Priced at $174,900  Call, text or email Dave Dery for details, 208-709-4155,  dave@altarealty.com.

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The director decided to shoot five scenes instead of an originally planned three at the private Bar BC Ranch on Spring Gulch Road, Mary Jane Ashmore, the ranch’s marketing manager, said.

After seeing elk on the National Elk Refuge, filmmakers asked to have actors ride among them, but they settled for a less intrusive shot on the reserve.

In all, the production spent more than $500,000, rented 100 rooms at Snow King Resort for about a week and also filmed in Grand Teton National Park.

At Bar BC Ranch, the crew filmed for about five days, Ashmore said.

“They had some scenes in mind that were specific to an ambush and a rambling scene with the Tetons in the background,” she said.

Based on a 1966 Italian-made spaghetti Western, Tarantino’s feature is about a slave-turned bounty hunter, starring Jamie Foxx in the title role. Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell and Sacha Baron Cohen also have roles.

Location scouts stumbled upon the Bar BC Ranch when they were trying to get better access to the Walton Ranch, Ashmore said. But “it just so happened the two locations they spotted [on Bar BC Ranch] were exactly what they were looking for.”

The crew built a cabin near a pond on one part of the 1,400-acre property, Ashmore said.

Hillwood Communities, which owns Bar BC, donated $10,000 to the Jackson Hole Historical Society from the proceeds paid by the film, she said. Some 150 cast and crew members were part of the production that filmed on the ranch last week, Ashmore said.

Tarantino’s production company hired several residents for crew work, Michelle Howard of the Wyoming Film Office said. The company also brought in veteran movie horse wranglers Robin and Kate Wiltshire from Turtle Ranch near Dubois.

The throngs of elk and bison on the National Elk Refuge inspired a new scene for Tarantino’s movie, refuge officials said.

“This site was not planned originally, but when the director saw all the elk along the highway, they wanted to have all their actors walk in and among the elk,” refuge manager Steve Kallin said. “Then they wanted to ride horses in and among the elk.

“We said no,” Kallin said. “They wanted to do some things around the sleigh ride area, which would have caused disturbance.”

However, refuge officials did agree to let the film crew shoot some footage with elk and bison in the background. The crew staged in a “remote location” while roughly six crew members, two actors and two horses went out to the shoot, Kallin said.

“We had them go to our northern feedground,” Kallin said. “There’s a hunter access road there. They sat just on the edge of that road.”

The area is normally closed to the public during the winter, but Kallin decided to grant the crew a permit because there would be little if any impact to wintering wildlife. Kallin couldn’t say how much the refuge charged for the permit. Refuge staff were on hand during the shoot.

“We did have very tightly controlled access and ensured there was no disturbance to the elk or bison,” he said.

Tarantino’s crew shot the footage just after the elk had been fed. While the elk were still standing in the feeding area the actors “rode the horses a short distance between the camera and the herd,” Kallin said. “Their crew was very respectful and followed our instructions explicitly.”

The movie could bring good publicity to the refuge, Kallin said.

“There may be some benefit to the refuge in having … a bunch of wintering animals in a major film,” he said. “We could potentially see a little bump in our sleigh ride visitation.”

The production also shot some scenes at Kelly Warm Springs in Grand Teton National Park. Park officials granted the production a film permit for a couple locations there earlier this month.

The crew stayed at Snow King Resort while they were in town. Dana Ahrensberg, general manager of the resort, said Tarantino’s crew had little downtime but was able to ski at Snow King and the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.

“They work really hard when they were working, and then they had Jackson Hole to relax in when they’re not,” he said. “That was not their original plan, to come to Jackson Hole. It’s lucky we had the best snow in the country.”

The filmmaker also rented out the Teton Theatre Feb. 6 and 7 to play Western and samurai movies from Tarantino’s collection, a Jackson resident who worked as a production assistant and spoke on the condition of anonymity said.

The production crew had nothing but positive things to say about the locations, Howard said.

“Everyone said they were very pleased with the shots they got,” she said. That was despite temperatures that dipped into the negative 20s near the end of the shoot, she said.

The production company spent more than $500,000 in Wyoming, which qualifies it for a cash rebate of  up to 15 percent of those expenses, she said. The state’s Film Industry Financial Incentive program requires a production spend $200,000 or more to qualify for the rebate.

“We will be working to process their expenses and receipts in the coming weeks,” Howard said.

This article appeared in the Jackson Hole News & Guide on February 17, 2012

Guided Backcountry Tour Pricing
Full Day:     $250/person, $80 for each additional person.
Half Day:    $125/person, $80 for each additional person
(Max group size is 4 for a single tour.)

Check out this post on our blog for a great Q & A with Rich, or visit Yostmark Backcountry Tours online at www.yostmarktours.com.

Priced at $219,900  Call, text or email Dave Dery for details, 208-709-4155,  dave@altarealty.com.

Your Teton Valley, Driggs ID, Realtor

H.R. 7, the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, was introduced last week in Congress and cleared committee Friday. The bill is purported to be pro-growth infrastructure legislation that would promote widespread American energy production to help pay for road and bridge infrastructure projects, according to House Speaker John Boehner, in his blog.

It could also eliminate federal funding and support for non-motorized activities such as bicycle paths and Safe Routes to School programs.

“The bill eliminates federal mandates that currently force states to spend highway money on non-highway activities, helping to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent on our most critical infrastructure needs, not wasted on non-highway projects,” said Boehner, in his blog.

Locally, some see the benefits of federal funding for pathway projects as invaluable enhancements to the community.

“We have seen a tremendous amount of walking- and cycling-related federal and state dollars in Teton County,” said Scott Fitzgerald, former Victor mayor and owner of Fitzgerald’s Bicycles.

Doug Self, Driggs planning and zoning administrator, said the city has received three Safe Routes to School grants worth about $300,000 total. That money funded the Ross Avenue sidewalk project, and is slated to cover costs for the Fifth Street sidewalk improvements in 2012 and the Valley Centre pathway project scheduled for 2014.

“Some of our most treasured community assets like the Victor to Driggs Rail Trail, the Victor Millennium Trail, and the recently-completed Driggs pathways are all a result of federal support for walking and cycling,” Fitzgerald said.

“Safe Routes to School, Transportation Enhancement funding and Rail Trail funding have been the primary sources of funding in Teton Valley,” he said.

The bipartisan Petri Amendment to H.R. 7, which would have restored some funding mechanisms to Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes To School, and restored eligibility for Rail Trail programs, was defeated by two votes last Thursday in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The bill now leaves committee and could be up for debate next week.

Tim Adams, executive director of Teton Valley Trails and Pathways, said H.R 7 could effectively do away with all federal funding for bicycle and pedestrian pathway infrastructure.

The Safe Routes to School program, funded federally and administered by the state, promotes safe practices of walking and bicycling to and from schools, said Adams. He led an SRS walking and biking safety program at Driggs Elementary School last fall, and stressed the importance of these programs and related needs.

That includes everything from wheelchair sidewalk access to paths where kids can ride safely from schools to parks, said Adams.

“It’s about preserving really valuable programs, not about asking for new money or taking away from [highway infrastructure funding],” he said.

If nothing is spent on pedestrian and bike trails “we’ll lose out on opportunities to ensure the infrastructure is sustainable in the future,” Adams said.

Fitzgerald said federal transportation enhancement funding for walking and bicycling routes “accounts for less than one percent of all federal transportation spending, while 12 percent of all trips in the U.S. are made by bike or foot.”

Adams said that amounts to about $1 million in Idaho.

“Safe walking and cycling routes to school for our children, and a connected network of walking and cycling facilities for residents of all ages are critical to the well being of our community and its economic growth in the future,” Fitzgerald said.

Fitzgerald said he and his wife, Jannine, along with Adams, “will once again be traveling to Washington, D.C. this March to meet with our state leaders in Congress to discuss the importance of cycling at the National Bike Summit.”

Adams is the state representative to the summit.

The summit (bikeleague.org/conferences/summit12/index.php), put on by the League of American Bicyclists, is lobbying to save cycling from federal budget cuts.

H.R 7 also claims to create 1 million jobs and cut back on bureaucratic red tape by streamlining permitting processes and removing duplicate programs for infrastructure-related projects.

It would open up a segment of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling, lift bans on new offshore drilling for oil and encourage production from oil-shale resources.

The bill “links job-creating energy production and infrastructure together,” said Boehner, in a release.

The proposal, sponsored by Rep. John Mica (R-FL) has a $260 billion price tag over five years. It could face floor debates as soon as next week.

Visit thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:H.R.7: to read more.

This article appeared in the Teton Valley News on 2/9/12 written by Ken Levy.

Teton Springs Lodge & Spa announced on Monday, November 14, that it has received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for the year 2011, which honors top-rated lodging businesses, restaurants and attractions worldwide, as reviewed by travelers on the world’s largest travel site. To qualify, Teton Springs Lodge & Spa had to maintain an average rating of four or higher out of a possible five, as reviewed by travelers on TripAdvisor. Additional criteria include volume of reviews and how recently they have been submitted by travelers.

Teton Springs Lodge was rated “Top Resort in Idaho” based on guest reviews of 334 hotels/resorts in the Gem State. “This powerful endorsement from our resort guests is indeed humbling,” said Jeff Naylor, General Manager for Teton Springs Lodge & Spa. “It’s an honor to receive this recognition from the people who matter the most, our guests. I’m proud to be associated with this property and I can’t say enough about our staff’s commitment to provide exemplary guest service every day,” continued Naylor.

“The TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence program gives exceptional businesses the recognition they deserve,” said Christine Petersen, president of TripAdvisor for Business. Traveladvisor.com, founded in 2000, provides consumers with one-stop-shopping travel information on hotels, resorts, airlines, events, and activities to pursue in any particular destination worldwide

Situated in the heart of Teton Valley, Teton Springs Lodge & Spa opened in December 2007. This year-round resort offers 52 casually elegant guest rooms and suites in the main lodge. Teton Springs also manages three-, four-, and five-bedroom mountain log homes situated on the award-winning Headwaters Golf Course.  Teton Springs is the only resort in Eastern Idaho to offer its own luxury spa, golf club and onsite fly fishing to their summer guests with heli-skiing, Nordic skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling in the winter. The private Headwater’s Club is an 18-hole course designed by the late Byron Nelson, Steve Jones and Gary Stephenson as well as a nine-hole Nelson short course and practice facility. The 5,000 square foot Stillwaters Spa & Salon, Headwaters Grille, Swim and Tennis Complex, and a 25-meter pool and Fitness Center, round out the resort’s facilities.

For more information visit www.tetonspringslodge.com.

“While the nearby town of Jackson has ballooned into a tourist megalopolis, rustic Driggs, on the western flank of the Tetons, manages to keep its feet on the ground as it morphs into an outdoor-adventure capital. Friendly and unpretentious, Driggs is for people who love the mountains enough to live, work, and play in them—including many of the service-industry stiffs who keep Jackson running but can’t afford to live there.

PLAY

“The Teton River is the best place to cast for cutthroat, rainbow, and brook trout. Laren Piquet Guiding Services charges $350 a day for a drift along the Teton in a flat-bottom boat (+1 208 354 2786). Or take a DIY hike 8 miles (13 kilometers) along the South Teton Creek to Alaska Basin, then continue 2.7 miles (4.3 kilometers) to Hurricane Pass for a spectacular overlook of Teton Valley and the town of Jackson.

EAT

“A sporty crowd downs dollar beers and chows down on scallop polenta at the Royal Wolf (+1 208 354 8365).

SLEEP

“Locanda di Fiori’s cozy log cabin is set on 20 acres (8 hectares) of rolling farmland, with great views of Teton Valley (doubles from $150;www.inntetonia.com).” As quoted from National Geographic Adventure Magazine.

The Nature Center Hours

The Nature Center 11am – 5pm, 7 days a week.

The Nature Center will be temporarily closed during Free Naturalist Snowshoe Tours.

Naturalist Snowshoe Tours

Snowshoe tours are 7 days/week at 1:00pm and an additional tour Saturday morning at 10:30am.
Tours are approximately 1.5 hours long

Grand Targhee Resort offers complimentary guided snowshoe adventures for the young at heart and curious of mind. Participants will learn about the history of Grand Targhee, forest and wildlife ecology, and the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem. Tours are led by our Resort Naturalist, Brigid Sinram and guests of all ages and abilities are welcome. Snowshoe tours are free, last about one hour, and offer an easy to moderate journey of discovery to explore old growth forest life, snow tracking, trees, wildlife, geology and winter ecology. Together we’ll scout for tracks in the snow, learn about the different trees in the forest, and listen for distinct bird calls. This winter marks the 12th year we have offered Naturalist services to our guests in partnership with the Caribou-Targhee National Forest.

Ski with a Naturalist

For those interested in doing an “on mountain” adventures the NEW Ski with a Naturalist program. When you ski with our naturalist, you will learn about the flora and fauna that make our corner of the world so special while skiing intermediate terrain accessed off the Dreamcatcher and Shoshone chairlift. Ski with a Naturalist tours are offered on Sundays starting January 8th, 2012. Ski with our resort naturalist Brigid Sinram for a true insiders look at the natural world on mountain at Grand Targhee. Naturalist Tours are free with lift pass.

Environmental Programs

Targhee’s Environmental Program seeks to educate the public about the ecology and conservation of our unique alpine environment and to advocate the stewardship of Grand Targhee for recreation, healthy forests, and wildlife habitat. Naturalist education programs provide alternative recreational activities at Grand Targhee and strive to inspire guests to become involved in the conservation of our environment. Grand Targhee’s Nature Center is located between the Ski School and Kids Club cabins.

We’re at the summit of Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone National Park. Mount Washburn towers to the east and the snow is so deep that only the bright-red top of a stop sign tells us we’re standing six feet above the roadway.

We made the easy trek up the pass on Nordic skis, gliding along a sunlit path. I’ve been over Dunraven Pass before, but only in my car, and usually with my hands gripping the steering wheel, hoping not to hit a gaggle of tourists ogling a herd of deer.

But here it is early March, not a car in sight, and the only tourists are myself and the group of eight I’m with. We stand, mouths agape, marveling at the quiet, untouched beauty of rolling hills and sharp peaks rising out of the wintery landscape. I feel like I’m seeing Yellowstone for the first time—and, in fact, several in our group are.

Admittedly, before signing up for this adventure I would never have considered a weeklong trip to Yellowstone in early March staying indoors at night, let alone while holing up in a primitive yurt. Usually when this time of year rolls around in the Tetons, I’m looking for a reprieve from winter, having already spent months on skis. But there we were, jumping into a snow coach in West Yellowstone, Montana. We would soon be heading into the park for our adventure with Yellowstone Expeditions, based out of their Cross Country Skiers Yurt Camp.

As the drivers fired up the snow coaches, guides helped load our skis and gear bags. A few hours later, our snowcoach rolled into the yurt camp, revealing rows of the private tent cabins Yellowstone Expeditions refers to as “yurtlets.” They stood neatly positioned in front of the two main yurts, which held a common area, dining room, and kitchen. The yurtlets varied in size and space; ours was small but amazingly comfortable and warm, with its own propane heater, double bed lined with fleece, and plenty of wall pegs for hanging and drying ski clothes and gloves. I was happy to learn that I could either cocoon in the privacy of the yurtlet or hang out in the common area with others.

That first night, Arden Bailey took all of us, some with ski gear rented from Yellowstone Expeditions and others with their own, and gave us a little ski test as we headed to the north rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. Arden, outfitted in gaiters, had first worked to get us strapped in, showing some of our group the finer points of ski touring.

Easing into the week, I couldn’t help but contract the contagious mood of the staff: easy, happy, and relaxed. This would be the last week of their season at the camp, yet I was made to feel like I was their first special guest of the winter.

As our group of fifteen sat around the family dining table that evening, we shared story after story from the day’s adventures. What animals did we see, what hot springs had we toured, what mountains had we crested? As Arden and his staff served plates of potatoes, grilled steak, salad, and mushrooms, his eyes danced from guest to guest; he listened attentively, as if it were his own first time to see a coyote or feel as light as air striding through untracked snowfields.

“This place is special,” Arden told me the next morning. We were sitting in the kitchen yurt drinking hot coffee, waiting for the others to filter in for the start of another day. “If people feel that connection, we’ve done something right. … To [offer] a personal experience in Yellowstone has been the driving force of the business since its beginning.”

On that and subsequent mornings, breakfast was served hot, and we made our own lunches, brown-bag style, for the daily ski trips. As we put together our lunches, Arden and his staff would line out the day ahead. With various guides, we had the choice of touring different parts of the park on outings tailored to our ability level and confidence on skis, or based on what we wanted to see that day.

Arden has owned and operated this outfit in the north-central region of Yellowstone for more than thirty years. Along with a dedicated staff and his longtime partner, Erica Hutchings, he has attracted the curious, the retired, the young, and the adventurous; those looking to squeeze a little more out of life. Our group included a couple from the U.K. who had never been on Nordic skis, let alone trekked through Yellowstone in winter; a retired couple from the Midwest; several couples from the San Francisco Bay Area; and an elderly couple, she close to ninety.

As a team, Arden, a research geologist, and Erica, a ranger-naturalist in Yellowstone during the summer, represent a deep pool of knowledge. Together, they provided a wealth of information about this curious and wonderful place.

Yellowstone Expeditions is a unique find in the wilds of Yellowstone, offering an adventure unlike any trip I’ve taken. I wasn’t simply staying in a two-person yurt, I was a guest in Arden and Erica’s home, welcomed with a sense of familiarity that was immediate and enduring. To put it quite pointedly, we had so much fun. We laughed, made homemade ice cream, fell down in the powder and made snow angels, ate lunch next to a hot spring, and saw coyotes and bald eagles and bison and elk. We viewed Artist Point and watched the steam rise from geysers against the cold, bright-blue March sky. Arden told tales of days and adventures gone by; he even let us in on what constitutes a really good day on a Yellowstone Expeditions trip: the rare “three dog day,” when you glimpse a wolf, coyote, and red fox all in one twenty-four hour period.

For us, despite never achieving that goal, each day brought new discoveries—and seemed better than the day before.

This article appears in the Winter 2012 issue of Jackson Hole Magazine

Priced at $44,000  Call, text or email Dave Dery for details, 208-709-4155,  dave@altarealty.com.

Your Teton Valley, Driggs ID, Realtor