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

A mountain man soon will be able to take one of his most indispensable possessions — a Leatherman or Swiss Army knife — with him when he travels by air.

The Transportation Security Administration announced yesterday that it will permit passengers to carry pocket knives on flights beginning April 25. The long-overdue change will allow knives with blades no more than 2.36 inches long (6 cm) and a half-inch wide.

According to ABC, the TSA confiscated tens of millions of pocket knives from flyers since 2001 — a gigantic waste and source of immeasurable aggravation.

Ski poles, golf clubs and hockey and pool sticks also will be allowed on flights under the new regulations.

Air travel just got a little less maddening. Except, of course, for longer security lines due to the sequester.

Posted under Politics, Wyoming

Tags: travel

It’s 19 degrees as I type, with a coat of fresh snow on the ground. So I’m jealous of all those packing for tropical locales, or even the desert.

But don’t forget to cast your ballot before leaving town. Complete voting information is available here.

Anyone may register and vote between now and Election Day by visiting the Teton County clerk’s office at 200 S. Willow St. (corner of Simpson and Willow). The office is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To request an absentee ballot be sent to you, email elections@tetonwyo.org or call 307-733-7733. No ballots will be mailed after Oct. 30.

Posted under Politics

Tags: campaign 2012, travel

The Fontenelle Fire west of Big Piney has grown to nearly 50,000 acres, with high winds and continued hot, dry weather expected for the next few days. Folks around Pinedale must be getting a little uneasy.

Jim Woodmencey sees parallels to the summer of 1988.

Photographer Tristan Greszko ventured down to Big Piney and documented what he could see of the blaze.

Be careful with fire this Fourth of July holiday.

Posted under Environment, Weather, Wyoming

Tags: national forest, travel

Tonight the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance, American Rivers, Snake River Fund and a host of other nonprofits and businesses have teamed up to present the Wild and Scenic Film Festival at Center for the Arts. Admission is $5.

Eight of the nine films are shorts ranging from two to eight minutes. The longest is 45-minute “Kadoma,” about a wild and ultimately ill-fated river expedition in Central Africa. A synopsis follows after the jump.

Combining adventure with inspiration, the night is dedicated to the Don’t Frack the Hoback campaign. A coalition of conservation and sportsmen’s groups has been working together to protect the Hoback River headwaters from proposed natural gas drilling.

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Posted under Art, Entertainment, Environment, Politics, Sports

Tags: films, oil and gas, river running, snake river, travel

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?