Be Bear Aware on Your Next Adventure

Photo by Sean Beckett

Bears are out of hibernation and active in Grand Teton. At this time of year, they are showing up in increasing numbers and are looking for the winter-killed carcasses, leftover berries, and pine seeds on which they feed during the spring months. All park visitors need to be alert for the presence of bears in any area of the park. Follow these essential precautions to stay safe in bear country:

1. Make Noise. Surprised bears feel more threatened. Make your presence known on the trail by talking, clapping, or making other noises. Bears usually move out of the way when they hear people approaching.
2. Travel in Groups. Hike in groups of three or more when in the park. Larger groups make more noise and appear more formidable to bears. Avoid hiking when bears are most active -- in the early morning, evening, or at night.
3. Carry Bear Spray. Bear spray is extremely effective in deterring attacks. Read the manufacturer’s instructions and learn how to use it properly.  Keep spray immediately available on your belt or pack’s waist strap.
4. Keep your Distance. Maintain a 100-yard or more distance from bears at all times.
5. Store your Food. Allowing bears to access to human food results in aggressive behavior. The bear quickly becomes a threat to human safety and must be relocated or killed. Never leave food unattended and keep your personal items with you. Store food and anything with an odor in vehicles or bear boxes, and dispose of garbage in in bear-resistant trash cans or dumpsters.

What if a bear attacks?
Bear attacks are extremely rare in Grand Teton. If a bear approaches or charges you, DO NOT RUN. Surprised or defensive bears typically false charge then stop abruptly. Hold your ground until the bear stops then slowly back away.

Please report any bear sightings or signs to the nearest visitor center or ranger station. Happy adventuring!

In the Spotlight: Signal Mountain Lodge

Signal Mountain Lodge (SML) sits on the stunning shores of Jackson Lake.  A corporate partner of Grand Teton National Park Foundation since 1998 and a frontrunner among environmentally responsible resorts, SML has a longstanding commitment to protecting Grand Teton and encouraging guests and staff alike to enjoy the park’s many wonders.  SML’s general manager, Jason Ryan, shares with us the lodge’s history of stewardship and some of Grand Teton’s best kept secrets.    


The lodge predates Grand Teton.  Tell us about the lodge’s history and culture of outdoor recreation.  SML was founded in the 1920s to provide accommodations for wealthy outdoorsmen.  In the early 1930s, manager Charles Wort, determined to make the lodge a first-class fishing resort, established a camp and boat dock on Jackson Lake and became the park’s first boat concessioner.  When construction of the Wort Hotel in Jackson took off in 1940, Wort sold the property to the Harris family, who constructed the modern hotel.  Today, our team shares a love for outdoor recreation, adventure, and Grand Teton.  One of our staff's greatest rewards is sharing their explorations and inspiring our guests through interpretive services, trip planning, and conversations in Deadman's Bar.

In 2002, SML became the first national park concessioner recognized as a Green Seal Certified Hotel and Lodging Property.  What steps does the lodge take to support the legacy of stewardship and philanthropy in Grand Teton?  We are a committed leader in land stewardship and feel it’s our responsibility to help preserve the park for the enjoyment of future generations.  Some of our stewardship partnerships include the Green Restaurant Association 3-star rating, ISO 14001 certification, EPA's Green Power Partnership, and the local RRR Business Leaders program.  By supporting the Foundation’s Visitor Donation Program, the lodge and our guests contribute to park preservation efforts to help protect park facilities.  These partnerships ensure we meet our mission of protecting this beautiful park.

What is the best kept secret you’ve discovered in the park that you’d like to share with readers?  For me, winter is the park’s best kept secret.  The snow allows for many unique touring and wildlife viewing opportunities.  During the summer season, the Signal Mountain Summit trail connected to the resort is a favorite.  You can complete the 6-mile loop without seeing another visitor.

Thank you, Signal Mountain Lodge, for all you do to protect Grand Teton, inspire its visitors, and set an example for other businesses working in or around our country's national parks.

April 2014 Wildlife Whereabouts

Photo by Patrick Leary

• Moose and other ungulates are experiencing the toughest time of the year as they emerge from winter with low fuel reserves. 
• Melting snow and greening vegetation help many animals get a jump on replenishing these critical energy reserves, particularly pregnant females which will be giving birth in the next 2 months.
• Since gestation lengths in mammals are fairly consistent, calving seasons will be similar to previous years, regardless of weather.  The first bison calves of the year are being born in April, with moose and elk to follow in May!
• Northern migration of elk from the National Elk Refuge into Grand Teton has begun.  Elk typically move up in the Snake River corridor north of the town of Moose first, where river banks and east-facing slopes melt early. 
• Wolves are out and about, localizing around den sites and preparing to give birth to cubs in late April.
• Bald eagles, ravens, great-horned owls, and other early-season nesting birds are incubating eggs.
• Birds that migrate out of Jackson Hole in the fall are returning in increasing numbers (the osprey, blue birds, meadowlarks, sandhill cranes and others are back!).
• Bears are showing up in increasing numbers and are looking for the winter-killed carcasses, left over berries, and pine seeds on which they feed during the spring months.
• Beaver are showing up as ice melts off ponds and are raising new families inside their dens.
• Bighorn sheep that winter in the Tetons begin to move off small wintering areas as the snow at high elevations firms up.
• Numbers of sage grouse attending lek (mating) sites will likely peak during April.

In the Spotlight: The Wort Hotel

Established in 1941, the Wort Hotel has served as a town landmark and social hub ever since. This cornerstone of Jackson’s frontier history is widely involved in many aspects of the community, including support for Foundation initiatives—trail restoration, wildlife research, and youth engagement—in Grand Teton National Park.  Here to discuss the iconic property and its commitment to Jackson is Jim Waldrop, general manager.

 

What’s your favorite part of the hotel’s history and how does it feel to work for such a renowned place?  As stewards of this landmark, it’s an honor to carry on the Wort’s rich traditions.  I enjoy the lore surrounding gambling and the unconfirmed escape tunnels under the hotel.  I also love the story of how the community rallied to get the Wort back in operation within one year after it was devastated by fire in 1980.

Recently the hotel has won several prestigious awards, including a Four-Star rating from Forbes and the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Best Small Historic Hotel in America. What steps has the hotel taken to achieve these accolades?  There were critical steps in three areas:  staff development, capital improvements, and community involvement.  We have undertaken intensive staff training specific to providing gracious hospitality, our ownership has committed the capital dollars to restore every inch of the hotel, and we’ve encouraged all levels of our organization to get involved with the community.

The Wort is a tremendous community partner and has supported Foundation initiatives for over 9 years.  Why did the hotel decide Grand Teton was a priority?  We believe that a visit to Grand Teton is at the core of every guest's experience.  From front desk agents to housekeeping and engineer staff, we encourage each of our associates to share their experiences with guests and to get out and enjoy the park. We recognize the importance of preserving one of our nation's greatest treasures and committing dollars toward this cause is a priority for the Baxters (the owners) and the Wort. 

Given the Wort’s long history, are there legendary stories to share about the hotel?  The hotel has a history of high profile guests.  One of the most talked about events was in 1951 when the cast of the movie Shane stayed at the hotel.  Each morning locals would gather at the base of the stairs to watch leading lady Jean Arthur slide down the banister in grand style.

We would like to thank the Wort Hotel for its widespread support for the Jackson community and Grand Teton. To learn more about the Wort Hotel, check out this fantastic article in the Jackson Hole News and Guide.

March 2014 Wildlife Whereabouts

Bear tracks have been spotted in the snow, signifying that some bears are out and about after spending the winter in hibernation. Here is an update on a few of
Grand Teton's most famous bears, and few other tidbits!

Photo by Diana Stratton

•     Grizzly bear 610, now 8 years old, could emerge with new cubs of the year.  She weaned her last litter last spring and likely bred shortly thereafter.
•     Grizzly bear 399, now 18 years old, should emerge with 2 or 3 yearling cubs this spring.  She spent most of last summer with 3 cubs of the year, but observations late in the fall suggest a possibility she may have lost a cub before denning.
•     Bears with cubs of the year are usually the last ones to emerge from their dens.
•     Adult male bears are the first out of their dens, with more than half out and about by the end of March.
•     As our snowpack slowly wanes on the valley floor, courtship and breeding is occurring among many wildlife species, including wolves, ravens, river otters, bald and golden eagles, wolverine, great-horned owls, and Canada geese.
•     Migrating birds are also showing up in numbers, buds on deciduous trees are starting to swell, and locals are eager for green leaves to emerge, even though this likely won’t happen for another 6 weeks!
•     In the coming weeks, snowshoe hares and long-tailed weasels will begin to shed their white winter fur.
•     At higher elevations, snow continues to accumulate, promising a good summer run off and adequate forage production for many herbivores – bighorn sheep, moose, elk, pika, marmots, and white-crowned sparrows among others.

Spring in Grand Teton: Bike, Run, or Walk the Inner Park Road

Spring in Grand Teton has begun! On Monday, March 24, Grand Teton National Park road crews began plowing the Teton Park Road from Taggart Lake to Signal Mountain Lodge. Winter trails adjacent to the road may still be used for Nordic skiing until the snow melts. While the roadway is closed at this time, it’s expected to re-open to non-motorized traffic in mid-April. Leashed dogs are also permitted on park roads. Just remember to clean up after your pet! The road will open to all traffic on Thursday, May 1. 

Park employees will continue to enforce entrance fees:
•    $12     7-day permit for foot/bicycle entry into Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks
•    $20     7-day permit for motorcycle entry into Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks
•    $25     7-day permit for vehicle entry into Grand Teton and 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

The Grassy Lake Road in the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkways will remain closed till May 31 due to springtime grizzly bear activity.

Take advantage of these quiet spring months in the park to get out and enjoy the scenery!

Rave Reviews: Weekly Grooming of Teton Park Road

Thanks to all who supported this winter’s ski trail grooming collaboration between GTNPF, Grand Teton National Park, Teton County/Jackson Parks and Recreation and Jackson Hole Nordic Alliance. With your help, the inner park road was groomed 7 weekends this winter. 

Phil Leeds of Skinny Skis, a local Nordic ski shop, provides some feedback on the grooming schedule’s success:

“It’s fantastic. The regular grooming schedule makes such a difference, whether you’re using the trails personally or recommending them to a customer.  In past years, the conditions have just been too unpredictable. 

The groomed park road is the #1 destination for Nordic skiing in the area – just as the inner park road draws many tourists in the summer, park visitors in the winter want to visit the same beautiful area.” 

Parks and Recreation’s primary grooming machine, a PistenBully, has been put away until next winter as snow removal on the inner park began on Monday, March 24^th.  Hats off to a great season!