Cooler temperatures and precipitation quieted fire activity on the Berry Fire, allowing fire managers to reopen the road between Grand Teton and Yellowstone at 1:30 p.m. Winds pushed the fire across US Highway 89/191/287 on September 11 both to the south and the north of Headwaters Lodge at Flagg Ranch, prompting the closure of the highway.
The highway is now open between Leeks Marina in Grand Teton National Park and Grant Village in Yellowstone National Park. Grassy Lake Road in Grand Teton National Park remains closed. The fire made a six-mile run and impacted two 1 ½ mile stretches of the highway, which required crews to take suppression actions and remove hazard trees for public safety before reopening the road.
An evacuation order remains in effect for Flagg Ranch and Sheffield Campground on the Bridger-Teton National Forest. These areas were under an evacuation advisory since Aug. 30.
Fire crews worked through Sunday night and successfully defended all structures in the fires path. No structures were burned. The Southern and Western Wyoming Type 3 Incident Management Team, Incident Commander Steve Markason, is managing the fire on behalf of Grand Teton National Park.
Since the Berry Fire's discovery on July 25, Grand Teton National Park has managed the fire for ecological benefits. The lightning fire started near Berry and Owl creeks on the west side of Jackson Lake. Fire management objectives include protecting public, park, and forest infrastructure;while monitoring the fire as it fulfills its natural role on the landscape.
Crews last night initiated the structure protection plan that was already in place.
Fire information is available at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4954/ or www.tetonfires.com or by calling 307.739.3566.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Moose-Wilson Road Two-day Closure for Dust Abatement Rescheduled for Next Week
The dust abatement application project on the Moose-Wilson Road is rescheduled to next week, September 20-21, due to forecasted weather conditions. Originally planned for this week, a brief travel closure will be in place for about 48 hours, beginning 4 a.m. Tuesday, September 20, on the unpaved section of the Moose-Wilson Road in Grand Teton National Park. The road will reopen by 8 a.m. Thursday, September 22.
Motorists and bicyclists should plan to use an alternate route on September 13-14 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 is the second of three scheduled dust abatement treatments for the 2016 season.
For those wishing to reach the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve or Death Canyon Trailhead, access will be possible by heading south from the Teton Park Road junction near the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center. Those wishing to reach the Granite Canyon Trailhead may do so by heading north from the Granite Entrance Station.
Electronic signs will be placed on Wyoming Highway 390 to alert park visitors and local residents of the scheduled road closure. For travelers heading south to Teton Village from the Moose area, signs will also be placed near the junction of 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 to reach Granite Canyon Trailhead during the treatment or after the road 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
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Motorists and bicyclists should plan to use an alternate route on September 13-14 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 is the second of three scheduled dust abatement treatments for the 2016 season.
For those wishing to reach the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve or Death Canyon Trailhead, access will be possible by heading south from the Teton Park Road junction near the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center. Those wishing to reach the Granite Canyon Trailhead may do so by heading north from the Granite Entrance Station.
Electronic signs will be placed on Wyoming Highway 390 to alert park visitors and local residents of the scheduled road closure. For travelers heading south to Teton Village from the Moose area, signs will also be placed near the junction of 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 to reach Granite Canyon Trailhead during the treatment or after the road 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
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Monday, September 12, 2016
Berry Fire Forces Highway Closure in Grand Teton
The now 20,801-acre Berry Fire exhibited extreme fire behavior Sunday due to red flag conditions with very low relative humidity and strong winds gusting to 40 mph for more than six hours. Winds pushed the fire across Hwy. 89/191/287 both to the south and the north of Headwaters Lodge at Flagg Ranch, prompting the closure of the highway, which remains closed today.
The highway is closed between the junction of Leeks Marina on the south side and Grant Village in Yellowstone National Park on the north side. People planning to camp at Lewis Lake Campground are still allowed access from the north to the campground. Grassy Lake Road in Grand Teton National Park is also closed.
The fire made a six-mile run and impacted two 1 ½ mile stretches of the highway, which will require crews to take suppression actions and remove hazard trees for public safety before reopening the road. An evacuation order remains in effect for Flagg Ranch, Sheffield Campground on the Bridger-Teton National Forest and the South Entrance Gate of Yellowstone National Park. These areas were already under an evacuation advisory since Aug. 30.
Reopening the highway is a high priority for fire managers, who will reassess the conditions until it is deemed safe for public travel. Similar weather conditions on Aug. 22 also prompted the closure of Hwy. 89/191/287, which remained closed for eight days.
Fire crews worked through the night and implemented structure protection tactics already in place. No structures were burned. The Western and Southern Wyoming Type 3 Incident Management Team, Incident Commander Steve Markason, is managing the fire on behalf of Grand Teton National Park.
Since the Berry Fire's discovery on July 25, Grand Teton National Park (GRTE) has managed the fire for ecological benefits. The lightning fire started near Berry and Owl creeks on the west side of Jackson Lake. Fire management objectives include protecting public, park, and forest infrastructure;while monitoring the fire as it fulfills its natural role on the landscape.
Crews last night initiated the structure protection plan that was already in place.
Fire behavior moderated greatly today due to cooler, damper weather that is forecast for the next three days. The incident management team ordered additional resources that arrived last night and today to help protect developed areas. Currently, 172 people are assigned to the Berry Fire. Fire information is available at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4954/ or www.tetonfires.com or by calling 307.739.3566 or 307.701-0841.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
The fire made a six-mile run and impacted two 1 ½ mile stretches of the highway, which will require crews to take suppression actions and remove hazard trees for public safety before reopening the road. An evacuation order remains in effect for Flagg Ranch, Sheffield Campground on the Bridger-Teton National Forest and the South Entrance Gate of Yellowstone National Park. These areas were already under an evacuation advisory since Aug. 30.
Reopening the highway is a high priority for fire managers, who will reassess the conditions until it is deemed safe for public travel. Similar weather conditions on Aug. 22 also prompted the closure of Hwy. 89/191/287, which remained closed for eight days.
Fire crews worked through the night and implemented structure protection tactics already in place. No structures were burned. The Western and Southern Wyoming Type 3 Incident Management Team, Incident Commander Steve Markason, is managing the fire on behalf of Grand Teton National Park.
Since the Berry Fire's discovery on July 25, Grand Teton National Park (GRTE) has managed the fire for ecological benefits. The lightning fire started near Berry and Owl creeks on the west side of Jackson Lake. Fire management objectives include protecting public, park, and forest infrastructure;while monitoring the fire as it fulfills its natural role on the landscape.
Crews last night initiated the structure protection plan that was already in place.
Fire behavior moderated greatly today due to cooler, damper weather that is forecast for the next three days. The incident management team ordered additional resources that arrived last night and today to help protect developed areas. Currently, 172 people are assigned to the Berry Fire. Fire information is available at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4954/ or www.tetonfires.com or by calling 307.739.3566 or 307.701-0841.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Thursday, September 1, 2016
Fall On Mount Jackson Climbing Route Results In One Fatality
On Tuesday, August 30th, two hikers slipped and fell while descending the east face of Mount Jackson in Glacier National Park. One survived the fall by self-arresting on a snowfield, while sustaining minor injuries. Unable to locate his fallen companion, he hiked back to Gunsight Campground where the incident was reported to park dispatch at 11:08 p.m. He was later transported via helicopter to West Glacier, and then transported via Three Rivers Ambulance to North Valley Hospital.
Park rangers worked with Two Bear Air and Minutemen Aviation to locate the body of the fallen individual on August 31st. A technical rescue team worked with Minutemen Aviation to recover the individual earlier today. The incident is currently under investigation.
Jackson Peak is one of the tallest peaks in Glacier National Park at 10,052 feet. The climbing route varies from a Class 3 to Class 4 depending on the route and the amount of snow and ice. The climbing routes are considered arduous with an approximate elevation gain of 4,800 vertical feet, high amounts of loose scree, a significant amount of exposure on narrow ledges with steep drop offs.
Falls are one of the leading causes of death in the park.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Jackson Peak is one of the tallest peaks in Glacier National Park at 10,052 feet. The climbing route varies from a Class 3 to Class 4 depending on the route and the amount of snow and ice. The climbing routes are considered arduous with an approximate elevation gain of 4,800 vertical feet, high amounts of loose scree, a significant amount of exposure on narrow ledges with steep drop offs.
Falls are one of the leading causes of death in the park.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Foundations Reach Halfway Mark in Bid to Raise $23 Million to Protect State Land from Being Sold for Development
Grand Teton National Park Foundation and DC-based National Park Foundation have reached the halfway mark in their campaign to protect one square mile of land in Grand Teton National Park from potential development. $11.5 million has been raised to date toward the goal of $23 million to purchase the 640-acre Antelope Flats parcel from the state of Wyoming.
The land has been part of Wyoming’s school trust since 1890 and the state is required by law to earn income from trust assets. The total value of the parcel is $46 million. In addition to the $23 million generated from private fundraising, the remaining half of the required funds will come from the federal government through the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The state’s authority to sell the land directly to the federal government expires on December 31, 2016. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell has made this her highest conservation inholding purchase priority in the country.
Fundraising momentum continues to build and many individuals and organizations have contributed to this urgent effort, including a generous $1 million grant from the Knobloch Family Foundation and $1 million from the Jackson Hole Land Trust.
“The Jackson Hole Land Trust is honored to be contributing to this land conservation project which will have a significant positive impact on the connectivity of wildlife habitat and migration routes within Grand Teton National Park and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem,” said Jackson Hole Land Trust Executive Director Laurie Andrews. “As a community, we are responsible for preserving the public and private lands that make this place special and the board and staff of JHLT are proud to be doing our part to ensure this important piece of our valley remains whole and untouched.”
In addition to fundraising jointly with Grand Teton National Park Foundation, the National Park Foundation has authorized $1 million of its own funds for the purchase. “Working with the Grand Teton National Park Foundation to preserve the Antelope Flats property is among the National Park Foundation’s top priorities in this centennial year of our National Parks,” said National Park Foundation President Will Shafroth. “Our million dollar commitment to the project has helped us reach the halfway point of the campaign and we must now redouble our efforts to get this across the finish line by year’s end.”
“We are so pleased with the incredible support we have received from our friends both locally and nationally to help make this land part of Grand Teton forever,” said Grand Teton National Park Foundation President Leslie Mattson. “It is wonderful to have reached the halfway point. We still have an enormous amount of work to do to meet our goal to purchase the property prior to December 31.”
“We continue to be amazed by the philanthropic work of the Grand Teton National Park Foundation and the National Park Foundation,” said Grand Teton National Park Superintendent David Vela. “The work they are doing to protect the Antelope Flats parcel from development is crucial to the future of the park and the bison, elk, pronghorn, and other animals that use this habitat.”
To learn more and to support this historic initiative, visit www.gtnpf.org or contact Leslie Mattson at 307-732-0629 or leslie@gtnpf.org or King Laughlin at 202-525-2500 or klaughlin@nationalparks.org.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
The land has been part of Wyoming’s school trust since 1890 and the state is required by law to earn income from trust assets. The total value of the parcel is $46 million. In addition to the $23 million generated from private fundraising, the remaining half of the required funds will come from the federal government through the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The state’s authority to sell the land directly to the federal government expires on December 31, 2016. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell has made this her highest conservation inholding purchase priority in the country.
Fundraising momentum continues to build and many individuals and organizations have contributed to this urgent effort, including a generous $1 million grant from the Knobloch Family Foundation and $1 million from the Jackson Hole Land Trust.
“The Jackson Hole Land Trust is honored to be contributing to this land conservation project which will have a significant positive impact on the connectivity of wildlife habitat and migration routes within Grand Teton National Park and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem,” said Jackson Hole Land Trust Executive Director Laurie Andrews. “As a community, we are responsible for preserving the public and private lands that make this place special and the board and staff of JHLT are proud to be doing our part to ensure this important piece of our valley remains whole and untouched.”
In addition to fundraising jointly with Grand Teton National Park Foundation, the National Park Foundation has authorized $1 million of its own funds for the purchase. “Working with the Grand Teton National Park Foundation to preserve the Antelope Flats property is among the National Park Foundation’s top priorities in this centennial year of our National Parks,” said National Park Foundation President Will Shafroth. “Our million dollar commitment to the project has helped us reach the halfway point of the campaign and we must now redouble our efforts to get this across the finish line by year’s end.”
“We are so pleased with the incredible support we have received from our friends both locally and nationally to help make this land part of Grand Teton forever,” said Grand Teton National Park Foundation President Leslie Mattson. “It is wonderful to have reached the halfway point. We still have an enormous amount of work to do to meet our goal to purchase the property prior to December 31.”
“We continue to be amazed by the philanthropic work of the Grand Teton National Park Foundation and the National Park Foundation,” said Grand Teton National Park Superintendent David Vela. “The work they are doing to protect the Antelope Flats parcel from development is crucial to the future of the park and the bison, elk, pronghorn, and other animals that use this habitat.”
To learn more and to support this historic initiative, visit www.gtnpf.org or contact Leslie Mattson at 307-732-0629 or leslie@gtnpf.org or King Laughlin at 202-525-2500 or klaughlin@nationalparks.org.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
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