For a glimpse at what Friday night will bring, take a few minutes from counting the falling rain drops check out the latest from Gravnetic and KGB Productions.

What: Freedom Riders, THE MOVIE.

Where: Center for the Arts in Jackson, Wyoming

When: FRIDAY. At 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.

How Much: It’s only $10 … you definitely have that in your change jar by the toaster.

Buy your tickets HERE before Friday or at the Center for the Arts for this screening that will benefit the Teton Freedom Riders.

In addition to the film, the benefit will feature a huge raffle, beer from PBR and the Snake River Brewing Company, and an afterparty with a DJ, pizza and drinks at Café Ponza.

Web site: www.freedomridersthemovie.com

If you live in Idaho and don’t want to drive The Pass, The Freedom Riders are having a showing in Driggs at Tony’s Pizza on Friday June 26 at 8 p.m.

Freedom Riders are a core group of riders from Jackson Hole, who evolved from covertly building rough unsustainable trails, to creating a precedent setting relationship with the US Forest Service by creating some of the best freeride trails in the country. Take a look at the evolution and progression of trail building in the US and see the inside story of a group of riders that would never see their passion die.

Keith Cozzens works for Base Camp Communications in Jackson.

The old fall-line trail, right, and the newer switchback.

There are still erosion problems on High School Butte.

There’s little publicity — just a couple of signs along the path — but the Jackson Hole Land Trust and Teton Conservation District are closing the heavily-hiked High School Butte trail today (Friday) and tomorrow (Saturday) for maintenance. Not that you should stay away. In fact, they need warm bodies. The signage suggests bringing shovels and rakes and hoes. A pickax and a pocket D-9 Cat would also be helpful.

Summing High School Butte: eight lanes, no waiting.

Erosion problems continue. The original trail, from when mostly paragliders used the butte, went straight up the fall line. Switchbacks have since been put in on the lower half, making it the hump of choice for dog-walkers, moms with kiddies, and people who like the idea of nailing a summit of darned near 700 feet. Weirdly, there’s eight lanes near the summit. Fixing that, if that needs fixing, is probably low on the agenda.

Even Google Earth shows the old and new trails.

Work on the High School Butte Trail starts at 2 p.m. on Friday and 8:30 a.m. on Saturday.

]]> http://www.mountainmurmur.com/2009/05/28/high-school-butte-kicking-2/feed/ 1 http://www.mountainmurmur.com/2009/02/20/support-our-teton-pass-ambassador/ http://www.mountainmurmur.com/2009/02/20/support-our-teton-pass-ambassador/#comments Fri, 20 Feb 2009 17:20:35 +0000 Admin http://www.themountainculture.com/?p=1402

When: TODAY Friday, Feb. 20 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Where: Cloudveil Retail Store, 120 West Pearl Avenue

What: Free Beer from Snake River Brew Pub and Questions and Answers with Jay Pistono, Teton Pass Ambassador.

This marks Pistono’s third season as Pass Ambassador. Learn what he does every day up there and why. There is also rumor of a trailer debut for an upcoming profile video on Jay made by a local filmmaker.

Due to increasing popularity (and incredible snow!) on The Pass, some issues have arisen in recent years, such as parking space, hiking traffic and how to deal with dog poo.

Members of Friends of Pathways and the US Forest Service will also be on hand to field questions, mingle and talk about upcoming projects for the favorite recreation area.

Bonus: 50% of Cloudveil sales from the entire day will benefit the Teton Pass Ambassador Program. 

So many visitors and residents use The Pass, whether it’s for a daily dawn patrol, an epic day of 13 ski laps on Mt. Glory, a snowshoe to Ski Lake or a snowmobile ride. Come learn about Your Forest Service land while sampling the local brew.

Those who want to drink beer while discussing Teton Pass parking and backcountry etiquette should free up their schedules Friday afternoon.

Cloudveil and Friends of Pathways will host a public gathering from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Cloudveil Flagship Store in town at 120 W. Pearl Ave.

Speakers include Friends of Pathways’ Tim Young, a representative from the U.S. Forest Service, which manages the favorite winter area, and Pass Ambassador Jay Pistano.

Audience members will write their top concerns on index cards to direct the discussion.

“A big part of the reason we’re having this event is that things have gotten kind of crazy up there,” said Pistano, who skis The Pass daily trying to educate backcountry users on issues ranging from picking up dog doo to safe skiing practices. “I know for a fact that some people have quit skiing on top of the pass. They don’t want to deal with the parking issue nor with the increasingly ‘aggro’ attitude.”

Aggro attitudes and negative encounters have spurred heated discussion around town and in cyberspace. Several “situations” have arisen when faster hikers want to pass slower hikers.

“The whole idea of people not stepping out of the way is weird,” Pistono said. “I’m not sure why they’re offended by the necessity to step out. Let that person behind you go. It’s not really a race.”

Pistano recalled one instance where a large group intentionally wouldn’t let him pass and the snow was too deep on either side of the boot pack to walk around them. He dug a snow pit to pass some time before resuming his pace several hundred yards behind the group.

“This event is just to give people a chance to voice their concerns and discuss possible solutions,” Pistano said. “I bet we’ll be talking about either expanding the parking lot or implementing a shuttle service.”

This marks Pistano’s second season as pass ambassador, yet some backcountry users don’t really know what he does. He’ll try to clear this up as well.

“Some people think I’m actually up there to pick up dog crap,” he said, laughing. “I’m not a backcountry guide, I’m not a parking lot attendant. I’m an educator.”

Bonus: 10% percent of all sales at the Cloudveil Store FRIDAY – SUNDAY will be donated to the Friends of Pathways Winter Ambassador Program.

Saturday: Look for the Cloudveil banner and Friends of Pathways tent at the top of the Pass (south side in front of the kiosk) from 10 a.m. – Noon. Grab a free snack and a drink, and put your comments in the suggestion box and sign the Thank You card for WYDOT.