WILSON, Wyo. – The Teton Backcountry Alliance (TBCA) and co-sponsor Stio announced the launch of a free Teton Pass shuttle that will transport skiers and snowboarders hiking and skinning the Pass this winter season.
The shuttle will operate every Saturday from Jan. 6 until March 30, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., departing from the Stilson parking lot every hour and 15 minutes. The 15-passenger van, donated by Rendezvous River Sports, is equipped with a rear ski rack.
TBCA’s goal for the shuttle is to provide an alternative way for skiers and riders to access Teton Pass’s backcountry without having to drive.
“TBCA hopes that the Teton Pass shuttle will foster a more sustainable mode of operation,” TBCA Chair Gary Kofinas told Buckrail.
Kofinas emphasized that the Saturday shuttle will help address the parking congestion at the top of the pass and allow for more recreationists to enjoy the backcountry.
“Problems with car line-ups, congestion and road safety have been getting a lot worse on the Pass,” Teton Pass Ambassador Jay Pistono said via press release. “On a powder day, there can be a 45-minute wait for a parking spot, and a lot of folks tell me they’re no longer skiing there because of it.”
In the Teton Pass Corridor Study Report, a Federal Highway Commission planning team suggested a Teton Pass shuttle as a solution to traffic congestion.
During the 2022/2023 winter season, TBCA tested the interest and demand for a Teton Pass transportation service by running an experimental shuttle from Wilson to the summit of the Pass.
“The free Teton shuttle is modeled after one that runs from Salt Lake to the Cottonwood Canyons by the Wasatch Backcountry Alliance,” Kofinas said via press release. “TBCA has run experimental shuttles in the past, but only a few select days of the winter. This year’s free Saturday shuttle will allow us to evaluate people willing to forgo the luxury of having their car nearby, while getting the benefits of not waiting for a parking place. Lowering the number of cars going up Teton Pass will also reduce carbon emissions.”
Shuttle stops on the route will be as follows:
East-West Return Route
- Stilson Lot departures (with reservations available to secure a seat) at 8:30, 9:45, 11:00, 12:15, 1:30, 2:45
- Trail Creek Road-Highway 22 intersection
- Teton Pass summit
- Coal Creek parking lot
West-East Return Route
- Coal Creek parking lot
- Base of Old Pass Road
- Stilson Lot
According to TBCA, a tracking system accessed through a URL will soon be in place so skiers can learn the van’s real-time location and time their travels accordingly.
Kofinas told Buckrail that TBCA has already raised half of the shuttle’s operational costs and plans to host a fundraiser in early 2024 to secure the needed remainder.
Passengers can secure their seat using an online reservation system at www.tetonbackcountryalliance.org. Other riders can catch a ride at the various stops without a reservation, if space is available.
