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Webcams in GTNP, Public Access Denied
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This past summer, Grand Teton National Park installed two new weather stations near Surprise Lake in GTNP. They were paid for with private donations in an effort to improve avalanche forecasting in the park.  A camera was installed at the Surprise Lake weather station ( 9770 ft ) for the purposes of informing the professional forecast provided by the folks at the avalanche center. The Nanny State folks overseeing GTNP decided that access to the camera's images will not be publicly available. We would like to change that. The lead forecaster with the Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center said he supports having the camera's images made public. Obviously, the webcam allows climbers and skiers the ability to see conditions on the ground. The camera was paid for with community donations made to the GTNP Foundation. Cameras at other weather stations in the Bridger-Teton National Forest are available for public viewing as are research cameras in GTNP and the Elk Refuge. Of course, the cameras at the Climbers' Ranch and the Science School in GTNP are also available. Some of the most popular cameras for backcountry users are those atop Teton Pass and maintained by WYDOT. If you wish to contact the park service and express your support for open access to the resources you helped pay for, please email them: grte_info@nps.gov. Thanks to all those who support open access to our public resources and take the time to contact the park service.  From the Jackson Hole News and Guide: "Those who never get a look at the station itself will have the fortune of seeing what it sees. A webcam that will join the sensors is on order, and it’ll offer a real-time glimpse of some of Teton park’s most popular backcountry lines. From Surprise Pinnacle, Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center educator Margo Krisjansons previewed the view that will soon be a few clicks away. “Look over at Shadow Peak, 25 Short, Turkey Shoot,” Krisjansons said. “It’ll be really sweet.” .....It might have been "really sweet"  |
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File daily FOIA requests for the images ... |
Gee Dubble wrote: All I wanted was this to function in winter: https://mesowest.utah.edu/cgi-bin/droman/meso_base_dyn.cgi?stn=TETWY&unit=0&time=LOCAL&product=&year1=&month1=&day1=00&hour1=00&hours=24&graph=1&past=0&order=1 That is the lower saddle weather station. No one is going to service it at 11600' and 7 miles in the backcountry. The new stations are at Surprise Lake. |
Teton Climber wrote: The BTAC has access to the images. They should post a twice daily update photo on their site if webcam access is denied by gtnp. GTNP probaby thinks the numnuts will steal it or get a selfie and put themselves in danger. They have a million excuses. None of which should trump public access. The public would have paid for the webcam to check out the ski lines and snow conditions. |
Charlie Parker wrote: We asked the BTAC to provide a still image from the camera, they have yet to do so. We asked the park service why they would not allow the public to view the images, they refused to answer the question. Must be the Deep State... I have sent a letter to Sen. John Barrasso's office. If past experience is any guide, nothing will come of it. Sen. Barrasso's lack of influence on these institutions and the decisions they make is similar to the public's lack of influence on decisions within the park service. |
Allen Sanderson wrote: File daily FOIA requests for the images ... Nice idea. And funny. If Americans need to file FOIA requests to see a picture of the Tetons, something is truly wrong with our government. |
Gee Dubble wrote: All I wanted was this to function between October and June: https://mesowest.utah.edu/cgi-bin/droman/meso_base_dyn.cgi?stn=TETWY&unit=0&time=LOCAL&product=&year1=&month1=&day1=00&hour1=00&hours=24&graph=1&past=0&order=1 I'm headed up the Grand in a few days. I'll whip out the blow torch and give it a good shake when I'm at the saddle. |
