Hilary Eisen, Policy Director, Winter Wildlands Alliance

Grand Targhee is located within the “wildland-urban interface” (WUI), the transition zone between undeveloped forest and lands developed by human infrastructure. Human settlements in the WUI are at a greater risk of catastrophic wildfire, and in this era of climate change there are more frequent wildfires across the West each year. The lands around Grand Targhee are characterized by forest types that have evolved with wildfire. It is not a question of whether the lands around Targhee will burn, but when and how. Ski Hill Road is the only access and egress point for people living and recreating in Alta, at Targhee, and in Teton Canyon in the event of a wildfire or other emergency. Increased use and new facilities in and around Grand Targhee will raise the likelihood of wildfire while making it more dangerous and difficult for emergency services to respond and people to evacuate.