Milky Way hard to see in towns
JACKSON, Wyo. – From downtown Jackson, it’s impossible to see the Milky Way. For that, says Samuel Singer, the founder of an organization called Wyoming Stargazing, you need to get out of town.
“It really depends where you are in the valley,” says Singer, who has a Ph.D. in science education. “Within a few miles of downtown, you can see the Milky Way on most nights. In downtown Jackson, you can’t see it at all. I would really like to see the Milky Way in downtown Jackson and there’s no reason we shouldn’t be able to do that.”
Jackson, a city of 10,000 people, is the only town in Teton County. The county is almost entirely composed of public lands, including Grand Teton National Park. Just 3 percent of land is privately owned.
Singer’s organization has conducted a test of light pollution, which is measured on the Bortle scale. By that measure, 10 is about what you expect in an inner city.
Jackson’s town square of elk antlers measures 5 on this scale, or akin to a suburban area. It’s also comparable to Flagstaff, a city of about 60,000, says Singer.
But even Grand Teton National Park only measures a 3, a typical rural sky but not truly dark. Singer notes that in parts of Grand Teton, you can find those truly dark skies, but not in areas near Park Service facilities.
Organizations have missions, and Singer’s group aims to darken the night sky in both areas by reducing the glare from lights. Lights always have impact, but glare can be reduced if the bulb or other source is shielded, so it lights only the ground.
Jackson currently has lighting regulations but lacks enforcement, says Singer. There’s no fine for failure to shield light fixtures.
Even outside Jackson, there’s glare from distant cities. However, even with the naked eye, a person with good vision can see probably 3,000 stars and, with a small telescope, 10,000 or more.
Bears out in Banff, but it’s no big deal
BANFF, Alberta – Warm weather has drawn several bears from their dens around Banff and Canmore. But John Paczkowski, a biologist with Alberta Parks, says such mid-winter bear activity is nothing concerning.
“It happens in Yellowstone all the time. Wolves will kill an animal, and the bears will emerge to sniff the carcass. We’ve seen bears get up for a couple of hours, and it usually corresponds with warm weather,” Paczkowski said.
What has concerned him is the lack of snow. Snow adds a layer of insulation over bear dens, likening the difference to that between a light blanket and a down blanket. He told the Rocky Mountain Outlook that he expects the grizzly bears to return to their dens and remain there until late April.
Cougar killing wise or unjustified?
BEND, Ore. – If you’re a cougar in Oregon, it’s one strike and you’re out. That policy of state wildlife officials was demonstrated recently when a 105-pound male cougar was found lounging in a tree within the city of 82,000 people.
Wildlife biologists shot the cougar with a tranquilizer, lowered it to the ground, and then took it elsewhere, where it was administered a lethal dose of poison, reports the Bend Bulletin.
“We just don’t relocate cougars (found) in town,” explained Michelle Dennehy, spokeswoman for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. She said the animal being close to people during the day was evidence that something is wrong. Moving it elsewhere would simply move the problem elsewhere.
Tim Dunbar, executive director of the Mountain Lion Foundation, questioned the policy. In California and Washington, he said, the cougar would have been relocated and released.
Bill would lower ‘Zion Curtain’ in Utah
PARK CITY, Utah – OK, a guy goes into a bar in Park City and orders a gin and tonic. What does he see?
Nothing, and many in Utah think that’s a joke. The state requires something nicknamed the Zion Curtain, a shield to prevent people – including youngsters – from seeing alcoholic drinks mixed.
The Park Record says a legislative bill has been introduced by the state representative who represents Park City. The bill would allow restaurants to create a separate bar or lounge area for mixing drinks where children wouldn’t be allowed.
“Not seeing the alcohol doesn’t mean it isn’t going to be served or consumed,” explained State Rep. Kraig Powell.
The current law was influenced by the Church of Latter-day Saints. The LDS believes that alcohol policy in Utah is “closely tied to the moral climate of the state, and legislation should not enable, promote or contribute to an ‘alcohol culture.’”
Alpine coaster OK’d for in-town ski area
JACKSON, Wyo. – The path has been cleared for an alpine coaster at Snow King Resort, the ski area located about six blocks from downtown Jackson. The larger Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is located about 10 miles away.
The Town Council had earlier voted to treat the proposal as a minor development plan, delegating the decision to town Planning Director Tyler Sinclair. The company that makes the ride said it will generate less than 65 decibels of noise, the equivalent of a regular conversation at a distance of 3 feet.
The Jackson Hole News&Guide says the 38-foot-tall coaster could be constructed as soon as this summer and will make four 360-degree loops in a cluster of trees on the side of the mountain.
Also planned at Snow King, although not yet approved, is a ropes course, zipline, a longer lift, and base area development. New owners hope the alpine coaster will deliver revenues that offset what have been historically significant losses in winter operations.
Weighing the value of hosting big events
WHISTLER, B.C. – Vail and Beaver Creek got off light. They just spent $59 million to host the World Alpine Ski Championships. Aspen spends a chunk, but undisclosed, amount to host the X Games.
To host the 2010 Winter Olympics, Whistler and Vancouver spent $8 billion, if you include upgrades such as the improved highway linking the city and the resort, and a convention center in Vancouver.
Canada got off light in comparison to Russia, which spent $51 billion to host the 2014 Winter Olympics. And now China will have to spend more if it secures the 2022 Winter Olympics. It hopes to keep costs down to $3.9 billion by reusing some of the venues from the 2008 Summer Games, which cost $40 billion.
Was it worth it to Whistler? Clare Ogilvie, editor of Whistler’s Pique Newsmagazine, reports a pleasant after-glow. “It’s hard not to feel pride,” she says. The Games were not perfect, she adds, “but they were inclusive, celebratory, successful and for the most part on budget.”
Real estate buyers to follow Epic Pass?
PARK CITY, Utah – Real-estate agents in Park City predict that purchase of homes and condos will surely follow sales of the Epic Pass, the season pass package offered by Vail Resorts.
Vail now operates two of the ski areas at Park City, The Canyons and Park City Mountain Resorts. Unlimited skiing is offered at the two ski areas along with skiing at other Vail Resorts properties in Colorado and California.
“You’re going to get people coming from different parts of the world to ski here,” said Nancy Tallman, president of the Park City Board of Realtors. “People who have been going to Colorado are going to use this pass to check out Park City.”
Steve Roney, chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Utah Properties, agreed. “While we have yet to see a large number of international buyers in Park City, I think it likely we will see more in upcoming years,” he told the Park Record.
Local boosters point out that Park City has unparalleled access, with Salt Lake City International Airport just 40 minutes away, but with lower prices than other resorts.
– Allen Best mountaintownnews.net