Latest news with #Tetons
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Commentary: The disappearing home and doomed fate of a Grand Teton bear
They called it paradise. The place to be. A mountain realm like no other. A place where the spectacular Teton range rises 6,000 feet above the valley floor, offering one of the most distinct and dramatic mountain fronts in the world. Below the striking peaks, the mighty Snake River meanders through a sagebrush valley dotted with aspen and pine. And it is here that I once met a great grizzly bear. She was known as Grizzly 399. I've been filming in Grand Teton National Park and the Northern Rockies for 20 years. A few years ago, I had the honor of filming 399 when she had her quadruplets. It was the first trip I'd made to Grand Teton to specifically see the great bear. And the last. Why the last? Because I saw what was happening. Could feel what was happening. I wanted to give the great bear space. I didn't want to be chasing her around the park, waiting in my car with heated leather seats, hoping she'd cross the road, all the while hemming her in. I knew what was happening. Full-size commercial jets were flying overhead, landing at an international airport that should never even be there. Dropping off passengers to a growing town that wasn't meant to be there. Driving to stores that should have never been built there. For 28 years, Grizzly 399's world shrunk all around her. Slowly, year by year, she had to make adjustments to the sprawl and greed of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. To the sprawl and greed of the human race. She did the best she could as we humans closed in. As we built more and more storage facilities and hotels and developed properties merely for vacation rentals, we could stuff more cash in our pockets, ultimately sacrificing in the process one of the most beautiful places the world has ever known. She raised her cubs in all this for decades. Navigated through it all, a steady ship in a stormy sea — each wave just a little taller than the last. And yet the people came. More full-size commercial airliners roaring into an international airport. Dropping off people who wanted to 'own a piece of the Tetons.' But when you buy or develop a house next to a national park, you don't capture a piece of that park. You ruin it. What had once been a wild valley slowly turned into the suburbs, and Grizzly 399 handled it all with aplomb. She didn't have to. But she did. More and more photographers swarmed to the Tetons to see her every year. More and more 'investment properties' went up, causing more people to drive the roadways. More stores were built. More drones flew overhead. More airplanes roared in the sky. Each year, her world shrunk. And this past fall, it finally closed in on her. That poor driver didn't kill the great Grizzly 399. We did. You see, Grizzly 399 was not just a bear. She was a symbol of a truly wild animal trying to hang on in a changing world, a world that is all about 'me, me, I, I' and very little of 'Why?' or 'What can I do to help?' This is a world where if the stores start to fade or look a little old, we build the exact same stores 2 miles down the road. And 10 years later, we do it again. And again. Until that's all there is. It never stops. Our need to consume, to stuff our pockets. To turn prairie meadows into self-storage facilities. To pave over everything that is true and wild. To pave over what is real. Grizzly 399 deserved better. The single best way you and I can honor her amazing legacy is to look at what happened to Grand Teton. And not repeat it elsewhere. We can honor her legacy by protecting our national parks by not bringing sprawl to their doorsteps. We can honor her legacy by pulling back on our obsessive need to develop everything and finally showing some tact and humility — the same way she did when dealing with us. You see, Grizzly 399 was so much more than a bear. She is a lesson. And she is teaching us all, still. Always had been teaching us. Because that's just what a great mother does. ____ Michael Hodges, a native of the Chicago area, is a novelist, photographer and Facebook influencer. ___
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Monster Energy Releases Action-Packed "Siberian Express" Video from the Wilds of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
Heavy-Hitting Crew Featuring Rene Rinnekangas, Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, Judd Henkes, Torgeir Bergrem, Ståle Sandbech, Kokomo Murase, Halldór Helgason, Sebbe De Buck, and More Take Over the Snow Park at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) CORONA, Calif., May 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- What happens when snowboarding's heaviest hitters take over one of North America's steepest and most scenic mountain resorts? Saddle up. Monster Energy releases "Siberian Express" — a 12-minute film showcasing next-level riding on massive kickers amongst the rugged beauty of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) in Wyoming. Featuring an elite crew of international riders packed with all-time riding on massive kickers and filmed against the dramatic, snow-drenched Tetons, this one delivers pure heat. Released to global audiences across Monster Energy's social media channels, "Siberian Express" features professional snowboarders Rene Rinnekangas, Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, Judd Henkes, Torgeir Bergrem, Ståle Sandbech, Kokomo Murase, Halldór Helgason, Sebbe De Buck, and more in a boundary-pushing session. The wait is officially over! Viewers can now go online and watch "Siberian Express" in all its intensity on the official Monster Energy YouTube Channel here. Tune in for next-level snowboarding on superpark-era mega kickers along with western-themed antics for an unforgettable watch that will have you frothing to shred! Directed and edited by Marcus Skin, "Siberian Express" showcases the craggy drama of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) and taps into the true grit of the West with a modern twist. The build? Unreal. The Stomping Grounds Projects crew built a litany of jumps down Jackson Hole's notorious "Amphitheater" run, featuring a top-to-bottom flow of hits: a quarterpipe, an 18-foot halfpipe, and a massive hip at the bottom. Not to mention an unforgettably huge cross-court kicker, sending a select few brave shredders far and wide. The footage in "Siberian Express" was captured by a world-class crew of filmmakers and photographers, blending raw on-mountain action with dynamic drone cinematography over Jackson's legendary terrain. Set to a genre-bending soundtrack featuring the iconic tunes of Orville Peck's haunting country croon, "Take You Back," to Tanya Tucker's, "Delta Dawn," and a flash of nostalgia with Swedish pop duo Roxette, the edit fuses cowboy soul with snowboard chaos. Expect raw tricks, rowdy energy, and the kind of camaraderie and genuine friendship that defines Monster Energy's snowboard team in front of JHMR's stunning mountain backdrop. Highlights? Too many to list. Throughout a week-long film shoot, all riders came through to raise the bar: Tricks like Rinnekangas' frontside lipslide front flip or Henkes' backside 360 on the hip are lighting up the comments sections on YouTube. But no spoilers – too many heavy tricks to name! Better hit play and experience the high-energy edit for yourself! Follow the link and watch "Siberian Express" in high-definition quality on YouTube here. Special thanks to Monster Energy partner resort Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) for the opportunity, backing the vision, and letting this crew go full throttle in cowboy country. Watch Monster Energy's 'Siberian Express' Video For more on Rene Rinnekangas, Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, Judd Henkes, Torgeir Bergrem, Ståle Sandbech, Kokomo Murase, Halldór Helgason, Sebbe De Buck, and the Monster Energy snowboarding team, visit Follow Monster Energy on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok for behind-the-scenes footage from the 2025 snowboard season. For interview or photo requests, contact Kim Dresser. About Monster EnergyBased in Corona, California, Monster Energy is the leading marketer of energy drinks and alternative beverages. Refusing to acknowledge the traditional, Monster Energy supports the scene and sport. Whether motocross, off-road, NASCAR, MMA, BMX, surf, snowboard, ski, skateboard, or the rock and roll lifestyle, Monster Energy is a brand that believes in authenticity and the core of what its sports, athletes, and musicians represent. More than a drink, it's the way of life lived by athletes, bands, believers, and fans. See more about Monster Energy including all of its drinks at CONTACT: Kim Dresser, C: (949) 300-5546, E: View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Monster Energy
Chicago Tribune
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Michael Hodges: The disappearing home and doomed fate of a Grand Teton bear
They called it paradise. The place to be. A mountain realm like no other. A place where the spectacular Teton range rises 6,000 feet above the valley floor, offering one of the most distinct and dramatic mountain fronts in the world. Below the striking peaks, the mighty Snake River meanders through a sagebrush valley dotted with aspen and pine. And it is here that I once met a great grizzly bear. She was known as Grizzly 399. I've been filming in Grand Teton National Park and the Northern Rockies for 20 years. A few years ago, I had the honor of filming 399 when she had her quadruplets. It was the first trip I'd made to Grand Teton to specifically see the great bear. And the last. Why the last? Because I saw what was happening. Could feel what was happening. I wanted to give the great bear space. I didn't want to be chasing her around the park, waiting in my car with heated leather seats, hoping she'd cross the road, all the while hemming her in. I knew what was happening. Full-size commercial jets were flying overhead, landing at an international airport that should never even be there. Dropping off passengers to a growing town that wasn't meant to be there. Driving to stores that should have never been built there. For 28 years, Grizzly 399's world shrunk all around her. Slowly, year by year, she had to make adjustments to the sprawl and greed of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. To the sprawl and greed of the human race. She did the best she could as we humans closed in. As we built more and more storage facilities and hotels and developed properties merely for vacation rentals, so we could stuff more cash in our pockets, ultimately sacrificing in the process one of the most beautiful places the world has ever known. She raised her cubs in all this for decades. Navigated through it all, a steady ship in a stormy sea. Each wave just a little taller than the last. And yet the people came. More full-size commercial airliners roaring into an international airport. Dropping off people who wanted to 'own a piece of the Tetons.' But when you buy or develop a house next to a national park, you don't capture a piece of that park. You ruin it. Megan Ross: Changes to the Endangered Species Act clear a path for species to go extinctWhat had once been a wild valley slowly turned into the suburbs, and Grizzly 399 handled it all with aplomb. She didn't have to. But she did. More and more photographers swarmed to the Tetons to see her every year. More and more 'investment properties' went up, causing more people to drive the roadways. More stores were built. More drones flew overhead. More airplanes roared in the sky. Each year, her world shrunk. And this past fall, it finally closed in on her. That poor driver didn't kill the great Grizzly 399. We did. You see, Grizzly 399 was not just a bear. She was a symbol of a truly wild animal trying to hang on in a changing world, a world that is all about 'me, me, I, I' and very little of 'Why?' or 'What can I do to help?' This is a world where if the stores start to fade or look a little old, we build the stores 2 miles down the road. And 10 years later, we do it again. And again. Until that's all there is. It never stops. Our need to consume, to stuff our pockets. To turn prairie meadows into self-storage facilities. To pave over everything that is true and wild. To pave over what is real. Grizzly 399 deserved better. The single best way you and I can honor her amazing legacy is to look at what happened to Grand Teton. And not repeat it elsewhere. We can honor her legacy by protecting our national parks by not bringing sprawl to their doorsteps. We can honor her legacy by pulling back on our obsessive need to develop everything and finally showing some tact and humility — . You see, Grizzly 399 was so much more than a bear. She is a lesson. And she is teaching us all, still. Always had been teaching us. Because that's just what a great mother does.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Yahoo
‘Not going to be great out there': Experts have candid advice for national park visitors
(NEXSTAR) — The national parks, fresh off their busiest year on record, are now facing a challenging bout of staffing changes with just weeks before summer visitors are expected to pour in. With the uncertainty surrounding the National Parks Service, coupled with canceled events and reduced hours at the parks, you may be second-guessing your plans to visit the system. 'It's going to have impacts on everything from running the budget right at every national park to being the ranger who's there to help a family find someone who may have gotten lost on a park trail,' Christine Lehnertz, president and CEO of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, told Nexstar when asked how the staffing cuts and delayed rehiring of seasonal employees will impact the NPS this summer. Still, Lehnertz and other park advocates have advised against canceling any national park trips but are instead encouraging visitors to plan ahead a bit more. Can you fly without a REAL ID after the May deadline? 'It's not going to be great out there this year,' Jonathan Jarvis, the 18th director of the National Park Service, recently told Nexstar. 'It's going to be a disappointment, I think, to the public, and a potential impact to the resources.' You should expect longer lines to get into parks, Lehnertz said. She also recommends the common advice given to park visitors: if you pack it in, pack it out; don't litter; stay on the trails; and be patient. 'Go with an expectation that when you visit this year, you are like an honorary park ranger,' she explained. 'You are a steward of that park.' It's at the smaller parks where you will likely notice the impacts of staffing shortages the most, according to Jarvis. At historical parks, like Civil War and Revolutionary War battlefields, and significant buildings, staffing cuts may have removed historians who could provide insights you may not otherwise encounter on placards and pamphlets. At others, like Carlsbad Caverns, beloved ranger-led events may no longer be available. And in more serious cases, reduced staffing could impact search and rescue efforts as well as emergency and fire incidents, leading to slower response times, Jarvis warns. He recommended visitors 'come more prepared to take care of themselves' by bringing the 10 essentials and being prepared to 'self-rescue if necessary.' Planning to visit these national parks? You may need to make a reservation to get in 'The concept of the national parks is that we don't put up guard rails for the Grand Canyon. We don't corral the bison at Yellowstone, we don't hide the bears in Glacier,' Jarvis explained. 'If you want to climb Mount Rainier, you can climb Mount Rainier. You want to climb the Tetons, you can climb the Tetons. And you may die in the process, I hope not, but that's part of the adventure, right?' He continued, 'But the value proposition is that we have rangers. Rangers are there to help you do that, warn you, 'Please don't go pat the nice bison on the head. Please don't get into that cold river. Do you have the experience to climb this mountain?'' Without rangers, 'the public is much at greater risk,' Jarvis said, advising that those who are visiting 'need to be judicious in what they do.' Jarvis noted that while rangers and other park staff are important to NPS sites, so are the volunteers. Visitors can double as such, by picking up trash, for example, and otherwise looking out for the environment at the parks. You may also opt for being more generous at the donation box or in the visitor center, Lehnertz suggested. These national parks saw record attendance in 2024, but they may not tell you about it If you're concerned about your own pocketbook this summer, but are still interested in visiting a national park, Lehnertz recommends looking at those nearest you. There are more than 400 NPS sites, with each state having at least one park (the general term used to describe all NPS units). 'I would ask people to visit national parks so that they can learn more about America's history,' Lehnertz said. 'Go with a sense of curiosity, as they always have, to learn as much as they can, so we do become a more perfect union.' Earlier this month, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum directed national parks to 'remain open and accessible' and said officials will ensure proper staffing to do so. The order also calls for a detailed review of each park's operating hours, trail closures and other limits on visitor services. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
19-04-2025
- The Hill
‘Not going to be great out there': Experts have candid advice for national park visitors
(NEXSTAR) — The national parks, fresh off their busiest year on record, are now facing a challenging bout of staffing changes with just weeks before summer visitors are expected to pour in. With the uncertainty surrounding the National Parks Service, coupled with canceled events and reduced hours at the parks, you may be second-guessing your plans to visit the system. 'It's going to have impacts on everything from running the budget right at every national park to being the ranger who's there to help a family find someone who may have gotten lost on a park trail,' Christine Lehnertz, president and CEO of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, told Nexstar when asked how the staffing cuts and delayed rehiring of seasonal employees will impact the NPS this summer. Still, Lehnertz and other park advocates have advised against canceling any national park trips but are instead encouraging visitors to plan ahead a bit more. Can you fly without a REAL ID after the May deadline? 'It's not going to be great out there this year,' Jonathan Jarvis, the 18th director of the National Park Service, recently told Nexstar. 'It's going to be a disappointment, I think, to the public, and a potential impact to the resources.' You should expect longer lines to get into parks, Lehnertz said. She also recommends the common advice given to park visitors: if you pack it in, pack it out; don't litter; stay on the trails; and be patient. 'Go with an expectation that when you visit this year, you are like an honorary park ranger,' she explained. 'You are a steward of that park.' It's at the smaller parks where you will likely notice the impacts of staffing shortages the most, according to Jarvis. At historical parks, like Civil War and Revolutionary War battlefields, and significant buildings, staffing cuts may have removed historians who could provide insights you may not otherwise encounter on placards and pamphlets. At others, like Carlsbad Caverns, beloved ranger-led events may no longer be available. And in more serious cases, reduced staffing could impact search and rescue efforts as well as emergency and fire incidents, leading to slower response times, Jarvis warns. He recommended visitors 'come more prepared to take care of themselves' by bringing the 10 essentials and being prepared to 'self-rescue if necessary.' Planning to visit these national parks? You may need to make a reservation to get in 'The concept of the national parks is that we don't put up guard rails for the Grand Canyon. We don't corral the bison at Yellowstone, we don't hide the bears in Glacier,' Jarvis explained. 'If you want to climb Mount Rainier, you can climb Mount Rainier. You want to climb the Tetons, you can climb the Tetons. And you may die in the process, I hope not, but that's part of the adventure, right?' He continued, 'But the value proposition is that we have rangers. Rangers are there to help you do that, warn you, 'Please don't go pat the nice bison on the head. Please don't get into that cold river. Do you have the experience to climb this mountain?'' Without rangers, 'the public is much at greater risk,' Jarvis said, advising that those who are visiting 'need to be judicious in what they do.' Jarvis noted that while rangers and other park staff are important to NPS sites, so are the volunteers. Visitors can double as such, by picking up trash, for example, and otherwise looking out for the environment at the parks. You may also opt for being more generous at the donation box or in the visitor center, Lehnertz suggested. These national parks saw record attendance in 2024, but they may not tell you about it If you're concerned about your own pocketbook this summer, but are still interested in visiting a national park, Lehnertz recommends looking at those nearest you. There are more than 400 NPS sites, with each state having at least one park (the general term used to describe all NPS units). 'I would ask people to visit national parks so that they can learn more about America's history,' Lehnertz said. 'Go with a sense of curiosity, as they always have, to learn as much as they can, so we do become a more perfect union.' Earlier this month, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum directed national parks to 'remain open and accessible' and said officials will ensure proper staffing to do so. The order also calls for a detailed review of each park's operating hours, trail closures and other limits on visitor services.
