• Trail Updates

Friends of Pathways has a formal partnership with the USFS to collaborate on design, construction and stewardship of local trails for all users – hike, bike, horse, and ski. We’re committed to providing easy year round access to trails in order to maintain our high quality of life in Jackson Hole.

With unpredictable avalanche danger this year, our Teton Pass Ambassador asks all of us to spread the word about avoiding highlighted areas on Teton Pass.

Over the holidays, two user-related incidents resulted in dangerous conditions. On December 23rd, an avalanche buried two snow mobilers and on Christmas Eve, an avalanche was triggered on Twin Slides that trapped three cars and blocked a lane of traffic. Linda Merigliano, Bridger-Teton Recreation, Wilderness and Trails Program Manager, reminded users that “more incidents like this could result in a much worst outcome for motorists or create pressure to close the Twin Slides run to skiing and boarding, similar to the Mt. Rogers area in Canada… this incident is a graphic reminder that access to skiing on Mt. Glory is dependent on skiers/boarders exercising responsibility and consideration for other people.”Teton Gravity Research

Additionally, the Pass Ambassador asks that backcountry users remember five keys for backcountry safety this year:

  • Carpool and park tight
  • Take care of your pets
  • Work with the Enforcement Agencies
  • Ride with respect and humility

    Spread the word Pistono said. “The core local group, whether we feel like we’re role models or not, in terms of how we use things up here, we kind of are. So much of your actions send out the message.” Pistono urges the frequent users to speak up when they see someone not obeying etiquette or entering into unsafe practices. “Find your voice,” he said. “It might be awkward at times to talk to people, but especially if it’s a safety-related issue, communicate to those who don’t know better.” Jackson Hole News and Guide

Winter Grooming Schedule
Yesterday, Parks and Recreation began their winter grooming program. This year, grooming with occur between December 15, 2015 and March 12, 2016. Grooming is done as snow and weather condition permit.

This year’s grooming schedule:
Tuesday: Cache Creek, May Park, High School Fields, Game Creek
Wednesday: Emily’s Pond, Stilson/Wilson Centennial Path, South Park Loop
Thursday: Cache Creek, May Park, High School Fields, Game Creek
Friday: Emily’s Pond, Stilson/Wilson Centennial Path, South Park Loop
Saturday: Cache Creek, May Park, High School Fields, Stilson/Wilson Centennial Path

Parks and Recreation Grooming Report 
Single Track Grooming in Cache Creek Grooming Facebook Page
JHNordic.com


In addition, Friends of Pathways will be working to improve conditions on the single track trails in Cache Creek. Staff and volunteers will use human powered grooming with a drag behind groomer. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Chris Owen. Thank you to Teton Mountain Bike Tours and Headwall Sports for their generous donation to Friends of Pathways to support single track grooming in Cache Creek. They invite YOU to match their donation and keep the trails open for people on foot and on bike.
 

Leash zones, trail bans and limits on number of dogs per person are under consideration.

By: Mike Koshmrl

Five types of dog regulation are being considered for high-traffic portions of the Bridger-Teton. National Forest.  A week ahead of a public workshop about the doggy rules, Bridger-Teton managers released a list of options being considered for the Cache Creek area and on Teton Pass.

One option would be to establish a leash zone in “critical areas at critical times” while another would prohibit dogs altogether on “certain trails” during the winter.

A third possibility is that dog owners would need a permit to have a dog off-leash in “certain areas” of the national forest.

Another alternative is to allow dogs only on certain days of the week, and the last option is to limit the number of dogs allowed per person.

An option that is not being considered is changing nothing, Bridger-Teton spokeswoman Angelica Cacho said.

“We tried the education portion, and it didn’t seem to be working, ” Cacho said. “So we’re definitely going to go the next step and establish some type of regulation.”

The five options in concept have been finalized, Cacho said, but the details of the plans are still being sorted out and were not available Tuesday.

By October 14, the day of a Bridger-Teton meeting at Teton County Public Library, the options should be more fleshed out. The workshop is set for 5:30 – 7:30p.m.

The workshop’s goal is to explore “nrew ways to improve dog owner responsibility on behalf of safety for people and dogs, clean water and wildlife,” a Bridger-Teton notice said.

“We want to be a dog-friendly community that cares about wildlife, a healthy environment and access to nature,” Jackson District Ranger Dale Deiter said in a statement. “But with more of us around, the need for dog owners to be responsible for their dog(s) is growing every year.

“Current problems in the interface areas of the national forest near town include dog waste, aggressive dog behavior towards other dogs or people, dogs harassing wildlife and dogs getting injured or killed,” Deiter said.

“These problems will not improve on their own; we must work together to improve dog owner responsibility before problems get worse.”

For a week in March dogs were prohibited from the Cache Creek drainage as a “time-out” to bad-behaving dogs and their owners.

The seasonal focus of the regulations being considered is the winter. That’s the time when “the need to protect wintering wildlife is most critical,” the Bridger-Teton notice said.

Whatever option is settled on could take effect by this winter, but certainly by next year, Cacho said.

The Bridger-Teton will be accepting public comment on the five potential dog regulations through Oct 30. Instructions on how to comment will be included in cards that will be distributed at the workshop, and also posted online.

Bridger-Teton National Forest to host public workshop to address dog responsibility issues

(Jackson, Wyo.) – The Jackson Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest is hosting a public workshop on Wednesday, October 14, from 5:30 – 7:30 pm at the Teton County Library to discuss options to improve dog owner responsibility within the Jackson area of the National Forest.

This workshop is part of the Forest Service continuing effort to address the concerns that were brought up by the public with regard to dog waste and dog control, particularly within heavily used areas near town such as Cache Creek and Teton Pass.

The Forest recognizes the special bond people have with their pets and the value of opportunities for people to recreate in the outdoors with their companion. The Forest also recognizes that there are limited areas where dogs are permitted, especially off-leash, and the National Forest offers many of the available opportunities. At the same time, the increase in the number of people recreating with dogs means that owners have a much higher responsibility to control their dog(s) and pick up waste. Educational efforts alone are no longer sufficient to meet the Forest’s obligation to ensure public health and safety, wildlife protection, and clean water. Thus, the Forest is asking for the public’s help to come together and focus on various options to improve dog owner responsibility into the future.

More information about the options to be discussed will be announced in October. There is no RSVP required, but due to the location of the workshop, space might be limited and the forest service. encourage those interested to arrive promptly.

For more information, contact the Supervisors Office at (307) 739-5565 or visit the websitewww.fs.usda.gov/btnf/.

As we step into Fall it has been a busy time on trails.  We had 2 volunteer groups working this week on the trails in Cache Creek.  The Roads Scholars from TSS helped brush cut and install drainage on neighborhood access trails near Henley Dr. and the Community School helped haul gravel to a turnpike by Bridge 4 on the Hagen Trail.  The BTNF crew has installed 32 rock waterbars this week on the Continental Divide Trail, that is maybe one of the most grueling tasks on trails so a big round of applause to them.  The FOP Ambassadors are out looking for trees that blew down in the micro burst on Friday, let us know if you see any out on the trails by calling 307-733-4534 or posting a photo with the #jhtrails.  You should see them out at different trailheads with the FOP tent, come stop by and say hi.  One lady last week was so happy with her new bike bell that she rode home and brought them back coffee!  Friends of Pathways has also been busy prepping the new Skyline Trail for the Kick Off Dig Day coming up on September 19th.  If you would like to help come out to Snow King at 9am that Saturday for a ride up the Summit Chairlift to help us dig the 1st mile of trail!