Spring Clean-Up Beautifies Grand Teton NP

Park employees remove buck and rail fence

May 1, 2009

09-24

Approximately 100 Grand Teton National Park staff and Grand Teton Association (GTA) employees joined together on Thursday morning, April 30, to carry out the park’s annual spring clean-up. Each year before the summer season is in full swing, park and GTA staff, along employees from park concessioners (Grand Teton Lodge Company, Signal Mountain Lodge, Triangle X Ranch, and Flagg Ranch Resort), set aside a day to remove litter and debris from roadsides and turnouts to “beautify” Grand Teton before summer visitors arrive.

This year, a fence removal project was also incorporated into the annual clean-up activities. A two-mile section of old buck and rail fence was removed along Highway 26/89/191 from the Airport Junction to the south end of Blacktail Butte. This project will improve wildlife movements across park lands and reduce costs associated with maintaining an aging and decaying structure. For several years, park employees and volunteer groups have been removing barbed wire fences, and other fence remnants, from the Antelope Flats area. Removal of the buck and rail fence eliminates a significant barrier to wildlife migration in this area of the park; it also reduces old fencing that no longer serves a practical purpose.

"Keeping Grand Teton free from unsightly trash is a relatively simple step that area residents and park visitors can also help accomplish. While park employees and the staffs of GTA and park concessioners collectively pick up trash each spring, anyone can contribute to keeping the park’s roadsides tidy by properly disposing of litter. This responsible act also reduces the chance of bears getting unintended food rewards,” said Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott. “It was great to see so many people in orange safety vests scouring the roadsides for trash and removing old fencing.”

Park and GTA staff enjoyed the positive attention they received from passing motorists who honked their vehicle horns as a way of showing support for the clean-up efforts in progress.

Grand Teton to Celebrate International Migratory Bird Day

Mountain bluebird

April 30, 2009
09-23
Grand Teton National Park will celebrate International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) with a bird-watching caravan on Saturday, May 9, 2009. Park ranger naturalist Andrew Langford will visit areas throughout the park that provide excellent opportunities to locate, identify, and count birds as part of the North American Migration Count. The free activity begins at 8 a.m. in the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center at Moose, Wyoming and finishes by 4 p.m. at Christian Pond near Jackson Lake Lodge. Reservations are not required.

Observed each year in May to celebrate and support bird conservation, IMBD serves as the hallmark outreach event for Partners in Flight—an international conservation program whose goal is to reverse declining populations of migratory birds by bringing attention to factors that may contribute to worldwide declines. Anyone interested in birds is welcome to participate in Grand Teton’s IMBD celebration and annual bird count. Throughout the day, participants will take short walks at various locations, so those attending should wear comfortable shoes and bring a lunch, drinking water, warm clothing and rain gear. Bird field guides, binoculars and spotting scopes are also recommended.

According to the IMBD Web site, the theme for 2009 is “Celebrating Birds in Culture.” This theme explores the historical and continuing relationship between native people and birds. Images of birds in cave art and on everyday objects—weavings and pottery, ceremonial objects, and hunting tools—highlight the role that birds have played in native peoples’ spirituality, stories, art, music, and dance. Birds were often considered a connection to the spirit world; it was believed that they carried messages to the spirits and, in the case of ducks, for example, they were thought to help the dead on the path to the afterlife. Native people invented the first duck decoys to help them hunt waterfowl, and many tribes are active today in bird and habitat conservation, protecting habitats, preserving wetlands, and reintroducing species to tribal lands.

For more information about International Migratory Bird Day and the North American Migration Count, please call the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center at 307.739.3399. Participants of the Migratory Bird Day activity are reminded that park entrance stations are open; therefore, they will need to present a park pass to travel through the entrance gates.

Road Construction Projects to Cause Traffic Delays during 2009 Travel Season

April 28, 2009
09-22
Road construction projects will be underway throughout Grand Teton National Park for much of the 2009 travel season, resulting in minor traffic delays at several locations. One road construction project will require a few overnight travel closures. For current and specific information, travelers are advised to call the park’s road information line at 307.739.3614. The park’s newspaper, Teewinot, includes a road construction map for further reference and can be found online at www.nps.gov/grte, or picked up at any park entrance station or visitor center.

The Snake River Bridge near Flagg Ranch Resort—2.5 miles south of Yellowstone National Park’s south gate—is undergoing major reconstruction. This effort will require a limited number of overnight road closures during May and June. Closures will occur between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. for one night in mid May and again for three nights in early June; further details on overnight closures will be announced at a later date.

Reconstruction of the North Park Road in Grand Teton, between Lizard Creek campground and Flagg Ranch Resort, began in 2008. During the summer/fall travel season, significant road construction activities will again be underway to widen and repave this road and complete the reconstruction work on the Snake River Bridge. To facilitate the extensive work required for the North Park Road project, nighttime closures may be possible between Lizard Creek and Flagg Ranch, on weekdays only, from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. between now and June 15. In addition to the overnight road closures, motorists are advised to expect daytime delays of up to 30 minutes for travel between Lizard Creek campground and Flagg Ranch Resort through the end of November.

Important note: Road closures are not anticipated to occur anywhere in the park after June 15th. Work on the North Park Road will cease on weekends during July and August—and during the Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day holiday weekends—to allow for unfettered traffic flow during peak season travel times.

In addition to the North Park Road project, several other road construction projects in Grand Teton are planned for the upcoming summer months, and each will involve 15-minute delays in traffic. These projects include: Routine striping projects on all park roads during the month of May; an asphalt overlay on the road from Colter Bay to Leeks Marina scheduled for early July; an asphalt overlay on the road to the Teton Science Schools’ Kelly Campus during mid July; a chip seal project one mile north of Moose Junction to Cunningham Cabin along Hwy 89/191 scheduled for late August to Labor Day weekend; and a chip seal project from the park’s south boundary to one mile north of Moose Junction on Hwy 89/191 scheduled for after Labor Day through mid September. Road work on the Signal Mountain Summit Road is also scheduled, and this project will result in a closure to weekday traffic during much of June (weekend traffic will be allowed).

Efforts will be made to minimize any inconvenience to drivers using park roads, however, traffic will be held up for short periods of time as road improvement work is underway. These road construction projects are necessary to improve safety, as well as provide routine maintenance, for the many vehicles that use park roads throughout the year.

Roadwork schedules may change or be delayed due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances.

Multi-Use Pathway To Open in Late May

April 27, 2009
09-21
Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott announced today that the new multi-use pathway within Grand Teton National Park will NOT open to public use until late May. The eight-mile-long pathway, which parallels the Teton Park Road from Dornan’s to South Jenny Lake, requires additional construction work to be completed before it can safely be used by the public. This work includes the final attachment of the Cottonwood Creek Bridge to its footers, stabilization of an uphill segment east of Windy Point, striping of the pathway surface, and the placement of all safety signs. In addition, the pathway is still covered by snowdrifts over much of its length. The pathway will remain closed to public use until all remaining construction work can be addressed, and users are requested to comply with this requisite closure. The opening date is dependent upon weather and construction progress.

As the new multi-use pathway gets phased into its first year of operation, visitors and local residents will have a unique opportunity to enjoy an area of the park not previously used in such a concentrated way. Base line studies are underway to assess the impacts that the pathway and its users may have on park wildlife and their activities and movements. These studies will be used in the planning efforts of future pathway segments.

Special rules and regulations apply to the different park areas that are open to non-motorized use, and the new multi-use pathway will be no exception. When the pathway finally opens, bicyclists, inline skaters, hikers, and other pathway users will be encouraged to follow some basic rules of courtesy and safety: Respect the rights of others; ride single file and stay on the right side of the pathway; use a bell, whistle or voice whenever passing others; wear appropriate protective equipment such as helmets and pads; observe bicycle speeds that are reasonable to the numbers and safety of other pathway users; don’t use motorized vehicles (exception of wheelchairs and other mobility impaired devices); be bear aware and maintain a safe distance from all wildlife; and obey the sunset to sunrise closure for protection of wildlife.

This new pathway bisects an important wildlife corridor not previously occupied by people on foot or on a bike; therefore, pathway users will need to follow special regulations designed to diminish adverse impacts to animals that use this area. For example, pets are not allowed on the multi-use pathway in Grand Teton National Park in order to reduce potential adverse impacts to park wildlife from the presence of domestic animals.

A formal announcement will be made after the remaining construction work has been completed and the pathway is finally open for public use. In future years, the pathway will simply open as the snow cover recedes—much like the hiking trails in the park become useable as snow melts.

Facility Opening Dates for 2009 Summer Season

April 27, 2009
09-20
Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott announced today the official opening dates for facilities throughout Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway for the 2009 season.

Roads
The following roads will open to motorized vehicles on Friday, May 1:
Teton Park Road
Moose-Wilson Road

The Antelope Flats Road reopened to vehicle traffic in mid April. The gravel road and parking area to the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve will remain closed to public entry until the road can sufficiently dry out and harden to handle vehicles, and work can be completed on the accessibility trail to the Preserve Center. The Grassy Lake Road, in the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway, will open June 1.

Motorists are advised to drive cautiously and be aware that wildlife are migrating throughout the park and crossing roads, especially during dawn and dusk. In addition, springtime repair work may be underway on any park roads. For current information, call the park’s road conditions hotline at 307.739.3614.

Entrance Stations
The Moose, Moran and Granite Canyon entrance stations are open. Fee options include:
$12 -- 7-day permit for foot/bicycle entry into Grand Teton & Yellowstone national parks
$20 -- 7-day permit for motorcycle entry into Grand Teton & Yellowstone national parks
$25 -- 7-day permit for vehicle entry into Grand Teton & Yellowstone national parks
$50 -- Grand Teton/Yellowstone Annual Pass valid for one-year entry into both parks
$80 -- Interagency Annual Pass valid for one year entry to all fee areas on federal lands

Personal checks may not be used for payment at entrance stations, and personal identification is required for entering the park with any pass that requires a signature. Bicyclists are reminded that they must stop and show an entry pass before proceeding through the gates, just as vehicles are required to do.

Visitor Centers
The Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center is open daily, year-round. Other visitor information centers will open on the following dates:
Colter Bay Visitor Center -- May 9
Jenny Lake Visitor Center -- May 15
Jenny Lake Ranger Station -- May 16
Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve Center -- May 24
Flagg Ranch Information Station -- June 1

Ranger-led activities begin Monday, June 1. An activity schedule can be found in the park's newspaper, Teewinot, or online at www.nps.gov/grte.

Campgrounds
The following campgrounds will open:
Gros Ventre -- May 8
Signal Mountain -- May 8
Jenny Lake -- May 15
Flagg Ranch RV Park -- May 18
Colter Bay -- May 22
Colter Bay RV & Trailer Park -- May 22
Lizard Creek -- June 5

Fees for individual campsites are $19 per night, and hiker/bicyclist camping fees are $7.00 per site, at any of the following concession-operated campgrounds within Grand Teton National Park: Colter Bay, Gros Ventre, and Jenny Lake. Campsites at Lizard Creek campground run $18.00 per night and $20.00 per night at Signal Mountain. All these campgrounds operate on a first-come, first-served basis.

Group sites at Colter Bay and Gros Ventre campgrounds are available by reservation at a cost of $5.00 per person, per night. Reservations may be made by calling either 307.543.3100 or 800.628.9988. Tent sites, including showers, are available at Flagg Ranch Resort for $30.00 per night with a charge of $5.00 for each additional person over two. Reservations for these may be made by calling either 307.543.2861 or 800.443.2311.

Reservations can also be made for RV camping at either Colter Bay or Flagg Ranch RV Parks; additional fees are charged for RV campgrounds with hook-ups.

Camping is also available outside the park in nearby forest areas and at other public and private facilities.

Backcountry campsite reservations may be made until May 15 with a $25 non-refundable fee. Reservations can be made online at www.nps.gov/grte/, by fax at 307.739.3438, or by mail to Grand Teton National Park, Backcountry Permits, P.O. Box 170, Moose, WY 83012. After May 15, all backcountry site permits are issued on a first-come, first-served basis.

Lodging
The following concessioner-operated facilities will open:
Signal Mountain Lodge -- May 8
Flagg Ranch Resort -- May 18
Jackson Lake Lodge -- May 18
Colter Bay Cabins -- May 22
Jenny Lake Lodge -- May 30

For additional information about activities and services within Grand Teton National Park or the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway, please visit the park's Web site www.nps.gov/grte, stop by any visitor center and ranger station, or call 307.739.3300.

Grand Teton NP Receives $18.8 Million in Recovery Act Allocation

April 22, 2009
09-19
Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced today in Washington D.C. that the National Park Service (NPS) will invest $750 million in nearly 800 projects to stimulate the economy through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. As part of this national initiative, Grand Teton National Park was awarded over $18.8 million for several projects that will address deferred maintenance, energy efficiency, and youth participation. The allocation of these funds will also help stimulate local and regional economies, while creating job opportunities.

The most significant project selected for Recovery Act funding in Grand Teton is the rehabilitation of the Moose Complex. This project will consolidate park operations, office space, and visitor services in order to improve health and safety for park employees and visitors, to increase energy efficiency and reduce the park’s carbon footprint, to provide for better visitor use at the Snake River boat landing and new multi-use pathway trailhead, and to combine park functions to achieve an overall reduction in building space. Planning and approval for this large-scale project have already been achieved, and the project is ready for bid announcement in the fall of 2009, with a contract award expected in January of 2010.

A separate project to replace a failed maintenance building at Colter Bay was also selected. In addition, funding was awarded to rehabilitate one of the park’s most popular trails—the Granite Canyon trail. As part of the Recovery Act, the NPS hopes to engage young people and develop future stewards of public lands. The Granite Canyon trail project will ultimately create approximately 25 new job opportunities for young people and provide an opportunity for them to learn about the NPS, Grand Teton, and natural and cultural resource management. People, who get a first job with the NPS, often become career employees that carry on the critical work of preserving our American heritage.

Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott stated, “The allocation of Recovery Act funds for national parks across the nation is welcome news and unprecedented in its scope. We appreciate this opportunity to help get the American economy working again, while at the same time addressing our maintenance backlog, energy deficiencies and resource conservation needs. These projects will have long-term benefits to park visitors and the greater Jackson Hole community, and we are proud to be playing an instrumental role in the recovery of the regional economy in northwestern Wyoming.”

The complete list of all National Park Service projects funded by the Recovery Act is online at www.doi.gov/recovery/nps.

Grand Teton Celebrates Junior Ranger Day

A Junior Ranger recites her pledge with Ranger Nelson Turner

April 16, 2009
09-18
The National Park Service has declared Saturday, April 25, as National Junior Ranger Day for 2009. To mark this occasion, Grand Teton National Park will offer educational activities for children of all ages from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Moose, Wyoming. Children who participate in two or more of the scheduled activities on Saturday will earn their Junior Ranger title and receive a Junior Ranger badge or patch.

A variety of activities and learning experiences will be offered to inspire children and encourage them to become partners in helping to preserve not only Grand Teton, but also national parks throughout the United States. Indoor activities will include instruction about climbing in the Teton Range, a scavenger hunt to explore the state-of-the-art exhibits in the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center, an Animal Olympics competition where children can test their skills against the abilities of certain wildlife species, and a chance for children to don an actual ranger uniform. Outside, in the visitor center parking lot, children will have the chance to talk with rangers and explore a park ambulance, fire engine, patrol car, plow truck, and other equipment that rangers typically use to protect the park and its many visitors.

More than 225 National Park Service sites across America will host youth-oriented activities on Saturday, April 25, for the 3rd annual National Junior Ranger Day. The official motto is “Explore, learn, protect: Be a Junior Ranger.” Acting National Park Service Director Dan Wenk said, “The Junior Ranger program is the National Park Service’s signature program for young visitors. Throughout the year, children earn badges and certificates after completing age-appropriate, park-related activities at their own pace.”

In addition to scheduled Junior Ranger Day activities, the National Park Foundation is asking youth across the nation to share ideas on how to protect and preserve America's National Parks through an essay contest. Children aged 9 to 12, with the help of a parent or guardian, have until May 1 to submit an essay of no more than 500 words on the theme, “Why are our national parks important to you and what is your best idea to protect our parks for the future?” The first prize winner will receive a $1,000 Visa gift card and the opportunity to direct $5,000 to support a favorite national park. To submit an entry online and view the official rules go to: http://www.nationalparks.org/get-involved/essay-contest.

For further information about Grand Teton National Park’s Junior Ranger Day events, please call the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center at 307.739.3399.

Bears Emerge From Hibernation in Grand Teton

Grizzly bears out of hibernation -- photo by Gary Pollock, NPS

April 14, 2009
09-17
Bears have emerged from their winter dens in the greater Jackson Hole area; consequently, local residents and park visitors need to be alert for their presence anywhere within Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. Just this week, a grizzly bear was observed near the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center and the park’s headquarters building at Moose. Because this and other bears are again on the move and actively searching for springtime food sources, appropriate precautions for traveling in bear country must be taken.

Do not approach a bear under any circumstances. This is particularly important for situations involving bears near a carcass or other food source, and female bears with cubs.

When traveling in bear country, take precautionary measures such as carrying bear pepper spray and keeping it easily accessible for ready use. Please take the time to learn how to properly handle bear pepper spray and remember that having it with you is not a substitute for being alert. While enjoying recreational activities on the Teton Park Road, the Moose-Wilson Road, and in other backcountry areas within the park, visitors should always exercise good judgment by following recommended safety precautions: Be alert to surroundings, make noise, travel in a group, and keep food and garbage properly stored.

When bears leave their winter dens, they search for any food source that will help restore fat reserves lost during hibernation. Winter-weakened animals and winter-killed wildlife carcasses provide immediate sources of protein and are vigorously defended by hungry bears. As snow banks recede, bears also dig up and eat burrowing rodents and spring wildflowers. Historically, adult male bears emerge from hibernation by late March. Female bears, accompanied by their cubs, emerge later in the spring and are especially protective of their young. Any bear will defend a food source against perceived threats.

Visitors should report any bear sightings or signs of their activity to the nearest visitor center or ranger station as soon as possible. This timely information will assist park staff in keeping visitors informed about recent bear activity, and in keeping bears away from unnatural food sources. Access to human food habituates bears and habituated animals can lose their fear of humans, which threatens the safety of both visitors and the bears themselves. Park visitors are reminded to keep food, garbage and other odorous items unavailable to bears by either storing attractants inside vehicles or disposing of garbage in a bear-resistant trash can or dumpster.

For further information on how to behave when hiking, biking, picnicking or camping in bear country, read the park’s newspaper, Teewinot, online at www.nps.gov/grte .

Ranger-led Activities Scheduled for April

April 1, 2009
09-16
Grand Teton National Park will mark the arrival of spring — and observe National Park Week and Junior Ranger Day — by offering various ranger-led activities throughout the month of April.

Strutting Grouse Tours provide an opportunity to acknowledge the seasonal change and the chance to watch a fascinating ritual as grouse congregate to perform animated mating displays on their traditional lek (mating arena) located just off the Antelope Flats Road. Ranger-led tours start bright and early at 5:30 a.m. on weekend mornings from the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center. Depending upon snow conditions, the first tour is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, April 11; there will not be a tour on Easter Sunday. Other tours will be held on April 18-19, and April 25-26. Reservations are required and participants are advised to phone the Discovery Center at 739.3399 to reserve a spot and to get information about what to wear and bring along on these April tours.

National Park Week will be observed across the country during the week of April 18–26. The week-long celebration offers diverse opportunities for U.S. citizens and international visitors to explore and learn about America’s exceptional natural, cultural, and recreational heritage. National Park Week also salutes the many individuals, groups and associations that help to make the National Park System one of this Nation’s greatest assets. Additional information about National Park Week is available on the National Park Service Web site at http://www.nps.gov/npweek/.

Junior Ranger Day will be celebrated on April 25, 2009. To encourage young people to learn more about national parks across America, Grand Teton park rangers will conduct special activities at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center and encourage participants to embark on a journey of discovery and fun. At the conclusion of the scheduled activities, children will earn their Junior Ranger title and receive a Junior Ranger patch or badge.

The Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center provides educational opportunities in an engaging and relaxing atmosphere. Parents looking for family activities to enjoy while their kids are on the local school break may consider a visit to this Moose, Wyoming visitor center. The Discovery Center, open daily between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., offers the chance to learn about the history, people, landscape, and wildlife that make Grand Teton such a special landscape. Visitors can also experience the sights and sounds of the park in all seasons through the unique video river exhibit. In addition, a 24-minute high definition documentary film about the park is shown throughout the day in the Director’s Room.

Teton Park Road Recreation includes strolling, biking or inline skating along the 15-mile-long roadway between Taggart Lake and Signal Mountain without vehicle traffic. The road opens to vehicles for the summer season on May 1st.

For further information about the grouse watching tours, National Park Week, Junior Ranger Day, or the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center, please call 739.3399.

JH Airport Agreement Extension Draft EIS Released

March 30, 2009
09-15
The National Park Service (NPS) announced today that the Jackson Hole Airport Use Agreement Extension Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Airport DEIS) has been released for public comment. The purpose of the Airport DEIS is to enable continued air transportation services at the Jackson Hole Airport through an extension of the term of the existing agreement with the United States Department of the Interior (DOI). An extension of the agreement is needed to ensure that the Jackson Hole Airport will remain eligible for federal funding beyond the year 2013.

In 2005, the NPS initiated a process under the National Environmental Policy Act to address the Jackson Hole Airport Board’s request to extend the term of their agreement. The airport is located on 533 acres of federal land within Grand Teton National Park and operates under the terms of a 1983 agreement between the Airport Board and the DOI. The NPS administers the agreement, which currently authorizes the operation of the airport until April 27, 2033. Under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, an airport must own its land or have more than 20 years remaining on its lease or agreement in order to remain eligible for grants from the FAA. Without an extension of the agreement’s term, the airport would lose its eligibility for Airport Improvement Program funding in April of 2013 — 20 years before the current agreement expires.

Grants from the FAA cover 95 percent of the eligible costs for airfield capital improvement or repair projects that enhance airport safety, capacity, or security, and for projects that address environmental concerns. Over the past decade, this program has funded almost $25 million in projects at the Jackson Hole Airport. Similar funding will be needed in the future to enable the airport to maintain the certification that enables it to provide scheduled commercial passenger service.

The Airport DEIS considers two alternatives. Under the no action alternative, the term of agreement would not be extended, and the airport would likely be unable to maintain its certification for scheduled commercial passenger service within a few years. The airport would continue operations at a much reduced level, serving only general aviation, and would close no later than April 2033. Under the preferred alternative, the agreement would be extended by the addition of two 10-year options, thus ensuring continued eligibility for future Airport Improvement Program funds.

A copy of the Airport DEIS is available online at the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) Web site through the following URL: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/. The document is also available on Grand Teton National Park’s Web site at http://www.nps.gov/grte/parkmgmt/planning.htm, or interested persons may request a copy through the Superintendent’s Office by calling 307.739.3410.

The review and public comment period will run for approximately 60 days. The actual closing date for comments will be determined by the Environmental Protection Agency issuance of a Notice of Availability of the Airport DEIS in the Federal Register and will be announced at a later date. Written comments may be submitted through the PEPC Web site, in person, or by mail. Comments will not be accepted over the phone, by fax, or e-mail.

Prospectus Issued for Float & Fish Concession Contracts

March 26, 2009
09-14
The National Park Service (NPS) has issued a prospectus soliciting proposals for up to 12 concession contracts to provide guided float trips and fishing trips on the Snake River, multi-day lake trips on Jackson Lake and/or guided horseback rides in Grand Teton National Park; these contracts will be valid for ten years. The NPS has determined that the existing 11 concessioners are preferred offerors for this contract, pursuant to the terms of 36 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 51—Concession Contracts and Permits. An additional contract to provide fishing only from the Moose landing to downstream locations may also be awarded. Since this is a new contract, no preferred offeror exists.

The existing concession operations provide visitor services within Grand Teton, approximately 12 miles from the town of Jackson. Each contract authorizes specific activities, designated launch and takeout points, passenger meeting points, meal sites if permitted, and the number of launches allowed per day and month.

There are several unique attributes to these concession contracts that could potentially affect the operations; these include a compressed operating season, limited launches per day and month, and a high cost of doing business in the area. Any offeror for a contract will need to take into account these specific conditions.

Prospectus packages are available by contacting Jacque Lavelle in the NPS Intermountain Region Chief of Concessions Management Division by phone at 303.969.2661 or by email at Jacque_Lavelle@nps.gov. Interested parties may also write to Concessions Management Division, 12795 West Alameda Parkway, Denver, CO 80228. The cost for a copy of the prospectus is $35 per copy, if delivered by Federal Express, or $30 if picked up in person. Checks and money orders (no cash accepted) must be payable to the NPS, and a physical address and phone number must be provided to receive a Federal Express package.

A prospectus package is available online at http://www.concessions.nps.gov/Prospectus.cfm. For those planning to submit a proposal, who have obtained a prospectus from the Web site, should provide contact information to Jacque Lavelle in order to receive future responses to questions or amendments to the prospectus. Those requesting a hard copy, or who have been placed on the mailing list, will be provided with additional information specific to the prospectus. Information relative to the solicitation will also be posted to the above mentioned concessions Web site.

Contract offers must be received no later than 4 p.m. on Friday, May 22, 2009, by the Chief of Concessions Management, NPS Intermountain Region, 12795 W. Alameda Parkway, Lakewood, CO 80228.

A site visit was conducted on September 25, 2008. Copies of the materials distributed during the site visit are available by contacting Mallory Smith, Grand Teton National Park’s chief of Business Resources, at 307.739.3434 or through email at Mallory_Smith@nps.gov.

Teton Park Road Opens for Spring Activities

March 23, 2009
09-13
The Teton Park, Moose-Wilson, and Antelope Flats roads in Grand Teton National Park have been plowed free of snow and may now be used for non-motorized activities such as hiking, biking, and inline skating. The Antelope Flats Road will open to vehicles in about two weeks time. The Teton Park and Moose-Wilson roads will open to vehicle traffic for the full summer season on Friday, May 1, 2009.

While these roadways were cleared of their winter snow cover this past week, new snow is likely to accumulate on their surfaces during late season snowstorms. Visitors should also be alert for park vehicles that may occasionally travel the Teton Park Road for administrative purposes.

Leashed dogs are permitted on the Teton Park, Antelope Flats, and Moose-Wilson roads, as well as other park roadways. Dogs are restricted to roads and turnouts — they are not permitted to travel beyond the roadbeds, or into the park’s backcountry. Owners are required to keep pets on a leash (six foot maximum length). Mutt Mitt stations are in place at the Taggart Lake parking area and pet owners are required to use waste disposal bags to pick up after their dogs.

As a reminder, entrance stations are operating and collecting fees. Fee options are as follows:
$12 for a 7-day permit for foot/bicycle entry into Grand Teton & Yellowstone national parks
$20 for a 7-day permit for motorcycle entry into Grand Teton & Yellowstone national parks
$25 for a 7-day permit for vehicle entry into Grand Teton & Yellowstone national parks
$50 for a Grand Teton/Yellowstone Annual Pass valid for one-year entry into both parks
$80 for an Interagency Annual Pass valid for one year entry to all fee areas on federal lands

When entering the park using a pass, please be sure to bring personal identification.

Bicyclists are required to stop and show an entry pass before proceeding through the gates, just as motorized vehicles are required to do.

The new pathway running from Dornan’s to South Jenny Lake will NOT be open for public use until the snow recedes naturally and final construction work can be completed on the bridge spanning Cottonwood Creek. A formal announcement will be made when the new pathway becomes available for public use, and until that time, visitors and local residents must refrain from accessing the pathway.

The annual springtime opening of the Teton Park Road is a much anticipated event because it provides a unique and excellent opportunity to access the roadway before regular vehicle traffic begins for the summer.

Snow Plowing of Teton Park Road Begins

March 9, 2009
09-12
The annual snow plowing of the Teton Park Road in Grand Teton National Park will begin on Sunday, March 15, weather depending.
As plowing operations get underway, recreation on the snow-packed trail will cease for the 2008/09 winter season. Park visitors may continue to use other winter trails—or areas adjacent to the Teton Park Road—for skate skiing, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing until snow conditions are no longer favorable for such activities.

For safety reasons, visitors may NOT access the Teton Park Road while rotary snow removal equipment and plows are working; the roadway is closed to ALL users during this period of time. Skiers and snowshoers using areas adjacent to the Teton Park Road are cautioned to avoid the arc of snow being blown from the rotary equipment because pieces of ice and gravel can be mixed with the snow spray. Park rangers will enforce the temporary road closure to ensure safe conditions for both the plow operators and park visitors. Depending on weather, snow conditions and plowing progress, the roadway should become accessible to traditional springtime, non-motorized activities in early April; the opening of the Teton Park Road to bikers, hikers and inline skaters will be announced once snow removal equipment is no longer operating.

The Grassy Lake Road in the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway is scheduled to close for the winter season on Sunday evening, March 15, in conjunction with other winter closures in nearby Yellowstone National Park. This road remains closed to all motor vehicles from April 1 to May 31, due to springtime grizzly
bear activity.

Depending upon snow conditions, ranger-led snowshoe hikes from the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center are scheduled to end on Sunday, March 15. To make a reservation for this activity, or to inquire whether snowshoe hikes are still being offered, please phone 307.739.3399. The Discovery Center will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. throughout March, April and May.

Pet owners are reminded that dogs are not allowed in the park’s backcountry, which includes all areas away from park roadways and turnouts. Pet owners are required to have their dogs on a maximum 6-foot leash whenever they are outside of a private vehicle. Pet owners must also clean up their dog waste. A “mutt-mitt” station is conveniently located near the Teton Park Road closure gate to provide bags for this purpose.

The new pathway running from Dornan’s to South Jenny Lake will NOT be open for public use until the snow recedes naturally and final construction work can be completed on the bridge spanning Cottonwood Creek. A formal announcement will be made when the new pathway becomes available for public use, and until that time, visitors and local residents must refrain from accessing this pathway.

The Teton Park Road will open to vehicle traffic for the summer season on Friday, May 1.

Retrospective on Teton Search & Rescues

Renny Jackson, Jenny Lake subdistrict ranger

March 3, 2009
09-11
Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott invites the public to a free program on the history of search and rescue operations in the Teton Range given by Renny Jackson, Jenny Lake subdistrict ranger. Jackson will provide a personal, 30-year retrospective of rescue missions on Thursday, March 12, at 7 p.m. in the Cook Auditorium at the National Museum of Wildlife Art, two miles north of Jackson, Wyoming.

Over the past five decades, rescue operations conducted by Grand Teton National Park rangers have involved some difficult and complex situations. From one of the earliest rescue missions conducted in the Teton Range on Thanksgiving Day of 1950, when a DC-3 plane crashed into Mount Moran, killing 21 people, to a 2003 rescue operation where six climbers were hit by lightning on the Grand Teton, requiring an intricate and well-coordinated helicopter evacuation, and the most recent tragic incident in 2008 when a Helena, Montana resident died in fall on the south side of Gilkey Tower, skilled and highly-trained rangers have responded to assist injured people in the alpine and backcountry areas of the park.

Jackson plans to present an overview of the evolution of mountain rescues by recounting three different rescues on the North Face of the Grand Teton from 1967, 1980 and 2002. Through the lens of these incidents, Jackson will focus on the story of how mountain rescue operations have changed over time.

Jackson has served as a climbing ranger at Grand Teton National Park for the past 30 years and he will share a wealth of knowledge and personal experience about the progression of mountain rescue in the Teton Range and beyond. He just recently returned from a month-long trip to the Solu-Khumbu region of Nepal where he participated in an international clinic near Mt. Everest, instructing Sherpas and other local climbers about mountain rescue techniques. Jackson has received the Department of the Interior’s Medal of Valor Award on three separate occasions for the critical part that he played in technical rescue missions in the Teton Range and on Mt. McKinley in Denali National Park. He also just received a 2008 Stewardship Award from the National Outdoor Leadership School.

Jackson’s retrospective on mountain rescue also highlights Grand Teton National Park’s 80th anniversary — the park was established on February 26, 1929. In tribute to the park’s milestone anniversary, birthday cake will be served after the program.

Grand Teton Recruits for Youth Conservation Program Participants

YCP crew at work in Grand Teton NP

March 3, 2009
09-10
Grand Teton National Park is now recruiting participants for the 2009 Youth Conservation Program (YCP). Thanks to generous donations made by several donors through the Grand Teton National Park Foundation, this marks the fourth year that the park has offered this youth employment opportunity. Grand Teton plans to recruit 15-20 short-term positions. Applications must be postmarked by March 27, 2009.

The YCP is a summer employment program for high school students, ages 16 to 19. YCP enrollees develop an understanding of National Park Service (NPS) conservation ethics as they assist with critically-needed maintenance and rehabilitation on park trails and pathways. Participants work alongside NPS crew leaders and become familiar with NPS stewardship goals, while learning essential trail maintenance skills. YCP participants may also answer basic visitor questions and serve as park ambassadors as they complete project work on some of the most visible, and most impacted, park trails (i.e. Taggart, Bradley, Jenny and String lakes, and trails in the vicinity of Jackson Lake Lodge and Colter Bay).

YCP crews focus their efforts on projects dealing with rehabilitation of trails and backcountry areas through activities such as brushing, hazard tree removal, and construction of water bars and drainage swales. In addition to the project work, environmental education programs and extensive recreational opportunities are also offered.

The 2009 YCP program will run for ten weeks from June 22 through August 27. Participants must be at least 16 years of age by June 22, and live locally as housing is not provided. Applicants must also be United States citizens and students in good standing. Other qualifications include good team skills, a willingness to learn about Grand Teton National Park and its trail system, and the ability to work at a physically demanding job which may involve lifting 30-40 pounds. The program includes three work crews with five to six YCP trail members, and wages are set at $10.20 per hour.

As an extension of their mission to support new and innovative projects that add value to the park, the Grand Teton National Park Foundation provides funding for salaries, work boots, work pants, tee-shirts, and free transportation to and from Jackson for YCP participants. For more information about YCP and how to contribute to future YCP activities, or other Foundation programs, please call Leslie Mattson at 307.732.0629, or email leslie@gtnpf.org.

To obtain an application or get further information about the 2009 YCP, please call Brian Bergsma in Grand Teton National Park at 307.739.3364, or write to YCP Program, GTNP, Drawer 170, Moose, WY 83012. Applications are also available online at http://www.nps.gov/grte/supportyourpark/ycp.htm

Nighttime Highway Closure Scheduled

March 2, 2009
09-09
Construction work on the bridge across the Snake River on
Highway 89/287 just south of Flagg Ranch Resort will begin next week, requiring a temporary nighttime road closure between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. for the dates of Sunday, March 8 through Friday, March 13. Park visitors and residents of Flagg Ranch Resort and Yellowstone National Park’s south gate are advised to plan for overnight travel restrictions to be in place during each of the scheduled nights (Sunday through Friday).

Access to Flagg Ranch Resort and the Grassy Lake Road will not be possible during the nighttime hours. Daytime travel will be allowed; however, motorists should expect minor traffic delays of up to 30 minutes during daylight hours.

A second round of nighttime closures will occur between Sunday, March 22 and Saturday, March 28 with similar restrictions. The second road closures will occur after the winter season ends in Yellowstone National Park and visitors cannot otherwise travel beyond the Flagg Ranch area until May 8, when Yellowstone’s summer season road opening occurs.

These two scheduled travel closures are necessary to facilitate major construction work being done on the Snake River bridge near Flagg Ranch Resort. The bridge repair work is part of a broader road construction project underway on Grand Teton National Park’s north park road. Additional travel restrictions will become necessary during the 2009 summer travel season. Further information on this large-scale construction project will be announced at a later date.

Roadwork schedules may change or be delayed due to weather conditions, equipment failure, or other unforeseen circumstances. For road updates, call the park’s recorded information line on road conditions at 307.739.3614 or visit the park’s Web site at www.nps.gov/grte.

Grand Teton National Park Turns Eighty

February 23, 2009
09-08
On February 26, 1929, President Calvin Coolidge signed into law the legislation that created Grand Teton National Park; the 96,000-acre federal reserve included just the Teton Range and six glacial lakes at the base of the rugged peaks — a park that was only one-third of its present-day size. Thursday will mark the 80th anniversary of this world-renowned and beloved national park located in northwestern Wyoming.

The history of Grand Teton’s establishment as a national park involved significant controversy, a bit of intrigue, and skilled political maneuvering. The Teton landscape first received government protection in 1897 when Congress created the Teton Forest Reserve out of land not otherwise included in Yellowstone National Park. Charles Walcott, head of the U.S. Geological Survey, suggested in 1898 that the Teton Range be set aside in what he coined a “Teton National Park.” It took until 1917, however, before members of congress began floating bills to make a larger sanctuary by expanding Yellowstone National Park in order to preserve northern portions of Jackson Hole and the Teton Range. In 1918, Wyoming Congressman Frank Mondell introduced a bill to extend Yellowstone’s southern boundary, but it failed passage by the Senate. Ten years elapsed before Wyoming Senator John Kendrick successfully sponsored a bill to establish a separate area called Grand Teton National Park. When Congress finally approved the 1929 legislation for a national park, the wheels were already in motion to preserve additional lands throughout Jackson Hole.

Beginning in 1928, and for several years following, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. quietly purchased approximately 35,000 acres of valley lands with the intention of donating them to the federal government to expand the boundary of the newly created Grand Teton park. Local and statewide reluctance for park enlargement created a stalemate that prevented Rockefeller from finalizing his philanthropic plan. After holding the land for 15 years, Rockefeller became discouraged and wrote President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, threatening to sell the land to "…any satisfactory buyers" if the federal government would not accept his gift. Rockefeller spent over $1.4 million to purchase Jackson Hole lands in his campaign to donate these holdings to the federal government.

Rockefeller's letter prompted Roosevelt to use presidential proclamation to establish a 221,000-acre Jackson Hole National Monument, effectively overriding Congress’ deadlock on the issue. The March 15, 1943 proclamation combined Rockefeller's acreage with Jackson Lake, Teton National Forest lands and other federal properties. Creation of the monument was so unpopular with Congress that they voted to abolish it — forcing President Roosevelt to counter with a pocket veto. Then the State of Wyoming sued the National Park Service to overturn the proclamation, but that lawsuit failed in the courts. As a last resort to show their disapproval, Congress withheld operational funds for the monument. After World War II, sentiment against the park and its enlargement eased somewhat, and President Harry S. Truman eventually signed a bill on September 14, 1950 that merged the original 1929 park with the 1943 monument.

Establishment of the 1929 Grand Teton National Park proved to be a mere wave in an ocean of controversy that lasted decades. In opposition to the concept, local residents fought and defeated three attempts to federalize land in Jackson Hole. Today, most people agree that creating the national park was an insightful and valuable step toward preserving much of Jackson Hole from development and building a vibrant local and regional economy.

Recruiting for Wildlife Brigade Internships

Wildlife Brigade Ranger Manages "Bear Jam"

February 12, 2009
09-07
For the second consecutive year, Grand Teton National Park is partnering with the Greater Yellowstone Coalition (GYC) to offer a unique opportunity for undergraduate students, graduate students, or recent alumnae who are interested in wildlife biology, interpretation and/or park management. The park and GYC are recruiting to fill two internship positions designed to provide a safe wildlife-viewing experience for visitors and wildlife along park roads, in developed areas, and on popular trails. Individuals selected for these paid, full-time summer positions will gain significant knowledge related to animal behavior, bear management, and natural history, as well as park and recreation management.

Interns will become members of Grand Teton National Park’s Wildlife Brigade — an interdisciplinary team responsible for promoting ethical wildlife viewing practices. The brigade assists with traffic and people management during roadside wildlife jams, performs patrols in developed areas to look for unsecured food and other bear attractants, educates visitors about bear safety at trailheads and on popular trails, and provides interpretive education for park visitors about wildlife and other park resources.

The 12-week internships will take place from May through September when wildlife-human conflicts are most common. Interns will work closely with National Park Service staff while managing situations where people are in close proximity to bears, moose, and other large mammals. Monetary compensation for the two internships is $12 per hour; volunteer uniforms are provided and park housing is available for a nominal cost. Interns must posses a valid driver’s license. A personal background check may be required before being employed.

Applications are due by March 11, 2009. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter addressing an interest in the internship and relevant experience, and a resume outlining experience and education — including contact information for three references (at least one previous work supervisor). Students may use this to satisfy academic requirements such as a senior thesis or required internship. Email applications with a subject line of “Grand Teton Internship” to amy@greateryellowstone.org.

For further information about this opportunity, please contact Amy McNamara, GYC's national parks program director, at 406.586.1593.

Natural Resource Stewardship Awards Given to Mary Gibson Scott & Sue Consolo Murphy

Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott
S & RM Chief Sue Consolo Murphy

February 10, 2009
09-06

National Park Service Intermountain Region Director Mike Snyder recently presented awards for natural resource stewardship to
Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott and Chief of Science and Resources Management Sue Consolo Murphy. The recognition awards acknowledge excellence in the areas of conservation leadership and resource management, and salute individual accomplishments in natural resource preservation by National Park Service employees throughout the Intermountain Region.

Superintendent Scott was recognized with the Superintendent of the Year Award for Natural Resource Stewardship. Scott’s achievements include: development of a strategic plan to guide partnership efforts in securing monetary support for wildlife and climate change research, and for programs designed to protect park wildlife; initiation and support of an interagency project to designate a wildlife migration corridor to protect pronghorn antelope; service for two years as the chair of the Greater Yellowstone Coordinating Committee—a regional committee consisting of superintendents, supervisors and managers from two national parks, six national forests, and three national wildlife refuges; securing approval and funding for research on the potential adverse effects to wildlife from construction of a new multi-use pathway in the park; acquiring funding for permanent staff positions to research and monitor non-native plant infestations and increased grizzly bear presence in Grand Teton; and the establishment of strong relationships with park partners—notably the Rockefeller Associates and the Jackson Hole Airport Board—which led to consistent and long-term protection of park resources. Scott has regularly and consistently made resource protection a high priority and an overarching goal in managing new, and/or ongoing, park programs and projects.

Science and Resource Management Chief Consolo Murphy was presented with the Director’s Award for Natural Resource Management. Initiatives leading to her selection for this award include: development of interagency, multi-partner projects for monitoring complex geological interactions between the Yellowstone volcanism and Greater Yellowstone Area fault systems; creation of a comprehensive mapping project of Grand Teton’s trail system to assess conditions and impacts by horse and user-created trails; development of a data base to track research in climate change; contributions to the cooperative Greater Yellowstone Science and Learning Center with online reference products for researchers and educational institutions; oversight of research leading to the designation of the nation’s first wildlife migration corridor to protect pronghorn antelope; and guidance and fund-raising efforts to support wolf research and monitoring, as well as other wildlife research programs. Consolo Murphy is universally recognized by her peers as a consummate professional, supportive mentor, and ardent advocate for resource stewardship.

In acknowledging the individual accomplishments of Scott and Consolo Murphy, Regional Director Snyder stated, “These Park Service professionals are extremely committed to making science-based decisions and creating adaptive and cooperative approaches to resource management. They have made great contributions not only to the National Park Service, but also to the preservation of natural resources within Grand Teton National Park. They each provide a superb example for others to follow.”

Scott and Consolo Murphy will each receive an eagle sculpture plaque, along with their award certificates.

Temp Closure of Hwy 89 for Extrication of Coca-Cola Semi

February 7, 2009
09-05
A large tractor-trailer truck veered off the road and into deep snow along Highway 89 just south of Gros Ventre Junction at 11:40 p.m. Thursday night, February 5, in Grand Teton National Park. The semi truck, hauling Coca-Cola products, became high centered and stuck in more than two feet of snow after it left the roadway and traveled down an embankment and about 100 feet into nearby sagebrush. Attempts to extricate the 93-ton vehicle from the snowpack, using two heavy-duty tow trucks, resulted in minor disruptions to traffic and some temporary closures of Highway 89 during Friday afternoon, February 6, and Saturday morning, February 7.

The driver of the semi truck apparently lost control of his vehicle just before midnight on Thursday when the right front tire drifted into a ridge of snow along the southbound lane of Highway 89. The driver was unable to steer his vehicle back onto the pavement, and the truck plunged down the roadside embankment into a deeper snowpack, where it came to rest—upright. The driver was uninjured, but the semi was completely stuck with its tires buried in snow up to the wheel-well cowlings. A Wyoming Highway patrolman responded to the accident scene on Thursday night and interviewed the driver at that time.

Due to the significant weight of the semi truck, conventional towing equipment proved to be inadequate to pull it back onto the road late Thursday night. Therefore, a heavy-duty tow truck from Snake River Towing Service of Idaho Falls, Idaho was summoned Friday morning, and together with a heavy-duty tow truck from Flat Creek Towing of Jackson,Wyoming, a second attempt was made on Friday afternoon to pull the tractor-trailer out of the snowbank. This effort was also unsuccessful, and by late Friday afternoon, a crew from the local Coca-Cola distribution warehouse began to unload the truck’s cargo in order to lighten its weight for a third extrication attempt; the cargo reportedly consisted of several thousand cases of Coke products.

By reducing the tractor-trailer’s cargo load, the two heavy-duty tow trucks were able to carefully and incrementally pull the rig up the embankment and back onto Highway 89 at 12:15 p.m. on Saturday. The semi truck was then driven to Jackson with no further delay.

Lost Skiers Rescued from Granite Canyon

January 29, 2009
09-04
Grand Teton National Park rangers collaborated with Teton County Search and Rescue personnel to locate and rescue by helicopter two lost skiers in the upper reaches of Granite Canyon on Thursday morning, January 29. Darin Gamba, age 32, and Patrick Thornberry, age 39, both residents of Jackson, Wyoming, became disoriented in white-out conditions and accidentally took a wrong turn after exiting an out-of-bounds gate at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort around
1 p.m. on Wednesday, January 28. Gamba and Thornberry spent the night out in the mountains with temperatures hovering near 1 degree Fahrenheit. They were located during an aerial reconnaissance flight at 9 a.m. Thursday and flown from the backcountry at 9:30 a.m. This marks the second incident in a single week of skiers getting lost in the park’s backcountry and spending a night exposed to the elements.

Gamba and Thornberry exited the upper gate at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort on Wednesday afternoon, intending to ski into the Rock Springs drainage. White-out conditions obscured the route, causing them to ski westward and ultimately into Granite Canyon, rather than southwest into the Rock Springs area. The two men searched for ski tracks to confirm their whereabouts, but by 2:30 p.m., they realized that they were not where they intended to be. About an hour before sunset, they decided to make preparations to spend the night in the backcountry.

Gamba and Thornberry dug a snow cave, collected pine boughs to insulate themselves against the snow, and made a fire. They were carrying food and water; however they also melted snow to replenish their supplies. While the two men did not have a map, compass or GPS device, they did have extra clothing and full avalanche gear— recommended equipment for anyone entering the Teton backcountry.

Early Thursday morning, Gamba and Thornberry began skiing up slope in order to get a clear view above tree line and determine their location. When they spotted Mount Hunt, they realized they were in Granite Canyon. The Teton County Search and Rescue contract helicopter, carrying a park ranger and county rescue staff, spotted the skiers’ tracks and eventually located them about 9 a.m. near the Shady Lady Couloir. Rescuers communicated to the two men, directing them to ski to a landing zone where the ship could safely touch down. Gamba and Thornberry were then flown to the base of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.

Park rangers credit Gamba and Thornberry with doing everything right to keep themselves safe and attempt their own self rescue. They carried the basic necessities and kept their wits about them during an unexpected night out in the Tetons.

Backcountry users are cautioned to be prepared with the knowledge, skills, and emergency equipment necessary to safely recreate in the park’s backcountry areas before attempting any winter excursion. Park rangers also remind backcountry users to pay special attention to avalanche and weather conditions before entering remote areas outside of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort boundaries.

Wyo Resident Sentenced for Assault Incident

January 29, 2009
09-03
An investigation conducted by Grand Teton National Park rangers and the U.S. Attorney’s office resulted in the felony assault conviction and a recent sentence for Michael Jay Smith of Pinedale, Wyoming. Smith was accused of assaulting a park visitor on the Moose-Wilson Road in July of 2007, and following a guilty plea to a charge of Felony Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, Smith was sentenced in federal district court on December 11, 2008. Smith’s sentence includes 18 months in federal custody, 3 years of supervised probation upon release, as well as restitution fees.

On July 20, 2007, Grand Teton National Park rangers responded to a report of a serious physical altercation on the Moose-Wilson Road. Smith apparently became impatient with a slow moving vehicle whose driver and occupants were trying to locate wildlife along this scenic country road in the southwestern portion of the park. Due to its narrow lanes and winding nature, the Moose-Wilson Road requires slow speeds, especially when the presence of wildlife causes traffic congestion. When the driver of the slow moving vehicle stopped, Smith physically and forcefully assaulted him, rendering him unconscious; Smith then fled the scene. This act of physical assault serves as an example of “road rage,” a situation more often associated with urban areas or interstate highways.

Upon the arrival of park rangers, witnesses were able to provide information about the incident. The initial investigating park ranger determined that Smith attacked the driver of the vehicle in front of him after he stopped to watch a moose on the side of the road along with other wildlife viewers. Park rangers used accounts supplied by witnesses, as well as surveillance evidence, to develop information that eventually led to the use of photographic lineups and the subsequent positive identification of Smith as the assailant.

Smith was eventually indicted by a federal grand jury in March of 2008 and arrested on a federal warrant in the town of Jackson without incident. He was recently sentenced in mid December 2008.

A successful investigation and federal prosecution of this case resulted from the combined law enforcement work of several park rangers, as well as to the invaluable assistance provided by the U.S. Attorney’s office.

Stranded Skiers Rescued from Granite Canyon

January 26, 2009
09-02
Grand Teton National Park rangers and two Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ski patrollers conducted a search and rescue operation for two stranded skiers in the backcountry of Granite Canyon on Monday, January 26. Chris Buechley, age 29, and Dan Myers, age 27, both residents of Jackson, Wyoming, took a wrong turn after exiting an out-of-bounds gate at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort around
2 p.m. on Sunday January 25, and spent an unexpected night in the mountains without adequate clothing or shelter. Buechley and Myers were located in good physical condition at about 12 noon on Monday, and they were safely escorted out of the Teton canyon by rescue personnel.

Buechley and Myers intended to ski into Rock Springs Bowl on Sunday afternoon, January 25. They exited the second out-of-bounds gate at the top of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, but turned north and entered Granite Canyon instead of turning south where they had planned to ski. They did not realize that they were off course, and stranded, until after they had traveled some distance into Grand Teton’s backcountry. When darkness overtook them, they tried to camp for the night; however, they did not have extra clothing, or basic emergency gear, to use in warming themselves, so they decided to continue moving when they became too cold. As they were following Granite Creek downstream, Buechley fell through a thin bridge of snow and landed in knee deep water. In addition to getting wet, Buechley lost one ski in the process of scrambling out of the streambed, which hampered his ability to continue skiing. The two men used their cell phone about 6:30 on Monday morning to make a 911 call for help, and that call was received by a Teton County dispatcher. Buechley and Myers reported that they were stranded somewhere south of the ski resort because they still believed that they had skied toward Rock Springs Bowl; however, a GPS locator on the cell phone pinpointed their position as being in Granite Canyon within Grand Teton National Park — several miles north of where they claimed to be. Shortly after making their emergency call, the cell phone lost service. Teton County dispatch alerted park rangers of the situation and a search and rescue operation was initiated.

Two park rangers used a snowmobile to access the Granite Canyon trailhead from park headquarters in Moose; rangers then positioned their snowmobiles on the valley floor and began to ski into the canyon. Meanwhile, patrol staff from Jackson Hole Mountain Resort skied into Granite Canyon from the summit of Rendezvous Mountain to search the upper reaches of Granite Canyon. Both rescue parties reached the stranded skiers about 12 noon and provided Buechley with a spare ski to assist him in skiing out. The two men were located about two miles west of the mouth of Granite Canyon.

Backcountry users are cautioned to be prepared with the knowledge, skills, and emergency equipment necessary to safely recreate in the park’s backcountry areas before attempting a winter excursion. Park rangers also remind backcountry users to pay special attention to avalanche and weather conditions before entering remote areas outside of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort boundaries.

Grand Teton National Park Employees Give “Day of Service” to Local Community

Habitat for Humanity "Day of Service" Crew
on Martin Luther King Day

January 21, 2009
09-01
Grand Teton National Park employees donated a “Day of Service” to their local community of Jackson, Wyoming in observance of Martin Luther King Day on Monday, January 19, 2009. Park Service staff contributed their time and energy in answer to the nation-wide challenge from President Barack Obama, who called upon American citizens to provide community service during the federal holiday.

A team of 13 Grand Teton employees joined 17 other community volunteers to help with the construction of two houses being built by the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate; these houses are destined to become homes for two well-deserving Jackson families. Park staff also collected over 200 pounds of food for the Jackson Cupboard, a community-based pantry, to help stock shelves with groceries for families in need. In addition to the food drive and building projects by Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Teton Area, several park naturalists provided educational programs for two different audiences. Park interpretive rangers organized a field trip on Teton geology for the Jackson Hole Middle School’s gifted and talented students; and park naturalists also gave a hands-on program about park wildlife to the elderly residents of the Living Center, a nursing care facility, as well as to several pre-school students who were visiting the Living Center on Martin Luther King Day.

These multiple outreach initiatives offered Grand Teton employees an opportunity to give back to a generous and highly-engaged community that regularly supports park programs and projects with volunteer assistance throughout the year. It also provided park staff with the chance to contribute to their local community in a direct and tangible way.

National Park Service employees who participated in the “Day of Service” projects felt that it was a worthy and rewarding experience, and many expressed an interest in seeking additional opportunities to participate as community volunteers in the future.

2009 Evison Fellowship Applications Available

Boyd Evison

December 22, 2008
08-78
Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott and Grand Teton Association Executive Director Jan Lynch announce that applications are available for the 2009 Boyd Evison Graduate Research Fellowship. Supported by donations to the Grand Teton Association (GTA), the Evison Fellowship provides whole or substantial support for new graduate studies that increase public awareness of the importance of science to parks, and of parks to science. Applicants are encouraged to submit proposals for research of the intangible and disappearing aspects of Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks, the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway, and public or private lands surrounding the Greater Yellowstone Area.

In 2005, Grand Teton National Park and the Grand Teton Natural History Association collaborated to begin a new graduate research fellowship in memory of Boyd Evison, who died in October 2002. Evison retired in 1994 from an exemplary 42-year career with the National Park Service (NPS) in which he rose from being a park ranger and resource manager to superintendent and regional director in parks from Alaska to the Rocky Mountains. Evison was one of the greatest and most influential managers of the modern NPS. During his long career, he demonstrated leadership in conservation, environmental education, and expanding scientific knowledge to help shape wise management decisions and maintain native resources. After retiring from government service, Evison became the executive director of the Grand Teton Natural History Association, Grand Teton’s principle interpretive and educational partner. In 2007 for their 70th anniversary, the Grand Teton Natural History Association was renamed Grand Teton Association.

Proposals for the Evison Fellowship are encouraged to focus on new research studies or surveys; they may include studies which have not yet begun, or which have been initiated within the past year but are not fully funded. Emphasis areas may include topics such as natural soundscapes; air and water; lesser-known and charismatic ecosystem elements such as plants, fish, insects, amphibians, fungi, snails, bacteria; geologic or other processes; and social science related to public understanding of natural resources and their use or management.

Fellowships average $5000-$10,000 per project, and may include housing at Grand Teton National Park. In addition to a summary report or publication, students will be expected to provide one or more educational products to facilitate information transfer beyond the scientific audience, such as a presentation to resource managers, a public seminar, CD, or non-technical article.

Applications for the 2009 Boyd Evison Fellowship must be postmarked by February 13, 2009; the recipient will be announced on April 15.

For further information or to request an application, write to Boyd Evison Graduate Fellowship, Grand Teton Association, P.O. Box 170, Moose, Wyoming 83012. Applicants may also phone Jan Lynch, executive director of the Grand Teton Association, at 307.739.3406, or call Grand Teton National Park Chief of Science and Resource Management Sue Consolo Murphy at 307.739.3481.

Winter Season Activities to Begin

December 8, 2008
08-77
Activities for the 2008/09 winter season begin in Grand Teton National Park on Monday, December 15. The Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center (12 miles north of Jackson, Wyoming) is open year-round and winter hours run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The Discovery Center will close to observe the Christmas holiday on December 25.

A Single Day Pass is available to winter visitors at the Moose, Moran and Granite Canyon entrance stations. This winter-season permit allows a one-day entry into Grand Teton at a cost of $5 per vehicle. The single day pass is valid only in Grand Teton and cannot be used for entry into Yellowstone. Winter visitors may choose to purchase one of the following other options for entry:
$25 Seven-day Pass valid for single vehicle entry into Grand Teton and Yellowstone
$50 Grand Teton/Yellowstone Annual Pass valid for one year entry into both parks
$80 Interagency Annual Pass valid for one year entry to all federal land management fee areas

Ranger-led snowshoe hikes will begin December 26 at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center. This 2-hour activity is offered every day at 2 p.m. and previous experience is not necessary. Snowshoes are provided for a requested donation of $5 for adults and $2 for kids aged 8 years and older. Reservations are required and can be made at 307.739.3399.

Backcountry users and mountaineers planning to stay overnight in the backcountry must get a non-fee permit before their trip at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center. Permits are not required for day users. To obtain weather forecasts and avalanche hazard information, stop at the Discovery Center, visit the backcountry Web site http://www.jhavalanche.org/ , or call the avalanche hotline at 307.733.2664.

Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are popular winter activities in the park. Trails are skier tracked, but not groomed. The Teton Park Road (TPR) is a designated winter trail, open to non-motorized use. During the winter season, the unplowed TPR will be intermittently groomed for cross-country touring and skate skiing from the Taggart Lake parking area to Signal Mountain. Severe winter storms or park emergencies may preempt the trail grooming schedule on occasion. Important reminder: Snowshoers should walk adjacent to cross-country ski tracks.

Skiers and snowshoers are not restricted to established trails; however, for protection of wildlife, they are required to observe closure areas from December 15 to April 1. To obtain trail maps, closure locations, or winter information, go to the park’s Web site at http://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/maps.htm or visit the Discovery Center in Moose. Winter wildlife closure areas include:
Snake River floodplain, Moran to Menor's Ferry at Moose
Buffalo Fork River floodplain within the park
Kelly Hill and Uhl Hill
Static Peak
Prospectors Mountain
Mount Hunt areas (see park's X-C ski brochure for descriptions)

Leashed pets are allowed on the park's plowed roads and turnouts, the unplowed Moose-Wilson Road, and the Grassy Lake Road. Pets are not allowed in the backcountry, which includes all other park areas beyond the defined roadways.

The unplowed TPR will be open to visitors who wish to walk, snowshoe or ski with their leashed pet. Dogs are restricted to the multi-use portion of the TPR winter trail, and must be restrained at all times on a leash no longer than 6-feet in length. Dogs must also be leashed while in the parking areas at Taggart Lake and Signal Mountain. Please keep dogs off the groomed ski tracks as a courtesy to other trail users.

Mutt Mitt stations are in place at the TPR trailheads to dispense plastic bags for pet waste; trash receptacles are also available for disposal of used bags. Pet owners are required to clean up their pet's waste and properly dispose of the bags in the receptacles provided. Some pet owners have left used bags along the side of the road, and when these bags become buried in snow, they cause problems for rotary snow plows during the spring road opening. If pet owners do not comply with the rules and regulations—especially with regard to pet waste disposal and leash rules—it is possible that pets will be prohibited from the TPR in the future. Important note: Allowing pets on the TPR is a pilot program that may be discontinued at any time.

Dog sleds are not allowed on the Teton Park Road or on Grassy Lake Road in the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway (JDR Parkway).

Snowmobilers may use the frozen surface of Jackson Lake for the purposes of ice fishing only. A Wyoming State fishing license and appropriate fishing gear must be in possession. Only approved best available technology (BAT) machines are allowed on Jackson Lake. Before operating a snowmobile in Grand Teton, review regulations online at http://www.nps.gov/yell/parkmgmt/current_batlist.htm, or stop at the Discovery Center in Moose.

Snowmobiles may also use the Grassy Lake Road in the JDR Parkway for recreation. For winter 2008/09, BAT machines are required if an oversnow trip originates from Flagg Ranch Resort, while non BAT machines are allowed for trips beginning in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest.

For further information about winter activities in Grand Teton National Park or the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway, visit online at http://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/winter.htm.

Rescheduled Closure of Ditch Creek Road

November 20, 2008
08-76
A closure of the Ditch Creek Road, just east of the Teton Science School, will occur on Monday, November 24 between 10 a.m. and
4 p.m. The temporary road closure was previously scheduled for yesterday and today; however, a delay in the delivery of two large water tanks has caused a change for the anticipated closure.

The road will be temporarily closed to allow for placement of two 30,000-gallon tanks to be unloaded and positioned at the Science School’s Kelly campus as part of a project directed by Grand Teton National Park to rehabilitate their water system.

The closures are required to safely stage a crane needed to off load two large water tanks. The water system improvement work is close to completion and installation of these custom made tanks is one of the last major tasks required to conclude the project. As a result of this effort, water system quality and service, along with fire fighting capabilities, will be improved at the Kelly campus, located in Grand Teton National Park.

Road closure schedules may change or be delayed due to weather conditions, equipment failure, or other unforeseen circumstances. For road updates, visit the park’s Web site www.nps.gov/grte or call the park’s recorded information line on road conditions at 307.739.3614.

Ditch Creek Road Closure Scheduled

November 13, 2008
08-75
Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott announced today that a closure of the Ditch Creek Road just east
of the Teton Science School, will occur on two days next week, Wednesday, November 19 and Thursday, November 20, between
10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The road closures are planned to allow for two 30,000-gallon water tanks to be unloaded and positioned at the Science School’s Kelly campus as part of a project directed by
Grand Teton National Park to rehabilitate their water system.

The closures are required to safely stage a crane needed to off load two large water tanks. The water system improvement work is close to completion and installation of these custom made tanks is one of the last major tasks required to conclude the project. As a result of this effort, water system quality and service, along with fire fighting capabilities, will be improved at the Kelly campus, located in Grand Teton National Park.

Road closure schedules may change or be delayed due to weather conditions, equipment failure, or other unforeseen circumstances. For road updates, visit the park’s Web site at www.nps.gov/grte or call the park’s recorded information line on road conditions at 307.739.3614.

Gros Ventre Road & River Bank Project

November 13, 2008
08-74
Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott announced today that a road improvement project is scheduled
to begin on Friday, November 14 on the Gros Ventre Road, about
two miles east of the junction with Highway 26/89/191. This construction project will stabilize a 300-foot section of the
Gros Ventre River embankment and the adjacent roadway in the aftermath of emergency repairs that were made to the area in late May during high water run-off. The project is anticipated to be completed in one week’s time, weather depending.

No traffic delays are anticipated to occur during this road improvement project; however, motorists should be alert for construction vehicles and equipment at the site and along the river bank near the roadway.

The road construction project will be conducted for several reasons: 1) to strengthen the boulder armoring that was installed to protect the river bank during the 2008 spring run-off; 2) to grade the embankment slope and further reinforce it; and 3) to plant native vegetation to stabilize the soils.

Roadwork schedules may change or be delayed due to weather conditions, equipment failure, or other unforeseen circumstances. For updates, visit the park’s Web site at www.nps.gov/grte or call the recorded information line on road conditions at 307.739.3614.

Seasonal Road Closures and Hours of Operation in Grand Teton National Park

October 27, 2008
08-73
Jackson Hole residents and park visitors are reminded that two roads within Grand Teton National Park will close to vehicular traffic for the winter season beginning Friday evening, October 31, 2008. Vehicle closures include the length of the Teton Park Road between Taggart Lake parking area and the Signal Mountain Lodge parking lot, as well as the Moose-Wilson Road between Granite Canyon and Death Canyon trailheads.

In addition to the annual road closures, the Moose, Moran and Granite Canyon entrance stations will temporarily close for the month of November and early December; they are scheduled to reopen on December 15 for the winter season. The Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Moose, Wyoming is open year-round; however, hours of operation for the winter season will be adjusted to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Annually, the Teton Park Road is not plowed after the first of November. During the time that the Teton Park Road remains free of snow, visitors are welcome to use the roadway for non-motorized recreation such as walking, bicycling, and in-line skating. Once the snow begins to accumulate, winter season activities such as cross-country skiing, skate-skiing and snow-shoeing become possible.

NOTE: The new multi-use pathway running from Dornan’s near Moose Junction to South Jenny Lake parking area is still a construction zone and not yet open for public use. For safety reasons, local residents and park visitors — including bikers, walkers, strollers, in-line skaters, etc. — are not allowed on the pathway at this time. An official announcement will be made once the pathway is completed and open for use.

Pets are permitted on park roadways; however, pet owners are reminded that dogs must be leashed and under physical restraint at all times. Dog owners are required to clean-up their pet’s waste, and mutt mitt stations are provided for that purpose.

In addition to road closures in Grand Teton National Park, the Grassy Lake Road within the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway will close for the winter season with the first major snowstorm.

Nighttime Travel Closures Planned for Park Roads

October 14, 2008
08-72
Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott announced today that the installation of a large culvert on
Highway 89/287 at Huckleberry Hill between Lizard Creek campground and Flagg Ranch Resort will require a temporary overnight travel closure from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. on October 20, 21 and 22. Although the culvert installation work is scheduled to be completed in one night, motorists should plan for overnight travel restrictions to be in place on any one—if not all three—of the scheduled nights as a result of weather conditions, or other circumstances, that may impede the operation.

The north park road improvement project on Highway 89/287 will continue during the summer of 2009. Work will begin in April, weather permitting, and continue through mid-November. During that time, the road will be resurfaced and widened to be consistent with the pavement width from the Snake River Bridge to the south gate of Yellowstone National Park. Traffic will be restricted to one lane during this phase of the project, and 30-minute delays can be expected.

In addition to the overnight travel restriction on Huckleberry Hill, the Teton Park Road will also be closed between Taggart Lake parking area and South Jenny Lake so that a heavy-duty crane can off load and set in place a pedestrian bridge over Cottonwood Creek on the new multi-use pathway. The bridge placement is scheduled for Tuesday, October 21, and the roadway will be closed from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Roadwork schedules may change or be delayed due to weather conditions, equipment failure, or other unforeseen circumstances. For road updates, call the park’s recorded information line on road conditions at 307.739.3614 or visit the park’s Web site at www.nps.gov/grte.