Man suffers severe thermal burns in Yellowstone

Late on Sunday, September 29, Cade Edmond Siemers, a 48-year-old U.S. citizen currently living in India, suffered severe burns to a significant portion of his body after falling into thermal water near the cone of Old Faithful Geyser.

Rangers and paramedics responded to the Old Faithful Inn at midnight where Siemers was staying. He told rangers that he had gone for a walk off boardwalk without a flashlight and tripped into a hot spring. He got himself back to his hotel room and called for assistance. Rangers detected evidence of alcohol use.

Siemers was taken by ambulance to West Yellowstone Airport and then flown by fixed-wing plane to Idaho Falls. Bad weather conditions prohibited the use of a life flight helicopter at Old Faithful. He was admitted to the Burn Center at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.

Since rangers were not at the scene of the incident last night, they went out at first light this morning to investigate in the thermal area. They discovered several items near the geyser (the man’s shoe, hat, and a beer can), footprints going to and from the geyser, and blood on the boardwalk.

Investigations continue today, including assessing any damage to the geyser cone. The results of the investigation will be forwarded to the United States Attorney’s Office for prosecutorial review.

The ground in hydrothermal areas is fragile and thin, and there is scalding water just below the surface. Visitors must always remain on boardwalks and exercise extreme caution around thermal features. Learn more about safety in thermal areas at go.nps.gov/yellsafety.

This is the first serious injury in a thermal area in two years. In June 2017, a man sustained severe burns after falling in a hot spring in the Lower Geyser Basin. In June 2016, a man left the boardwalk and died after slipping into a hot spring in Norris Geyser Basin. In August 2000, one person died and two people received severe burns from falling into a hot spring in the Lower Geyser Basin.



Jeff
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Expect Temporary Road Delays and Two-Hour Closures North of Colter Bay

Grand Teton National Park, in coordination with the Federal Highway Administration, is conducting maintenance work at Arizona Creek, approximately five miles north of Colter Bay on U.S. Highway 89/191/287. Construction crews are preparing for the installation of new wing walls at Arizona Creek and travelers should expect one-lane traffic with up to 15-minute delays.

The work will also involve temporary highway closures at Arizona Creek. Two 2-hour closures of the highway are planned for Wednesday, October 16 and Thursday, October 17. Closures will occur mid-morning and mid-afternoon each day, with time between the closures for one-way traffic access through the area.

Those wishing to access or depart Yellowstone National Park on these dates through Yellowstone’s South Gate may want to consider using the Yellowstone West Entrance to avoid the delay.

The work will address deferred maintenance in the park. The scope of work at Arizona Creek is to replace four failing concrete wing walls that channel water into the box culverts and protect the adjacent bank. Pre-cast wing walls will be installed by using a crane to move them and set them in place. One pre-cast wing wall weighs approximately 46,000 pounds and therefore requires a large crane to set the walls in place. The crane will take up both lanes of traffic once set up.

During this time of the year, visitation to the area winds down, services and facilities are closing, and there is much less traffic, making it the opportune time for this work to take place before winter weather arrives.

Updates will be communicated via roadside signs near Colter Bay and Flagg Ranch, park road information line at 307.739.3682, and the park’s Facebook and Twitter sites.

Roadwork schedules may change, or be delayed, due to weather conditions, equipment malfunction, or other extenuating circumstances.



Jeff
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Winter Storm Warning for Glacier NP and Central Montana region

This is from the National Weather Service:

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM MDT MONDAY...

* WHAT...Heavy snow occurring. Additional snow accumulations of 15 to 36 inches at lower elevations, and 3 to 5 feet in the mountains. Winds gusting as high as 50 mph.

* WHERE...Glacier, Toole, Liberty, Pondera, Teton, and Northern Lewis and Clark Counties

* WHEN...Until 6 AM MDT Monday.

* IMPACTS...Extreme impacts are possible. Widespread tree damage is possible due to the heavy, wet snow falling onto trees with foliage. Downed power lines are also possible, resulting in widespread power outages. Agricultural interests; outdoor recreational interests, including camping and hunting activities; and travel will also be negatively impacted.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Near blizzard conditions are possible at times.

Jeff
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Public Invited to Comment on Draft 2020-2024 Montana Recreation Plan

Montana State Parks is seeking public comment on the Montana Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). Comments will be accepted through Thursday, October 17, 2019 at 5pm.

The new SCORP, titled “Sustaining Montana’s Outdoor Recreation Legacy 2020-2024”, is a planning document which offers a 5-year strategic framework to identify trends, issues, and challenges facing the state’s outdoor recreation and natural resources, and provides recommendations for outdoor recreation priorities across the state.

The 2020-2024 SCORP identified 6 goals and recommendations:

• Promote outdoor recreation opportunities for all Montanans
• Enhance public access to outdoor recreation resources and facilities
• Support the economic vitality of communities and the state
• Improve quality of life through outdoor recreation experiences
• Adapt outdoor recreation for a changing environment
• Honor Montana’s outdoor legacy

This statewide draft plan was developed through a collaborative process between Montana State Parks, the University of Montana, and the SCORP Advisory Council, which was comprised of outdoor recreation representatives from the public and private sectors, including local, state and federal agencies and advocacy groups.

The University of Montana held three facilitated group discussions in Billings, Butte, and Kalispell in March of 2019. The discussions were attended by over 150 members of the public. The purpose of the meetings was to ask outdoor recreation leaders and interested citizens to identify the needs, demands, and vision for outdoor recreation in Montana. Results from the group discussions were paired with existing recreation data to establish the plan’s goals and recommendations.

In addition to its value as a planning document, the completion of a SCORP is required of every state to be eligible for Land and Water Conservation Funds (LWCF). Since 1965, Montana has received over $38 million from this federally funded program supporting outdoor recreation projects in Montana communities. Montana State Parks administers the state-side LWCF for Montana.

The draft statewide recreation plan is open for a 30-day public comment. The public is invited to review the draft plan and provide comments to Montana State Parks by Thursday, October 17, 2019 at 5pm.

To view and comment on the complete 2020-2024 SCORP visit: stateparks.mt.gov – click on ‘Public Comment & Notices”.

The public may also send comments by mail to: Montana State Parks, Draft 2020-2024 SCORP Public Comment, PO Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701.



Jeff
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Commentary on Glacier's Going-to-the-Sun Road Corridor Management Plan

Earlier this week I published a press release from Glacier National Park that outlined their proposals for future management of the Going-to-the-Sun Road (GTTS Road) Corridor. Given the significant increases in the number of visitors to the park, I mostly agree with each of the proposals outlined in the release. However, I do have a few concerns, primarily concerning this proposal:

• Managing traffic and parking using day-use parking permits for a portion of popular locations such as Logan Pass, St. Mary and Virginia Falls Trailhead, and prohibiting overnight parking in the corridor

With the implementation of a permit system, I would assume the park will have to use a lottery system, or a first-come, first-served system. Both of these have their issues. If the park decides to go with a first-come, first-served system, I hope they are aware, and will do something to protect the public from bots. As I discussed in my book, Ramble On: A History of Hiking, bots, or artificial intelligence, are being used to find and select the best campsites and national park hotel reservations before a human ever has a chance to find them through their own research. Essentially, the use of artificial intelligence is allowing people with the technical know-how to game the system for their own benefit, which, obviously, is wholly unfair to the public at large.

In my book I also discussed the law of unintended consequences of park policies. I pointed out that trails along the GTTS Road saw significant increases in hiker traffic after the park implemented the shuttle system in 2007. For example, "In 1988 roughly 30,000 people hiked the Avalanche Lake Trail on the west side of the park. By 2011 that number had tripled, despite overall park visitation remaining flat during that time period. The Highline Loop, which takes hikers from Logan Pass to The Loop, saw hiker traffic explode from just 1800 hikers to more than 40,000 during that same time period." In effect, the shuttle system has made trailheads more accessible. Prior to the introduction of shuttles hikers were forced to go elsewhere once trailhead parking lots filled. Now a shuttle can drop them off without having to worry about parking availability. It seems fairly certain that the further restriction of parking and the increase in the number of shuttles will likely exacerbate the problem of overcrowding on trails along the corridor. This will put more pressure on wildlife, the trails themselves, and lower the hiking experience for park visitors.

Finally, my last concern is with who will actually be able to obtain permits for the "popular locations" along the GTTS Road. I realize that our national parks attract visitors from all over the world, which helps to provide revenues to local economies. However, I have to pose the question as to whether American citizens should be given priority over foreigners when the demand outweighs the supply. These are, after all, our parks.

If you would like to provide the park with your own opinions and comments, you can visit the National Park Service's Planning, Environment, and Public Comment webpage to see the complete GTSR Corridor Management Plan. Comments can be posted on the website, or sent by mail to Superintendent, Glacier National Park, Attn: GTSR Corridor Management Plan, PO Box 128, West Glacier, Montana 59936. The plan may also be requested by calling 406-888-7995. The plan will be available for public review through October 6, 2019.



Jeff
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Sperry Chalet Update

Last week my wife and I had the privilege of hiking up to Sperry Chalet during our visit to Glacier National Park. In case you're unaware, the historic stone dormitory on the west side of the park was tragically lost during the Sprague Fire in August of 2017. At approximately 6:00 p.m. on that afternoon, a hot ember from the valley below entered the structure near a second story window. Despite a dedicated group of firefighters at the site, specifically working to protect the chalet complex, the ember ignited the wooden portion of the structure and proceeded to burn the entire interior of the building. Fortunately for hikers, history lovers and Glacier enthusiasts, the national park immediately made the decision to re-build the historic chalet, which was originally constructed in 1913 by the Great Northern Railway.

Hikers and park enthusiasts will be pleased to learn that the reconstruction project is scheduled to be completed by early October, which is much earlier than originally anticipated. The chalet is also expected to open at the start next season. In fact, the chalet will likely begin accepting reservations sometime in December. You'll be able to find more information about this process on their website at that time.

In addition to seeing first-hand progress on the reconstruction efforts, we also wanted to enjoy a hot lunch at the nearby dining hall, which received only minor damage during the fire. After climbing more than 3300 feet on a cool, blustery day, we both enjoyed hot soup and a grilled roast beef and cheese sandwich - probably the best meal you could ever have on a hike! We were very fortunate to have sat next to the Park Project Inspector during our meal, who has been on the site throughout the entire project. After eating our lunch he provided us with a fairly detailed update on the project, and showed us dozens of photos of the beautiful, handcrafted woodwork being done on the interior. If any of you have ever stayed at Sperry you’ll likely remember that the walls used to be paper thin. Construction crews have addressed this issue, based on public comments, by constructing thicker interior walls with improved insulation. Not only will this cut down on noise from neighboring guests, but it will also be in compliance with current fire code.

As of our visit the interior was nearing completion, with the installation of exterior windows remaining as the only major phase left on the project.

Although post-fire photos showed the stone wall exterior standing, the walls still sustained damage during the blaze. As a result, some of the stones cracked or disintegrated due to the intense heat, and had to be replaced. To conform to its original design, workers from the Dick Anderson Construction Company replaced all damaged stones with newly hand-cut stone. These were quarried just up the mountain from the chalet, just like the original stones. The inspector also mentioned that the new interior steps that lead to the second floor have been designed to wrap around so that they won't be as narrow and steep as they were in the past.

Like the inspector, the construction workers also stay on the site, working on rotating, 8-day shifts, and camp in nearby tents. To show their appreciation, some of the largest donors to contribute to the reconstruction efforts hiked up the 6.1-mile trail earlier this summer to provide the workers with fresh steaks and cold beer!

Throughout the entire day we heard and saw helicopters flying back and forth from the work site. Because the project is nearing the end, many of the helicopter runs were removing supplies from the site, although there were a few runs that brought in new materials. In several instances the helicopters simply moved gear and supplies from one spot on the site to another. As we hiked above the chalet we literally had a birds-eye view of the operations:

Amazingly, there was virtually no fire damage to any of the trees surrounding the chalet complex. The burning ember that floated up from the valley below truly had to be a million-to-one shot.

Despite sporadic fire damage, and several "dead zones", the fire did relatively little to impact the overall beauty of the trail. In my opinion, it’s still a very beautiful hike!

For more information on the hike to Sperry Chalet, please click here. To inquire about reservations this coming December, please visit the chalet website. For more information on the history of the chalet you can visit the National Park Lodge Architecture Society website.



Jeff
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Public Review Begins for Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road Corridor Management Plan

Glacier National Park is proposing a plan to guide management of the Going-to-the-Sun Road (GTSR) Corridor. The plan identifies strategies and actions for improving transportation, visitation, trails and access during peak season. The plan is available for public review and comment on the National Park Service Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website. The park will also hold a public meeting that will be scheduled in mid-September.

The strategies in this plan improve access to public lands, promote a safe and enjoyable visitor experience and protect sensitive resources. The plan’s proposed action includes the following management options (subject to certain thresholds):

• Expanding the shuttle system with additional buses, extended hours of daily service and six new stops

• Extending visitor center hours at Apgar and St. Mary Visitor Centers

• Adding approximately five miles of hiking trails, one-and-a-half miles of bike trails, and pit-toilets at a number of popular day-use areas

• Enhancing opportunities for bicycle use through the addition of bike trailers to shuttles, installing bike racks, and promoting bicycle-only events

• Improving circulation at Avalanche Campground by restoring a historic exit and converting camping to parking during peak season

• Managing traffic and parking using day-use parking permits for a portion of popular locations such as Logan Pass, St. Mary and Virginia Falls Trailhead, and prohibiting overnight parking in the corridor

• Constructing a new, 100-car parking lot on the west side of the park and expanding parking on the east side

“The public, local businesses, and elected officials have played an important role in this project from the beginning,” said Glacier National Park Superintendent Jeff Mow. “Maintaining a quality experience while sustaining the park for generations to come will continue to be a community conversation as we develop tools and implement strategies to address substantial increases in visitation to our park and surrounding local areas.”

Between 2015 and 2017, visitation to the park grew by forty percent to 3.3 million visitors. Visitation growth in areas like Logan Pass and Avalanche has led to vehicle closures and restrictions to prevent traffic gridlock and ensure emergency vehicle access. During peak periods throughout the summer, visitors may wait up to two hours to board shuttles, and are frequently unable to find parking along the Going-to-the-Sun Road Corridor. Visitors are also faced with long lines for basic facilities such as restrooms and access to information desks. Complaint letters from visitors have increased describing crowding, lack of parking, and congestion conditions on the GTSR. There have also been more vehicle accidents in 2019 than prior years on the GTSR, and keeping up with disposing human waste has become a challenge.

Visit the National Park Service's Planning, Environment, and Public Comment webpage to see the complete GTSR Corridor Management Plan. Comments can be posted on this website, or sent by mail to Superintendent, Glacier National Park, Attn: GTSR Corridor Management Plan, PO Box 128, West Glacier, Montana 59936. The plan may also be requested by calling 406-888-7995. The plan will be available for public review for 30 days; comments are due October 6, 2019.



Jeff
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Bureau of Reclamation Intermittent Closures of Teton Park Road across Jackson Lake Dam

The Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Snake Field Office, is temporarily closing the Teton Park Road across the Jackson Lake Dam in Grand Teton National Park on an intermittent basis beginning Tuesday September 24 through Friday October 25 to perform crane work on the dam.

Crane work will take place to set and move the bulkhead gate to inspect and perform maintenance work on multiple reservoir release gates at the Jackson Lake Dam.

Closures will occur on the Teton Park Road across Jackson Lake Dam between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday for a period of up to four hours for each closure. No evening or weekend work is planned at this time.

During this time, travelers will not be able to make a through-trip on the Teton Park Road. Those wishing to access the northern part of Grand Teton or Yellowstone National Park may want to take U.S. Highway 89/191/287. Access to the Snake River, including the boat launch and fishing area below the dam will be available north of Jackson Lake Dam during this time.

Tentative Schedule (subject to change):

Tuesday September 24 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Tuesday October 1 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Monday October 7 11 a.m to 3 p.m.
Tuesday October 8 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tuesday October 15 11 a.m to 3 p.m.
Wednesday October 16 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Variable message boards advising visitors of the closures will be operational 24 hours in advance, staged at Jackson Lake Junction and near Signal Mountain Lodge. Flaggers will staff hard closures north of Jackson Lake Dam and south of Catholic Bay Picnic Area.

Work schedules may change, or be delayed, due to weather conditions, equipment malfunction, or other extenuating circumstances.



Jeff
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Electric bicycles in Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier, and the National Elk Refuge

In line with the National Park Service’s new electric bicycle (e-bike) policy and a Department of the Interior Secretary’s Order, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Glacier national parks, along with the National Elk Refuge, will expand recreational opportunities and accessibility.

E-bikes are now allowed everywhere traditional bicycles are allowed in Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Glacier. E-bikes are also allowed on the pathways in the National Elk Refuge that connect to Grand Teton National Park. Similar to traditional bicycles, e-bikes are not allowed in designated wilderness, in areas managed as wilderness, or on oversnow roads in the winter.

E-bikes are low-speed electric bicycles with power assistance. The operator of an e-bike may only use the motor to assist pedal propulsion. The motor may not be used to propel an e-bike without the rider also pedaling, except in locations open to public motor vehicle traffic. Motor bikes with a throttle are not e-bikes. All bicyclists must obey speed limits and any other state traffic laws.

The managers of these public lands retain the right to limit, restrict, or impose conditions of bicycle use and e-bike use in the future in order to ensure visitor safety and resource protection.

If members of the public have questions or comments, they can contact each park individually. You can read more about the new NPS e-bike policy here.



Jeff
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National Park Service Releases Howe Ridge Fire Video From Glacier National Park

Last month the National Park Service (NPS) released a video documenting the first 36 hours of the Howe Ridge Fire, which took place at Glacier National Park (see video below). The fire destroyed private homes and publicly-owned historic structures on August 12, 2018.

The video documents steps firefighters took to attack the wildland fire initially, and the combination of factors that made initial attack unsuccessful. The video also documents evacuation and structural firefighting efforts. The goal of the video is to share these efforts and raise awareness about this incident to other public land management agencies, people who visit and recreate on public lands, and residents who live in wildland fire prone areas.

Summary of Events:

August 11, 2018, was a Red Flag day when a weather system moved through the region bringing little moisture and widespread lightning, 19 fires ignited across the Northern Rockies Fire Zone. Three of these fires ignited in Glacier National Park, requiring interagency fire managers to prioritize by considering values at risk. The Howe Ridge Fire was detected at 7:18 pm - all three park fires were deemed high priority fires. Firefighters caught the other two fires on initial attack due to a combination of factors, including access and weather conditions.

In the last 10 years, there were three other reported fires on Howe Ridge. Because the area is relatively close to developed infrastructure, all three fires were managed with full suppression tactics. One was suppressed at .1 acres, another at 2.3 acres, and the third was never found after the initial report. We presume that fire went out without firefighter intervention. In all cases, these previous fires were relatively straightforward to control.

Once the NPS detected the Howe Ridge Fire on August 11, they immediately attempted to access the area and prevent the fire from spreading. Unfortunately, given the time of day and location of the fire, crews were unable to access the area immediately on foot or via a helicopter. The park placed an order for a Type 1 helicopter for the next morning and developed an action plan. The park successfully secured two CL-215s (super scoopers) due to the high priority nature of the fire within the northern Rockies fire zone, and 14 firefighters attempted to access the fire by ground.

The two CL-215s arrived the morning of August 12, and worked four hours (one fuel cycle), dropping tens of thousands of gallons of water on the fire. High winds made it impossible for them to fly close enough to the fire to be effective. The CL-215s then went to other priority fires outside the park.

Firefighters again tried to hike to the fire, but were not able to engage directly because of fire behavior.

By that afternoon, the fire had burned approximately 20 acres, escaping initial response.

Early that evening, the fire grew rapidly and exhibited extreme behavior, including tree torching, crown runs, wind-driven fire, and fire spots up to ½ mile away. The behavior prompted emergency evacuations on the night of August 12. Between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m, approximately 1,000 visitors, employees, and local residents were evacuated from campsites, North McDonald Road (private residences and the Lake McDonald Ranger Station), Lake McDonald Lodge Complex, and private residences along the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Interagency emergency services and wildland and structural firefighting units responded from across Flathead Valley.

The fire grew from 20 acres to an estimated 2,500 acres overnight, spreading down the lakeshore at Kelly’s Camp, the historic Wheeler Residence, and the Lake McDonald Ranger Station.

In total, the fire grew to more than 14,000 acres and firefighting efforts cost $13.6 million. The fire continued to raise smoke until significant snow fell in winter 2018. Owing to firefighting efforts, previous fuel reduction, and containment strategies, the main historic Wheeler cabin residence and Lake McDonald Ranger Station were saved, and firefighters prevented it from reaching Going-to-the-Sun Road and private residences along Grist Road and Apgar.

“August 12 was one of the most challenging and heartbreaking nights in Glacier’s history,” said Glacier National Park Superintendent Jeff Mow. “Words cannot do justice the thanks we give to our local county, state, and federal firefighting partners who arrived the night of August 12 in our time of great need.”

“While 2018 fire recovery efforts are well underway for both the park and private homeowners, we can’t lose sight of future fire seasons. These events and others we have seen throughout the West show us that we must continue fuels mitigation efforts, strengthen our wildland fire response capabilities, and as residents and visitors in this forested region, enhance our own personal firewise and evacuation strategies,” Mow continued.





Jeff
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Lend a Hand on National Public Lands Day

September 28th is your chance to be a part of the nation's largest, single-day volunteer effort for public lands. Each year, hundreds of thousands of volunteers come together on the fourth Saturday in September to assist with various projects designed to restore and enhance public parks, forests, waterways and more. From trail maintenance to tree planting—volunteers of all ages and abilities roll up their sleeves and work side-by-side to care for public lands. The day also features a variety of hikes, bike rides, community festivals, paddling excursions, and other fun outdoor activities—all set on the backdrop of the country’s public lands and waterways.

America’s public lands aren’t the only ones that benefits from National Public Lands Day. Nature offers one of the most reliable boosts to mental and physical well-being. Spending time in the outdoors has been found to improve short-term memory, concentration and creativity—while reducing the effects of stress and anxiety. Volunteering on NPLD is a great opportunity to spend time with family and friends and enjoy the many benefits that come from connecting with nature.

In celebration of the annual National Public Lands Day celebration, September 28, 2019 has been designed as a Free Entrance Day for most National Parks, Monuments, Recreation Areas and other participating federal sites. If you volunteer on this day, you will receive a fee-free day coupon to be used on a future date.

Click here to check out the official National Public Lands Day event map, which makes it easy to find all of the events that will be available later this month.



Jeff
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Montana State Parks Announces 2020 Summer Reservation Season Opening

Montana State Parks have announced that the 2020 summer reservation season will open on November 15th. The summer reservation season runs from the third Friday in May through the third Sunday in September and campsites may be booked up to 6 months in advance of arrival.

In recent years, reservations were available up to 9 months in advance, however in 2019, State Parks reduced the booking window to six months. This change allows Montana State Parks more time to make decisions for changes that benefit visitors for the next season. Additionally, reservations at Beavertail Hill, Black Sandy, Lewis & Clark Caverns, Placid Lake, Salmon Lake, Tongue River Reservoir, and Whitefish Lake State Parks are now available as little as one day before arrival. These decisions were made to give campers at Montana State Parks more flexibility when making campsite reservations.

To reserve your campsite, cabin, tipi, or yurt, visit stateparks.mt.gov or call 855-922-6768.



Jeff
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Telecommunications Infrastructure Decision Signed

The National Park Service has signed a Finding of No Significant Impact for the Telecommunications Infrastructure Plan/Environmental Assessment at Grand Teton National Park. The decision allows the National Park Service to issue a right-of-way permit for telecommunications infrastructure improvements, including cellular and broadband services at strategic locations in the developed areas of the park that currently have significant park staff presence and/or see a high volume of visitors. The decision also includes upgrades with the National Park Service radio system. The decision document is available at parkplanning.nps.gov/telecommunications.

Work performed by the permit requester will not be implemented until the right-of-way permit is finalized. The permit is anticipated to be issued this fall.

Park management, concessioners, and partners are increasingly relying on modern communications technology for daily operations; however, existing telecommunications services in the park are limited or nonexistent, inadequate and outdated. Grand Teton National Park Acting Superintendent Gopaul Noojibail said, “This plan will allow us to meet mission-critical park operations, as well as those of our partners in the park. These services are vital for recruiting and retaining employees and will provide connectivity for park visitors at strategic developed locations.”

The decision allows for 62.5 miles of fiber optic main line and 21.4 miles of lateral line that will be installed underground in conduit within road corridors, previously disturbed areas or other utility rights-of-way. This will allow for reliable high-speed internet access in developed areas, as well as a connection to the south entrance of Yellowstone National Park.

The decision also includes installation of wireless telecommunications facilities and associated infrastructure at nine developed areas in the park that currently support critical operations and/have a high volume of park visitors. The decision allows for 4G technology and does not include 5G technology.

The wireless infrastructure locations are Flagg Ranch, Colter Bay, Jackson Lake Lodge, Signal Mountain, North Jenny Lake, South Jenny Lake, Beaver Creek, Moose, and Kelly. The facilities will be constructed in a manner compatible with the character of the surrounding structures, or otherwise made unobtrusive with best available technologies, screening with vegetation or existing topography and/or other means These services will be designed to be available in the developed areas of the park, although some spillover of wireless signals may extend into backcountry/wilderness areas. The plan is not intended to provide coverage to all road sections within the park.



Jeff
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Concessioner selected for operation of guided interpretive boat tours and small watercraft rental services

National Park Service (NPS) Acting Intermountain Regional Director Palmer Jenkins recently announced the selection of Glacier Park Boat Company, Inc., as the concessioner for interpretive boat tours and small watercraft rental services in Glacier National Park. The new 10-year concession contract is anticipated to commence January 1, 2020.

Glacier Park Boat Company, Inc., is based in Columbia Falls, Montana. The family-owned-and-operated business has been providing interpretive boat tours on the lakes in Glacier National Park since 1938.

The NPS Intermountain Region solicited proposals for this business opportunity from February 12, 2019, through April 30, 2019.

Proposals are evaluated and selected under the provisions of the 1998 Concessions Management Improvement Act by a panel of NPS representatives outside of Glacier National Park.

For more information about Glacier Park Boat Company, Inc., contact them at 406-257-2426, or visit their website.



Jeff
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How to Climb (hike) a Mountain

Below is a short video that was featured on Outside Today a few years ago. Although the title of the video was "How to Climb a Mountain", the skills discussed in this video are actually basic mountain climbing skills that most hikers will benefit from, and should have an understanding for safer passage through the mountains. The video features Rainbow Weinstock from the Colorado Mountain School:





Jeff
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Ramble On: A History of Hiking