The Dark Side of the Rainbow

Is it real, a cosmic coincidence, an ingenious marketing ploy, or just another conspiracy theory?

What are the chances that one of the most beloved movies of all time is artistically linked to one of the greatest rock albums ever recorded? For the uninitiated, the “Dark Side of the Rainbow” theory (also known as “The Dark Side of Oz”) asserts that Pink Floyd purposely synchronized The Dark Side of the Moon to The Wizard of Oz. For those who have seen it, the mashup produces dozens of striking coincidences between the film and the album, where actions on the screen seemingly correspond to the lyrics, chords and musical moods of the Dark Side tracks.

In addition to a complete viewing guide for the synchronicities, the book explores an explanation for their existence:

* Pink Floyd had the means: they already had ample experience scoring films.

* They had the motivation: the band continuously sought visual presentations of their songs during concerts.

* In the late 1990s, mainstream media outlets published reports that Pink Floyd had been threatened with a lawsuit by MGM if they used clips of The Wizard of Oz during concerts.

* Did Pink Floyd leave veiled clues on subsequent albums?

The Dark Side of the Rainbow. is currently available in both paperback and eBook on Amazon: amazon.com/dp/B0DXVND79V

Many Glacier Day Hiker Shuttle ticket reminder

Glacier National Park reminds visitors that beginning July 1, private vehicle entrance into Many Glacier will be limited to visitors with wilderness camping permits, commercial service reservations, or lodging reservations. All other visitors are required to use the temporary Many Glacier Day Hiker Shuttle. Tickets are now available seven days in advance each morning at 8 a.m. Beginning June 30, tickets will also be available at 7 p.m. the night before entry.

The Many Glacier Day Hiker Shuttle is a temporary solution for day hikers to access Many Glacier Valley during the Swiftcurrent Construction Project.

How to Purchase a Many Glacier Day Hiker Shuttle Ticket:

* Each person will need a ticket to ride on the shuttle.

* One (1) person can purchase up to 4 Hiker Shuttle tickets per $2.00 reservation fee.

* If there are more than 4 people in your group, the same person can purchase another $2.00 reservation with an additional 4 hiker shuttle tickets in the same transaction and account for up to a total of 8 tickets.

* During check out, select date, time and indicate the number of tickets needed for the number of people in your group. 

* Tickets are limited and can only be purchased on Recreation.gov.

Hiking During Construction:

Access to all trails will begin at the Many Glacier Hotel parking lot, maps and signs will indicate detours around the construction zone. Hikers should be aware that detours may increase the total hiking distance for rerouted trails.

Visitors without a Day Hiker Shuttle ticket, wilderness camping permit, commercial service, or lodging reservation, should not drive into the valley past Babb. With no available general parking along the Many Glacier Road, hiking and biking will not be allowed on the road between July 1 and September 21.

High fire danger for Teton Interagency zone

Teton Interagency Fire managers have elevated the fire danger rating to “high” for Grand Teton National Park, the Bridger-Teton National Forest, and the National Elk Refuge.

While the landscape may still appear green and recent weather has included rain and cooler temperatures, heavy dead and down timber and fuels are what drive fire activity. That’s exactly what is fueling the 2,250-acre Horse Fire on the Bridger-Teton National Forest, and similar fire behavior is expected in the coming weeks. Firefighters have already responded to six fires in the Teton Interagency zone this year.

A high fire danger means wildfires can start easily and spread quickly. Fire managers consider things like fuel moisture (how dry grasses, shrubs, and trees are), forecasted temperatures and wind, how fast fires can grow, and whether firefighting resources are available nationwide.

The agencies ask that you recreate responsibly and help prevent wildfires.

To report smoke or a fire, call the Teton Interagency Fire Dispatch Center at 307-739-3630.



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Rising more than 7000 feet above Jackson Hole, the majestic mountains of Grand Teton National Park provide one of the most dramatic landscapes in the world. With more than 240 miles of trails meandering throughout this park, how will you find and choose the most scenic and rewarding hikes?

Exploring Grand Teton National Park takes all the guesswork out by focusing on the most amazing hikes, and provides you with handpicked recommendations that will allow you to make the most of your trip to Grand Teton:

Going-to-the-Sun Road Reopens the Alpine Sections

Going-to-the-Sun Road has reopened after park officials made the proactive decision to close it at 8 pm on June 20 due to heavy rain and snowfall that made the area susceptible to mudslides and icy conditions.

Park rangers accessed the roadway and after evaluating today's weather forecast, opened the road around 10:30 am this morning. The road had been closed from Avalanche to Jackson Glacier Overlook.

Check the park website for updated trail status information. Visitors are encouraged to prepare for inclement weather if they plan to travel to the park this week.

Check the weather forecast and park road status before you visit, dress for varying degrees of weather, carry the ten essentials, and be on alert for potential hazards on roadways and trails.



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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Crevasse Rescue on Mount Baker

I ran into this trip report a few days ago. I thought this was an interesting read, and wanted to offer praise to Manny Pacheco, who was able to keep his wits and provide numerous "split-second" solutions to rescue his buddy who had fallen into a crevasse while snowboarding on Mount Baker last month. The report, published on The Mountaineers website, is located here.



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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com