15 Human Caused Fires in Bridger-Teton National Forest in Last 3 Weeks

Teton Interagency Fire Center has responded to 15 human-caused wildland fires during the past three weeks. All of these fires were the result of abandoned warming fires. Morning temperatures are chilly and many visitors will start warming fires, but then fail to extinguish them properly thinking the cool temperatures or wet weather will allow them to naturally go out. History has proven that these small warming or cooking fires can easily cast off embers, or spread through adjacent vegetation to ignite a wildfire.

“The cost of fire suppression is high and the threat to campers and adjacent private lands is unacceptable,” said Forest Supervisor Tricia O’Connor. O’Connor insists that recreationists should never be careless or complacent with fire. “Warming fires are generally small in size but lack many of the safety features of a regular campfire,” she said. “They are usually built on top of dry forest fuels without a rock ring to keep the fire from creeping and spreading.”

Remember these tips for fire safety:

* Know where fires are allowed; campfires are only permitted in designated campsites at Grand Teton National Park and are not allowed in the National Elk Refuge.

* Keep fires small

* Build fires in a fire safe area

* Never leave a fire unattended

* Drown the fire with water and stir until it is COLD TO THE TOUCH (lack of smoke showing does not mean the fire is out)

* When finished with charcoal briquettes, dunk them in water

Fire danger for the Teton Interagency area is currently moderate which means that fires start easily, spread at a moderate rate, and can start from most accidental causes.

For more information on preventing wildfires, visit www.tetonfires.com. To report a fire call 911 or Teton Interagency Dispatch Center at 307-739-3630.



Jeff
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Access to Logan Pass Changes on Monday

The last day to access Logan Pass by vehicle from the east side of Glacier National Park will be Sunday, October 4. Vehicle traffic will be restricted on the east side near the St. Mary Campground beginning Monday, October 5 to allow for fall season rehabilitation on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Vehicle access to Logan Pass will be available from the west side of the park through the 3rd weekend in October, weather permitting. Visitors can call 406-888-7800 (press 2) or visit http://go.nps.gov/roadstatus for current road status information.

The last day to access Logan Pass by vehicle from the east side was originally planned to be September 20. However, road crews have made great progress on paving and road rehabilitation projects and are able to extend access to the east side of Going-to-the-Sun Road through October 4. Road rehabilitation will continue through and after October 4. Visitors should anticipate some traffic delays. Some east side road pull-outs may be closed due to road work and fire hazards.

After October 4, hikers and bikers will have access to the east side of Going-to-the-Sun Road on weekends and evenings, weather permitting. Some trails are closed on the east side of Going-to-the-Sun Road due to the Reynolds Creek Fire. For more information on status of trails and access, please contact the park or visit http://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/trailstatusreports.htm.

The Apgar Backcountry Permit Office is open 7 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. through October 3. From October 4 through October 31, the hours will be 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Backcountry permits will be issued until 30 minutes prior to closing.

Times and locations for boat inspections for boats launching in Glacier National Park are changing. Inspections for the west side of the park will be conducted at the Apgar Backcountry Office, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily through the end of October. Boat inspections for the east side of the park, Many Glacier and Two Medicine areas, are by appointment only. Appointments are available by contacting the park at 406-888-7800.

The Apgar Visitor Center is open through October 12, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily, and then on weekends only through the winter. The St. Mary Visitor Center is open through October 4, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily. The Logan Pass Visitor Center closed on September 30.

Several campgrounds throughout the park have closed or changed to primitive status. Campgrounds in primitive status have pit toilets available, no potable or drinking water, limited number of sites, and fees are reduced to $10 per night. Visitors are encouraged to plan ahead and are reminded that any water taken from streams or lakes requires treatment before use. Current campground status is available at http://home.nps.gov/applications/glac/cgstatus/cgstatus.cfm.

Autumn visitors to Glacier National Park will find less crowds, cooler temperatures, and changing vegetation colors. Area residents and visitors are reminded that the park is open year-round and park recreational opportunities can be found during all seasons.

For additional park information, visit the park’s website http://www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm or call park headquarters at 406-888-7800. More information and images of the park can be also be located by visiting Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GlacierNPS.



Jeff
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Unpaved Portion of Moose-Wilson Road Closed for Dust Abatement October 6 and 7

To accommodate a dust abatement application and road grading, a brief travel closure will be in place for about 48 hours, beginning 4 a.m. Tuesday, October 6, on the unpaved section of the Moose-Wilson Road in Grand Teton National Park. The road will reopen by 8 a.m. Thursday, October 8.

Motorists and bicyclists should plan to use an alternate route on October 6 and 7 as this temporary closure will prevent making a through trip on the Moose-Wilson Road from Granite Canyon Entrance Station to the Teton Park Road at Moose, Wyoming. This will be the third dust abatement treatment for the 2015 season. An earlier treatment scheduled for September 15 through 17 was postponed due to wet conditions.

For those wishing to reach the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve trails or Death Canyon Trailhead, access will only be possible by heading south from the Teton Park Road junction near the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center. The Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve Center is closed for the season.

To alert park visitors and local residents of the scheduled road closure, electronic signs will be placed on Wyoming Highway 390. For travelers heading south to Teton Village from the Moose area, signs will also be placed at the junction with the Teton Park Road.

The product used for dust abatement is a slurry of magnesium chloride—the same product that is used to treat dirt roads in and around Jackson Hole. This product coats the road surface, but it can also adhere to the undercarriage of vehicles. Motorists who drive the unpaved portion of the Moose-Wilson Road after it reopens on Thursday may want to rinse off their vehicles to eliminate any residue.

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



Jeff
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Hiker Injured by Grizzly Bear in Glacier National Park

A hiker was injured by a grizzly bear on Tuesday, September 29, 2015 at approximately 5 pm in Glacier National Park. His injuries were not life threatening.

The 65-year male hiker from Wisconsin was hiking alone off-trail near Mt. Henkel in the Many Glacier Valley, where he surprised a sow grizzly with two sub-adult cubs. The hiker was grabbed and shaken by the bear during the encounter. The man successfully deployed his bear spray, causing the bear to release him and leave the area. The hiker received puncture wounds to his lower leg and injuries to his hand.

The man hiked back to his vehicle in Many Glacier and drove himself to the emergency room at the Northern Rockies Medical Center in Cutbank, Montana. He was treated and released later the evening of September 29, and continued on with his travel itinerary. He called Glacier National Park Dispatch to report the incident. Rangers are still investigating the incident.

According to park rangers, the bear’s response to the hiker was defensive in nature and consistent with a surprise encounter with a hiker.

Visitors to Glacier National Park are reminded that the park is home to black and grizzly bears. Bears spend a lot of time eating, so avoid hiking in obvious feeding areas like berry patches, cow parsnip thickets, or fields of glacier lilies. Hikers are highly encouraged to hike in groups, make noise when hiking, and have bear spray accessible and know how to use it.

At this time of year, bears are entering a phase called hyperphagia. It is a period of concentrated feeding to prepare for hibernation. There has been a shortage of berries in many areas of the park this year, leading to the potential for increased bear activity in visitor use areas. Thus it is especially important that visitors keep campgrounds and developed areas clean and free of food and trash. Regulations require that all edibles, food containers, and cookware be stored in a hard-sided vehicle or food locker when not in use, day or night. Place all trash in bear-proof containers. Do not burn waste in fire rings or leave litter around your camp. Fire rings should be free of trash before vacating a campsite.

For more information about hiking in bear country while recreating in Glacier National Park, visit http://www.nps.gov/glac/naturescience/bears.htm.



Jeff
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Road Improvements Started for Old Pass Road near Teton Pass

The historic Old Pass Road located near Teton Pass in the Jackson Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest will be getting much needed road improvements starting this week. During this road improvement period, visitors can expect temporary trail and road closures including the area just above Crater Lake trail in the upper section of Old Pass Road, which will be closed Monday through Wednesday to replace culverts, and paving operations will close the Old Pass road entirely from Thursday to Friday. Recreationists are encouraged to seek alternative trails around the Teton Pass area or to explore other great parts of the Forest while repairs are completed safely and efficiently.

This 103 year old road has seen many uses since the early settlers of Jackson utilized it to into the valley. With the constant usage and yearly degradation the road is in need of some much needed repair efforts to ensure the safety of its users. Last winter, the Old Pass Road was plowed due to the donations from the community received through the Team Jackson Hole organization and the continuous support of its leader, Jim Verdone. This year, once again with the donations received by the community through Team Jackson Hole, and with additional funding through the Community Foundation of JH grant, repairs will be underway to maintain the integrity of the road.

Signs have already been posted on the trail to inform visitors of this project. Due to the uncertainty of the weather, operation schedules could change. For an alternate route, users are encouraged to use Crater Lake Trail, a 1.5 mile trail paralleled to Old Pass Road opened for hikers and mountain bikers.

For more information about this project or recreational opportunities within the Forest you can contact the Supervisors Office at (307) 739-5500 or visit the Forest website www.fs.usda.gov/btnf/.



Jeff
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