JACKSON, Wyo. — A popular sport climbing area south of Jackson is losing its standard parking access, but another site is in the works.

Climbers at the Hoback Shield, just off U.S. Highway 189/191 between Hoback and Bondurant, usually park at one of three pull-outs along the highway. But those pull-outs will soon be a thing of the past. The Wyoming Department of Transportation announced early this year plans to put guardrails along the highway that will block them off.

Teton Climbers’ Coalition has since announced a partnership with the Bridger-Teton National Forest to develop a new parking area and access trail just northwest of the Granite Creek junction, near the sled dog tour building. Crews will expand parking, develop an old trail and connect it to the existing access trail at the base of the Shield. They will also close and rehabilitate the first three switchbacks of the current trail.

The work will be volunteer-based, and anyone interested in helping is invited to volunteer Aug. 29.  Climbers will still be able to access the Shield through the summer.

 

Shannon is a Wyoming-raised writer and reporter. She just completed a master's in journalism from Boston University. Jackson shaped her into an outdoorswoman, but a love for language and the human condition compels her to write. She believes there's no story too small to tell nor adventure too small to take.