Detour work at Teton Pass after the landslide, status on June 13. | Image: WYDOT
The Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded a $880,600 emergency bid to Avail Valley Construction LLC during a special meeting on Thursday afternoon, June 13. During the Zoom meeting, Avail Valley shared its plan for the repair work at Teton Pass, which suffered a catastrophic failure on Saturday, June 8, causing almost an entire section of the road near milepost 12.8 to slide into the ravine below. Teton Pass Road, also known as Wyoming Highway 22, links Wyoming and Idaho, and is the main access road from the south to Jackson Hole.
Trouble first emerged on Thursday, June 6, when a large crack stretching across both lanes of the highway was spotted. This prompted a temporary closure and emergency patching by the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT). However, the situation rapidly deteriorated on Friday, June 7, when a mudslide covered the road, forcing another closure. As crews worked overnight to construct a detour around the damaged section, the landslide continued to move, ultimately causing the catastrophic failure and collapse of the roadway. Thankfully, no employees, contractors or other members of the public were injured in the collapse. No equipment or buildings were lost or destroyed in the collapse either.
Teton Pass also experienced a mudslide at milepost 15.5, which is not related to the 12.8 milepost slide, referred to by WYDOT as the “Big Fill” slide. The slide was discovered June 7.Detour work at Teton Pass after the landslide, status on June 14. | Image: WYDOT
Avail Valley is based out of Victor, Idaho, and is licensed in Wyoming and Idaho. The company specializes in all types of construction, including commercial, residential, and municipal projects. Avail Valley will construct a box culvert at the slide area at mile marker 15.5. The culvert will help improve drainage in the area. Crews with Avail Valley are aiming to have the project complete so the highway will be ready to reopen once the detour is complete at the Big Fill landslide located at mile marker 12.8 on Teton Pass.
The progress photos from the last two days are incredible as crews are working hard to get this vital road access back open for the summer holidays. Teton Pass sees an Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) of almost 10,000 vehicles per day in certain locations along the pass. Summer highs can reach 15,000 vehicles.
Please note, Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park remain open for visitors during this time.
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Detour work at Teton Pass after the landslide, status on June 13. | Image: WYDOT
CASPER, Wyo. — Here is a list of those who filed for a divorce from Dec. 22 through Dec. 29. All filings are reported to Oil City News by the Natrona County District Court.
The log is not a comprehensive document and may not represent all of the divorces in Natrona County. The report excludes sealed cases and confidential parties.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department recently announced its plan to move forward in 2026 with developing Feedground Management Action Plans, a key component of the broader Wyoming Elk Feedgrounds Plan.
A release from the Game and Fish Department states that as part of the department’s statewide Chronic Management Plan, the Wyoming Elk Feedgrounds Plan was established to guide the department’s overall and long-term approach to elk management for the 21 feedgrounds across Wyoming. The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission approved the final draft of the strategy in March 2024, following close to four years of collaborative planning with more than 60 volunteer stakeholders.
The release notes that the development of the individual FMAPs is the next step in the process. The department will be working closely with stakeholders, as well as the public, to address key concerns and priorities.
“Game and Fish remains committed to the management of our state’s feedgrounds in an adaptable manner that utilizes the best science available,” said Game and Fish director Angi Bruce. “Supplemental winter feeding of elk has continued to grow in complexity. These plans will allow us to adjust to current and future conditions in feedground management.”
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Specific FMAPs will be developed for each of the six elk herds, as well as their corresponding feedgrounds in the Jackson and Pinedale regions. They’re intended to be a playbook of strategies guiding feedground management through biological, social, and economic factors. FMAPs are designed to be adaptable as on-the-ground-conditions change and science emerges.
In early 2026, draft FMAP documents will be shared during a series of public meetings. They will be presented to the Game and Fish Commission later in the year.
“The goal of the FMAP process is to ensure our strategies are not only sustainable for our agency, but supported and beneficial to the public,” Bruce said. “This is an important issue that has an impact on our state’s wildlife, business owners and residents in our state. Their buy-in and feedback will be essential to a successful long-term plan for feedground management.”
Times and locations for the public meetings will be announced in January on the Game and Fish website. More information on elk feedgrounds, as well as the Feedground Management Plan, can be found on the Elk Feedgrounds page at the Game and Fish Department’s website.
The biggest wind gust in Colorado history blew through Monarch Pass on Feb. 16, 2018, at 148 mph. Not long after that, I moved here, in part to avoid the hurricanes that were pummeling me back East. Now I experience Hurricane Sandy-adjacent conditions while taking mail from my mailbox on random Tuesdays in Fort Collins.
I liked to think that our National Weather Service would at least give me fair warning for wind events. But now the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder is being dismantled for parts.
(Peter Moore, Special to The Colorado Sun)
That very building got smacked with a 113-mph gust on Dec. 19, two days after Peak 6 at Brekenfridge was hit with a Polar Express clocked at 124 mph. If there had been any snow, I might have been skiing there, caught air off a mogul and landed at Arapahoe Basin.
(Peter Moore, Special to The Colorado Sun)
Little known fact: Colorado’s breezes are actually under the control of the four Greek gods of wind, plus their local representatives. No wonder it’s so breezy here!
(Peter Moore, Special to The Colorado Sun)
Fortunately, electric company officials employ a four-part strategy when dangerous winds threaten.
(Peter Moore, Special to The Colorado Sun)
Style-conscious Coloradans are learning to cope. (Peter Moore, Special to The Colorado Sun)
No one is beyond the reach of wind. Especially not Denver Broncos field-goal kicker Wil Lutz.
(Peter Moore, Special to The Colorado Sun)
As concerning as our wind situation is, there is one consolation.
(Peter Moore, Special to The Colorado Sun)
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Peter Moore is an editor, writer, illustrator, ghostwriter, co-author, radio host, TV guest, speaker, editorial consultant, and journalism lecturer.
In his most recent gig he was interim editor-in-chief of BACKPACKER magazine. Peter…
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