Grand Teton National Park, WY; Mountain Climbing and Winter Backcountry Trip Regulations

The National Park Service (NPS) is eliminating registration and check out requirements for climbing and off trail travel above 7,000 ft., and for winter travel in Grand Teton National Park. Existing regulations requiring climbers, off trail hikers, and winter travel users to register and check out upon completion of their activity were intended primarily to provide information necessary to initiate search and rescue responses. Actual experience over the years has shown that the [[Page 13630]] intended purpose of these regulations has not been achieved. Nearly all search and rescue responses are generated by reports from sources other than the check out system. Instead of aiding rescuers, these regulations burden park rangers with the task of checking on countless cases of climbers and backpackers who failed to check out. These regulations have been enforced selectively for several years, where local climbers and guides have not been forced to register because of an assumed expertise and knowledge of the local area. The deletion of these regulations will not eliminate visitor protection services provided by park personnel.