Teton Pass Scoping Document

Please send your comments by Sept 25th
To:
Linda Merigliano

Scoping Document
Proposed Trail Projects: Teton Pass Area
September 4, 2009
Bridger-Teton National Forest
Jackson Ranger District, Teton County

Proposed Action

The Forest Service is proposing to construct approximately 2 miles of downhill mountain biking trail and
reconstruct approximately 0.75 miles of horse/hiking trail in the Teton Pass area. Work on three trail
segments is proposed. These projects are all located in the vicinity of the Old Pass Road (see attached map).

Project #1 would be a downhill mountain bike trail tentatively named “Powder Puff” that would be located
between the Old Pass Road and the History trail above Crater Lake. This proposed trail is approximately 1.3
miles in length with an overall grade of 15%. This trail would connect with the Powerline Jumps trail and
the Parallel trail providing a complete separated bike trail from the top of Teton Pass to Trail Creek
trailhead.

Project #2 would be a downhill mountain bike trail that would complete the Jimmy’s Mom trail from
Phillips Bench trailhead to the connection with the Parallel trail near Crater Lake. Currently the Jimmy’s
Mom trail rejoins a closed road. This proposed trail would extend the Jimmy’s Mom trail approximately 0.7
miles so that downhill mountain bike traffic would be completely separate from the multi-use road.

Project #3 would re-locate a portion of the History trail which is managed for horse and hike use only (no
bikes). Approximately 0.75 miles of this trail would be re-located above the Crater trail junction. Currently
a portion of this trail crosses a closed powerline road and crosses a downhill mountain biking trail in two
locations. This section of the History trail has been very confusing for hikers and horseriders to follow and
the trail crossings have raised safety concerns.
The projects would be overseen by the Forest Service with labor coming primarily from the local
organization Teton Freedom Riders. Work would also be performed by Forest Service and Friends of
Pathways employees as well as volunteers. Trails would be built to meet Forest Service standards for
sustainable native surface trails. Technical features on the downhill mountain biking trails would be built in
accordance with bike industry standards in accordance with the trail agreement between the Forest Service
and Teton Freedom Riders. All work would be completed using hand tools.

Purpose and Need
Construction and reconstruction of these trail projects is being proposed within the context of the Teton
Pass Trail System decision signed in August 2004. Goals of the trail system plan were to improve public
safety, protect natural resources, and stop unauthorized trail construction. A key decision in the 2004 trail
system decision was to separate trail uses where differential speeds and steep gradient trails could result in
potential collisions. Consistent with the goals of the trail plan, these proposed projects would enhance
public safety by providing more separation between bikes and horse/hike use thereby reducing the potential
for collisions and enhancing the recreation experience for all visitors.
The proposed downhill mountain bike trails were identified in the 2004 plan as part of the Trail Creek
powerline corridor. This corridor was one of the new trail corridors accepted as part of the trail system to
separate bike use from horse/hike use. Construction of the “Powder Puff” trail would provide a key
connection for bicyclists from the top of the Pass to Trail Creek trailhead. Providing this trail will separate
bike use from horse/hike use, curtail potential illegal use of the History trail and will likely reduce some
bike use on the trails south of Teton Pass.

Reconstruction of the History trail was authorized in an August 2002 decision notice and accepted as part of
the trail system for horse and hike use in the August 2004 decision. Completion of the History trail was
accomplished in 2008 as part of the Order of the Arrow Boy Scout project. The original trail alignment
above the Crater Lake area was designed to follow the old Wagon Route as closely as possible. However,
this meant that the trail crossed over a BPA powerline road and went through the large meadow under the
powerline crossing the existing Powerline Jumps bike trail in two places. This section of the alignment has
been confusing to hikers and horseriders and the result has been that people end up bypassing this section.
Due to the low use, this section has largely disappeared due to rapid vegetation growth. Trail users have
expressed concern about safety associated with the trail crossings. Field work this summer revealed that an
alternative alignment is possible that would allow the History trail to be completed separated from road and
trail crossings which would enhance safety and provide a higher quality trail for hikers and horseriders.
The proposed trail projects are almost all located within Desired Future Condition Category 9A of the
Bridger-Teton National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (i.e. Forest Plan). Relevant
management direction for this area states: “The management emphasis is on existing and proposed
developed recreation sites and Forest Service administrative sites: campgrounds, picnic grounds,
trailheads, visitor information centers, water-related recreation facilities and concentrated use areas in
Roaded Natural areas.” Trail management direction for this area states that “trails are provided for the
convenience of people”.

A small section of the proposed History trail re-location would be located within Desired Future Condition
Category 6S (Palisades Wilderness Study Area). Relevant management direction for this area states: “The
Wilderness Study Areas will be managed to protect long-term wilderness attributes. No activities will be
allowed that will jeopardize the eligibility of the WSA for future Congressional designation as Wilderness”.
Decision to be Made
Based on the environmental analysis and public input, the Jackson District Ranger will decide how to
implement the proposed trail projects in the Teton Pass area including the location of specific trail
alignments. The scope of this analysis is limited to determining the specific location and design of the
proposed trails; the decision to include these trails as part of the trail system was already made in the 2004
decision to separate downhill bike use from horse/hike use.
Public Comments
The purpose of scoping is to invite your comments and identify any issues or concerns with the proposed
trail projects. I would appreciate hearing from you by September 25
th
, 2009. Please send written comments
to:
Teton Pass Trail Proposal - c/o Dale Deiter- District Ranger
Bridger-Teton National Forest- Jackson District
P.O. Box 1689, Jackson WY 83001
Comments may also be submitted via email to lmerigliano@fs.fed.us
If you have questions about this proposal or need more information, please contact Linda Merigliano,
Recreation/Wilderness Program Manager at (307) 739-5428.
PLEASE NOTE:
Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names and addresses of those who
comment, will be considered part of the public record on this proposed action and will be available for public
inspection. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered; however, those who submit
anonymous comments will not have standing to appeal the subsequent decision under 36CFR Part 215.
Additionally, pursuant to 7 CFR 1.27(d), any person may request the agency to withhold a submission from the public
record by showing how the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) permits such confidentiality. Persons requesting such
confidentiality should be aware that, under FOIA, confidentiality may be granted only in very limited circumstances,
such as to protect trade secrets. The Forest Service will inform the requester of the agency’s decision regarding the
request for confidentiality, and where the request is denied, the agency will return the submission and notify the
requester that the comments may be resubmitted with or without name and address within the next 10 days.

One Response to “Teton Pass Scoping Document”

1. nancy leon says:

   September 22, 2009 at 2:13 pm

   I support this plan.
   Regards,
   Nancy Leon
   Wilson, WY