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

Thanks to the JH Late Night Transportation Crusade, New Year’s Eve merrymakers can get a safe, cheap ride home in something other than a police cruiser.

Shuttles will be provided between 12:30 and 3 a.m. connecting Teton Village, the West Bank and town. The town drop-off locations are Albertsons, Town Square and St. John’s Medical Center. Pick-up points on the West Bank are the Mangy Moose, Q Roadhouse and Stagecoach Bar.

Shuttles will run about every 20 minutes. Tickets are for sale in advance at the Town Square Tavern liquor store, Mangy Moose market and The Liquor Store, next to Albertsons.

So go ahead, have that extra extra glass of champagne and kiss the girls at midnight, assuming you can find any.

Aaron Davis has a rundown of all the New Year’s music around Jackson Hole.

Kudos to the organizers behind the transportation campaign. Between their efforts and the recent appointment of April Hankey to the START board, hopefully the community can come up with better bus service at night.

Last week, I met a group of West Bank friends at the ‘Coach to commemorate a special occasion. Because I caught a ride to the bar, I resigned myself to taking a cab home, if needed. After not finding anyone else driving to town, I took the cab — and had to pay $20 for a ride to the Square, which is freaking ridiculous.

Posted under Business, County Government, Entertainment, Holidays, Music, Politics, Town Government

Tags: cops, parties, skids

Teton Pass will be closed late tonight as the first major storm in nearly five weeks is expected to blast the region with heavy snow and high winds.

Although mega-storms rarely live up to the hype, forecasters are calling for between 20 and 30 inches of snowfall in the mountains, prompting an avalanche warning from the Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center. The new snow will fall on a weak base of shallow, faceted crystals prone to collapse.

The Wyoming Department of Transportation will close Highway 22 over the pass at 3 a.m. Friday to set off gas exploders on Mount Glory and reduce the slide danger for motorists. Check wyoroad.info for updates.

Teton County sent out a Nixle alert this morning in advance of the storm. The county also issued another warning of the spread of norovirus in the community:

Norovirus causes “stomach flu” with symptoms of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramping. Noroviruses are very contagious and can spread easily. If you work in food-handling, healthcare, or child care, you should not attend work while you are ill with norovirus-like symptoms and you should not return to work until 72 hours after your symptoms cease.

Dudes and dudettes, that means no New Year’s Eve revelry if you are sick, OK? Spare us the epidemic.

Posted under County Government, Environment, Sports, Weather

Tags: avalanches, backcountry, skiing, snowboarding

One of the silver linings to a dry winter is the freezing of some of the bigger lakes for ice skating.

It takes a rare convergence of sustained cold temperatures and no snow, circumstances that come along about once every five years. Devotees of outdoor skating follow the conditions closely and spread the word via email chains informing which lakes are open.

I once had the opportunity to skate on Slide Lake around Thanksgiving. It was a magical experience, gliding around the dead trees and circling the perimeter, while listening to the ice crack and groan. A bighorn sheep watched from above.

This December, with little to no snowfall, skaters carved Jenny and even Jackson lakes. Because of its size, Jackson Lake usually freezes last, and it’s exceedingly rare to find the ice free of snow. Of course, once I got ready to head up there last week, four inches of snow fell, just enough to muddle the skating.

There are other perks to a dry winter: lots of sun, not having to shovel. Fortunately for skiers, that’s about to change.

(Photo via Vapor Beats)

Posted under Environment, Sports, Weather

Tags: grand teton national park

In what hopefully will be a prelude to the band playing in Jackson Hole soon, Center for the Arts will broadcast Phish’s New Year’s Eve concert live from Madison Square Garden in New York.

The show will be streamed on the arts center’s HD screen and digital sound system. The Vermont jam band will play three sets, stretching from approximately 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. MST. Tickets are $10, all general admission.

Phish usually has a few surprises in store for New Year’s, particularly the countdown at midnight. The band often glides to the stage aboard a giant hot dog, and last year at MSG (above) welcomed a chorus line of international dancers for a “Meatstick” extravaganza. The song won’t make sense to anyone unfamiliar with Phish, but it does make for an entertaining spectacle.

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Posted under Holidays, Music

Tags: center for the arts, phish, rock

Do the Patriots have a prayer today at Mile High?

Tebow’s run has been remarkable, as he shatters the myth of who can or cannot play quarterback in the NFL. His minimalist, late-game heroics are reminiscent of George Blanda in 1970.

One would think the Saints are God’s team, given the miracle of Super Bowl XLIV.
Lord knows the Jets could use some divine intervention.

(Mobile viewers need Hulu Plus)

Posted under Entertainment, Humor, Religion, Sports

Tags: colorado, football, Media

With four Jacksonites recently relocating to New Orleans, including KHOL co-music director Kelly Huster, the Jackson Hole contingent at Jazz Fest is likely to be even larger this year.

Last night the festival announced its preliminary lineup, featuring the likes of Bon Iver, MMJ, Iron and Wine, Herbie Hancock, Zac Brown Band, and Levon Helm with Mavis Staples. Grace Potter makes her Jazz Fest debut.

Although not held until late April and early May, Jazz Fest sets its lineup early to get the jump on other festivals. Best to plan ahead, as flights will fill up and, you know, Kelly’s couch is likely to be booked.

Closer to home, the Pink Garter is preparing for a grand reopening. While construction is ongoing, the theater will host The Deadlocks for three sets on New Year’s Eve ($15). As reported earlier, The Infamous Stringdusters and Leftover Salmon are among the bands who will play this winter.

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Posted under Music

Tags: center for the arts, galactic, jazz fest, new orleans, pink garter, travel, WGH?