Biden Signs Law Reforming National Park Film Permits

Above, Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Finally, His Fraudulency Joe Biden did something that actually benefits people.

He signed into law a bill that reforms national park film permits.

Buckrail reported: 

JACKSON, Wyo. — On Saturday, Jan. 4, President Joe Biden signed H.R. 6492, the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act or the EXPLORE Act, into law.

The EXPLORE Act includes provisions of the FILM Act, which reforms the permit system for for-profit filming under the National Park Service (NPS).

This passage comes after the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and the National Press Photographers Association filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Jackson-area photographers Alexander Rienzie and Connor Burkesmith against the NPS after they were ticketed for violating the federal law prohibiting commercial filming without a permit in Grand Teton National Park (GTNP).

“By removing unconstitutional barriers, this new law allows filmmakers to share the beauty and stories of our national parks without facing jail or fines for how they use the footage,” FIRE Chief Counsel Bob Corn-Revere said in a press release. “FIRE applauds Congress and President Biden for taking this crucial step to ensure no one sheds their First Amendment rights just for stepping on land that belongs to the American public.”

To read more, go here. 

Grand Teton's Colter Bay Closed For Season

Above, Colter Bay Marina during normal times. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Boaters who like to take their boats out on Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park are out of luck this summer season.

The lake is very low, practically empty in some areas. 

According to Buckrail:

MOOSE, Wyo. — Colter Bay Marina in Grand Teton National Park is looking very dry this summer.

According to the park, Due to low water levels on Jackson Lake, the Colter Bay Marina and all associates activities and services will not be operating for the 2022 summer season.

According to the article, Jackson Lake is a natural lake that is fed by the Snake River. The Jackson Lake Dam raises the water level about 39 feet to the lake. 

In some parts of the lake, it is only 47% full.

To read more and see photos of the lake, go here.

Grand Teton National Park Turns 93

Above, the Grand Tetons are mirrored on Jackson Lake. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Although overshadowed by its neighbor to the north, Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park is an interesting place in its own right.

The Grand Teton mountain range is unique as it doesn't have foothills. It is a place where visitors can hike, camp, boat and float downstream on the Snake River. 

Grand Teton National Park turned 93 on February 26.

According to Buckrail:

MOOSE, Wyo. — Yesterday, Feb 26., marked Grand Teton National Park’s 93rd birthday. On that day in 1929, the areas around the Grand Teton mountain range and its lakes were established as a national park to protect the land from commercial exploitation.

Since then, the surrounding region has largely transformed. But steady in the change that time brings is the awe that Grand Teton delivers.

“Tall and proud, the Tetons rise dramatically from the grasslands, cutting through bluest skies and brightest sunrises. Snowcapped in the winter and stark gray in summer, these granite masterpieces are home to all seeking serenity in mountains. Few landscapes in the world are as striking and memorable as that of Grand Teton National Park,” said the National Park Servie in a statement yesterday.

“Established on [Feb. 26] in 1929, Grand Teton offers extraordinary wildlife, pristine lakes, alpine terrain, and a unique collection of natural and cultural resources to explore.”

To read more, go here. 

Yellowstone Sets Tourism Record For May

Above, formations at Yellowstone's Mammoth Hot Springs. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Now that restrictions are beginning to melt away like fallen snow, people are heading out to enjoy life again.

Last month, Yellowstone National Park saw its busiest May.

From Buckrail:

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) — Yellowstone National Park had its busiest May as tourism continued to rebound from the coronavirus pandemic.

The park had over 483,000 recreation visits last month, up 11% from May 2019, park officials said Friday.

So far, Yellowstone is having its busiest year in recent memory. The park recorded over 658,000 visits from January through May, the most since 594,000 visits during that time in 2016.

To read more, go here. 

Grand Teton National Park: What To Expect this Summer

Above, Grand Teton's Signal Mountain Lodge. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In a couple of months, the summer vacation season will begin and Grand Teton National Park is looking toward a bit more of a "normal" season.

Buckrail posted an article about different things at the park and what to expect. Thankfully, they go into detail on each.

They begin it with:

JACKSON, Wyo. — It may be difficult to know what to expect in the coming months while a global pandemic is still creating uncertainties in many things that were once considered normal.

Last year, Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) and Yellowstone National Park (YNP) closed for a period of close to two months when COVID came around.

However, in light of the distribution of vaccines throughout 2021, some things will start going back to normal. Last year, Grand Teton Lodge Company (GTLC) cut back many of its operations as the pandemic began to reach the valley of Jackson Hole. This year, GTLC is planning on opening its lodges to park visitors.

 To read more, go here.

COVID-19 Hurdles For Wyoming Skiing Tourism

Above, Corbet's Cabin at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Ski season has arrived in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

The season will not be "business as usual" due to the pandemic, but Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is adapting to the current reality.

I visited Jackson Hole Mountain Resort last year and even took the aerial tram up to Corbet's Cabin, a mountaintop cafe and "jumping off" point for skiiers. As I visited the resort during the summer, there was no skiing going on. The views of Jackson Hole were spectacular.

Above, a view of Jackson Hole and the Snake River from the mountaintop. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Buckrail has an article on the changes that the pandemic forced upon the resort and the rest of Wyoming's tourism industry.

It begins with:

WYOMING — On Thanksgiving Day, skiers loaded the lifts at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort for the first time since the resort closed March 15 — an end nearly a month ahead of schedule due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Like it does most years, Thanksgiving marked the kickoff of Jackson and Wyoming’s winter tourism season. And like most other traditions, it looked different in 2020. Skiers were required to wear face coverings, lift lines came with new spacing requirements and restaurants operated at limited capacities.

The biggest engine of winter tourism in the state — JHMR reported 715,000 skier visits in 2018/19 — prepared for the season as COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations and deaths surged in Wyoming and the U.S.

Resort staff have learned many lessons in the nine months since the mountain abruptly closed, JHMR Communications Manager Anna Cole said.

Along with adapting on the fly to accommodate large crowds of summer visitors, JHMR has spent the time modifying and planning. The resort is implementing COVID safety measures at every level of winter operations, Cole said, from new skier limits on its tram to reengineered lift lines. The resort plans to be flexible, she said.

To read more, go here.