A highly popular area near Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming has been closed to the public for the immediate future due to concerns over expanding cracks and fissures in a large rock formation, park officials said Tuesday evening.
The National Park Service implemented an emergency closure in the Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point areas on the west side of Jenny Lake for human safety. Some recently expanding cracks and fissures have been identified in a large rock buttress above the Hidden Falls viewing area, a park release said.
"Human safety is our No. 1 priority, and with an abundance of caution we are temporarily closing this area until we can properly assess the situation," said Superintendent David Vela.
Those familiar with the site, specifically park rangers and personnel with Exum Mountain Guides, identified the cracks and fissures and determined the situation to be a possible safety hazard. The notable changes in the rock over the past 24 hours spurred park rangers to implement a temporary closure and initiate a risk assessment with subject-matter experts.
Exum Mountain Guides are relocating their practice school services to another location, and shuttle boat and scenic cruises with Jenny Lake Boating will continue to operate. Visitors are able to ride the boat to the west shore, hike Cascade Canyon or around the lake, and enjoy some areas of the west shore as well as the front country areas of the Jenny Lake Complex.
It is unknown how long the closure at Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point areas will be in place.
Comments
God created nature and allows it to do it's thing
No, it means that the laws of physics still reign supreme. Signed, a geologist.
God created geology.
Quit it with the God-spam. We know that coming from a perspective of religious indoctrination is inherently insecure, but this isn't the place for it.
There is no reason to expend energy discounting those who believe they are earning heaven points by invoking the name of their almighty. Life is a folly and their boats will continue floating.
Was there a week ago. Can we see a photo of the fissure?
Rock slides are always possible in any of the steep canyons in the park. What makes this one special is that there are typically 50 to 100 people standing under this one all day long every day. So when rocks fall here, people will get hurt and the news media will have a hay day. Other places in the park, people are so spaced out that a few rocks tumbling will most likely miss everyone and not be reported. Lots of rocks fall in the spring time when snows are melting and it seems that avalanches occur every winter that move lots of trees and rocks.
Amen!