May 14, 2009
09-28
Grand Teton National Park will host a fireside chat with author Renee Howard Smelker at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 18, in the lobby of the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center. Smelker has just completed a book titled, The Bar BC Chronicle, Jackson Hole Dude and Cattle Ranching, that portrays life on the historic Bar BC Dude Ranch from the 1920s through early 1940s. The program is free to the public, and a book signing will immediately follow the informal discussion at the Grand Teton Association bookstore, also in the Discovery Center.
Smelker uses letters written between her father Bill Howard, wrangler and long-time foreman of the Bar BC Ranch, and ranch owner Irving Corse to capture a sense of what life was like on one of Jackson Hole’s best known and beloved dude ranches. Smelker, who lived at the ranch until she was sixteen-years-old, brings the place, indeed the whole valley, to life through the correspondence that passed between her father and Mr. Corse, co-owner of the ranch with Struthers Burt. Their letters, dating from March 20, 1929 through February 19, 1942, depict the day to day operations on the ranch and reveal the very different personalities and backgrounds of these two men. The letters are also supplemented with notes to explain meanings and provide historical context and relevant background information. Throughout the book, Smelker provides an engaging commentary, blending first-hand experiences with the history of this distinctive place and unique era.
“The history of Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park is closely entwined. Because Grand Teton was established on February 26, 1929, Renee Smelker’s descriptions of life on the Bar BC Ranch from 1929 through 1942 are especially relevant to us,” said Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott. “Renee has provided an interesting look at our mutual past, and having her as a guest author during the park’s 80th anniversary year is especially fitting.”
Grand Teton Becomes First National Park to Earn StormReady Status
StormReady alerts public to severe weathersituations, such as lightning storms (photo--Bob Skaggs)
May 11, 2009
09-27
The National Weather Service (NWS) provides a nationwide community preparedness program titled, StormReady. After completing the requirements for this emergency preparedness program, Grand Teton National Park has subsequently earned recognition as a StormReady unit. The NWS confirms that Grand Teton is the first national park to gain this key designation.
Nearly 90% of all presidentially-declared disasters are weather related; these disasters lead to about 500 deaths per year and cost approximately $14 billion in property damage. The NWS designed the StormReady program to help prepare people, government agencies, and community organizations for the communication and safety network necessary to save lives and reduce property damage during a severe weather event.
StormReady uses a grassroots approach to help communities develop plans to handle all types of severe weather. To be StormReady, a community, organization or agency must:
- Establish a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center
- Have more than one way to receive severe weather warnings and forecasts
- Have more than one way to alert the public to severe weather events
- Create a system that monitors local weather conditions
- Promote the importance of public readiness through community seminars and outreach
- Develop a formal hazardous weather plan, which includes training severe weather spotters and conducting emergency exercises
To meet the StormReady emergency management guidelines,
Grand Teton was required to demonstrate its capability to provide an essential and response-ready communication network. In addition, several park employees completed training as weather spotters; these employees will provide critical weather observations to field offices for the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration.
Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott said, “Grand Teton National Park continually seeks new ways to improve safety for visitors, local residents, and park employees. Completing the StormReady requirements—and gaining the knowledge and network necessary to effectively deal with severe weather events—is an important step in creating a safer environment for anyone residing in, or recreating throughout the park. We are proud to have earned StormReady status, and we intend to effectively implement the StormReady communication system for the benefit of not only the park, but also our neighbors.”
For more information about the StormReady program, please contact Chris Jones, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Riverton, Wyoming at 307.857.3898, ext. 726.
Prescribed Fire Planned at Hunter Ranch Area
Old ranches and hayfields were scatteredacross Antelope Flats during bygone days
May 8, 2009
09-26
Teton interagency fire personnel and Grand Teton National Park natural resource managers are planning a 60-acre prescribed fire as part of a 4,000-acre native rangeland restoration project in the Aspen Ridge/Hunter Ranch area of Grand Teton National Park This project involves a multistage effort to convert pasture land back to native vegetation as part of the 2007 Bison and Elk Management Plan for the National Elk Refuge and Grand Teton National Park. The prescribed fire may be initiated as early as Monday, May 11.
The Aspen Ridge/Hunter Ranch area was an irrigated hayfield prior to the 1970s. Despite a decades-long recovery time, this extensive hayfield area is still dominated by non-native grasses and a host of noxious weeds.
“Non-native, perennial grasses are a considerable threat to native plant succession and restoration,” said Grand Teton National Park Ecologist Kelly McCloskey. “Without human intervention and management, the pasture grasses—particularly smooth brome—will likely remain, preventing the regrowth of native plants. Prescribed fire is an effective tool in creating and preparing a natural seed-bed.” Post burn, resource managers will treat the site with herbicides to remove remaining non-native species.
“The prescribed fire and herbicide treatment will be monitored for several years to determine the success of this project,” said Chip Collins, assistant fire management officer for Grand Teton National Park. “Depending on the outcome, further actions may be needed to sufficiently restore native vegetation across the historic hayfields in the Mormon Row area.”
Fire managers will consider several factors before beginning the Aspen Ridge/Hunter Ranch prescribed fire; these include weather forecasts, the condition of vegetation (dried or greening), and the presence of nesting birds in the area.
Prescribed-fire ignitions will proceed only when favorable weather and fire behavior conditions are met. Smoke will be evident during the day of the burn and may persist for several days after, especially in mountain valleys during early morning and evening hours. Local residents and visitors should exercise caution in the vicinity of the prescribed-fires. Minimal traffic restrictions may occur to allow for public and firefighter safety, and fire equipment access.
09-26
Teton interagency fire personnel and Grand Teton National Park natural resource managers are planning a 60-acre prescribed fire as part of a 4,000-acre native rangeland restoration project in the Aspen Ridge/Hunter Ranch area of Grand Teton National Park This project involves a multistage effort to convert pasture land back to native vegetation as part of the 2007 Bison and Elk Management Plan for the National Elk Refuge and Grand Teton National Park. The prescribed fire may be initiated as early as Monday, May 11.
The Aspen Ridge/Hunter Ranch area was an irrigated hayfield prior to the 1970s. Despite a decades-long recovery time, this extensive hayfield area is still dominated by non-native grasses and a host of noxious weeds.
“Non-native, perennial grasses are a considerable threat to native plant succession and restoration,” said Grand Teton National Park Ecologist Kelly McCloskey. “Without human intervention and management, the pasture grasses—particularly smooth brome—will likely remain, preventing the regrowth of native plants. Prescribed fire is an effective tool in creating and preparing a natural seed-bed.” Post burn, resource managers will treat the site with herbicides to remove remaining non-native species.
“The prescribed fire and herbicide treatment will be monitored for several years to determine the success of this project,” said Chip Collins, assistant fire management officer for Grand Teton National Park. “Depending on the outcome, further actions may be needed to sufficiently restore native vegetation across the historic hayfields in the Mormon Row area.”
Fire managers will consider several factors before beginning the Aspen Ridge/Hunter Ranch prescribed fire; these include weather forecasts, the condition of vegetation (dried or greening), and the presence of nesting birds in the area.
Prescribed-fire ignitions will proceed only when favorable weather and fire behavior conditions are met. Smoke will be evident during the day of the burn and may persist for several days after, especially in mountain valleys during early morning and evening hours. Local residents and visitors should exercise caution in the vicinity of the prescribed-fires. Minimal traffic restrictions may occur to allow for public and firefighter safety, and fire equipment access.
Boyd Evison Graduate Fellowship Awarded
May 4, 2009
09-25
Grand Teton National Park and the Grand Teton Association (GTA) are pleased to announce that Nicholas Dowie has received the Boyd Evison Graduate Fellowship for 2009. Dowie, the fifth recipient of an Evison Fellowship, is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in the Department of Biology at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. He plans to use his fellowship award to study the symbiotic relationship between three specific organisms in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks: conifer trees, pinedrops (Pterospora andomedea), a unique non-photosynthetic plant that spends most of its life underground and obtains carbon from fungi in order to reproduce, and a truffle-like fungus (Rhizopogon spp.) that associates with conifers to obtain carbon, which it does not produce itself.
Dowie received a Bachelor of Science degree in plant biology at Montana State University in Bozeman in 2005. He expects to finish a Master of Science degree at the University of Wyoming during summer 2009. Already working towards a Ph.D., Dowie is most interested in the study of evolutionary ecology, mycorrhizal symbioses (mutually-beneficial relationships between fungi and plant roots), and myco-heterotrophic plants that obtain carbon from various species of fungi.
Dowie’s research will involve collecting and analyzing the genetics from samples of pinedrops, fungi, and various types of conifers in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. Dowie will attempt to decipher the nature of relationships between these organisms, determine the intricacies of the three-way relationship between conifers, pinedrops and fungi, and reveal how these species persist in natural ecosystems. Pinedrops, which are ecologically sensitive and have become extinct in some regions, may associate with specific strains of fungus to reproduce and persist. At the conclusion of his study, Dowie will submit his research data and findings for review by the divisions of science and resource management at Yellowstone and Grand Teton.
The Evison Fellowship was established in memory of Boyd Evison after his death in October, 2002, and created to honor Boyd’s extensive and dedicated service to both the National Park Service (NPS) and the GTA. Evison retired in 1994 from an exemplary 42-year career with the NPS and soon after began a second career as executive director for the GTA—a non-profit park partner dedicated to aiding interpretive, educational, and research programs for Grand Teton National Park.
The Evison Fellowship program encourages scientific and conservation-related research in national parks. It invites highly motivated, graduate students to conduct research within Grand Teton and the greater Yellowstone area; and it supports study leading to a master’s or Ph.D. degree in the biosciences, geosciences or social sciences. Upon program completion, the Evison Fellow provides a copy of his/her thesis to the GTA.
An Evison Fellowship provides tuition assistance and a yearly stipend to cover travel and field research costs; Grand Teton National Park offers housing and office space for students during field sessions. To inquire about applying for a Boyd Evison Graduate Fellowship—or to donate funds toward this worthy program—please contact Jan Lynch, executive director, Grand Teton Association by mail at P.O. Box 170, Moose, Wyoming, 83012, or by phone at 307.739.3406.
09-25
Grand Teton National Park and the Grand Teton Association (GTA) are pleased to announce that Nicholas Dowie has received the Boyd Evison Graduate Fellowship for 2009. Dowie, the fifth recipient of an Evison Fellowship, is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in the Department of Biology at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. He plans to use his fellowship award to study the symbiotic relationship between three specific organisms in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks: conifer trees, pinedrops (Pterospora andomedea), a unique non-photosynthetic plant that spends most of its life underground and obtains carbon from fungi in order to reproduce, and a truffle-like fungus (Rhizopogon spp.) that associates with conifers to obtain carbon, which it does not produce itself.
Dowie received a Bachelor of Science degree in plant biology at Montana State University in Bozeman in 2005. He expects to finish a Master of Science degree at the University of Wyoming during summer 2009. Already working towards a Ph.D., Dowie is most interested in the study of evolutionary ecology, mycorrhizal symbioses (mutually-beneficial relationships between fungi and plant roots), and myco-heterotrophic plants that obtain carbon from various species of fungi.
Dowie’s research will involve collecting and analyzing the genetics from samples of pinedrops, fungi, and various types of conifers in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. Dowie will attempt to decipher the nature of relationships between these organisms, determine the intricacies of the three-way relationship between conifers, pinedrops and fungi, and reveal how these species persist in natural ecosystems. Pinedrops, which are ecologically sensitive and have become extinct in some regions, may associate with specific strains of fungus to reproduce and persist. At the conclusion of his study, Dowie will submit his research data and findings for review by the divisions of science and resource management at Yellowstone and Grand Teton.
The Evison Fellowship was established in memory of Boyd Evison after his death in October, 2002, and created to honor Boyd’s extensive and dedicated service to both the National Park Service (NPS) and the GTA. Evison retired in 1994 from an exemplary 42-year career with the NPS and soon after began a second career as executive director for the GTA—a non-profit park partner dedicated to aiding interpretive, educational, and research programs for Grand Teton National Park.
The Evison Fellowship program encourages scientific and conservation-related research in national parks. It invites highly motivated, graduate students to conduct research within Grand Teton and the greater Yellowstone area; and it supports study leading to a master’s or Ph.D. degree in the biosciences, geosciences or social sciences. Upon program completion, the Evison Fellow provides a copy of his/her thesis to the GTA.
An Evison Fellowship provides tuition assistance and a yearly stipend to cover travel and field research costs; Grand Teton National Park offers housing and office space for students during field sessions. To inquire about applying for a Boyd Evison Graduate Fellowship—or to donate funds toward this worthy program—please contact Jan Lynch, executive director, Grand Teton Association by mail at P.O. Box 170, Moose, Wyoming, 83012, or by phone at 307.739.3406.
Spring Clean-Up Beautifies Grand Teton NP
Park employees remove buck and rail fenceMay 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.
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 bluebirdApril 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.
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.
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.
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.
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, 200909-19
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 TurnerApril 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.
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, NPSApril 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 .
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 rangerMarch 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 NPMarch 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
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.
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.
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