Ride sharing is a popular way to begin or end a day skiing on Teton Pass. Pass Ambassador, Jay Pistono, offers some tips for safe and efficient ride sharing.  In the spirit of community driven solutions, it is up to all of us to travel and recreate with respect, responsibility, and thoughtfulness toward each other and the environment.  The goal of the partners in this program is to provide these guidelines to ensure enjoyable and safe experiences on Teton Pass.

Ride Sharing Incorrectly                  Ride Sharing Correctly

1. Ask for a ride in small groups of 3 or less. If you are part of a larger group, split up.

2. If you’re standing on the highway, stay on the berm, instead of the roadbed, for your own safety.  Don’t walk up the road with your thumb out, either walk up or wait to hitch.

3. Avoid ride sharing with dogs.  If you ski with your dog, devise a plan where you won’t need to ask for a ride with your dog.

4. Be completely ready to get into a waiting vehicle.

5. Remind the driver to get over as far as they can.  You, as the hitchhiker won’t get the ticket, the driver will.

6. Think about where you stage the ride sharing.  Think about visibility. As drivers may not see you, try to avoid being on the road.  If there is bad visibility, it’s unsafe for everyone.

7. Follow Capt’n Bob’s example: Offer the driver $2 for your ride to the top.

8. Please respect private property when waiting in front of Trail Creek or the Heidelberg.

9.  If someone gives you a ride to the top, they get first priority for your parking spot.

10. Listen to Highway Patrol and be polite.  They are trying to make the pass safe for everyone.

Keep the Peace,
JP

The Pass Ambassador is a community-driven program with partner support from Friends of Pathways, the Bridger-Teton National Forest, Teton County Search and Rescue Foundation, the Wyoming Department of Transportation, and others.  The AmPassador Program is also supported by Outdoor Research.

There is no next best place to Teton Pass, but it can get busy on a powder day.  This week, we caught up with Jay Pistono to give you tips for success from the moment you leave your door, until you park your car.

1. Before leaving your house, check the Avalanche Report and the Teton Pass Web Cam.  Know the conditions of the snow pack and make sure you’re prepared if it will be busy to park. If conditions are unsafe or if the parking lot is too full, consider alternate plans.  There is parking at Phillips or Cole Creek Trailhead.

2. Avoid congestion in the parking lot by:
Carpooling whenever possible
Parking at the bottom and ride sharing to the top
Parking tight (45 cars fit with a large space between them, 60 cars have fit on the best day.)

3. If you arrive and the lot is full, line up behind any waiting cars. Remember to keep the waiting line out of the way of the flow of traffic and try to keep room for commuters to stop to clear their wipers, adjust their chains, ect. Turn on your flashers on and communicate with the other drivers.

4.  When you’ve parked your car, prep for your day behind your car, so others can get in and out of the parking lot easily.  Keep your dog under control and maker sure you have the proper saftey gear for a backcountry trip.

If you plan to Ride Share, we thank you, enjoy our Tips for Ride Share success.

The Pass Ambassador is a community-driven program with partner support from Friends of Pathways, the Bridger Teton National Forest, Teton County Search and Rescue Foundation, the Wyoming Department of Transportation, and others. The AmPassador program is also supported directly by Outdoor Research