JH Underground – news, sports and music blog from Jackson Hole, Wyoming news, sports and music blog from Jackson Hole, Wyoming

A strainer that lodged nearly across the Hoback River, posing a hazard for boaters, has at least partially washed out. The left side of the tree is gone, making the run easier to navigate.

The river is popular for kayaking, rafting and fishing. The tree had been stuck in the Campground Wave area, between Hoback Junction and Camp Creek, creating a nearly river-wide sieve for the last few weeks.

“Conditions are constantly changing on the rivers, and we highly encourage all river users to scout the channels before they launch their vessels, even if they are familiar with the features of the river,” Dale Deiter, Bridger-Teton National Forest district ranger, said when the tree became stuck.

One deer died after being caught on the snag, and boaters survived several close calls. Floaters should watch out for other trees that could lodge on the remaining snag, and rafters may want to stay close to the left bank.

(Photo via BTNF)

Posted under Environment, Sports

Tags: national forest, river running

Update 7/29: And the winners are … Andy Davis (No. 25) and gdh (No. 31). Your names will be on the guest list at will call.

In this band, Lettuce does the shredding.

The funk-thumping supergroup is a collective of musicians grown from the same New England garden: Neil Evans and Eric Krasno of Soulive on keys and guitar, Adam Deitch on drums, Sam Kininger and Ryan Zoidis on saxophone, Erick Coomes on bass and Adam Smirnoff on guitar.

The players get together from time to time for high-yield dance jams, usually at locales like Jazz Fest in New Orleans. On Friday night, Lettuce will garnish perhaps the funkiest concert in the history of the Teton County Fair.

Courtesy of promoter Poppa Presents, we’re giving away two free tickets. In the comments below, say you’re in, and two winners (one ticket each) will be chosen by random drawing at 3 p.m. Friday.

The Jackson soul troupe The OutFit will open the all-ages show, starting around 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance, available online and at the fair office, or $23 at the gate. Ride the Zipper and get in the right frame of mind to get down.

Posted under Music

Tags: funk

In a plot line that could have been lifted from a Palin family drama, two high-profile grizzly mamas in Grand Teton National Park have performed a rare feat of bear behavior: a cub exchange.

Grizzly No. 399 has passed off one of her three cubs to grizzly No. 610, herself a daughter of the famous grandma. Grizzly 610 is rearing the adopted cub with her two offspring of the year.

At 15 years old, grandma griz apparently doesn’t have the energy to raise three young bears, the way she did in 2006-08 when 610 was a cub. The two bruin families have been occupying the same range — often along park roadways — since emerging from hibernation this year with their respective offspring.

The handoff took place last week. Those pesky wildlife photographers were the first to report the behavior, and the park issued a press release yesterday. Read the full report here.

(Photo by Gary Pollock, National Park Service)

Posted under Environment

Tags: bears, grand teton national park, photography, sarah palin, wildlife

Now that the NFL lockout has ended, that leaves the nation with one game of high-stakes chicken between pampered millionaires.

Saturated media coverage of the debt ceiling fiasco has been annoying (there is not much news in summer), but an op-ed in the Star-Tribune merits sharing. Chuck Herz of Moose, chairman of the Wyoming Democratic Party, spells out why the debt negotiations have been so infuriating.

Chuck ran for Wyoming Senate in 2006, and won the vote in Teton County (then-Sen. Grant Larson held onto the seat, thanks to gerrymandered district). A 71-year-old lawyer and scholar, Chuck campaigned under the slogan “Get Real,” and has championed a call for civil discourse in politics. So when he speaks, it bears listening. He writes:

Clearly all of us have to bite the bullet and endure the pain to get out of the hole we’ve thus gotten into. But it’s infuriating that those who did the most to get us back in this hole pose as heroes and blame President Obama and Democrats for the deficits and debt. That they suddenly again champion fiscal responsibility is good. But some humility, some shame would be in order.

The op-ed gives a brief overview of how we got into this mess, and lays bare what’s really motivating the obstinate Tea Party/Republican Party, including Wyoming’s own congressional delegation. Read the whole piece here.

Just like with the NFL lockout, I’d be surprised if the impasse drags on long enough to trigger disaster, but if it does, it will be squarely the fault of the Tea Party GOP. Why do Republicans hate America so much?

Get informed and get involved: Follow the Teton Dems on Facebook.

Posted under Democratic Party, Economy, Politics, Republican Party

Tags: barack obama, Media

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has lowered the cost of its full-season Grand Pass to $1,195, down from $1,255 last year. The resort also has extended its season and will be open from Thanksgiving weekend to Easter, a total of 135 days.

Resort President Jerry Blann held a press conference today in Teton Village to announce the reduced price, which follows a 25 percent cut last year. Pass prices had been as high as $1,670, when purchased in August, before the recession.

Blann also discussed $4.5 million the resort is investing on mountain amenities, including installation of the Marmot lift that will connect South Pass Traverse (near the bottom of Thunder chair) to the top of the Bridger Gondola.

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Posted under Economy, Ski Resorts, Sports

Tags: jackson hole mountain resort, skiing, snowboarding, teton village

The mud has dried out, the forecast is calling for sunshine, and music fans are on a move as the seventh annual Targhee Fest opens today. The three-day event will feature Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Little Feat, the Funky Meters and more.

The schedule is posted here. Fans can buy tickets and camping passes on site at Targhee, and plenty are available. The resort again will offer a free shuttle to and from Driggs every half-hour until 2 a.m. Check the schedule for details.

Winner of the Targhee Battle of the Bands, The Deadlocks are high-stepping into town to open the fest at 4 p.m. today. Other local bands playing the first slot are Jet Black Ninja Funkgrass Unit on Saturday and The Miller Sisters on Sunday.

Targhee says the slope has recovered from the Widespread Panic melt-off and should be in much better shape. Also, Rick’s Basin is open for mountain biking, with a couple of fun cross-country loops through the wildflowers. More advanced riders can tackle the Mill Creek downhill into Teton Canyon. Lift-served downhill riding is not yet available.

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Posted under Music, Ski Resorts

Tags: festivals, grace potter, michael franti, targhee