and the Rivers, Trails, Conservation Assistance Program revitalize communities, celebrate local heritage, and provide places for people to get outside, be active, and have fun.
The fee free days gives hikers the chance to visit several of the crown jewels in our national park system, including Rocky Mountain, Glacier, or Grand Teton National Park. Of course the Great Smoky Mountains, the most visited national park, never charges a fee.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Montana State Trails Advisory Committee Meeting In Helena This Friday
Montana State Parks (stateparks.mt.gov) announced today that the citizen Montana State Trails Advisory Committee (STAC) will hold a meeting on Friday, November 18th, 2016 from 10am-12:30pm in the Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission Rooms, located at 1420 E. 6th Avenue, in Helena.
The committee will advise staff on a number of trail issues, including FY2017 Recreational Trails Program guidelines and miscellaneous trail-related topics. State Trails Advisory Committee members represent both motorized and non-motorized trail user groups and provide advice and assistance for the Recreational Trails Program.
The meeting is open to the public. For more information contact Beth R. Shumate, Recreational Trails Program Manager at (406) 444-4585 or bshumate@mt.gov.
The Montana Recreational Trails Program provides grant funding to support trail construction, trail maintenance and grooming efforts, as well as trail-related education so enthusiasts can enjoy trails throughout Montana.
What: Montana State Trails Advisory Committee Meeting
When: Friday, November 18th, 2016 from 10am to 12:30pm
Where: Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission Rooms, located at 1420 E. 6th Avenue, in Helena.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
The committee will advise staff on a number of trail issues, including FY2017 Recreational Trails Program guidelines and miscellaneous trail-related topics. State Trails Advisory Committee members represent both motorized and non-motorized trail user groups and provide advice and assistance for the Recreational Trails Program.
The meeting is open to the public. For more information contact Beth R. Shumate, Recreational Trails Program Manager at (406) 444-4585 or bshumate@mt.gov.
The Montana Recreational Trails Program provides grant funding to support trail construction, trail maintenance and grooming efforts, as well as trail-related education so enthusiasts can enjoy trails throughout Montana.
What: Montana State Trails Advisory Committee Meeting
When: Friday, November 18th, 2016 from 10am to 12:30pm
Where: Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission Rooms, located at 1420 E. 6th Avenue, in Helena.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Thursday, November 10, 2016
Interim Closure Issued for all Boating within Glacier National Park
In response to the recent detection of invasive mussel populations in central Montana, Glacier National Park is issuing an interim boating closure within all park waters, in accordance with the park’s Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Action Plan. The closure includes both motorized and hand propelled watercraft.
The 2014 plan calls for this immediate closure when invasive mussels are detected within a waterway in the State of Montana, as was announced on November 9 by Montana Fish Wildlife, and Parks.
The park will begin an assessment period to conduct testing, inspect park boats, and evaluate the risk boats pose to park waters and waters downstream from the unintended introduction of invasive mussels. The assessment will likely include the evaluation of further tests of waters across the State of Montana during the summer of 2017. The closure will remain in place during the assessment period, which will extend until the nature of the threat is better understood.
“Park scientists will work diligently with the State of Montana and other water quality experts to understand the scope of this threat, and identify steps the park will take to further protect our waters in the Crown of the Continent,” said park superintendent Jeff Mow.
Glacier National Park sits at the top of three continental scale watersheds. Water from the park drains into the Columbia, Missouri, and South Saskatchewan Basins. Protecting park waters from an infestation is important not only for the park’s ecosystem, but also to economic and ecological interests downstream.
Beginning in 2011, the park initiated a mandatory boat inspection and launch permit program to reduce the risk of infestation of park waters by invasive mussels. Since that time, approximately 1,000 motorized boat permits were issued annually. The park also required self-inspection and AIS-free certification of non-motorized watercraft. These boats come from many states across the country, including those with established populations of invasive mussels.
In 2016, launch permits were issued to boats registered in 13 mussel positive states following inspection.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
The 2014 plan calls for this immediate closure when invasive mussels are detected within a waterway in the State of Montana, as was announced on November 9 by Montana Fish Wildlife, and Parks.
The park will begin an assessment period to conduct testing, inspect park boats, and evaluate the risk boats pose to park waters and waters downstream from the unintended introduction of invasive mussels. The assessment will likely include the evaluation of further tests of waters across the State of Montana during the summer of 2017. The closure will remain in place during the assessment period, which will extend until the nature of the threat is better understood.
“Park scientists will work diligently with the State of Montana and other water quality experts to understand the scope of this threat, and identify steps the park will take to further protect our waters in the Crown of the Continent,” said park superintendent Jeff Mow.
Glacier National Park sits at the top of three continental scale watersheds. Water from the park drains into the Columbia, Missouri, and South Saskatchewan Basins. Protecting park waters from an infestation is important not only for the park’s ecosystem, but also to economic and ecological interests downstream.
Beginning in 2011, the park initiated a mandatory boat inspection and launch permit program to reduce the risk of infestation of park waters by invasive mussels. Since that time, approximately 1,000 motorized boat permits were issued annually. The park also required self-inspection and AIS-free certification of non-motorized watercraft. These boats come from many states across the country, including those with established populations of invasive mussels.
In 2016, launch permits were issued to boats registered in 13 mussel positive states following inspection.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
NPS Commemorates Veterans Day with Free Admission on November 11th
In honor of Veterans Day, many national parks across the country are hosting special events, displays, and ceremonies to commemorate the service and sacrifice of the U.S. Armed Forces. The National Park Service will waive entrance fees on November 11th.
“It’s a special responsibility to be the stewards of the memorials, battlefields, and historic sites that tell the story of the honor, courage, and sacrifice of our veterans,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “All 413 of our parks nationwide offer the chance to reflect on what our veterans fought to protect, and may also provide opportunities for veterans and their families to find peace and healing.”
National parks and other public lands can be used to facilitate healing and reflection, physical and mental challenges, and rest and recuperation for veterans, active duty service members, and their families. Rivers of Recovery, one of the nonprofit organizations that uses national parks for this purpose, partnered with Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway to create the “Vets on the River” program, which offers multi-day trips on the park’s rivers to combat veterans suffering from physical or psychological injuries.
“Vets on the River is an amazing program that provides a great opportunity for veterans suffering from PTSD, an opportunity to gain another support group,” said Rob Boss, a participant who shared his experience in a video. “Just being with nature and being outdoors, being on the relaxing river, it allows us to open up with each other, which we so need.”
The National Park Service cares for many sites across the country related to the military experience, including more than 25 battlefields, 14 national cemeteries, and hundreds of memorials and monuments. Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, and other historic sites tell greater story of contributions, sacrifice, and consequences of conflict off the battlefield.
Active duty military members and their dependents can pick up a free military annual pass at any national park that usually charges a fee. A free lifetime pass is also available to disabled veterans. These passes provide free entrance to more than 2,000 national parks, wildlife refuges, national forests, and other federal recreational areas. More information about the passes can be found at www.nps.gov/findapark/passes.htm.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
“It’s a special responsibility to be the stewards of the memorials, battlefields, and historic sites that tell the story of the honor, courage, and sacrifice of our veterans,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “All 413 of our parks nationwide offer the chance to reflect on what our veterans fought to protect, and may also provide opportunities for veterans and their families to find peace and healing.”
National parks and other public lands can be used to facilitate healing and reflection, physical and mental challenges, and rest and recuperation for veterans, active duty service members, and their families. Rivers of Recovery, one of the nonprofit organizations that uses national parks for this purpose, partnered with Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway to create the “Vets on the River” program, which offers multi-day trips on the park’s rivers to combat veterans suffering from physical or psychological injuries.
“Vets on the River is an amazing program that provides a great opportunity for veterans suffering from PTSD, an opportunity to gain another support group,” said Rob Boss, a participant who shared his experience in a video. “Just being with nature and being outdoors, being on the relaxing river, it allows us to open up with each other, which we so need.”
The National Park Service cares for many sites across the country related to the military experience, including more than 25 battlefields, 14 national cemeteries, and hundreds of memorials and monuments. Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, and other historic sites tell greater story of contributions, sacrifice, and consequences of conflict off the battlefield.
Active duty military members and their dependents can pick up a free military annual pass at any national park that usually charges a fee. A free lifetime pass is also available to disabled veterans. These passes provide free entrance to more than 2,000 national parks, wildlife refuges, national forests, and other federal recreational areas. More information about the passes can be found at www.nps.gov/findapark/passes.htm.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Sunday, November 6, 2016
West Glacier Weather Station Records Rainiest Month on Record
The weather station in West Glacier recorded the rainiest month on record in October. Glacier National Park has collected weather data since 1914. The weather station is a partnership project with the National Weather Service, the Regional Climate Center, and the National Centers for Environmental Information.
The data helps the park and surrounding community anticipate the severity of the summer fire season.
"Historically, June has been the month with the most precipitation, closely followed by January and then December," said Lead Fire Effects Specialist Michael McClellan. "But not this year, obviously." The Fire Management Program monitors the weather station in West Glacier, sending someone out at 4 pm every day to measure precipitation and temperature. The station is one of three actively monitored each day by employees at the park. The other two are in St. Mary and East Glacier.
“The unexpected early October severe weather and subsequent ongoing precipitation temporarily hampered efforts to remove the guardrails from the Going-to-the-Sun Road, encasing the road and rails in more than six inches of ice,” said park Chief of Maintenance Jim Foster. “However, road crews got a break in the weather on October 25 and we were able to remove the last of the rails, preventing potential avalanche damage over the winter.”
The previous precipitation record at the West Glacier weather station was set in December of 1917 at 9.48 inches. However, data collection at that time was done monthly and subject to error.
West Glacier COOP Weather Station October Precipitation Highs:
1. 2016: 10.60’’ – October 3rd, 12th, and 24th were the only days that did not have measurable amounts of rain.
2. 2012: 6.18’’
3. 1933: 5.96’’
4. 1950: 5.87’’
5. 1930: 5.64’’
West Glacier COOP Weather Station Monthly Records:
January 2006: 7.66’’
February 1940: 5.87’’
March 2014: 6.49’’
April 2011: 4.72’’
May 1996: 6.09’’
June 2012: 7.90’’
July 1993: 5.11’’
August 1954: 5.14’’
September 1968: 6.17’’
October 2016: 10.60’’
November 1995: 7.53’’
* December 1917: 9.48’’ / December 1964: 7.42’’
Notes: December 1917 from monthly weather summary. The park does not have daily records from that time period. November 1917 showed only .14’’ so potentially there was some carryover in record keeping.
Records are taken from the best available data. The park has copies of monthly weather summaries starting in 1914 and daily records have been entered into the park’s weather database beginning in 1945. However, some months are missing data up until approximately 1961.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
The data helps the park and surrounding community anticipate the severity of the summer fire season.
"Historically, June has been the month with the most precipitation, closely followed by January and then December," said Lead Fire Effects Specialist Michael McClellan. "But not this year, obviously." The Fire Management Program monitors the weather station in West Glacier, sending someone out at 4 pm every day to measure precipitation and temperature. The station is one of three actively monitored each day by employees at the park. The other two are in St. Mary and East Glacier.
“The unexpected early October severe weather and subsequent ongoing precipitation temporarily hampered efforts to remove the guardrails from the Going-to-the-Sun Road, encasing the road and rails in more than six inches of ice,” said park Chief of Maintenance Jim Foster. “However, road crews got a break in the weather on October 25 and we were able to remove the last of the rails, preventing potential avalanche damage over the winter.”
The previous precipitation record at the West Glacier weather station was set in December of 1917 at 9.48 inches. However, data collection at that time was done monthly and subject to error.
West Glacier COOP Weather Station October Precipitation Highs:
1. 2016: 10.60’’ – October 3rd, 12th, and 24th were the only days that did not have measurable amounts of rain.
2. 2012: 6.18’’
3. 1933: 5.96’’
4. 1950: 5.87’’
5. 1930: 5.64’’
West Glacier COOP Weather Station Monthly Records:
January 2006: 7.66’’
February 1940: 5.87’’
March 2014: 6.49’’
April 2011: 4.72’’
May 1996: 6.09’’
June 2012: 7.90’’
July 1993: 5.11’’
August 1954: 5.14’’
September 1968: 6.17’’
October 2016: 10.60’’
November 1995: 7.53’’
* December 1917: 9.48’’ / December 1964: 7.42’’
Notes: December 1917 from monthly weather summary. The park does not have daily records from that time period. November 1917 showed only .14’’ so potentially there was some carryover in record keeping.
Records are taken from the best available data. The park has copies of monthly weather summaries starting in 1914 and daily records have been entered into the park’s weather database beginning in 1945. However, some months are missing data up until approximately 1961.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Friday, November 4, 2016
Study to Uncover Yellowstone's Subsurface Mysteries
A new study providing an unprecedented regional view of the earth’s crust beneath Yellowstone National Park will begin with a helicopter electromagnetic and magnetic (HEM) survey on November 7, 2016. Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey, University of Wyoming and Aarhus University in Denmark hope to distinguish zones of cold fresh water, hot saline water, steam, clay and unaltered rock from one another to understand Yellowstone’s myriad hydrothermal systems. The flights will continue for the next two to four weeks.
Although the park’s iconic hydrothermal systems are well mapped at the surface, their subsurface groundwater flow systems are almost completely unknown. The HEM survey, operated by SkyTEM, will provide the first subsurface view of Yellowstone’s hydrothermal systems, tracking the geophysical signatures of geysers, hot springs, mud pots, steam vents and hydrothermal explosion craters to depths in excess of 1,000 feet.
A low flying helicopter, about 200 feet above the ground’s surface, will travel along pre-planned flight grids focusing on the Mammoth-Norris corridor, Upper and Lower Geyser Basins and the northern part of Yellowstone Lake. An electromagnetic system, resembling a giant hula hoop, will be suspended from the helicopter’s base. The equipment senses and records tiny voltages that can be related to the ground’s electrical conductivity.
These observations, combined with existing geophysical, geochemical, geological and borehole data, will help close a major knowledge gap between the surface hydrothermal systems and the deeper magmatic system. For example, research shows that the hot water spurting from Yellowstone’s geysers originates as old precipitation, snow and rain that percolates down into the crust, is heated and ultimately returns to the surface. This process takes hundreds if not thousands of years. Little, however, is currently known about the paths taken by the waters.
The data collected from the flight will guide future ground-based geological, hydrological and geophysical studies.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Although the park’s iconic hydrothermal systems are well mapped at the surface, their subsurface groundwater flow systems are almost completely unknown. The HEM survey, operated by SkyTEM, will provide the first subsurface view of Yellowstone’s hydrothermal systems, tracking the geophysical signatures of geysers, hot springs, mud pots, steam vents and hydrothermal explosion craters to depths in excess of 1,000 feet.
A low flying helicopter, about 200 feet above the ground’s surface, will travel along pre-planned flight grids focusing on the Mammoth-Norris corridor, Upper and Lower Geyser Basins and the northern part of Yellowstone Lake. An electromagnetic system, resembling a giant hula hoop, will be suspended from the helicopter’s base. The equipment senses and records tiny voltages that can be related to the ground’s electrical conductivity.
These observations, combined with existing geophysical, geochemical, geological and borehole data, will help close a major knowledge gap between the surface hydrothermal systems and the deeper magmatic system. For example, research shows that the hot water spurting from Yellowstone’s geysers originates as old precipitation, snow and rain that percolates down into the crust, is heated and ultimately returns to the surface. This process takes hundreds if not thousands of years. Little, however, is currently known about the paths taken by the waters.
The data collected from the flight will guide future ground-based geological, hydrological and geophysical studies.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Thursday, November 3, 2016
Yellowstone Seeks Comments on Shoshone Lake Trail Project
Yellowstone National Park is seeking comments for a proposed project to do standard trail realignment on the Shoshone Lake Trail in the southwest portion of the park. The work will occur on a portion of the trail near the south shore of Shoshone Lake.
The main intent of the project is to relocate a section of the trail that is too steep for comfortable travel and cyclic maintenance. Additional work will involve standard erosion control and tread delineation. The proposed project will be directed by the National Park Service in partnership with the Montana Conservation Corps.
Written comments may be emailed to e-mail us or mailed to: Bill Hopkins, Backcountry Trails Office, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, 82190. All comments must be received no later than November 30, 2016.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
The main intent of the project is to relocate a section of the trail that is too steep for comfortable travel and cyclic maintenance. Additional work will involve standard erosion control and tread delineation. The proposed project will be directed by the National Park Service in partnership with the Montana Conservation Corps.
Written comments may be emailed to e-mail us or mailed to: Bill Hopkins, Backcountry Trails Office, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, 82190. All comments must be received no later than November 30, 2016.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
Two Defendants from the "High on Life Group" Plead Guilty
Five defendants from the Canadian group High On Life appeared Tuesday, November 1, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Carman at the Yellowstone Justice Center in Mammoth Hot Springs, WY. Hamish Cross and Parker Heuser pleaded guilty to violations in Yellowstone National Park and Death Valley National Park. The remaining three defendants from High on Life pleaded not guilty and will be appointed court attorneys.
The group, consisting of Charles Ryker Gamble, Alexey Andriyovych Lyakh, Justis Cooper Price Brown, Parker Heuser, and Hamish McNab Campbell Cross, were the subject of multiple investigations by the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management.
H. Cross pleaded guilty to charges in Yellowstone National Park that included disorderly conduct by creating a hazardous condition and foot travel in a thermal area. He agreed to pay over $8,000.00 in fines, restitution, community service payments paid to Yellowstone Forever, and fees. P. Heuser pleaded guilty to two violations in Death Valley National Park that included riding a bike in wilderness and commercial photographs without a permit. He will also pay for collateral fines that stemmed from violations at the Bonneville Salt Flats (BLM). He agreed to pay more than $1,000.00 in fines and fees. P. Heuser was not charged any violations in Yellowstone National Park. Both individuals will be on probation for five years which includes being banned from public lands managed by the U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
On May 16, 2016, a concerned citizen contacted park rangers in Yellowstone National Park, after seeing four individuals walking on Grand Prismatic Spring. During the course of the investigation, park rangers identified the four individuals involved in the violations in Yellowstone National Park and arrest warrants were issued. Through the use of social media and tips from the public, additional investigations were conducted about the group’s activities on other federal lands.
The High on Life group was issued violation notices from:
• Zion National Park
• Death Valley National Park
• Yellowstone National Park
• Mesa Verde National Park
• Corona Arch (BLM)
• Bonneville Salt Flats (BLM)
“The judge’s decision today sends a very clear message about thermal feature protection and safety,” said Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Dan Wenk. “Hamish Cross’s egregious actions damaged a world-class hot spring and risked his own life coupled with the lives of responding rangers. We look forward to the outcome of the case regarding the three remaining defendants.”
Harm can be done by walking on bacterial mats that surround thermal features like Grand Prismatic Spring. The colorful mats contain communities of thermophiles, or heat-loving organisms. Walking on the mats damages the microscopic communities and the footprints left behind impact the visual landscape people expect in Yellowstone.
Scalding water also underlies much of the thin, breakable crust around hot springs like Grand Prismatic Spring. Many hot springs are near or above the boiling point and can cause severe or fatal burns. More people have been injured or killed in hot springs than any other natural feature in Yellowstone. For example, a fatality occurred in June, 2016, at the Norris Geyser Basin when a man walked off the designated boardwalk, slipped, and fell into a hot spring.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
The group, consisting of Charles Ryker Gamble, Alexey Andriyovych Lyakh, Justis Cooper Price Brown, Parker Heuser, and Hamish McNab Campbell Cross, were the subject of multiple investigations by the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management.
H. Cross pleaded guilty to charges in Yellowstone National Park that included disorderly conduct by creating a hazardous condition and foot travel in a thermal area. He agreed to pay over $8,000.00 in fines, restitution, community service payments paid to Yellowstone Forever, and fees. P. Heuser pleaded guilty to two violations in Death Valley National Park that included riding a bike in wilderness and commercial photographs without a permit. He will also pay for collateral fines that stemmed from violations at the Bonneville Salt Flats (BLM). He agreed to pay more than $1,000.00 in fines and fees. P. Heuser was not charged any violations in Yellowstone National Park. Both individuals will be on probation for five years which includes being banned from public lands managed by the U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
On May 16, 2016, a concerned citizen contacted park rangers in Yellowstone National Park, after seeing four individuals walking on Grand Prismatic Spring. During the course of the investigation, park rangers identified the four individuals involved in the violations in Yellowstone National Park and arrest warrants were issued. Through the use of social media and tips from the public, additional investigations were conducted about the group’s activities on other federal lands.
The High on Life group was issued violation notices from:
• Zion National Park
• Death Valley National Park
• Yellowstone National Park
• Mesa Verde National Park
• Corona Arch (BLM)
• Bonneville Salt Flats (BLM)
“The judge’s decision today sends a very clear message about thermal feature protection and safety,” said Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Dan Wenk. “Hamish Cross’s egregious actions damaged a world-class hot spring and risked his own life coupled with the lives of responding rangers. We look forward to the outcome of the case regarding the three remaining defendants.”
Harm can be done by walking on bacterial mats that surround thermal features like Grand Prismatic Spring. The colorful mats contain communities of thermophiles, or heat-loving organisms. Walking on the mats damages the microscopic communities and the footprints left behind impact the visual landscape people expect in Yellowstone.
Scalding water also underlies much of the thin, breakable crust around hot springs like Grand Prismatic Spring. Many hot springs are near or above the boiling point and can cause severe or fatal burns. More people have been injured or killed in hot springs than any other natural feature in Yellowstone. For example, a fatality occurred in June, 2016, at the Norris Geyser Basin when a man walked off the designated boardwalk, slipped, and fell into a hot spring.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Grizzly Bear Death Due To Vehicle Collision
Grand Teton National Park rangers investigated a wildlife-vehicle collision in the park that resulted in the death of a male grizzly bear early Sunday morning, October 30.
Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a call Sunday at approximately 9:30 a.m. from a passing motorist that a bear carcass was located along US Highway 89/26/191, and that a damaged vehicle was parked along the highway in the same vicinity.
Rangers responded to the scene, south of Cunningham Cabin, to find the carcass of a 260-pound male grizzly bear believed to be about 2-4 years of age. Approximately a mile north of the carcass was an unattended damaged vehicle. Evidence on the vehicle and at the scene tied the vehicle to the accident.
When later contacted, the driver of the damaged vehicle indicated that the collision happened at approximately 5:30 a.m. Sunday. No citations were issued.
Rangers remind drivers to be alert when driving through the park as animals are migrating this time of year. Please watch for wildlife and observe the posted speed limits, including a 45 mile-per-hour night time speed limit on US Highway 89/26/191.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Rangers responded to the scene, south of Cunningham Cabin, to find the carcass of a 260-pound male grizzly bear believed to be about 2-4 years of age. Approximately a mile north of the carcass was an unattended damaged vehicle. Evidence on the vehicle and at the scene tied the vehicle to the accident.
When later contacted, the driver of the damaged vehicle indicated that the collision happened at approximately 5:30 a.m. Sunday. No citations were issued.
Rangers remind drivers to be alert when driving through the park as animals are migrating this time of year. Please watch for wildlife and observe the posted speed limits, including a 45 mile-per-hour night time speed limit on US Highway 89/26/191.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Monday, October 31, 2016
Northern Rockies Snow and Avalanche Workshop This Saturday
This year’s Northern Rockies Avalanche Safety Workshop in Whitefish has drawn another panel of experts to enlighten winter sports enthusiasts about safe backcountry travel.
The Northern Rockies Avalanche Safety Workshop is a winter safety workshop dedicated to improving avalanche related decision making skills for winter backcountry professionals and enthusiasts. There will be a variety of speakers, a fantastic raffle, and vendors of avalanche safety gear, winter equipment, including snowmobiles and snowbikes.
The sixth annual gathering is November 5th from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at the O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish, with a limited number of tickets selling for $25 in advance. This year’s title sponsor, the Flathead Nordic Backcountry Patrol, is providing scholarships for all local high school students wishing to attend. Interested students can contact friends@flatheadavalanche.org for more information.
This year’s event features a slate of five speakers with a variety backgrounds whose extensive expertise will provide insight into the technical elements of avalanche safety. Subjects covered include recent developments in snow stability tests, time lapse photography of avalanche terrain, as well as a play by play review of the 2015/2016 winter season.
"It’s great to be able to bring this workshop to Whitefish for a sixth year," said Ted Steiner, part of the Friends of the Flathead Avalanche Center workshop committee. "The workshop is about learning, networking, seeing old and making new friends. It’s also a time to remember that winter is on the way, get excited about getting outside and, most importantly, remember we need to be safe and educated when traveling the backcountry. We need to come home to our families and enjoy season upon season of future winter endeavors."
The workshop will feature Bruce Jamieson, founder of the Applied Snow and Avalanche Research Center (ASARC) at the University of Calgary; Diana Saly, Master’s student in the Snow and Avalanche Lab at Montana State University; Dr. Terry O’Connor, Emergency physician, EMS Director, and Assistant Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine for the University of Colorado; Todd Wharton, survivor of an avalanche incident in the Canyon Creek area; and Erich Peitzsch, the Director of the Flathead Avalanche Center.
Last year’s event drew more than 250 attendees. "We wanted to create a workshop that would serve our community, something that had never been offered here before," said Craig Moore, an avid backcountry skier, patroller and workshop committee member. "I think our community is thirsty for this information, which has made the workshop successful."
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
The Northern Rockies Avalanche Safety Workshop is a winter safety workshop dedicated to improving avalanche related decision making skills for winter backcountry professionals and enthusiasts. There will be a variety of speakers, a fantastic raffle, and vendors of avalanche safety gear, winter equipment, including snowmobiles and snowbikes.
This year’s event features a slate of five speakers with a variety backgrounds whose extensive expertise will provide insight into the technical elements of avalanche safety. Subjects covered include recent developments in snow stability tests, time lapse photography of avalanche terrain, as well as a play by play review of the 2015/2016 winter season.
"It’s great to be able to bring this workshop to Whitefish for a sixth year," said Ted Steiner, part of the Friends of the Flathead Avalanche Center workshop committee. "The workshop is about learning, networking, seeing old and making new friends. It’s also a time to remember that winter is on the way, get excited about getting outside and, most importantly, remember we need to be safe and educated when traveling the backcountry. We need to come home to our families and enjoy season upon season of future winter endeavors."
The workshop will feature Bruce Jamieson, founder of the Applied Snow and Avalanche Research Center (ASARC) at the University of Calgary; Diana Saly, Master’s student in the Snow and Avalanche Lab at Montana State University; Dr. Terry O’Connor, Emergency physician, EMS Director, and Assistant Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine for the University of Colorado; Todd Wharton, survivor of an avalanche incident in the Canyon Creek area; and Erich Peitzsch, the Director of the Flathead Avalanche Center.
Last year’s event drew more than 250 attendees. "We wanted to create a workshop that would serve our community, something that had never been offered here before," said Craig Moore, an avid backcountry skier, patroller and workshop committee member. "I think our community is thirsty for this information, which has made the workshop successful."
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Friday, October 28, 2016
Grand Teton Fall Construction Update
Construction crews are working on some major infrastructure projects in Grand Teton National Park. Visitors to the park will notice activity in the Moose and Pilgrim Creek areas as the park replaces major water and wastewater systems that have been operating for almost 60 years, and have exceeded the design life of the systems.
The most visible construction work of the fall is associated with upgrades to the water system that serves Moose and Beaver Creek. The contractor, RSCI Group of Boise, Idaho, and their subcontractor, Westwood Curtis Construction of Jackson, Wyoming, are replacing the water transmission line from its origin at Taggart Creek to Beaver Creek. Work will continue next spring with replacement of the transmission line from Beaver Creek to Moose, installation of water distribution lines at 4 Lazy F Ranch, and replacement of the water storage tank at Taggart Creek. The Moose water project will double the capacity of the system, reduce leaks in the water delivery system and improve fire suppression capabilities at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center, park headquarters, and other structures in Moose and Beaver Creek.
RSCI Group and Westwood Curtis are also doing preliminary work on the new Moose wastewater treatment plant. Visitors may notice clearing, excavation and foundation work, as well as materials staging for work that will begin next spring. The current treatment plant, which is only 200 feet from the Wild and Scenic Snake River, will eventually be demolished. The new plant will be constructed just northwest of the Moose Post Office and will be outside the 500-year floodplain, as well as meet water quality requirements.
Both of the Moose projects were approved in January 2013 after public review and comment in 2011 and 2012. The Moose water and wastewater project is a $12.5 million investment.
Work on a new water transmission line that supplies domestic and fire suppression water to Jackson Lake Lodge from Pilgrim Creek is also underway. The project, undertaken by Bairco Construction, Inc. of Lovell, Wyoming, will ultimately remove the Pilgrim Creek wells from the floodplain, a major advantage as annual spring runoff often threatens to flood the well houses and risks contamination of the water supply. The project will also bring the entire water supply system closer to the developed highway corridor, and remove the need for daily maintenance activity within 400 acres of valuable wildlife habitat. The $2.6 million project was approved in April 2015 after public review and comment in September 2014.
Visitors to the impacted areas may encounter trail reroutes. As always, visitors should be aware of their surroundings and follow posted signs and directions.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
The most visible construction work of the fall is associated with upgrades to the water system that serves Moose and Beaver Creek. The contractor, RSCI Group of Boise, Idaho, and their subcontractor, Westwood Curtis Construction of Jackson, Wyoming, are replacing the water transmission line from its origin at Taggart Creek to Beaver Creek. Work will continue next spring with replacement of the transmission line from Beaver Creek to Moose, installation of water distribution lines at 4 Lazy F Ranch, and replacement of the water storage tank at Taggart Creek. The Moose water project will double the capacity of the system, reduce leaks in the water delivery system and improve fire suppression capabilities at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center, park headquarters, and other structures in Moose and Beaver Creek.
RSCI Group and Westwood Curtis are also doing preliminary work on the new Moose wastewater treatment plant. Visitors may notice clearing, excavation and foundation work, as well as materials staging for work that will begin next spring. The current treatment plant, which is only 200 feet from the Wild and Scenic Snake River, will eventually be demolished. The new plant will be constructed just northwest of the Moose Post Office and will be outside the 500-year floodplain, as well as meet water quality requirements.
Both of the Moose projects were approved in January 2013 after public review and comment in 2011 and 2012. The Moose water and wastewater project is a $12.5 million investment.
Work on a new water transmission line that supplies domestic and fire suppression water to Jackson Lake Lodge from Pilgrim Creek is also underway. The project, undertaken by Bairco Construction, Inc. of Lovell, Wyoming, will ultimately remove the Pilgrim Creek wells from the floodplain, a major advantage as annual spring runoff often threatens to flood the well houses and risks contamination of the water supply. The project will also bring the entire water supply system closer to the developed highway corridor, and remove the need for daily maintenance activity within 400 acres of valuable wildlife habitat. The $2.6 million project was approved in April 2015 after public review and comment in September 2014.
Visitors to the impacted areas may encounter trail reroutes. As always, visitors should be aware of their surroundings and follow posted signs and directions.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Yellowstone Visitors Use Bear Spray To Deter Bear
After surprising and then being charged by a grizzly bear, a couple fishing along the Lamar River effectively deployed their bear spray and saved themselves from injury on Saturday, October 22.
John and Lisa Vandenbos from Bozeman, MT, parked at a pullout near the Specimen Ridge trailhead in the Lamar Valley, east of Tower Junction. They walked cross-country to the Lamar River and, while scouting for fishing spots, surprised an adult grizzly bear who was feeding on a partially consumed carcass. The bear immediately charged the couple and came within nine feet when both individuals quickly discharged their bear spray.
The bear initially left. When attempting to charge the couple again, it ran into the original cloud of bear spray. Upon making contact with the cloud, the bear retreated all the way back across the river and up the adjacent hillside “as fast as it could go”. The couple did not sustain injuries and bear spray stopped the charging bear.
The couple left the area immediately and returned to their vehicle. They then reported the incident to a park ranger. Park rangers do not intend to search for the bear since this incident was a surprise encounter with a bear defending its carcass.
All of Yellowstone National Park is bear country. Reduce your risk of a bear encounter by carrying bear spray. Studies show that bear spray is more than 90 percent effective in stopping an aggressive bear. In fact, it is the most effective deterrent when used in combination with regular safety recommendations - be alert, make noise, hike in groups of three or more, do not run if you encounter a bear and stand your ground if charged by a bear.
“Yellowstone visitors care deeply about preserving bears and observing them in the wild,” says Kerry Gunther, the park’s Bear Management Specialist. “Carrying bear spray is the best way for visitors to participate in bear conservation because reducing potential conflicts protects both people and bears.”
Help the park increase the number of visitors who carry bear spray and know how to use it. Visit A Bear Doesn’t Care Campaign for more information.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
The bear initially left. When attempting to charge the couple again, it ran into the original cloud of bear spray. Upon making contact with the cloud, the bear retreated all the way back across the river and up the adjacent hillside “as fast as it could go”. The couple did not sustain injuries and bear spray stopped the charging bear.
The couple left the area immediately and returned to their vehicle. They then reported the incident to a park ranger. Park rangers do not intend to search for the bear since this incident was a surprise encounter with a bear defending its carcass.
All of Yellowstone National Park is bear country. Reduce your risk of a bear encounter by carrying bear spray. Studies show that bear spray is more than 90 percent effective in stopping an aggressive bear. In fact, it is the most effective deterrent when used in combination with regular safety recommendations - be alert, make noise, hike in groups of three or more, do not run if you encounter a bear and stand your ground if charged by a bear.
“Yellowstone visitors care deeply about preserving bears and observing them in the wild,” says Kerry Gunther, the park’s Bear Management Specialist. “Carrying bear spray is the best way for visitors to participate in bear conservation because reducing potential conflicts protects both people and bears.”
Help the park increase the number of visitors who carry bear spray and know how to use it. Visit A Bear Doesn’t Care Campaign for more information.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Saturday, October 22, 2016
Elk Reduction Program Begins Today
The 2016 elk reduction program begins today, October 22nd, in Grand Teton National Park. Authorized through the park's enabling legislation of 1950, the program allows for the proper management and conservation of the Jackson Elk Herd.
The legislation directs Grand Teton National Park to jointly develop this program with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and for the Governor of Wyoming and Secretary of the Interior to approve the annual plan.Respective Federal and state biologists and administrators have reviewed available biological data and concluded that the 2016 program is necessary for the proper management and protection of the elk, including keeping the herd at or near the population objective.
The areas open to the program, Wyoming Game and Fish Department Elk Hunt Areas 75 and 79, are generally located on the east side of the park, and north of the Gros Ventre River. The Snake River Bottom, between Deadman's Bar access road to Ditch Creek west of US Highway 26/89/191 is closed to the program. The Antelope Flats area is closed to the program after November 30, and the entire program ends December 11. The areas remain open to park visitors, and the wearing of orange or other bright colors is highly recommended during this time.
The park's elk reduction program is an important management tool that differs somewhat from other elk hunting programs in the region. Participants in the program must carry appropriate state license, conservation stamp and permits, use non-lead ammunition, and are limited in the number of cartridges they are able to carry each day. The use of archery, hand guns, or other non-center fire ammunition rifles is not permitted, nor is the use of artificial elk calls. In addition, participants, regardless of age, are required to carry a certified hunter safety card, wear fluorescent orange and carry and have immediately accessible bear spray as a non-lethal deterrent for use during potential bear encounters. Information packets accompanying each permit warn participants of the risk of bear encounters and offer tips on how to minimize the probability of human-bear conflicts.
The need for this reduction program stems partly from an intensive management framework that includes annual winter feeding programs on the National Elk Refuge and in the upper Gros Ventre Drainage. Feeding sustains high numbers of elk with unnaturally low mortality rates. A majority of elk that are fed during the winter on the refuge also summer in Grand Teton National Park or use migration routes across park lands. The reduction program targets elk from three primary herd segments: Grand Teton, southern Yellowstone National Park, and the Teton Wilderness area of Bridger-Teton National Forest.
Park rangers will intensively monitor and patrol elk reduction areas to ensure compliance with rules and regulations, interpret the elk reduction program to visitors, and provide participants with information on local conditions associated with this wildlife management program.
An information line for the 2016 elk reduction program is available at 307.739.3681. A brochure on elk ecology and a map showing locations open to these special permit holders is available online at http://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/elkhunt.htm.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
The legislation directs Grand Teton National Park to jointly develop this program with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and for the Governor of Wyoming and Secretary of the Interior to approve the annual plan.Respective Federal and state biologists and administrators have reviewed available biological data and concluded that the 2016 program is necessary for the proper management and protection of the elk, including keeping the herd at or near the population objective.
The park's elk reduction program is an important management tool that differs somewhat from other elk hunting programs in the region. Participants in the program must carry appropriate state license, conservation stamp and permits, use non-lead ammunition, and are limited in the number of cartridges they are able to carry each day. The use of archery, hand guns, or other non-center fire ammunition rifles is not permitted, nor is the use of artificial elk calls. In addition, participants, regardless of age, are required to carry a certified hunter safety card, wear fluorescent orange and carry and have immediately accessible bear spray as a non-lethal deterrent for use during potential bear encounters. Information packets accompanying each permit warn participants of the risk of bear encounters and offer tips on how to minimize the probability of human-bear conflicts.
The need for this reduction program stems partly from an intensive management framework that includes annual winter feeding programs on the National Elk Refuge and in the upper Gros Ventre Drainage. Feeding sustains high numbers of elk with unnaturally low mortality rates. A majority of elk that are fed during the winter on the refuge also summer in Grand Teton National Park or use migration routes across park lands. The reduction program targets elk from three primary herd segments: Grand Teton, southern Yellowstone National Park, and the Teton Wilderness area of Bridger-Teton National Forest.
Park rangers will intensively monitor and patrol elk reduction areas to ensure compliance with rules and regulations, interpret the elk reduction program to visitors, and provide participants with information on local conditions associated with this wildlife management program.
An information line for the 2016 elk reduction program is available at 307.739.3681. A brochure on elk ecology and a map showing locations open to these special permit holders is available online at http://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/elkhunt.htm.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Thursday, October 20, 2016
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com Adds Several New Hikes
A few weeks ago Kathy and I had the opportunity to do a little hiking during our visit to Colorado. In addition to some spectacular hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park, we also did a few hikes in the Indian Peaks Wilderness, which is located directly south of the national park. As a result of this trip we have added eight new hikes to our RockyMountainHikingTrails.com website. Here's a quick rundown of the new hikes:
Baker Pass-Parika Lake Loop - this hike travels into the heart of the Never Summer Mountains, located just west of Rocky Mountain National Park. Although the hike begins along Trail Ridge Road in RMNP, this area sees relatively few visitors. This is a big mistake for those who seek awesome scenery, as the trail visits some absolutely beautiful spots, including Baker Pass and Parika Lake.
Sandbeach Lake - is a fairly large subalpine lake, with a broad sand beach area, perfect for those looking to go home with a Rocky Mountain tan. At the lake hikers will have an absolutely spectacular view of 13,911-foot Mt. Meeker - the 2nd highest peak in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Ouzel Lake - is a great option if you don't have the energy to go all the way to Bluebird Lake in the Wild Basin area of RMNP. In addition to a very scenic lake framed by high peaks, the hike offers several other attractions, including four waterfalls.
Pawnee Pass - just south of Rocky Mountain National Park is the spectacular Indian Peaks Wilderness. Although there are many trails that lead into the wilderness, Pawnee Pass is arguably one of the best hikes. Along the way to the 12,541-foot pass, which offers spectacular alpine and tundra scenery, hikers will have the chance to visit Long Lake and Lake Isabelle.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Baker Pass-Parika Lake Loop - this hike travels into the heart of the Never Summer Mountains, located just west of Rocky Mountain National Park. Although the hike begins along Trail Ridge Road in RMNP, this area sees relatively few visitors. This is a big mistake for those who seek awesome scenery, as the trail visits some absolutely beautiful spots, including Baker Pass and Parika Lake.
Ouzel Lake - is a great option if you don't have the energy to go all the way to Bluebird Lake in the Wild Basin area of RMNP. In addition to a very scenic lake framed by high peaks, the hike offers several other attractions, including four waterfalls.
Pawnee Pass - just south of Rocky Mountain National Park is the spectacular Indian Peaks Wilderness. Although there are many trails that lead into the wilderness, Pawnee Pass is arguably one of the best hikes. Along the way to the 12,541-foot pass, which offers spectacular alpine and tundra scenery, hikers will have the chance to visit Long Lake and Lake Isabelle.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Man Attacked by Bear Near Whitefish
On Sunday, October 16, a man was attacked by a bear about 3-1/2 miles northeast of Whitefish on F. H. Stoltze land between Wisconsin Avenue and Haskill Basin Road.
FWP responded last night to the site and began investigating the attack. The investigation to date shows that a man and his daughter were hiking along a gated road on Stoltze property in the Haskill Basin area. A bear charged the daughter from the left side of the road who at the time was leading 2 dogs on leashes. The bear charged past her and attacked the man. During the attack the man deployed pepper spray and the bear ran off the left side of the road. The investigation further showed that the father and daughter unknowingly walked between what is believed to be an adult female grizzly bear and her cubs. The two cubs crossed the road from right to left during the attack. The bears had been feeding on a deer carcass, which was cached about 35 yards to the right of the roadway.
FWP returned to the attack site this morning. They removed the carcass and set up trail cameras to begin monitoring the site and area.
The man was transported to Kalispell Regional Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries, including bites to the wrist, shoulder, and head.
In the interest of public safety, Montana, Fish, Wildlife and Parks worked with F. H. Stoltze and posted and closed the area where the attack occurred. The closure includes F. H. Stoltze land in the Haskill Basin area, west of Haskill Creek Road and Haskill Basin Road east to Wisconsin Ave. The area will be closed until further notice.
FWP has consulted with the USFWS Grizzly Bear Coordinator to plan further actions. The monitoring results will determine any further FWP actions. FWP is currently not trapping for the bear(s).
FWP’s Wildlife Human Attack Response Team is investigating the incident and it is still currently under investigation. The team is comprised of wardens and biologists trained for investigating these incidents.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
FWP responded last night to the site and began investigating the attack. The investigation to date shows that a man and his daughter were hiking along a gated road on Stoltze property in the Haskill Basin area. A bear charged the daughter from the left side of the road who at the time was leading 2 dogs on leashes. The bear charged past her and attacked the man. During the attack the man deployed pepper spray and the bear ran off the left side of the road. The investigation further showed that the father and daughter unknowingly walked between what is believed to be an adult female grizzly bear and her cubs. The two cubs crossed the road from right to left during the attack. The bears had been feeding on a deer carcass, which was cached about 35 yards to the right of the roadway.
The man was transported to Kalispell Regional Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries, including bites to the wrist, shoulder, and head.
In the interest of public safety, Montana, Fish, Wildlife and Parks worked with F. H. Stoltze and posted and closed the area where the attack occurred. The closure includes F. H. Stoltze land in the Haskill Basin area, west of Haskill Creek Road and Haskill Basin Road east to Wisconsin Ave. The area will be closed until further notice.
FWP has consulted with the USFWS Grizzly Bear Coordinator to plan further actions. The monitoring results will determine any further FWP actions. FWP is currently not trapping for the bear(s).
FWP’s Wildlife Human Attack Response Team is investigating the incident and it is still currently under investigation. The team is comprised of wardens and biologists trained for investigating these incidents.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Friday, October 14, 2016
Temporary Closures Scheduled for South Jenny Lake area
Starting Monday, October 17, a temporary area closure will be in effect for several trails and walkways within the South Jenny Lake area of Grand Teton National Park. The temporary public closure is necessary to ensure public safety during construction activities involving helicopter transport of heavy material to the Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point areas on the west side of Jenny Lake. The public closure is scheduled for October 17 through October 21, though it may be postponed or prolonged due to weather conditions or other circumstances.
For safety during the staging and hauling of over 500 loads of rock and construction materials, trails leading from the Jenny Lake east shore boat dock area and the Moose Ponds trailhead to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point will be closed to all public access. Lake access from the public boat launch will not be allowed.
All visitor services in the South Jenny Lake area, including the visitor center, are closed for the season. Signs will be posted throughout this closure area, and park staff will be positioned to provide suggestions for alternate routes for anyone visiting this area of the park.
Areas not affected by this temporary area closure include: the Teton Park Road; Jenny Lake scenic loop road; String Lake trailhead; access to Cascade Canyon via the Horse Trail; access to Jenny Lake east shore trail; and access to the Lupine Meadows trailhead.
This slight and temporary inconvenience will be short-term in nature. Park managers appreciate the public's cooperation in observing all posted closure notices in the South Jenny Lake area.
This rehabilitation and construction work is part of the Jenny Lake Renewal project. The Jenny Lake Renewal is an $18 million public-private partnership effort between the National Park Service and Grand Teton National Park Foundation. This year marks the third of the project's four major construction seasons. Work on the backcountry trail system on the west shore of Jenny Lake and in the front country visitor area on the east shore will continue next summer.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
For safety during the staging and hauling of over 500 loads of rock and construction materials, trails leading from the Jenny Lake east shore boat dock area and the Moose Ponds trailhead to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point will be closed to all public access. Lake access from the public boat launch will not be allowed.
All visitor services in the South Jenny Lake area, including the visitor center, are closed for the season. Signs will be posted throughout this closure area, and park staff will be positioned to provide suggestions for alternate routes for anyone visiting this area of the park.
Areas not affected by this temporary area closure include: the Teton Park Road; Jenny Lake scenic loop road; String Lake trailhead; access to Cascade Canyon via the Horse Trail; access to Jenny Lake east shore trail; and access to the Lupine Meadows trailhead.
This slight and temporary inconvenience will be short-term in nature. Park managers appreciate the public's cooperation in observing all posted closure notices in the South Jenny Lake area.
This rehabilitation and construction work is part of the Jenny Lake Renewal project. The Jenny Lake Renewal is an $18 million public-private partnership effort between the National Park Service and Grand Teton National Park Foundation. This year marks the third of the project's four major construction seasons. Work on the backcountry trail system on the west shore of Jenny Lake and in the front country visitor area on the east shore will continue next summer.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Thursday, October 13, 2016
Alpine Section of Going-to-the-Sun Road Closed For The Season
The Going-to-the-Sun-Road (GTSR) is closed for the season from Avalanche on the west side to the Jackson Glacier overlook on the east side. A severe winter snowstorm followed by temperatures below freezing have created unsafe traveling conditions along the alpine section of the Going-to-the-Sun Road. The scheduled closure was Monday, October 17th. Closures on the GTSR will drop to Lake McDonald Lodge on the west side, and the foot of St. Mary Lake on the east side when winter conditions set in.
The Apgar Visitor Center is now open on weekends only from 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The Apgar Backcountry Permit Office is open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.through October 31st.
Boat inspections for boats launching on the west side of the park will be conducted at the Apgar Backcountry Office, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily through the end of October. Boat inspections for the east side of the park are by appointment only. Appointments are available by contacting the park at 406-888-7800 (press 5).
You can follow the park on the @glaciernps Twitter account for breaking news and up-to-date park information.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
The Apgar Visitor Center is now open on weekends only from 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The Apgar Backcountry Permit Office is open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.through October 31st.
Boat inspections for boats launching on the west side of the park will be conducted at the Apgar Backcountry Office, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily through the end of October. Boat inspections for the east side of the park are by appointment only. Appointments are available by contacting the park at 406-888-7800 (press 5).
You can follow the park on the @glaciernps Twitter account for breaking news and up-to-date park information.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
GTNP Foundation Helps To Protect Antelope Flats
The Grand Teton National Park Foundation, in partnership with the National Park Foundation and the Department of the Interior, recently announced that is has raised 80% of the funds required to purchase the 640-acre Antelope Flats Parcel in Grand Teton National Park. These funds include $23 million from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund. The parcel is currently valued at $46 million, and could be sold at auction for potential development if it is not purchased by the National Park Service before the end of the current calendar year. Development of this land would be extremely detrimental to wildlife habitat and permanently scar the landscape of Grand Teton National Park.
Here's the Foundation's latest video which show what's at stake:
Protecting Antelope Flats: Director of the National Park Service Jon Jarvis from GTNP Foundation on Vimeo.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
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Here's the Foundation's latest video which show what's at stake:
Protecting Antelope Flats: Director of the National Park Service Jon Jarvis from GTNP Foundation on Vimeo.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
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Saturday, October 1, 2016
Renowned Photographer Chris Peterson Retraces Mary Roberts Rinehart's 1915 Journey Through Glacier National Park
The Crown of the Continent Research Learning Center at Glacier National Park is hosting a brown bag luncheon presentation by Chris Peterson, photographer and writer, on Wednesday, October 5th from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. at the park's Community Building in West Glacier. The presentation is free and open to the public.
Peterson's book, "Through Glacier Park 1915–2015," shares his experience recreating Mary Roberts Rinehart's 300-mile journey through Glacier in 1915. Rinehart wrote about her expedition, which started and ended at the East Glacier train station, in her travelogue, "Through Glacier Park 1915." Using Rinehart's book as a guide, Peterson pieced together the route he thought she took. Through snowstorms, hurricane-force winds, blazing heat, bear encounters and the thick smoke of wildfires, Peterson walked roughly 240 miles, half of it with his autistic son, HJ.
Chris Peterson is the editor and photographer of the Hungry Horse News. He grew up near Rochester, New York, moving out West in 1998 to take the job as the staff photographer of the newspaper.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Peterson's book, "Through Glacier Park 1915–2015," shares his experience recreating Mary Roberts Rinehart's 300-mile journey through Glacier in 1915. Rinehart wrote about her expedition, which started and ended at the East Glacier train station, in her travelogue, "Through Glacier Park 1915." Using Rinehart's book as a guide, Peterson pieced together the route he thought she took. Through snowstorms, hurricane-force winds, blazing heat, bear encounters and the thick smoke of wildfires, Peterson walked roughly 240 miles, half of it with his autistic son, HJ.
Chris Peterson is the editor and photographer of the Hungry Horse News. He grew up near Rochester, New York, moving out West in 1998 to take the job as the staff photographer of the newspaper.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Monday, September 26, 2016
TetonHikingTrails.com Adds Several New Hikes
Earlier this summer Kathy and I had the opportunity to do a little hiking during our visit to Wyoming. In addition to some hiking in Grand Teton National Park, we also did a few hikes atop Teton Pass. Prior to our visit to the Grand Tetons we also did some hiking in the Bighorn Mountains. As a result of this trip we have added seven new hikes to our newest hiking website, TetonHikingTrails.com. Here's a quick rundown of the new hikes from the Teton Pass area:
Mount Glory - is the southern-most peak in the Teton Range, and rises just north of Teton Pass. Without a doubt, it is the toughest one mile I've ever hiked. It's only one mile to the summit, but it's also a whopping 1655 feet of climbing (and suffering) to reach the top. Fortunately you'll be well rewarded with stunning panoramic views at the summit.
Coal Creek Meadows - out of the three trails we hiked near Teton Pass this was by far my favorite. The upper portions of Coal Creek Meadows are very beautiful. Moreover, we continued on for another half-mile beyond the typical stopping point, and made the short climb up to Coal-Mesquite Divide where we enjoyed outstanding views of the southern Teton Range, as well as Grand Teton itself in the far-off distance.
Black Canyon Overlook - this hike also begins from the top of Teton Pass, but travels south from the highway. This trail offers a plethora of wildflowers, as well as great views of Jackson Hole, Black Canyon and the Snake River Range.
All three hikes offer a degree of solitude when the summer crowds invade all of the popular trails in Grand Teton National Park.
As mentioned above, we also had a chance to do a little hiking in the Bighorn Mountains. We were able to add four hikes from this region, including Sherd Lake, Rainy Lake, Otter Lake and the Cloud Peak Wilderness Overlook. All four destinations pass through the Cloud Peak Wilderness in the Bighorn National Forest.
Designated by Congress in 1984, the Cloud Peak Wilderness protects more than 189,000 acres, including the highest peaks in the Bighorn National Forest: 13,167-foot Cloud Peak and 13,005-foot Black Tooth Mountain. The Bighorn National Forest is one of the oldest federally-protected forest lands in the United States. It provides habitat for elk, moose, mule deer, pronghorn, black bear and mountain lion, has over 1500 miles of trails, and protects more than 1.1 million acres.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Mount Glory - is the southern-most peak in the Teton Range, and rises just north of Teton Pass. Without a doubt, it is the toughest one mile I've ever hiked. It's only one mile to the summit, but it's also a whopping 1655 feet of climbing (and suffering) to reach the top. Fortunately you'll be well rewarded with stunning panoramic views at the summit.
Black Canyon Overlook - this hike also begins from the top of Teton Pass, but travels south from the highway. This trail offers a plethora of wildflowers, as well as great views of Jackson Hole, Black Canyon and the Snake River Range.
All three hikes offer a degree of solitude when the summer crowds invade all of the popular trails in Grand Teton National Park.
Designated by Congress in 1984, the Cloud Peak Wilderness protects more than 189,000 acres, including the highest peaks in the Bighorn National Forest: 13,167-foot Cloud Peak and 13,005-foot Black Tooth Mountain. The Bighorn National Forest is one of the oldest federally-protected forest lands in the United States. It provides habitat for elk, moose, mule deer, pronghorn, black bear and mountain lion, has over 1500 miles of trails, and protects more than 1.1 million acres.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Thursday, September 22, 2016
Visitors Invited to Watch & Learn about Hawks in Hayden Valley
Sunday, September 25, visitors are invited to celebrate the spectacle of raptor (bird of prey) migration in Yellowstone National Park’s Hayden Valley with Yellowstone Raptor Initiative volunteer Katy Duffy. The Hayden Valley Hawk Watch is a spectacular opportunity to observe and learn about raptors, their ecology, and their migration strategies.
Participants will start the day at 9 a.m. at the Fishing Bridge Visitor Center for a 45 minute presentation about raptor identification tips. Afterwards, enthusiasts will travel to the park’s famed Hayden Valley to look for and learn about raptors that fly through Yellowstone each fall.
For the field portion of the day, participants will meet at 11 a.m. at a turnout located 6.6 miles south of Canyon Junction and nine miles north of Fishing Bridge Junction. Each end of the turnout will have a sandwich board that indicates the program location. A uniformed ranger with a spotting scope will also be present. Participants may want to bring a lawn chair, water, snacks, and binoculars. Observations will occur from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Both programs are free and open to the public. For more information, please call Katy Duffy at 307-699-2696.
Jeff
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HikingintheSmokys.com
For the field portion of the day, participants will meet at 11 a.m. at a turnout located 6.6 miles south of Canyon Junction and nine miles north of Fishing Bridge Junction. Each end of the turnout will have a sandwich board that indicates the program location. A uniformed ranger with a spotting scope will also be present. Participants may want to bring a lawn chair, water, snacks, and binoculars. Observations will occur from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Both programs are free and open to the public. For more information, please call Katy Duffy at 307-699-2696.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Celebrate Public Lands Day with Free Entrance and Volunteer Activities in Grand Teton
In recognition of National Public Lands Day, Grand Teton National Park entrance fees will be waived on Saturday, September 24th, and volunteer projects will be hosted throughout the weekend.
A volunteer project in partnership with the Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation will take place Saturday, September 24th at the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve. The project will include removal and modification of fences to enhance wildlife movement. Volunteers should contact the Foundation at 307-739-0968 to register and for more information.
On Sunday, September 25, the park is hosting a signature Public Lands Day event. The event will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center, with opening ceremonies at 9 a.m. Volunteers will then split into groups for service projects in the park at 10 a.m. The projects will include trash pickup, fence work, assembling new picnic tables and a variety of other tasks. Project work is anticipated to be completed by 2 p.m. Volunteers should register online at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090f4da5a92ba4fd0-public by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, September 23.
All volunteers on Sunday will receive work gloves, t-shirt and National Park Service Centennial gift, as well as a voucher that can be used for a one-time entry into any public land site that charges an entrance fee. Bistro Catering is donating breakfast and snacks. Volunteers are encouraged to bring water, lunch, sunglasses, and clothing to match the weather, as the work activities will take place rain or shine. Work gloves will be provided.Participants will carpool to the work sites.
Sunday's activities are in partnership with the National Environmental Education Foundation, Environmental Grantmakers Association, Blue Sky Funders Forum, REI and Grand Teton Association. For more information, please contact Grand Teton National Park Volunteer Program Manager Megan Kohli at 307-739-3656.
National Public Lands Day is celebrated across the country encouraging enjoyment of and volunteer opportunities on public lands.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
A volunteer project in partnership with the Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation will take place Saturday, September 24th at the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve. The project will include removal and modification of fences to enhance wildlife movement. Volunteers should contact the Foundation at 307-739-0968 to register and for more information.
On Sunday, September 25, the park is hosting a signature Public Lands Day event. The event will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center, with opening ceremonies at 9 a.m. Volunteers will then split into groups for service projects in the park at 10 a.m. The projects will include trash pickup, fence work, assembling new picnic tables and a variety of other tasks. Project work is anticipated to be completed by 2 p.m. Volunteers should register online at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090f4da5a92ba4fd0-public by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, September 23.
All volunteers on Sunday will receive work gloves, t-shirt and National Park Service Centennial gift, as well as a voucher that can be used for a one-time entry into any public land site that charges an entrance fee. Bistro Catering is donating breakfast and snacks. Volunteers are encouraged to bring water, lunch, sunglasses, and clothing to match the weather, as the work activities will take place rain or shine. Work gloves will be provided.Participants will carpool to the work sites.
Sunday's activities are in partnership with the National Environmental Education Foundation, Environmental Grantmakers Association, Blue Sky Funders Forum, REI and Grand Teton Association. For more information, please contact Grand Teton National Park Volunteer Program Manager Megan Kohli at 307-739-3656.
National Public Lands Day is celebrated across the country encouraging enjoyment of and volunteer opportunities on public lands.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Friday, September 16, 2016
Lend a Hand on National Public Lands Day
On September 24th is your chance to be a part of the nation's largest, single-day volunteer effort for public lands. Throughout the country about 200,000 people will participate in 2,500 National Public Lands Day events. As part of the celebration, national parks will waive entrance fees and host projects and programs that promote environmental stewardship.
"Whether a neighborhood park or a national park, public lands belong to all of us," said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. "They might vary in shape and size but they all exist for all of us. Join us on National Public Lands Day and help ensure that these special places can continue to be used for recreation and inspiration."
All 413 National Park Service sites will have free entrance on National Public Lands Day. Those who volunteer for a service project will receive a voucher that permits them into a national park for free on a different day.
Dozens of National Park Service sites will host events. Take part in spring cleaning in Yosemite National Park, repair a horse trail in Catoctin Mountain Park, preserve earthworks at Richmond National Battlefield Park, or restore the tall grass prairie at Pipestone National Monument.
Click here for some of the National Park Service sites hosting National Public Lands Day events later this month.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
"Whether a neighborhood park or a national park, public lands belong to all of us," said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. "They might vary in shape and size but they all exist for all of us. Join us on National Public Lands Day and help ensure that these special places can continue to be used for recreation and inspiration."
All 413 National Park Service sites will have free entrance on National Public Lands Day. Those who volunteer for a service project will receive a voucher that permits them into a national park for free on a different day.
Dozens of National Park Service sites will host events. Take part in spring cleaning in Yosemite National Park, repair a horse trail in Catoctin Mountain Park, preserve earthworks at Richmond National Battlefield Park, or restore the tall grass prairie at Pipestone National Monument.
Click here for some of the National Park Service sites hosting National Public Lands Day events later this month.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com