Recreation

From Sustaining Jackson Hole Wiki

I. Overview

In many ways, “recreation” is in the eyes of the beholder: one person’s recreational opportunity may be another’s chore or waste of time. This reality created a definitional problem for the Recreation Working Group. The 2005 Working Group defined recreation as any activity focused on re-creation, where people step outside of themselves for refreshment, renewal, or restoration.

Lying in the middle of millions of acres of public lands, Teton County abounds with outdoor recreational opportunities. These range from traditional, subsistence-based activities such as hunting, fishing, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing to newer “extreme” sports such as paragliding and mountain bike slalom racing.

Such recreational opportunities form much of Jackson Hole’s appeal to both visitors and residents. As a result, they constitute the basis for a long-standing and important component of the region’s lifestyle and economy. This sector’s growth is also being affected by the technological advances in gear for all outdoor pursuits, which in many cases is making it easier for participants to access new terrain, try new sports, and explore new limits in sports they’ve already learned.

Although perhaps not reflected in the data, there is a perception that the popularity of, and participation in, outdoor recreation is increasing. In turn, this perception has raised concerns about the sustainability of both the quality of the experience any individual might enjoy, as well as the long-term effects of their activities on the area’s resources.

II. Participants

           Meeting Attendees
           •           Stephen Koch, Exum Mountain Guides
           •           Jeff Lamondia, Friends of Pathways
           •           Susan Marsh, Bridger-Teton National Forest
           •           Jill Russell, Teton County Parks & Recreation
           •           Yvonne Robertson, Teton County Fair Board
           •           Fred Smith, Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance
           •           David Vandenberg, Friends of Pathways
          
           Other Data Providers
           •           Teton County Search and Rescue
           •           Grand Teton National Park

II. Recreation Indicators

A. National Parks and Forest visitation

Rationale: Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and the Bridger-Teton National Forest make up the centerpiece of the outdoor recreational opportunities in Teton County. The visitation numbers for these three destinations reflect the volume of both local and visitor use of the areas over time. The number of nights spent in the backcountry reflects the overnight and campground usage in the Parks. Participation in many recreational activities is not measured, such as the number of hikers on a trail. However, the following data are reliable because they track activities for which people must purchase a pass or obtain a permit.

The national parks and forests play complementary roles. National parks serve families and “destination” visitors from across the nation, whereas the national forests cater more to residents of the local area and region. The national forests are likely to see significant increases in recreation use as population grows in communities in and around the Greater Yellowstone region. According to Forest Service estimates, it is possible that some areas will see annual increases in recreation use of as much as 10-15 percent. This is particularly true in areas such as Jackson Hole, where a combination of increased population and limitations on national park backcountry use may result in significant increases in use of the Bridger-Teton National Forest.

A1. Grand Teton National Park visitation and backcountry usage

Comment: This count focuses on recreational visitation because it more accurately reflects the number of people who visit Grand Teton. Because a great deal of traffic passes through Grand Teton on the highway between Jackson and Dubois, unlike many parks, Grand Teton has high levels of non-recreational visitation. In 1993, Grand Teton changed its methodology for counting recreational visitors, and counts from previous years are not comparable to those post-1992. Note that, for the Backcountry Use graph, a “user night” counts each camper for every night they are in the backcountry. Permits are issued one per party, per outing, so total permits are significantly lower then user nights.

A2. Yellowstone National Park visitation and backcountry usage

Comment: As with Grand Teton, this count focuses on recreational visitation as being the best statistic for capturing use of the park. Flat visitation counts in national parks has been a national trend; it is not specific to these two parks.

A3. Bridger-Teton National Forest visitation and campground usage

Comment: Recreational visitor day data were not available for the years 1990 and 1991. Regarding the graph on long-term recreation use trends, even though the counting methods from the past were not very precise, they allow an understanding of long-term trends. Recreation use is increasing on the forest, year-round, forest wide. A RVD (recreational visitor day) is one person on the Forest for 12 hours; a visit does not account for how long someone stayed.

The BTNF does not use RVDs anymore. Instead, the most recent BTNF usage count comes from the National Visitor Use Monitoring Survey. The 2002-2003 survey indicated there were approximately 2.7 million National Forest visits that year. This survey will be repeated every five years to establish trends.

Camping in the Bridger-Teton National Forest is a popular activity for residents and visitors. Campground occupancy rates are a means of measuring the demand for campsites in the National Forest. As the occupancy rates approach 100 percent, the areas may have to be expanded to meet demand. The decision whether to expand campgrounds is a function of recreational demand, user access, and environmental considerations. Additionally, use levels reflect regional population growth, more than use in national parks because most national forest users come from nearby counties. Comment: A three-year trend is not particularly helpful in gauging long-term recreation patterns; and these data may be more a reflection of the effects of highway construction and weather. However, these data do provide a baseline of information for comparison in the future.

B. Spring/Summer Outdoor Recreational Activities

B1. Snake River Canyon Usage

Rationale: The number of both outfitted and non-outfitted users in the Snake River Canyon reflects the popularity of whitewater sports in the region. (Most use on the Snake comes from Salt Lake City.) The breakdown of outfitted vs. non-outfitted trips also reflects changes in the demand for outfitted whitewater trips.

Comment: It is not necessary to have a guided raft on the river. Total use of the Snake is increasing due to the growth of non-guided trips, including rafting and kayaking, and the recent emergence of duckies (inflatable kayaks) and play boats.

B2. Teton County Fishing Licenses

Rationale: Fishing in Teton County is a major recreational attraction for both residents and visitors, and has substantial economic implications. Although we cannot track how many people come to Teton County to fish or the total amount of fishing related products and services sold in the area, we can track the number of annual fishing licenses sold. This is the most quantifiable way we could measure the volume and popularity of the sport in Teton County. (Source: Wyoming Game and Fish Department)

C. Fall Outdoor Recreation Activities

C1. Teton County Hunting Licenses

Rationale: Hunting is a recreational activity possible only in certain areas of the country. In Teton County, hunting is important to the area’s status as a recreational destination, as well as to the economic health of its recreational industry. Hunting also is an important historical and cultural component of life in Jackson Hole.. Included here are the licenses issues for elk harvest in the Jackson Hole herd, perhaps the most popular hunt in Teton County. Figures on licenses issued for other species can be found in the Harvest Reports on the Wyoming Game and Fish Website: http://gf.state.wy.us/wildlife/hunting/stats/harvest/index.asp (Source: Wyoming Game and Fish Department)

D. Winter Outdoor Recreation Activities

D1. Ski Resort Skier Days

Rationale: The downhill ski industry is the cornerstone of Teton County’s winter tourism economy. Skier day counts combine the number of days skied by resident season pass holders, resident day skiers, and tourists. Visits to the ski areas comprise the largest proportion of visits to the Bridger-Teton National Forest in the winter.

Comment: Nationally, downhill skiing is an essentially stagnant industry: as the sport becomes more expensive and the skiing population ages, total skier days have been more-or-less flat, the number of ski operations (especially small- and mid-sized operations) has declined, and consolidation has occurred in the number of companies The Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is quite small for a major ski area, but has seen a modest increase in skier days during the past decade. Mountain officials attribute this in no small measure to improved air service to Jackson Hole in the past several years. (Source: Bridger-Teton National Forest, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort)

D2. Snowmobile Use

Rationale: Snowmobiling is a popular activity in the area for both residents and visitors. Much of snowmobiling activity uses designated recreational areas including National Forest land. Although we cannot track every snowmobile trip that occurs (due to dispersal), we can measure usage of select areas. The areas shown in the graph, although not in Teton County, were monitored by the Forest Service and reflect overall trends of the sport in the area. These data are from electronic trail counters. (Source: Bridger-Teton National Forest)

D3. Other Winter Activities on the Bridger-Teton National Forest

Rationale: Dogsled trips are a recreational winter activity somewhat unique to Teton County. Outfitted dogsled trips in the National Forest require guides to obtain permits from the Forest Service and are therefore easily tracked.

Outfitted snowshoe trips have recently gained popularity with both residents and visitors. Outfitted snowshoe trips, like many other guided services, must obtain permits from the National Forest Service to conduct business within its jurisdiction. (Source: Bridger-Teton National Forest)

E. Trends in winter use of popular recreational sites near the Town of Jackson

Rationale: Nationally, people are finding that their leisure time is becoming increasingly fragmented. As a result, the traditional two-week family vacation is rapidly disappearing and being replaced with shorter, more frequent excursions. This same phenomenon seems to apply to the leisure patterns of Jackson Hole residents, helping fuel the rapid increase in day use of public lands, particularly those that are easily accessible. Semi-primitive front country near rapidly growing communities is under extreme pressure from both residents and visitors. These are the places that will require focused attention in the near future to prevent unacceptable resource damage and visitor conflict. (Source: Bridger-Teton National Forest) Comment: Note that vehicle counts are done once per day. If most people spend an hour or less in these areas, there is considerable turnover. Therefore, the vehicle counts may not reflect the use that actually occurs.

F. Teton County Recreation: Supportive Services & Facilities

F1. Teton County Search and Rescue missions

Rationale: Teton County Search & Rescue performs backcountry and open water rescues. As backcountry recreation becomes more popular, there is a corresponding increase in demand for Search & Rescue’s services. Other factors playing a role in Search and Rescue activities include weather and education.

Comment: 2004 was one of the slower years TC Search and Rescue has seen in recent history, probably due to weather conditions. When avalanche danger was high, Teton Pass was closed, reducing use in that area; spring and summer were wet, decreasing the number of backcountry travelers, and hunters in the fall experienced beautiful weather. 2005 is trending towards 2003 numbers. Types of accidents include: injured skiers and snowmobilers, horseback riding, river rescues, injured or lost hikers and hunters, downed aircraft, cave rescues, and increasingly, bear activity.

F2) Teton County Parks & Recreation

F2a) Teton County Parks & Recreation attendance & participation

Rationale: The Teton County/Jackson Parks & Recreation Department offers a variety of indoor and outdoor recreational programs and opportunities. In addition to running the Recreation Center, Parks and Rec offers a number of sporting leagues and provides park space and athletic fields for the general public to use. In 2004, a total of 5,122 hours were spent in official sporting activities on the 13 fields operated by Parks and Rec (not including the McIntosh Stadium Field, which is owned by the School District and scheduled by Parks & Rec in the summer). These activities include: Parks & Rec sanctioned leagues (softball, adult football, adult soccer, special events, youth soccer, Camp Jackson, youth baseball & softball, and youth football), leagues organized outside of Parks & Rec by the general public (youth baseball, youth soccer, adult baseball, adult soccer, adult frisbee, adult rugby, adult lacrosse, special events), and the Powder Puffs. These figures do not include winter activities such as broomball.

Comment: It is not clear why participation in the Parks & Recreation programs continues to decline.

F2b. Teton County Parks & Recreation facilities

Rationale: Having geographic access to parks & recreational facilities provides opportunities for both social and physical activity. A “5-minute walking distance” threshold may indicate where a park or facility needs to be added in order to provide every Teton County resident with ready access to green space. This ideal is not currently met in Teton County; in fact, an argument can be made that, compared to national averages, the Town of Jackson has too few parks. This is not considered to be a major problem, however, given the large amount of public lands in Teton County.

In addition to the Rec Center, Parks & Rec maintains 30 acres of park facilities, 70.5 acres of open space, 8 tennis courts, 2 basketball courts, and 2 ice-skating rinks. Locations of each of these areas are listed in the appendix.

F3. Teton County Fair Board

Rationale: The Teton County Fair Board organizes the annual Teton County Fair, which includes popular events such as the Rodeo, Demolition Derby, Horse Show, and Pig Wrestling. The Fair Board also maintains the Fairgrounds, used for a variety of activities at other times of the year, such as the bi-weekly rodeo. They also have a covered facility, which is used by several different groups throughout the year, and have just broken ground on an indoor riding arena.

Users of the Fairgrounds facilities include: Citizens Mounted Patrol, General Public, Teton Backcountry Horsemen, Teton Equestrian Club, Bureau of Land Management, No Name Ropers, J.H. Pony Club, J.H. Therapeutic Riding, JH Rodeo Co., Old West Days, J.H. High School Rodeo, Elks Club Pro Rodeo, Teton Barrel Racing Association, J.H. Senior Pro Rodeo, Horse Warriors, and 4-H.

F4. Use of pathways

Rationale: According to a study conducted in the summer of 2005, most pathways users are recreators. There are approximately 45,650 recreational pathways trips per year, compared to 18,624 trips for other purposes (shopping, work, social activities, other purposes.) Additionally, most users are biking or walking on pathways, with running and cross-country skiing being the distant runners-up.

IV. Recreation Indicators Wish List

           •           Trend data in recreation use conflicts (dog owners, motorized vs.
                       non-motorized)
           •           Map of locations of trailheads, pathways, parks and assessment of proximity
                       to neighborhoods
           •           Number of private or civic services such as Teen Center, 4H, Garden Club,
                       Bird Club, etc. –  how many people are served, who is served, number and
                       kinds of programs
           •           Survey data
                       •           Amount of trail visitation
                       •           How many miles people are willing to drive to recreate
                       •           Wildlife collisions on trails
           •           Number of people employed by the recreation industry
           •           Number of people that attend the County Fair
           •           Annual rodeo attendance
           •           History and growth of the mountaineering and rock climbing community

V. Statement of Ideal

           Every Teton County resident and visitor will be able to pursue any legal recreational activity of their choosing, as long as that activity:
           •           allows for viable populations of all native species;
           •           preserves all natural scenic vistas;
           •           preserves the recreational environment; and
           •           does not compromise other users’ experiences.

Comment: In 2004, the information contained in this report focused on aerobic recreational pursuits which occur outdoors, and those activities organized by the Teton County/Jackson Parks and Rec Department. This definition guided that group’s data collection efforts. This year, the question of “what is recreation?” was revisited. The 2005 working group defined recreation as any activity focused on re-creation, where people step outside of themselves for refreshment, renewal, or restoration. This new definition was adopted to include the many membership or non-profit organizations which people are involved in for recreational purposes, such as 4H or the Teen Center. Ideally, we could track these organizations through membership counts and activities offered. Unfortunately, we were not able to gather much data on these organizations this year. However, the Statement of Ideal is equally applicable to any other type of recreational pursuit occurring in Teton County.

           The phrase “...be able to pursue...” refers to access issues of all sorts, including the ability to gain legal physical access to recreational areas, and the ability to afford a particular recreational pursuit.

           The phrases “...allows for viable populations of all native species” and “...preserves all natural scenic vistas” are the components of the Environmental Working Group’s Statement of Ideal, and reflects the Recreation Working Group’s belief that Teton County’s recreational pursuits must be done in a way which does not harm its natural environment, and protects the biophysical, geologic, and heritage resources that form the attractors, destinations and settings for outdoor recreation.

           The phrase “... preserves the recreational environment” is similar in spirit to the preceding environmental phrases, in that the Recreation Working Group feels that Teton County’s current recreational pursuits must be done in a way which allows subsequent generations to enjoy the same recreational opportunities enjoyed today by Teton County’s residents and visitors. It is important for our recreational facilities and activities to contribute to public welfare and benefits through both outdoor and indoor recreational opportunities – for the vitality and well-being of regional communities as well as citizens at large. 

Ideal Indicators/Additional Steps Needed

           To gauge progress toward Ideal, the recreation community in general, and each individual organization in particular, needs to accurately measure the following items related to the components of its Statement of Ideal:

           •           “..allows for viable populations of all native species and preserves all natural scenic vistas”

                       •           The measurements needed to track progress toward this Ideal are discussed in the Environment Working Group’s Statement of Ideal section.

           •           “...preserves the recreational environment”

                       Two comprehensive inventories need to be completed:
                       •           Of Teton County recreational environment; and
                       •           Of the quality of each aspect of this environment

           •           “...does not compromise other users’ experiences”

                       This component of the Statement of Ideal involves determining two different aspects of users’ recreational experiences:
                       •           how users rate their different outdoor recreational experiences, and
                       •           the threshold below which those experiences are considered compromised.

                       The former is likely best determined through surveys; the latter is likely best determined through public deliberative processes.
                                                                      

V. Action Component

Several items on the wish list could be relatively easily obtained by either surveys or compilation of existing data. The group will combine resources to work on gathering some of this missing data. In particular, creating a map combining existing pathways, trailheads, and parks and recreation facilities would be a valuable tool in collaboratively planning for in-town and county recreational needs and challenges, as well as ensuring that recreational opportunities are readily available for all Teton County residents that desire them.

Along with Jackson Hole’s scenic qualities, outdoor recreation is one of the valley’s primary attractions. Teton County’s abundance of recreational activities played a large role in its emergence as a tourist destination in previous decades, and today the easy access to recreation is one of the main reasons people move to the valley.

Hiking, fishing, skiing, snowboarding, wildlife-watching, rafting, kayaking, backpacking, hunting, and climbing are some of the more popular activities in the Jackson Hole area. Such diverse recreation is possible both because of Teton County’s varied geography and the fact that roughly 97 percent of the land in the county remains undeveloped due to federal ownership. Guide services abound for most outdoor activities.

The major role recreation plays in Teton County is revealed by several figures. In 2004, there were roughly 2.4 million recreational visits to Grand Teton National Park and 397,000 skier days at Jackson Hole Mountain. Despite such large numbers, recreational use – including recreational visits to Grand Teton and Yellowstone Parks, skier numbers at the resort, and rafting trips on the Snake River – was relatively flat in the last decade. (See tables 10-1 through 10-4.) In some cases – such as hunting or backcountry camping in the national parks – the trend may be flat because of restrictions imposed by management decisions.

Some recreation is difficult to track because data are available only in certain situations. For example, it is easy to track activities in which people buy a pass, pick up a mandatory permit, enter through a checkpoint or hire a guide. There is little accurate information available, however, about the number of hikers who use national forest land or the number of backcountry skiers on Teton Pass because it is difficult to track such dispersed use. Anecdotal evidence indicates that participation in such recreational activities is increasing. For example, backcountry skiers claim there are more cars parked atop Teton Pass today than 10 years ago, and hikers cite more people in remote parts of the backcountry. Furthermore, while the number of snowmobilers is not tracked, the weekend of the World Championship Snowmobile Hill Climb at Snow King is one of the busiest times each winter for local lodging establishments.

However, from the available data, one can definitively conclude little except that many residents and visitors participate in a wide range of outdoor pursuits in Jackson Hole.

Sources: National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort