Roads Open to Traditional Spring Activities

The Teton Park Road becomes a solitary & unique corridor
on which to ride a bike, take a hike or rollerblade during the month of April before vehicles are allowed to drive on it, beginning May 1.

March 28, 2011
11-12

Grand Teton National Park road crews recently used rotary snow removal equipment and plows to clear a substantial snowpack off the Teton Park Road that runs from the Taggart Lake parking area to Signal Mountain Lodge. Consequently, non-motorized activities such as hiking, biking, and inline skating will be allowed on this segment of road starting Friday, April 1.

Although the Teton Park Road will open to non-motorized use, visitors should be alert for park vehicles that may occasionally travel the road for administrative purposes and for snow plowing operations that continue as a result of recurring snowstorms.

For the next two weeks, plows and rotary equipment will continue to work on the Moose-Wilson Road; anyone walking or cycling on this roadway should be extra alert for heavy equipment.

The Teton Park Road and Moose-Wilson Road will open to vehicle traffic on Sunday, May 1.

The Antelope Flats Road will open to vehicle traffic when conditions allow. While it was plowed in mid March, continuing snowstorms and windy conditions have caused new drifting and delayed its opening.

Leashed dogs are permitted on the Teton Park 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, and pets are not allowed on the multi-use pathway in the park. 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   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

        

When entering the park using a pass, please be sure to bring personal identification. Bicyclists are required to stop and show a pass before proceeding through the gates, just as motorized vehicles are required to do.

Important Note: the multi-use pathway running from Dornan’s to South Jenny Lake will not be open for public use until the snow recedes naturally.

New this year is a self-serve fee station for pathway users. Bicyclists, rollerbladers and walkers will be required to stop and pay at this fee station and obtain an entry permit before proceeding on the path from the Moose entrance station.  

Backcountry Skier Injured during Avalanche in Granite Canyon

March 15, 2011
11-11

Grand Teton National Park rangers enlisted the help of the Teton County contract helicopter to rescue a backcountry skier who was injured during an avalanche on Tuesday morning, March 15.  Benjamin Shortledge, a 32-year-old Jackson resident, triggered an avalanche around 11:20 a.m. while skiing with friends on the northwest side of Cardiac Ridge in Granite Canyon. He received several injuries as a two-foot deep and 40-foot wide soft slab avalanche carried him about 400 feet down a slope near a feature known as Shady Lady.

Because of the remote location in Granite Canyon, the ski party could not get cell phone reception. Consequently, one of the Shortledge’s companions donned his skins and made his way back up the slope they had just skied in order to reach a saddle just northwest of Rendezvous Mountain from where a 911 call could be made. Teton County dispatchers received that call for help about 1:15 p.m. and in turn notified the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center in Grand Teton National Park. Rangers immediately contacted the Teton County Search and Rescue coordinator and requested assistance from their contract helicopter and pilot Ken Johnson. In the meantime, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ski patrollers made preparations to ski into Granite Canyon from the resort boundary to help with the rescue. Two ski patrollers met Shortledge’s companion at the mountain saddle and the three of them skied to his location, arriving at approximately 2:30 p.m. The patrollers provided emergency care and prepared Shortledge for the arrival of the ship.    

Rangers aboard the County helicopter reached Shortledge at 3:28 p.m., and he was flown to the base of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. After the ship landed at 3:51 p.m., a Teton County ambulance transported him to St. John’s Medical Center in Jackson. The remaining members of the ski party were also evacuated by air from Granite Canyon.

The Bridger-Teton National Forest avalanche report rated the avalanche danger on Tuesday as “low” for all elevations. However the advisory also stated, “Strong southwesterly to westerly ridge top winds have created isolated pockets of wind slab 6 to 12 inches deep at the upper elevations. Backcountry travelers could trigger these easily identifiable slabs in steep, wind loaded terrain.” For up-to-date avalanche forecasts, visit http://www.jhavalance.org/, or call the avalanche center at 307.733.2664.

While this rescue operation proceeded quickly and smoothly, it is important for backcountry users to realize that weather and other factors may prevent the ability of rescuers to effectively reach locations in the Teton Range to perform an evacuation. Anyone entering the backcountry of Grand Teton National Park should be prepared with appropriate emergency equipment such as avalanche beacons, extra clothing, water and high energy snacks, among other items. Such basic gear may make all the difference if an unexpected event happens and an unplanned night in the backcountry becomes a reality.

NPS Academy Designed for College Students

College students will learn about Park Service careers

during the NPS Academy at Grand Teton National Park

March 4, 2011

11-10 

Grand Teton National Park is working in partnership with the Student Conservation Association and Teton Science Schools, an environmental education center, to launch an innovative program titled the National Park Service (NPS) Academy. The Grand Teton-based NPS Academy, scheduled for March 12-18, is structured as a week-long, alternative spring break program for college students with diverse backgrounds from across the United States. This program is part of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar’s 21st Century Youth Conservation Corp Initiative—a broad outreach effort designed to engage America’s youth with the great outdoors and help prepare the next generation of natural resource professionals.

College students attending Grand Teton’s NPS Academy will learn about the range of career opportunities within the Park Service through a variety of seminars, workshops, field trips and recreational activities. After successful completion of the spring break program, students will be placed into summer internships at a number of parks throughout the entire National Park System: national parks that range from Acadia in Maine to Mount Rainier in Washington, from the Grand Canyon in Arizona to Glacier in Montana and many others in between.   

Prominent Park Service professionals will address the students and help to inspire them toward future NPS careers. Special guest speakers will include former NPS Director Robert G. Stanton (1997-2001), currently serving as a senior advisor to Secretary Salazar with a focus on youth and diversity in the Interior’s public programs and workforce.

The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is the only national organization that develops tomorrow's conservation leaders by providing high school and college students with conservation service opportunities in all 50 states, from urban communities to national parks and national forests. Since 1957, SCA's hands-on practice of conservation service has helped to develop new generations of conservation leaders, inspire lifelong stewardship, and help to save the planet. For more information, visit www.thesca.org.

Teton Science Schools (TSS) is a private, non-profit educational organization, operating year-round in Jackson Hole, Wyoming in partnership with Grand Teton National Park. Since 1967, TSS has provided education about the natural world and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The organization educates and inspires hundreds of children, youth and adults each year through the study of nature and place-based experiences. TSS’ innovative programs serve students from across Wyoming, the Intermountain West, the nation and the world. Visit TSS at http://www.tetonscience.org/.

For further information on the NPS Academy, contact Susanne McDonald at 307.739.3656 or at susanne_mcdonald@nps.gov.

Plowing of Teton Park Road Begins March 14

Park maintenance staff use heavy-duty rotary equipment
to remove snow from the Teton Park Road each spring.

March 3, 2011

11-09 

The annual snow plowing of the Teton Park Road in Grand Teton National Park will begin on Monday, March 14, weather depending. As plowing operations get underway, recreation on the snow-packed trail will cease for the 2010/11 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 plow operators and park visitors alike.

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 Tuesday morning, 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 will continue through mid March and perhaps beyond. 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 clean up their dog waste. A “mutt-mitt” station is conveniently located near the Teton Park Road closure gates to provide bags for this purpose.

The paved, multi-use pathway running from Dornan’s to South Jenny Lake will not be open for public use until the snow recedes naturally.

The Teton Park Road will open to vehicle traffic for the 2011 summer season on Sunday, May 1.

Backcountry Skier Injured in Slab Avalanche

February 25, 2011
11-08

Grand Teton National Park rangers enlisted the help of a Teton County Search and Rescue helicopter to evacuate an injured backcountry skier who was caught in an avalanche in the park on Thursday afternoon, February 24. Mark Gardner, age 41, of Teton Village, Wyoming triggered a soft slab avalanche while skiing with a friend in the Northwest Passage area of Granite Canyon. A 60-foot-wide and 2.5-foot-deep mass of snow carried Gardner over 50 feet down slope before he collided with a tree and came to a stop. While the force of the shifting snow injured Gardner’s leg, he did not become buried. Gardner was wearing a helmet which likely protected him from other injuries.

Gardner and his partner were not able to make a cell phone call from their location in the canyon, so they sidestepped from the Northwest Passage down through Endless Couloir. An off duty ski patroller from the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort encountered the two and ultimately made a call for help after getting cell reception near the mouth of the canyon. Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received notice of the situation at 3 p.m. and rangers initiated a rescue effort that involved the assistance of the Teton County helicopter. The pilot and crew were able to quickly respond and locate the two backcountry skiers near an area where the aircraft could conveniently land. Teton County rescue personnel assisted Gardner and his partner to the waiting ship and then flew them to the base of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, landing at 4 p.m. An ambulance then transported Gardner to St. John’s Medical Center in Jackson, Wyoming.

The Bridger-Teton National Forest Avalanche Center reported the general avalanche hazard on February 24 to be "considerable" for high elevations (9,000 - 10.500 feet).  A considerable rating means that natural avalanches are possible and human-triggered avalanches are likely. The report also stated, “Recent snow and strong west to southwest winds have formed dense slabs in steep avalanche terrain. At the high elevations these slabs could be triggered by skiers or riders to depths of three feet and may release in small pockets or involve wider slabs in exposed bowls or wind loaded terrain features.” Travel advice from the avalanche center stresses careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route finding, and conservative decision making for these conditions.

Rangers recommend that backcountry users get the latest avalanche conditions, be prepared for backcountry travel, carry basic avalanche equipment and go with others. For local avalanche conditions visit http://www.jhavalanche.org/ or call 307.733.2664.

Ira Blitzblau Named Deputy Chief Ranger at Grand Teton National Park

Ira Blitzblau, deputy chief ranger at Grand Teton NP

Bonnie Taylor, EMS coordinator at Grand Teton NP

February 14, 2011
11-06

Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott announced today that Ira Blitzblau has been selected to become deputy chief ranger at Grand Teton National Park. Blitzblau will support Chief Ranger Michael Nash and assist with the management of daily operations for the park’s Division of Visitor and Resource Protection: a division that includes the branch of ranger activities, branch of fire and aviation management, the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center, and the fee and revenue program. Blitzblau currently serves as the South Rim district ranger at Grand Canyon National Park. He will begin his new post at Grand Teton in late March.

Blitzblau began his National Park Service career in 1997 as a seasonal law enforcement ranger in the Wahweap sub-
district at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (NRA). He took a seasonal law enforcement ranger position at Yosemite National Park in 1999 and worked in the Yosemite Valley portion of the park before transferring to a permanent park ranger post at Dangling Rope in Glen Canyon NRA later that same year. During his time at Dangling Rope, Blitzblau conducted search and rescue missions on Lake Powell and along its shorelines, and provided emergency medical care in remote locations of this vast recreation area that straddles the Utah-Arizona border. Blitzblau transferred from his remote post at Dangling Rope to the busy, high-use Wahweap subdistrict where he worked as a patrol ranger for over a year. In November of 2001, Blitzblau took a park ranger position on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park: a job he held through June of 2005. From 2005 to 2009, Blitzblau worked as a supervisory park ranger at the South Rim and also worked a detail assignment for several months in 2008 with the Intermountain Region chief ranger’s office in Lakewood, Colorado. While serving the detail, Blitzblau worked with national parks located along the United States border with Mexico to perform risk assessments and provide assistance in developing priorities and strategies for field operations. Blitzblau has served as the South Rim district ranger for the past two years.

Blitzblau was born in Montague, Massachusetts. He graduated in 1998 from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst with a Bachelor of Science in natural resource policy and a minor in political science and environmental science. He completed his federal law enforcement training at Glynco, Georgia in 2001.

Blitzblau’s wife, Bonnie Taylor—also an NPS career employee—has been selected to become the emergency medical services (EMS) coordinator position at Grand Teton. Taylor began her career in 2000 as a dispatcher in the communications center at Grand Canyon National Park. At Grand Canyon, Taylor also served as a preventative search and rescue (PSAR) ranger, as the PSAR supervisor, and later as the EMS coordinator. 

Taylor has extensive experience in all facets of EMS operations; she will oversee the training, recertification program and all aspects of emergency medical operations at Grand Teton, and will coordinate ambulance calls for both the park and the northern reaches of Jackson Hole.


Taylor was born in Show Low, Arizona and completed two years of coursework towards a Bachelor of Arts in broadcast media at Columbia Union College in Takoma Park, Maryland. She maintains several professional qualifications including, NREMT paramedic and S271 helicopter crewmember certifications. Taylor is also an American Heart Association CPR instructor, and she serves as part of a technical rescue team trained in short-haul rescue at Grand Canyon.  

February Full Moon & Winter Festival Weekend

Ranger-led snowshoe hikes offer fun for all ages
during the winter festival weekend

February 10, 2011
11-06

To celebrate February’s full moon and the peak of the winter season, Grand Teton National Park ranger naturalists invite visitors and local residents to enjoy a winter festival weekend filled with astronomy, snowshoe hikes and family-orientated fun. A host of activities will take place over President’s Day weekend from Friday, February 18 through Sunday, February 20.

On Friday evening at 6 p.m., rangers will present a 45-minute interactive program in the Director’s Room at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Moose. Titled Rangers of the Lost Dark, the program examines the incredible nighttime skies of Grand Teton National Park in the warmth and comfort of the visitor center auditorium. Reservations are not required for this indoor presentation.

Following the Rangers of the Lost Dark program, a ranger-led snowshoe walk by the light of a full moon will begin at
7 p.m. from the Discovery Center. The full moon walk offers a chance to experience the winter wonderland of Grand Teton and learn about the unique characteristics that make this season so incredible, and often challenging for park wildlife. The snowshoe walk traverses a mostly level,
1-2 mile roundtrip distance along the forests and meadows near the Snake River. This two-hour-long activity does not require previous snowshoeing experience, and snowshoes are provided for anyone without their own. Headlamps are required for this activity.

Festivities will resume on Saturday, February 19 at
1:30 p.m. with a ranger led snowshoe walk from the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center to the historic Murie Ranch. Along the way, rangers will talk about the Murie family and their contributions to wilderness preservation and a fledgling conservation movement that culminated in protection of numerous nationally designated wild areas and the passage of the 1964 Wilderness Act. At the Murie Ranch, snowshoers will explore Olaus and Mardy’s cabin home and enjoy hot beverages and snacks in the Homestead Cabin. The Murie Center staff will be on hand to share additional facts about the Murie Ranch’s history and legacy. This walk takes place on mostly level terrain and is suitable for beginning snowshoers. Total distance roundtrip is 1-2 miles.

The winter festival will conclude on Sunday, February 20 with a family-oriented snowshoe hike. Bring the whole family for an hour-long walk and fun activities for all ages; anyone who is able to spend an hour outside on snowshoes is welcome. The snowshoe hike will begin at 12 noon at the Discovery Center and various sizes of snowshoes will be available for participants.

Those attending any of the weekend activities should wear warm layered clothing, sturdy insulated boots, and a face scarf or ski mask, plus bring along an energy snack and water, or hot beverage in a thermos.

Space is limited on the full moon snowshoe walk, the Murie snowshoe walk and the winter family program; therefore, reservations are required. Please phone 307.739.3399 to reserve a spot, or to learn more about the winter festival weekend.

For a complete list of ranger-led programs, please refer to the park’s newspaper, Grand Teton Guide, online at www.nps.gov/grte, or call the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center at 307.739.3399.

Rangers Evacuate Ailing Snowshoer from Phelps Lake Moraine

Febraury 7, 2011
11-05

Grand Teton National Park rangers conducted a lengthy rescue operation on Sunday, February 6, to evacuate an incapacitated snowshoer from the Phelps Lake overlook. Michelle Harvey age 40, from Sacramento, California, became ill while snowshoeing to the overlook with her husband, Don Happel, and she could not continue hiking the final 2.5 miles to their parked vehicle at the Death Canyon trailhead. Ten rangers and park staff coordinated a multi-phase evacuation that involved both rescue skiers and snowmobiles. Rescue skiers hauled a toboggan with Harvey aboard down the steep Phelps Lake moraine, and rangers on snowmobiles—staged on the northwest shore of Phelps Lake below the moraine—transported her the remaining distance to the trailhead located on the Moose-Wilson Road. The rescue and evacuation took nearly eight hours to complete.

The rescue mission began at 3:15 p.m. after Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a 911 cell phone call from Happel explaining his wife’s predicament. Rangers and park staff used snowmobiles to cross the frozen surface of Phelps Lake and get close to the location where Harvey and Happel were waiting for help. Five rescuers skied up and over the Phelps Lake moraine and reached Harvey and Happel at 8 p.m. Harvey was then placed in a rescue toboggan and gradually lowered from the top of the moraine (7,200 feet elevation) to the lakeshore (6,633 feet elevation). Harvey was then transported by snowmobile to the Death Canyon trailhead where the evacuation concluded at 10:15 p.m.

Although Sunday’s weather was sunny with mild afternoon temperatures, physical conditions changed as the evacuation stretched into the evening hours. With darkness and colder temperatures, rangers resorted to using headlamps for visibility and emergency gear to keep Harvey warm and protected from the cold nighttime air. After reaching the trailhead on the Moose-Wilson Road, Harvey declined further medical attention and departed the area with her husband in their personal vehicle.

Harvey and Happel, who arrived in Jackson Hole on February 3, had a couple of days to acclimatize to the higher elevations of the Teton backcountry before their Sunday excursion. They were equipped with good winter clothing, water, and high energy snacks for their snowshoe outing. They also carried a GPS unit, a compass, and a cell phone—which they used to summon help.

While most rescue operations involve injured, stranded and/or lost persons, rangers and other park staff often conduct rescue missions to locate individuals—who are incapacitated for whatever reason—and bring them to safety and/or medical care. Emergency responses for persons "in need" are part of the proud National Park Service tradition. However, visitors and local residents should accept responsibility for their own safety and welfare, and always be prepared to self rescue as a first option.

Park rangers and other staff schooled in emergency medical procedures regularly train for events like Sunday’s rescue. Coincidently, park rangers conducted a scheduled training for wintertime open-water rescues on Monday morning, February 7. Many of the same rangers involved in the late day rescue of Harvey on Sunday, also participated in Monday’s practice session.

Public Scoping Initiated for Historic Properties Management Plan

The Snake River Land Co. building, located near Moran Junction,
was used during filming of Spencer's Mountain in the early 1960s. 

January 31, 2011

11-04

Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott invites the public to attend a meeting regarding the development of a comprehensive plan for management of Grand Teton National Park’s historic properties. The meeting will take place Tuesday, February 8, from 5–7 p.m. at the American Legion Post 43, 182 North Cache Street in Jackson, Wyoming. A short presentation on the historic properties will be followed by conversations with park staff to further inform participants about the scope of the plan and its objectives.

The Historic Properties Management Plan will provide general guidance for the administration of historic properties, and establish site-specific treatment for some locations. The plan will not re-evaluate historic properties currently used for visitor services, or for work space and housing by the park or its partners. Instead, analysis will focus on 14 historic properties that are currently without an identified use. Some of the properties may be listed as “in poor condition;” some may also be identified as having a high interest for the park, its partners, or the public. The properties include: 4 Lazy F Dude Ranch, Aspen Ridge Ranch residence and barn, Bar BC Dude Ranch, Geraldine Lucas Homestead/Fabian Place, Hunter Hereford Ranch, Leeks Lodge chimney, Luther Taylor historic district, Manges Cabin, McCollister residential complex, Moose entrance kiosk (historic building immediately east of the current entrance kiosks), Sky Ranch, Snake River Land Co. building, Wolff Ranch, and the upper Granite Canyon patrol cabin.

The plan will determine how each of these 14 properties should be managed and outline appropriate treatment: which could range from restoration or stabilization to removal of individual structures.

An increased emphasis on interpretation may be considered for some properties, including those already being used and maintained. The plan would guide the appropriate levels and means of interpretation related to the properties’ history, location, condition and use.

The plan will be adaptive, incorporating periodic evaluation of historic properties and their condition, as well as review of goals for park operations and visitor services.

For futher information about the Historic Properties Management Plan for Grand Teton National Park, please visit the park's planning website at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/. Public comments on the plan will be accepted until March 11, 2011.

Special Activities on MLK Fee-Free Weekend

Big Dipper over Tetons during Full Moon

photo by Bob Hoyle, NPS

January 10, 2011
11-03

Grand Teton National Park—along with the 394 units of the national park system—will waive entrance fees during the upcoming Martin Luther King holiday weekend (January 15-17) as part of a nationwide initiative to encourage people to visit and experience the many wonders of national parks across America. To highlight the first entry-free weekend of 2011, Grand Teton ranger naturalists invite visitors and local residents to attend an Evening of Astronomy program at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Moose, and join an early evening snowshoe excursion on the Teton Park Road. Both activities will take place on Saturday, January 15.  

The Evening of Astronomy program begins Saturday afternoon at
5 p.m. in the Discovery Center’s auditorium with a 45-minute interactive presentation titled: Rangers of the Lost Dark. Ranger naturalists will introduce visitors to the incredible dark skies of Grand Teton National Park and provide tips on viewing the night sky during winter. No reservations are required for this program.

The Evening of Astronomy will continue with a twilight ranger-led snowshoe walk beginning at 6:15 p.m. from the Taggart Lake trailhead, located four miles north of the Discovery Center. The snowshoe walk will offer a chance to explore Grand Teton’s magical winter landscape by twilight and learn about the unique characteristics that make this season so remarkable. For centuries, people have used snowshoes as a means of winter travel, and ranger-led snowshoe excursions are designed to introduce beginning and casual snowshoe walkers to the experience of a winter trek in the company of others. The snowshoe walk will traverse a level, three-mile roundtrip distance along the snow-covered Teton Park Road. The two-hour long activity does not require previous snowshoeing experience, and snowshoes are provided for anyone without their own. Reservations are required for this outdoor activity; please call 307.739.3399 to reserve a spot.

Those attending the twilight snowshoe walk should wear warm layered clothing, sturdy insulated boots, and a face scarf or ski mask, plus bring along an energy snack and water or hot beverage in a thermos. Headlamps and flashlights are required as essential safety equipment for any outdoor trek.

For a complete list of wintertime ranger-led activities and programs, please refer to the park’s newspaper, Teewinot, online at www.nps.gov/grte, or call the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center at 307.739.3399.

Rangers Rescue Stranded Snowboarder & Snowshoers from Backcountry on Same-Day

January 9, 2011
11-02
Grand Teton National Park rangers and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ski patrollers conducted a search and rescue operation for a stranded snowboarder in the backcountry of Granite Canyon during the early evening hours of Friday, January 7. Steven Sprague, age 20, from Rapid City, South Dakota, took a wrong turn and inadvertently entered Grand Teton’s backcountry after exiting an out-of-bounds gate at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort at approximately 4:20 p.m. 

Sprague and his two snowboarding partners intended to traverse into Cody Bowl on Friday afternoon. They exited the out-of-bounds gate at the top of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and entered Granite Canyon, instead of turning south where they had planned to snowboard. Sprague’s partners, realizing that they were off course, attempted to alert Sprague by shouting at him to stop; however, Sprague was unable to hear his companions cries because he was wearing earphones for an iPod. Shortly after, Sprague’s companions alerted patrol staff from Jackson Hole Mountain Resort of the situation, and a search and rescue operation was initiated.

Park rangers used snowmobiles from Death Canyon trailhead on Moose-Wilson Road, and then mounted skis to access Granite Canyon. Meanwhile, patrol staff from Jackson Hole Mountain Resort skied into Granite Canyon from the summit of Rendezvous Mountain. Patrol staff were first to reach the stranded snowboarder at approximately 6:20 p.m. as rangers continued their ascent into the canyon. Sprague was in good physical condition, but was not prepared to spend the night in the backcountry as he did not have extra clothing, food, basic emergency gear or shelter. At approximately 10:30 p.m., park rangers transported Sprague and the ski patrollers by snowmobile to the Granite Canyon trailhead, where the group was then transported by waiting resort personnel to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.  

As rescuers worked to locate the stranded snowboarder, Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a call at approximately
5:50 p.m. from two visitors who had become disoriented while snowshoeing the Taggart/Bradley Lakes trail in Grand Teton National Park. Ross Trooien, age 26, from White Bear Lake, Minnesota and Gordon Mammel, age 25, from Minneapolis, Minnesota, became lost in the fading daylight and were unprepared to return to the trailhead in the dark. Park personnel were able to identify their location based on the men’s description and provide directions by cell phone, guiding Trooien and Mammel to the nearby AAC Climbers’ Ranch to await assistance. Park personnel arrived on scene at 6:50 p.m., and both men were safely escorted out of the backcountry, reaching the trailhead at 7:30 p.m.

Backcountry users are cautioned to be prepared with the knowledge, skills, and emergency equipment necessary to safely recreate in the park’s backcountry areas before attempting a winter excursion. Park rangers advise anyone recreating in the park during winter to bring along extra clothing, high energy snacks and water as emergency gear in the event that they are required to spend more time than anticipated in the backcountry. Rangers also advise people to consider their physical limitations and time restrictions when choosing s destination, and to bring a map of the area and know how to use it before setting out.


Park rangers also remind backcountry users to pay special attention to avalanche and weather conditions before entering remote areas outside of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort boundaries.

Grand Teton Recruits for 2011 YCP

2010 YCP crew hams for the camera
on trail to Surprise & Amphitheater lakes

January 4, 2011
11-01

Grand Teton National Park is recruiting participants for the 2011 Youth Conservation Program (YCP); the park plans to enroll 15-25 short-term positions. Thanks to generous donations made by donors through the Grand Teton National Park Foundation, this marks the sixth year that the park has offered this youth employment opportunity. Applications must be postmarked by March 21, 2011.

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 will work 30-50% of their time with several of the other park divisions (i.e. Science and Resource Management, Interagency Fire, Interpretation, and Visitor and Resource Protection). Students will also meet experts in all aspects of public lands conservation.

During the course of their day, YCP participants may 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. Most of the work will be focused 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 several recreational opportunities are also offered.

The 2011 YCP program will run for ten weeks, from June 20 through August 25. Previously planned commitments such as vacations, sports camps, etc., may be accommodated when possible. Participants must be at least 16 years of age by June 20, 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. Wages for participants in the YCP program are set at $11.08 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, call Leslie Mattson at 307.732.0629, or email leslie@gtnpf.org.

To obtain an application or get further information about the 2011 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.

ROD Signed for Jackson Hole Airport Agreement

Jackson Hole Airport is located within Grand Teton NP

December 28, 2010

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Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott announced today that a Record of Decision (ROD) for the Jackson Hole Airport Agreement Extension has been signed by National Park Service Intermountain Regional Director John Wessels. The ROD authorizes a 20-year extension to the term of the existing 1983 agreement between the Jackson Hole Airport Board and the United States Department of the Interior (DOI).

Under this ROD, the current airport agreement will be extended through the addition of two 10-year options, allowing the Jackson Hole Airport Board to meet Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding requirements and maintain certification for passenger air service in northwestern Wyoming in the future. The ROD also amends the existing 1983 agreement to strengthen the requirements of the Airport Board to work cooperatively with the National Park Service (NPS) on efforts to further mitigate and reduce effects of the airport on park resources.

The Jackson Hole Airport is located on 533 acres of federal land within Grand Teton National Park and currently operates under an NPS administered agreement that authorizes its operation through April 27, 2033. Under FAA regulations, an airport must either 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 1983 agreement’s term, the airport would lose its eligibility for Airport Improvement Program funding in April of 2013—20 years before the agreement expires. Grants from the FAA may cover up to 95 percent of eligible costs for airfield capital improvement or repair projects that enhance airport safety, capacity, and security, or for projects that address environmental concerns. Over the past decade, this FAA program has funded almost $28 million in projects at the Jackson Hole Airport. Similar funding will be needed to enable the airport to maintain its necessary certification and provide continued commercial air service.

In 2005, the NPS initiated a process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to address a request by the Jackson Hole Airport Board to extend the term of their use agreement. Environmental impacts associated with the alternatives defined in the Jackson Hole Airport Extension/ Final Environmental Impact Statement were thoroughly analyzed in accordance with the requirements of  NEPA, the NPS Management Policies 2006, and the NPS Director’s Order #12: Conservation Planning, Environmental Impact Analysis and Decision Making. All public comments were taken into consideration before the record of decision was prepared and signed.

“Through an extensive review and careful application of the NEPA process, we have determined that extending the current Jackson Hole Airport agreement serves the visiting public, ensures continued commercial air service to Jackson, Wyoming, and appropriately maintains the vital NPS mission to protect valuable park resources,” said Intermountain Director John Wessels.

“While this decision ensures that airport operations continue into the future, it significantly strengthens the commitment by the NPS and Airport Board to mutually work together to mitigate impacts to park resources to the greatest extent possible,” said Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott.

The ROD, which documents the decision and rationale, along with the Jackson Hole Airport/FEIS, is available online at the PEPC website at http://parkplanning.nps.gov. The document is also available on the park’s website at http://www.nps.gov/grte/parkmgmt/planning.htm.

Winter Activities to Begin in Grand Teton

Grand Teton National Park becomes a mecca
for winter recreation & scenic splendor

December 10, 2010

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Activities for the 2010/11 winter season begin on Wednesday, December 15 in Grand Teton National Park. The Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center (12 miles north of Jackson, Wyoming) is open year-round and winter hours run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The Discovery Center will be closed on December 25, to observe the Christmas holiday.   

A Single Day Pass is available to winter visitors at the Moose, Moran and Granite Canyon entrance stations. This winter-season permit allows a one-day entry into Grand Teton at a cost of $5 per vehicle. The single day pass is valid only in Grand Teton and cannot be used for entry into Yellowstone. Winter visitors may choose to purchase one of the following other options for entry:

$25 Seven-day Pass valid for single vehicle entry into Grand Teton and Yellowstone

$50 Grand Teton/Yellowstone Annual Pass valid for one year entry into both parks

$80 Interagency Annual Pass valid for one year entry to all federal land management fee areas

Ranger-led snowshoe hikes begin Sunday, December 26 at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center. This 2-hour activity is offered every day at 1:30 p.m., and previous experience is not necessary. Snowshoes are provided for a requested donation of $5 for adults and $2 for children, 8 years or older. Reservations are required and can be made at 307.739.3399.

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

Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are popular winter activities in the park. Most trails are skier tracked, but not groomed. The Teton Park Road (TPR) is a designated winter trail, open to non-motorized use in winter. The TPR gets intermittently groomed for cross-country touring and skate skiing from the Taggart Lake parking area to Signal Mountain. Grooming operations operations began Thursday, December 9, 2010. Severe winter storms or park emergencies may preempt the trail grooming schedule on occasion. Important reminder: Snowshoers should walk adjacent to the groomed ski trail, as snowshoes ruin the grooved track set for skiers’ use.  

Skiers and snowshoers are not restricted to established trails; however, for protection of wildlife, they are required to observe closure areas from December 15 to April 1. To obtain trail maps, closure locations, or winter information, go to the park’s website at http://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/maps.htm or visit the Discovery Center in Moose, Wyoming. Winter wildlife closure areas include:

Snake River floodplain from Moran to Menor's Ferry 

Buffalo Fork River floodplain within the park

Kelly Hill and Uhl Hill 

Static Peak and Prospectors Mountain

Mount Hunt areas (refer to park's X-C ski brochure)

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

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

Mutt Mitt stations are in place at the TPR trailheads to dispense plastic bags for pet waste; trash receptacles are also available for disposal of used bags. Pet owners are required to clean up their pet's waste and properly dispose of the bags in the receptacles provided. Some pet owners have left used bags along the side of the road, and when these bags become buried in snow, they cause problems for rotary snow plows during the spring road opening.

Please note that allowing pets on the TPR is a provisional program that may be discontinued at any time. If pet owners do not comply with the rules and regulations—especially with regard to pet waste disposal and leash rules—it is possible that pets will be prohibited from the TPR in the future.

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

Snowmobilers may use the frozen surface of Jackson Lake for the purposes of ice fishing only. A Wyoming State fishing license and appropriate fishing gear must be in possession.

On Jackson Lake, snowmobiles must meet National Park Service air and sound emissions requirements for Best Available Technology (BAT). Before operating a snowmobile in Grand Teton, review the regulations and approved BAT machines online at http://www.nps.gov/yell/parkmgmt/current_batlist.htm, or stop by the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Moose, Wyoming.

Snowmobiles may also use the Grassy Lake Road in the JDR Parkway for recreation. The BAT machine requirement does not apply to snowmobile use on the Grassy Lake Road between Flagg Ranch Resort and the Caribou-Targhee National Forest.

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

Colter Bay Visitor Services Plan/ EA Launched

Colter Bay Visitor Center was built in 1956
& the Indian Arts Museum opened in 1972

December 6, 2010
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Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott announced today that the National Park Service (NPS) has initiated a comprehensive review of the visitor services provided at Colter Bay in Grand Teton National Park. The NPS intends to prepare an environmental assessment and develop a management plan for the long-term operation of the Colter Bay Visitor Center and other park-provided visitor services in the Colter Bay area. A principal objective of the review will be to determine the appropriate management of the David T. Vernon Collection of American Indian Art—one of Grand Teton National Park’s significant and irreplaceable cultural resources currently housed at the visitor center. Public scoping has begun, and interested persons are invited to provide ideas, concerns, and comments on this broad planning initiative.

The Colter Bay Visitor Center is located on the eastern shore of Jackson Lake, approximately 28 miles north of Moose, Wyoming, and 18 miles south of the park’s shared boundary with Yellowstone National Park. The original visitor center was built in 1956 and the Indian Arts Museum addition—built to house the David T. Vernon Collection of American Indian Art—opened to the public in 1972. The Colter Bay area is a popular destination for overnight and day users to Grand Teton, as well as for visitors traveling to or from Yellowstone. The area seasonally offers a complete range of services, facilities, and opportunities to experience the park’s spectacular scenery, wildlife, educational programs, and recreational activities.

Due to its age and deficient condition, the old visitor center building does not meet museum standards for the preservation, display, and interpretation of the David T. Vernon Collec­tion of American Indian Art. In addition, the building does not meet life safety and accessibility standards, and it is inadequate for basic administration, inter­pretation, or visitor service needs. Furthermore, the build­ing requires costly repairs and is no longer financially or environmentally sustainable.

Visitor facilities at Colter Bay are open for the summer season (May to September) and heated restroom facilities are open for winter visitors. This plan will not consider ex­panding NPS services during the winter season. The plan will address only NPS visitor services, facilities, and related infra­structure at Colter Bay; it will not address conces­sioner facilities at Colter Bay Village, which include an RV park, campground, general store and gift shop, restau­rants, guest cabins (log cabins and tent cabins), marina, stables, fuel station and convenience store, laundry and shower facility, and concession employee housing area.

The comprehensive review and plan will consider various options for how visitor services will be managed and how operational needs will be met in the Colter Bay area in the years to come. The scoping newsletter is available for review online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/grte. A copy of the newsletter can be downloaded through this website, and comments can be provided electronically online. The website will also provide regular updates on the project, including additional public involvement opportunities. To be most useful in this early planning stage, please submit comments on or before December 31, 2010.

Partnership Project Provides 1945 Aerial Images of Jackson Hole

Aerial maps show changes from 1945 to 2009
on one selected area of Jackson Hole

December 2, 2010
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Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott is pleased to announce that aerial images of 1945 Jackson Hole that were stored in the park’s archives are now available for public access thanks to a partnership project between Teton Conservation District and Grand Teton National Park, along with assistance from the National Park Service Western Archaeological Conservation Center (WACC) in Tucson, Arizona and Greenwood Mapping, Inc. of Wilson, Wyoming. The project was funded through contributions by Teton Conservation District, Grand Teton National Park, Region 4 of the U.S. Forest Service, the National Elk Refuge, Teton County, Wyoming, and the Grand Teton Association—a cooperating association that supports both Grand Teton National Park and the Bridger-Teton National Forest.

Robb Sgroi, conservation programs coordinator for the Teton Conservation District, and Kathy Mellander, geographic information systems (GIS) specialist at Grand Teton, collaborated with staff from WACC and Greenwood Mapping, Inc. to assemble numerous aerial photographs taken during 1945 and transfer them to a suitable format for better public access. Teton Conservation District also contracted with Aero-Graphics, Inc. of Salt Lake City, Utah to “geographically reference and mosaic” the original 1200 aerial prints into a single, seamless aerial map. This image can now be seen through an Internet link or from a DVD.

The composite aerial map is available at http://maps.tetonconservation.org, where users can direct a web viewer to select a section of the image and perform simple functions such as zooming and panning to study different perspectives. Browsers should note that blank sections of the map will be filled with aerials from the same time period as they become available. Accessible to private sector and government agencies, as well as to the general public, the digitized 1945 aerial map may also serve as an important land use planning reference to identify and note land use changes between the 1940s and recent years.

The composite image is also stored on DVDs in .tif or .sid formats for users who have graphics or GIS software. DVDs can be obtained by contacting Teton Conservation District at 307.733.2110.

“We believe that the newly formatted image will provide an interesting window into Jackson Hole’s cultural past and allow viewers to see the old ranches and other landmarks that defined this landscape during the 1940s,” said Superintendent Scott. “We’re grateful for the financial support by the Grand Teton Association and the other major contributors who helped make this piece of history more accessible to the public, and we appreciate the cooperation from Robb Sgroi and other staff at Teton Conservation District on this a unique and illuminating project.”