November, 2001

Starting to flood the ice rink

Winter is never really here in Pinedale until the hockey rink is flooded and the kids are skating. Ice hockey and figure skating are big wintertime activities here for kids and adults. The Pinedale Hockey Association has started to lay down ice layers to build the base, then will put down the lines and reflood again. Hockey team practices are tentatively scheduled to begin next week. (more about hockey)

Friday, November 30
White Pine to open Wed, Dec 5th (tentatively)
Won't be open this weekend

White Pine Ski Area won't open this weekend
Holiday Events
How much snow is there in the mountains?
Big Piney Hunt Management Area Permits still available for Area 94 Elk License Holders

Snowmobiling, Skiing and Ice Skating Update: 11/30
We have a couple of inches on the ground here in town, mountains have up to 3 feet or so. There's fresh powder for snowmobiling up Horse and Beaver Creeks, and the Continental Divide Trail has 6-16" but is not yet being groomed. The winter snowmobiling and skiing season typically runs from mid-December until March, depending on the weather. White Pine Ski Area hopes to open the middle of next week, with Wednesday, December 5th the date they are targeting. Watch the updates for the latest info here and on the White Pine web site.
   The Pinedale Ice Rink is an outdoor rink used for hockey games and recreational skating from December through mid-March. Ice time is allocated for hockey practices and public skating sessions throughout the week. We have youth (Mite - Midget) and adult (men's & women's) hockey teams. Games are usually held on weekends. Programs are volunteer run. The rink is located on the west end of Pinedale near the golf course, one block south of Hwy 191. A warming hut and porta-pottys are onsite. Ice is groomed with a Zamboni. The ice skating rink is being flooded now and will soon have enough layers for laying down the lines and then putting on the final coats. Hockey practices are tentatively being scheduled to begin next week. Public ice skating hours will begin once the rink opens. Hours are posted at the rink and on the Pinedale Hockey Association web site, www.sublette.com/hockey.

Holiday Vacationers: It's a good idea to book your motel or B&B room reservations as early as possible (like now) for your Christmas-New Year's week vacation. Local lodging is somewhat limited here in the winter and establishments fill up quickly, so it's wise to make advanced reservations to make sure you have a room when you get here.

White Pine Ski Area won't be open this weekend
Wednesday, DEC 5, is tentative opening date
Despite hopeful wishes, White Pine Ski Area won't be open this weekend. They are giving a tentative opening date of next Wednesday, December 5th, as what they are aiming for now, if the weather cooperates. They are continuing to make snow and preparing the runs. Between man-made and the snowshowers we're getting, they are optimistic for the DEC 5th opening date. "Keep doing a snow dance" commented Shawn Kelly, Patrol Director for White Pine. Keep watching the updates here and on the White Pine web site, www.whitepineski.com, for the ski area opening status. Recorded information is also available on the White Pine Sno-Phone at 307-367-6606.
   White Pine now has two places where people can rent skis and snowboards. A new location just opened in conjunction with John Ross's Two Rivers Emporium, 211 W Pine in Pinedale. They will be open 7 days a week from 8 am - 6 pm beginning December 5th. They will have skis and snowboards available for rent or sale, as well as clothing. Ski rentals are also available at the White Pine lodge on the ski hill at the lodge. Weather permitting, the ski area will be open the week of Christmas and New Years, but will be closed Christmas Day so their employees can spend time with their families. Lift ticket rates are the same as last year, $22 for full day for all lifts (all ages) and $15/half day for all lifts (all ages). Price for the Little Spirit Lift only is $10. Please visit the White Pine web site for the latest information, www.whitepineski.com, or call their Sno-Phone 24-hour recorded message line at 307-367-6606.
   White Pine has 25 total trails with the longest run 1.5 miles. Trail difficulty is approximately 25% beginner, 45% intermediate, and 30% advanced. Vertical drop is 1,100 feet. The highest elevation is 9,500 feet and the lowest is 8,400 feet. Most slopes are less than 30 degrees with no avalanche danger. Skiers will find new black diamond runs and improved existing trails on the mountain. Nordic skiers will enjoy miles of groomed and ungroomed trails that take off from the White Pine ski area and easy parking access from a lot designated for access to cross country ski trails near the lodge.
   Season ticket passes are available at the Lodge. Adult season tickets are $360. Dependent tickets (dependents under 18 yrs) are $285 and must be purchased in conjunction with an adult season ticket pass. Season passes are for all areas, all day, all season.
   Ski and snowboard equipment sales and rentals are also available at the Great Outdoor Shop in Pinedale (332 W Pine, 307-367-2440, greatos@wyoming.com, www.greatoutdoorshop.com).
  Shuttle services up to the ski area will be available from the Great Outdoor Shop Transportation Company (same numbers as above) and the Pinedale Cab Company (307-367-7668 or 307-360-8313, sharober@wyoming.com).

Holiday events planned
Events planned throughout December
There are many events planned for the upcoming holiday season. December begins with Pinedale's own Sweet Harmony giving two concerts, one on Thursday, December 6th and the other on Saturday, December 8th, at 7:30 pm in the Pinedale Auditorium. Admission is by bringing a canned good donation for the Food Basket.
   The annual Museum of the Mountain Man Open House and Wreath Auction takes place in the Lovatt Room of the Pinedale Library on December 7th at 6 pm. Santa comes to town December 13th - 15th and will appear at the Sublette County Library in Pinedale all three days. The annual Tree Lighting at the County Courthouse and Winter Holiday Parade take place on Saturday, December 15th. This year the tree lighting will be before the parade at 5 pm. The theme for this year's parade is "Red, White and Blue", and is sponsored by the Pinedale Area Chamber of Commerce. Many local downtown businesses will be open late on Saturday for holiday shopping with open houses and special sales. A holiday Tour of Homes will take place from 2-5 pm in the afternoon, and a Kid's Christmas Party will be held at the Sublette Country Library in Pinedale from 6:30 - 8:30 pm that evening.
   The Pinedale school winter programs will be held on December 10th, 17th and 18th. The 5th-6th Grade Elementary Winter program will be at 6:30 pm at the Pinedale Auditorium on December 10th. The Band/Choir Winter Concert will be held on Monday, December 17th at 7 pm at the Pinedale Auditorium, and the Kindergarten-3rd Grade Elementary Winter Program will be on Tuesday, December 18th at 6:30 pm at the Pinedale Auditorium.
   The 2001 holiday season ends with a bang as the Pinedale Fine Arts Council holds their annual Black Tie & Blues fundraising event on December 31st this year as a gala New Year's celebration at the new Pinedale Entertainment Center complex.

How much snow is there in the mountains?
The snow depths vary, of course, depending on location. In town we have a couple of inches and the berms in the middle of the highway are still crossable. Snow plows are doing a great job of keeping the roads cleared. As of today there is from 8"-16" up at White Pine Ski Area. The Continental Divide Snowmobile Trail is still not being groomed in our area and has 6"-16" new snow from Irish Canyon to the Upper Green. The word from Bucky's Outdoors for snowmobilers is that there is "lots of good fresh powder up Horse and Beaver Creeks" west of Daniel right now and for this weekend's snowmachining. 70% chance of snow showers with 2"-4" accumulations are predicted for the weekend (temps in the 20s)! Snow depths are from "waist to chest high" (which is relative depending on how tall you are and how far you sink when you step off your machine), and you can snowmobile from the parking lot. "Not too many rocks, but still need to be careful."
   Bucky's Outdoors is well-known for their expertise in high altitude snowmachine maintenance and repair and they are high altitude clutch calibration and chassis specialists. They have their new 2002 Polaris RMK snowmachines on the floor which are specifically designed for our high altitude riding. They have experience in high performance machines, race sleds, and mountain hot rods and specialize in high altitude set-ups, chassis setups for mountain riding, light weight components, and super tunes, as well as utility and family sleds. Bucky's has been a Polaris dealer for 26 years and is one of the largest snowmobile dealers in the state of Wyoming (146 S Lincoln, 307-367-4561, buckys@wyominig.com, www.buckysoutdoors.com).
   Snowmachine sales, repair and rentals are available locally at B & B Yamaha (461 W Pine, 307-367-4470), Big J's Rentals & Tours (Polaris & Yamaha, 641 W Pine, 307-367-4320 rbelton@coffey.com), K & N Power Sports (Arctic Cat, 9067 Hwy 191 Boulder, 307-537-5252), Performance Tech (Ski-Doo, 1554 Hwy 191, 307-367-6644) and Troy's Motorsports (240 E Pine, 307-367-6368).
   Guided snowmobiling vacations are available through the DC Bar Guest Ranch, David Ranch and Green River Outfitters. You can also rent cabins or rooms and bring your own snowmachines for unguided trips by staying at Cow Cabins (near the Hoback Rim) and The History Ranch (near the Wyoming Range)
   The Bridger-Teton National has a backcountry avalanche hazard and weather forecast web site which is updated daily during the winter season, http://www.jhavalanche.org/. Avalanche warning today is: "The general avalanche hazard at the higher elevations is MODERATE today. Slabs up to 18 inches in depth lie upon slick old crusts and a weak layer of faceted snow. These slabs could be triggered on steep wind loaded aspects and cliff areas. The general avalanche hazard is LOW in areas not underlain by a hard old snow surface. Be aware of terrain traps." Avalanche forecasts are also available from them by e-mail.

   Below is a table showing current snow precipitation readings from watersheds in the Green River Basin from NRCS SNOWTEL sites:

Monday, November 26

Winter Finally Arrives

The snow started Thanksgiving Day and we've had good dustings each day since. That is happy news for snowmobilers and skiers who are anxiously awaiting the white fluffy powder. Ice skaters and hockey enthusiasts will still need to wait a bit. Temperatures have been too warm to flood the rink and lay down the lines, but looks like it will happen soon.

White Pine Ski Area
Holiday Events
Snow Explorers Snowmobile Club
Non-Resident Big Game Hunting Booklet Available-WY G & F
Coyote Hunting
Restaurants Open in Pinedale
Trudy's Take

Snowmobiling & Skiing Update: November 26th
We're getting snow! It started Thanksgiving Day and in town has accumulated several inches. Some folks have been snowmobiling up Horse Creek for awhile now and say it's not too bad, but you have to watch out for rocks still. The winter snowmobiling and skiing season typically runs from mid-December until March, depending on the weather. White Pine Ski Area hopes to open this weekend if the snow continues to pile up. Watch the updates for the latest info.

White Pine Ski Area hopes to open soon - Think Snow!
Making Snow Now
White Pine Ski Area hopes to open soon for the 2001/2002 ski season, but doesn't look like the weather will cooperate for a Thanksgiving weekend opening. They are in the process of making snow now, but warm daytime temperatures have been hampering the efforts to lay down a good base. Keep watching the updates and the White Pine web site for the ski area opening status. If conditions are favorable, they may have the Little Spirit lift open by this weekend.
   The ski rental shop is now located up at the White Pine lodge on the ski hill. They carry Rossignol shaped skis, boots and poles, as well as snowboards. Skiing and snowboarding lessons are available from the Max Lundberg Ski School at White Pine. Weather permitting, they will be open the week of Christmas and New Years, but will be closed Christmas Day so their employees can spend time with their families. Lift ticket rates are the same as last year, $22 for full day for all lifts (all ages) and $15/half day for all lifts (all ages). Price for the Little Spirit Lift only is $10. Compare that to Jackson Hole Mountain's $59/day and Snow King's $30/day. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket office at the White Pine Lodge. Please visit the White Pine web site for the latest information, www.whitepineski.com, or call their Sno-Phone 24-hour recorded message line at 307-367-6606.
   White Pine has 25 total trails with the longest run 1.5 miles. Trail difficulty is approximately 25% beginner, 45% intermediate, and 30% advanced. Vertical drop is 1,100 feet. The highest elevation is 9,500 feet and the lowest is 8,400 feet. Most slopes are less than 30 degrees with no avalanche danger. Skiers will find new black diamond runs and improved existing trails on the mountain. Nordic skiers will enjoy miles of groomed and ungroomed trails that take off from the White Pine ski area and easy parking access from a lot designated for access to cross country ski trails near the lodge.
   Season ticket passes are available at the Lodge. Adult season tickets are $360. Dependent tickets (dependents under 18 yrs) are $285 and must be purchased in conjunction with an adult season ticket pass. Season passes are for all areas, all day, all season.

Holiday Events Planned
Events planned throughout December
There are many events planned for the upcoming holiday season. December begins with Pinedale's own Sweet Harmony giving two concerts, one on Thursday, December 6th and the other on Saturday, December 8th, at 7:30 pm in the Pinedale Auditorium. Admission is by bringing a canned good donation for the Food Basket.
   The annual Museum of the Mountain Man Open House and Wreath Auction takes place in the Lovatt Room of the Pinedale Library on December 7th at 6 pm. Santa comes to town December 13th - 15th and will appear at the Sublette County Library in Pinedale all three days. The annual Tree Lighting at the County Courthouse and Winter Holiday Parade take place on Saturday, December 15th. This year the tree lighting will be before the parade at 5 pm. The theme for this year's parade is "Red, White and Blue", and is sponsored by the Pinedale Area Chamber of Commerce. Many local downtown businesses will be open late on Saturday for holiday shopping with open houses and special sales. A holiday Tour of Homes will take place from 2-5 pm in the afternoon, and a Kid's Christmas Party will be held at the Sublette Country Library in Pinedale from 6:30 - 8:30 pm that evening.
   The Pinedale school winter programs will be held on December 10th, 17th and 18th. The 5th-6th Grade Elementary Winter program will be at 6:30 pm at the Pinedale Auditorium. The Band/Choir Winter Concert will be held on December 17th at 7 pm at the Pinedale Auditorium, and the Kindergarten-3rd Grade Elementary Winter Program will be on Tuesday, December 18th at 6:30 pm at the Pinedale Auditorium.
   The 2001 holiday season ends with a bang as the Pinedale Fine Arts Council holds their annual Black Tie & Blues fundraising event on December 31st this year as a gala New Year's celebration at the new Pinedale Entertainment Center complex.

Snow Explorers Snowmobile Club Sets Winter Event Dates
The Pinedale Snow Explorers Snowmobile Club have set the dates for their 2002 activities. Events begin on Sunday, January 6th with a Dubois Chili Feed (tentative at this time). The Pinedale Poker Run is scheduled for Sunday, January 20th. The Half Moon Lake Speed Run is planned for Saturday, February 2nd, and the Pinedale Drag and Oval Races are set for Saturday & Sunday, February 9th & 10th. On February 17th, the Explorers will have the Daniel Poker Run, and there will be a Steak Fry on Saturday, February 23rd. The Pinedale 100 Snowmobile Race on Fremont Lake will be held on Saturday, March 9th. Anyone wanting more information about any events or the schedule can contact Gary Neely at Bucky's Outdoors in Pinedale, 307-367-4561, e-mail: buckys@wyoming.com. There will be Snow Explorers meetings held on January 2nd, February 6th, and March 6th at 7 pm at the Sublette County Library in Pinedale. Information is also available on their web site: www.pinedaleonline.com/snowexplorers

Nonresident Big Game Hunting Booklet Available
WY G&F news release
In a way, the 2002 Wyoming big game season has kicked off. The Game and Fish Department began mailing application booklets recently to the 115,000 nonresidents who applied for big game licenses either in 2001 or 2000 and to other prospective hunters who have requested applications. The major change in this booklet is the addition of nonresident deer region T in the southeast corner of Wyoming. The nonresident application period is Jan. 1- 31 for elk, Jan. 1 - Feb. 28 for moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat, and Jan. 1 - March 15 for deer and antelope. Nonresident hunters can get a booklet by contacting: Wyoming Game and Fish Department, 5400 Bishop Blvd., Cheyenne, WY 82006; (307) 777-4600. Outfitters can purchase booklets by the case at the same address.

Coyote Hunting
Ask the Wyoming Game & Fish:
Q. "I'm thinking about coming to Wyoming to hunt coyotes this winter. What are the regulations?"
A. The Cowboy State is a very coyote hunter friendly state. No license is required and there is no closed season or limit. Hunters still must comply with general hunting regulations such as not shooting from or across a public road and having permission to enter private land. Hunting with artificial light is only permitted on private land with written permission of the landowner.

Restaurants Open in Pinedale
Cafe on Pine, a new restaurant being run by Chef Wendi, will open at 807 W Pine (the Old Grinders/White Pine Ski building) on Monday December 3rd. Wendi will be serving up her great Italian-American cuisine, "gourmet-to-go" and deli take out. They will serve lunch Monday through Friday and dinner Thursday through Saturday. Reservations are requested for dinner by calling 367-3111. They are now taking bookings for holiday parties.
   Maggie Palmer has announced the reopening of Taqueria Del Gallo Cantina on the south end of Pinedale at 9880 Hwy 191, "just south of the border". The Grand Opening will be Friday, December 7th, "wear your pearls and get a free Margarita". Hours are 11 am - 10 pm Tuesday through Saturday. Their phone number is 367-6265.

Trudy's Take
Giving Thanks by Trudy Fry
It is that time of year when you are supposed to sit down and either mentally or physically make a list of all the things you are thankful for. Things this year have been traumatic for "us" as Pinedale and "us" as a nation. However, when I started listing the things to be thankful for, the same things from last year were there along with many more. This year there were more intangibles in the number one and number two spots.
    That space of time in the evening when you start to close the curtains at home and the sight of incredible twinkling stars and a silvery moon catch your attention and you are drawn into their endless timelessness. You close the curtain and turn to gaze at your peacefully sleeping child, wrapped in a blanket in the middle of the floor with her dog curled up next to her. All of us basking in the penetrating warmth of a cheery fire in the wood burning stove. The tensions and troubles of the day melt away and a smile appears out of nowhere. These are the moments that you cherish and etch into memory so that when the weeks seems to be full of "character building" moments that feel like they go on forever, you have something to lighten the load.
    I am grateful for my Dad and a few others that have shown by example how to find the humor in life. There is also the blessing of family and friends. Where would we be without a support system? I am also grateful to live in a place that is safe, comforting, and at the same time entertaining. Pinedale is a great place to be. For those that have lost loved ones this year - our thoughts, prayers and love go out to them. That "first" holiday season is a really hard one. My list of thanks is very long and I have only shared a couple. I anticipate that next year's list will be longer. It seems the older I get, the more "little things" I am grateful for. May you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving! - Trudy

Skiing below Schiestler Peak
Photo by Ben Franklin

During the summer, the southern Wind River Mountains above Big Sandy Lake get intense visitation. In the winter, access is far more difficult, requiring 4-5 days of skiing just to reach the lake. (It will be another month or two before the Wind River Mountains have this kind of snow however.) Photo by photographer Ben Franklin. For more of Ben's photos of the area, click here.

Wednesday, November 21
Happy Thanksgiving!

Turkey Trot

12th Annual Turkey Trot 5000
(Thanksgiving Day) Thursday, Nov 22, 9 am
Don't miss the annual Turkey Trot 5000 Thanksgiving morning. Come walk, trot or run and work up an appetite for your Thanksgiving Day feasts! The race covers 5000 meters, about 3 miles, and begins at Craig Sheppard's house at 22 Sportsman's Loop in Pinedale beginning at 9 am. From the Sheppard home, the course goes north to Granite Lane, then travels east to County Road 23-123, then north over the twin bridges to the Pinedale Town Park. At the park, the route turns left along the park path following the paved or gravel trail to Harmony Crossing across Pine Creek. The route then crosses over to Washington Street, south on Madison Avenue, and then south out of town. At Fornstroms' wind sock the route turns right, then left onto Sportsman's Loop and returns to the Sheppard home.
   Registration for the race begins at 8:30 am. There is no entry fee unless you wish to purchase a momento Turkey Trot 5000 t-shirt (long sleeve, 100% cotton, coffee color) for $12.
   The first Turkey Trot was held in 1990 with twenty participants. The number of competitors has more than doubled each year since then with 70 entries last year. The course is marked with orange cones (which shouldn't be completely relied on if a devious contestant decides to move the cones and reroute the course to their advantage.) Organizer Craig Sheppard said, "We are trying for a record turnout of over 100 Turkey Trotters. Come out and have some fun!" For more information, you can call Craig at 307-367-4654.

Snowmobiling & Skiing Update: 11/21
The winter snowmobiling and skiing season typically runs from mid-December until March, depending on the weather. We're still waiting for snow as of this date, so snowmobiling and skiing enthusiasts will need to watch the weather reports to see when the trails and ski area are open. Due to the warm days, it doesn't look like the ski area will be open by Thanksgiving, but this could change if the weather cooperates. Lift prices are the same as last year, a real bargain at $22/day.
   Those who are interested in coming for the Christmas/New Year's holiday weeks should consider booking now for room reservations as these times typically fill up fast.

The world-renowned Miami String Quartet will be performing in Pinedale on Saturday, November 17 as part of a Pinedale Fine Arts Council performance at 7:30 pm at the Pinedale Auditorium. Photo courtesy the Pinedale Fine Arts Council

Friday, November 16
Miami String Quartet
Mixed Media Art Show
Black Tie & Blues
Sublette County War Vets
Hunting Surveys-WY G & F
Clouds Likely to Spoil View of Leonid Meteor Shower
Trudy's Take

Snowmobiling & Skiing Update
The winter snowmobiling and skiing season typically runs from mid-December until March, depending on the weather. We're still waiting for snow as of this date, so snowmobiling and skiing enthusiasts will need to watch the weather reports to see when the trails and ski area are open. Due to the warm days, it doesn't look like the ski area will be open by Thanksgiving, but this could change if the weather cooperates.
   Those who are interested in coming for the Christmas/New Year's holiday weeks should consider booking now for room reservations as these times typically fill up fast.
    The Continental Divide Snowmobile Trail runs right through Pinedale, so guests can stay in downtown motels and ride right from their motel door to the Trail. You can contact the Pinedale Chamber of Commerce to get lodging information and snowmobiling maps for the Continental Divide Trail and Wyoming Range, or stop by in person when you get in town to get them and say "hi!" to Tracy.

Miami String Quartet
Saturday, Nov. 17, 7:30 pm, Pinedale Auditorium
The Pinedale Fine Arts Council presents the world-renowned Miami String Quartet on Saturday, November 17. They have performed extensively throughout the United States and Europe. Their program on Saturday will include String Quartet No. 67 in F Major, Op. 77, No. 2 by Franz Haydn, String Quartet No. 1, Op. 20 by Alberto Ginastera, and String Quartet in G Minor, Op. 10 by Claude Debussy.   Tickets area $10 for adults and $7 for students and are available at the Cowboy Shop/Stitchin' Post, Moose Creek Trading Company, Moosely Books, Office Outlet (Pinedale and Big Piney), and the Big Piney Library. Tickets will also be sold at the door.
   The performance is sponsored by the Pinedale Fine Arts Council, the University of Wyoming Cultural Programs, and the Wyoming Arts Council through funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and Wyoming State Legislature, WESTAF, Sublette County School Districts No 1 and 9, Sublette County BOCES, the Town of Pinedale, Sublette County, the Taylor Foundation, Leland Blatt Memorial Trust, and the citizens and businesses of Sublette County. begins at 7:30 pm at the Pinedale Auditorium.
   For more information about upcoming Pinedale Fine Arts Council programs, please visit their web site: http://www.pinedaleonline.com/pfac

Mixed Media Art Show
Show runs for 3 weeks in Pinedale
Local Sublette County artists will be displaying their work at a Mixed Media Art Show at the Sublette County Library for the next three weeks. Artwork includes oil paintings, acrylics, pastels, photography, watercolor, and mixed media by well-known local artists: Kay Meeks, Lynn Thomas, Patsy Rich, Ruth Rawhouser, Susan Nessan, Kathleen Brown, Jane Bertramson, Melita Snow, Virginia Mlinek and Laurel Profit. Many of the pieces are of local scenes and are for sale. If you're looking for a unique one-of-a-kind holiday gift for the special art lover in your life who loves Wyoming, be sure to check out the exhibit! The art show moves to Big Piney at the end of the three week Pinedale exhibit.

Black Tie & Blues
December 31, New Year's Eve, Pinedale Entertainment Center
The Pinedale Fine Arts Council has moved their annual Black Tie & Blues fund raiser to a New Year's Eve celebration. The special holiday event will be held at the new Pinedale Entertainment Center being constructed on the west end of Pinedale. Plans call for a silent auction, a full-scale casino, refreshments, drinks, music and special New Year's celebrations. Area restaurants and motels have combined with the Pinedale Fine Arts Council to offer specials on dinners and accommodations. The doors will open at 7:30 pm and the casino will get underway at 8:30 pm. Tickets are $10 per person and will go on sale at outlets after December 1st.

Sublette County War Vets
The September 11th events have brought our nation together like nothing recent generations have ever experienced. Many of us now have a renewed interest in learning more about our history and about the men and women who have served our country in the past. The BigPiney.com web site has lots of information about Sublette County veterans from World War I, World War II, Korea, Viet Nam and Desert Storm. It also has the text of the program that was presented by local Historian Ann Noble entitled, "Sublette County Goes to War." Ann researched old copies of the Pinedale Roundup and Big Piney Examiner newspapers and collected oral histories of men who had served in the armed forces in order to provide archival material for the Museum of the Mountain Man's display of veteran memorabilia. This information can be found at the following web address: http://www.bigpiney.com/veterans/. Pictures of the 2001 Big Piney Veteran's Day program can be found here: http://www.bigpiney.com/veterans/vetprogram1.htm

Wyoming Game & Fish Hunting Surveys will be arriving soon
Hunters, please fill out and return promptly - WY G&F news release
As the big game hunting seasons winds down, the big game harvest survey season is getting underway.
Over 60,000 hunters will discover a post card in the mailbox Nov. 19?26 asking them think back on the season's hunts, because they'll be receiving a survey the following week. Victoria Clingman, wildlife statistician for the Game and Fish Department, says it's important hunters accurately report their success, how many days they hunted and the hunt areas they hunted in. "Harvest levels, effort, and success rates provided by the survey responses are among the key factors used to determine the status of the herds and set the quotas and seasons for the upcoming year," Clingman said. "The more accurate the information is, the better the department can serve both wildlife and hunters."
   Hunters receiving a survey are urged to return the form as soon as they have completed their hunting for that species, and certainly no later than Jan. 31 for deer and antelope. Deer, elk, antelope, and black bear hunters can answer their surveys through the internet address on the survey. "Even if you were checked in the field, or reported your success at a check station, we still need you to respond to your survey. The information we are seeking through the survey is different from, and used in conjunction with, the information collected in the field," Clingman said. "It is equally important to respond if you drew or purchased a license but did not hunt."
   All moose and bighorn sheep hunters are surveyed. Fifty to 100 percent of limited quota deer, elk and antelope license holders get surveyed. Approximately 25 percent of general deer and elk hunters are surveyed. The survey sample sizes are established to obtain statistically valid estimates. All deer and antelope hunters responding to the surveys by the Jan. 31, 2002 deadline will be entered for raffles. Deer hunters could win a magnetic digital compass by Brunton Company or a collection of wild game cookbooks donated by Wyoming Outdoor Industries. A $100 gift certificate from Sierra Trading Post awaits a lucky antelope hunter. Due to late elk seasons, elk hunters will have a response deadline of Feb. 4, 2002 to remain eligible for the drawing. Elk hunters who respond before the deadline will be eligible for the drawing of a limited edition wildlife print donated by the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep or a Montana Silversmith Bolo contributed by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

Clouds Likely to Spoil Wyoming's View of the Leonid Meteor Shower
Weather Underground Report
After nearly a week of clear skies, clouds are taking aim on Wyoming just in time to block the view
of what astronomers are predicting to be the most spectacular meteor shower of the 21st Century. The clouds will begin to roll into the cowboy state from the northwest around midnight Saturday night blanketing the entire state by sunrise Sunday. The meteor shower is expected to peak around 3:00 am MST with as many as 4000 meteors per hour predicted to be visible, where the sky is clear or only thin cloud cover prevails. The silver lining in these clouds is that they are expected to bring much needed moisture to the area inthe form of snow. Two to four inches of snow are forecast for parts of Yellowstone National Park with 1 to 3 inches in the Absarokas and Big Horn Mountains. Lower elevations, mainly east of the Continental Divide, will see snowfall ranging from a dusting up to 2 inches before the upper level system responsible for the snow exits western and central Wyoming by Monday afternoon.

Trudy's Take
One of Those Weeks by Trudy Fry
Ah, the Ides of November. This week has been one of those weeks. It has been a challenge to say the least. My daughter has been sick off and on for about a month but decided to get serious about it on Wednesday. After several hours at the clinic, blood work and many dollars later it was determined that she had a bacterial infection of some sort. The kidneys were struggling as well as the rest of her system. There went the Mother-of-the-year award. In addition there was a root canal in my near future, which turned out to be less painful than anticipated but there is a teeny glitch that we are waiting to see how it turns out. To top an already wonderful week off the alternator went out on my car. After 248,000 miles - how dare it. That little piece of equipment is probably going to cost as much as half the value of the 1986 Honda Accord that it is being put on. There was that option of having someone follow me around and "jump start" me every time we stopped. No one was yelling, "pick me, pick me" for that small task. A friend did come and bring their jumper cables this morning so that my daughter could get to school (20 minutes late) and I could limp into the repair shop. She then informed me that she was on her way to Jackson, circumventing any requests of being tied to my bumper for the rest of her life. It probably has come time to start shopping for a new (different) car. Let see, we could always cut out the frivolous things like food and utilities to make the payments. I know, I know, the same old Single Mom Living in the Second Most Expensive Area In Wyoming. The last two events of the week were the best. To make things a bit more fun for my daughter we made her a pair of really, really wild tropical fish pants. Everyone loved them. Then there was that sunrise this morning! It literally took your breath away. Thanks for a week that wasn't boring. However, next week could we go back to mundane?

Veteran's Day Program

The 2001 Veteran's Day Ceremony was held Monday in the Pinedale High School Auditorium. Guest speakers were Ron Reckner, American Legion Commander; Rev. Mary Caucutt from St. Andrews in the Pines Episcopal Church; and MSGT Charles Nye from the US Air Force Detachment 489 Seismic Research Facility near Boulder. Brownie Girl Scout Troop 662 led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and there was a presentation of Boys State and Girls State participants. The Pinedale High School Choir and Band performed several numbers. A public luncheon followed the ceremony at the VFW Post 4801.

Tuesday, November 13 - Veteran's Day Program
Index to the Pinedale Roundup from 1904-1999 now available online
Sublette.com New web site about Sublette County is online
New Photo Gallery on Pinedale Online

Please Watch for Wildlife
Deer and antelope are migrating again. Drivers should be alert for wildlife on the road, especially at night. Accidents need to be reported right away to the Sheriff's office if the damage is over $1000. Drivers are responsible to see if the animal has been injured or killed, and dead animals should be moved off the road so as not to cause further accidents. Seatbelts are required by law to be worn in Wyoming.

Roundup Index
Over the course of the past 20 years, Judi Myers has been working on her own time to compile a comprehensive index of Pinedale's newspaper, The Pinedale Roundup to help aid historical and family researchers. Her Index to The Pinedale Roundup covers the contents of the paper from 1904-1999 and gives the titles and major events from each issue of the paper.
   The actual stories can be found in microfilm or hardbound editions at the Sublette County Library and the Wyoming State Museum in Cheyenne. The Index to The Pinedale Roundup is available in three formats. Printed bound book copies are available in four editions, Vol. I: The First 25 Years: 1904-1929; Vol. II: 1930-1954 and Smoke Signals:1952-1954; Vol. III: 1955-1979; and Vol. IV:1980-1999. These books are available for $12 each at Office Outlet in Pinedale and Big Piney. CD-ROMs for the entire Pinedale Roundup index can also be purchased for $10/each. Due to Judi's generosity, the entire index from 1904-1999 can now also be downloaded for free as a text file on the internet. The online index allows you to search for information yearly, monthly and by subject and is available at: www.sublette.com/history/roundup/.
      "Judi has spent literally thousands of hours of her own time to compile this index" said Clint Gilchrist, Chairman of the Sublette County Historic Preservation Board.
    "She has gone through, issue by issue, over 90 years of papers. That's over 4,000 issues of The Pinedale Roundup pulling out information from each issue. She has many more hours of time proofreading the text scans for the online version."
   "Judi has a passion for Sublette County history. During most of the year she's a school teacher in Arizona. But come summer, you'll find her here doing research and documenting local history. Anyone who has done research in Sublette County knows Judi's Index" Gilchrist said.
   While Judi has made her index available for sale in printed book form and on CD, she hasn't really made any profit from the sale of her Index. "Judy doesn't do her research for monetary gain. She's sold some of the books, but there's no way it covers the cost of all her time into her research. She loves the area history and is incredible at documenting what she finds so the next person doesn't have as much trouble trying to find it out" said Gilchrist, who also owns the Sublette.com web site which has put her Roundup index online. "We're glad to be able to help her put it online and make it available to more people. The Index is just that, an index. It doesn't have the actual articles from the Pinedale Roundup. People will need to go to the library or archives to get those. Even Judi couldn't pull that off. It took her twenty years just to do the Index!"
   When it comes to Sublette County history, Judi knows where all the bodies are buried. Literally. She has spent many years also researching local graves and graveyards finding any written reference or documentation of graves and information about the deaths of the people. It is hoped that her grave index records can be put online sometime in the future too in some sort of searchable form.

Sublette.com
New web site about Sublette County is a companion site to Pinedale Online
There's a new web site about Sublette County, www.Sublette.com. The site is designed to give information about the entire Sublette County area, and focuses on each of the towns of Big Piney, Marbleton, Daniel, Cora, Bondurant, Boulder, Pinedale and LaBarge. The web site has actually been around for several years, but has been completely redesigned to give more focus to each of the towns and what they have to offer. Sublette.com is a companion site to Pinedale Online and is owned and operated by us. The web site designer is Laurel Profit who works here in Office Outlet in Pinedale. The site will have a more local focus and will provide indepth area information. We'll be putting up lots of great pictures of the area as well as giving attention to the rich local history. The Sublette County Photo History Project and Daniel Photo Gallery are already online, in addition to Judi Myers' Index to the Pinedale Roundup featured in the article above. Eventually we will have a business link section where Sublette County businesses can advertise their services. The beauty of the web is that sites are always changing and growing. Please visit Sublette.com and let us know if you have comments or suggestions on how it can serve our local communities. We can be reached at: info@sublette.com

New Photo Gallery
It's not hard to take beautiful pictures of the area. No matter where you go, picture-perfect views are in almost every direction. We have completely redone our Photo Gallery and put up many more photos of the area. You'll also find several special picture collections by people who spend a lot of time hiking and photographing the natural beauty of this country we live in. We hope you enjoy Dave Bell and Ben Franklin's scenic picture collections. We also have many photos of the Big Sandy area contributed by Tim Lightner of Big Sandy Lodge. The photo of Fremont Lake on the right was contributed by William Gray who lives in San Francisco, "I have enjoyed all the many pictures that you have shown of the Pinedale area." You'll find another of his pictures in our Fremont Lake section of the Photo Gallery. We'll be adding more pictures to our Photo Gallery as time goes on as we progress with our site redesign, so please check back

Nearly Frozen
Big Sandy Creek
Photo by Dave Bell
More Photos

Saturday, November 3 Big Piney Wins Again!
Big Piney Champs AGAIN!
The Big Piney Punchers beat the Mountain View Buffalos 24-14 to win the 3A State Football Championship on Saturday, November 3rd, in Big Piney. Big Piney wins their second straight championship and 3rd in four years. For more details and pictures, please visit the Big Piney web site, www.bigpiney.com.

Friday, November 2 - State Football Playoffs
Big Piney 3A State Playoffs
Mountain Man Chooses Laurie Hartwig as new Interim Director
Lynx Amendment Comment Period Extended
Bar J Wranglers Return
Dave Lankford Retirement Party
Wyoming Wildlife Photo Contest

Big Piney Defends Championship in 3A State Football Finals Playoffs
Saturday, October 3
The Big Piney Punchers will be defending their state championship title in a game against the Mountain View Buffalos on Saturday, October 3, at 1 pm in Big Piney. These are two of the dominate teams in the state, and going into the playoffs, Big Piney is ranked #1 in the State and Mountain View is ranked #2. The Buffalos were state champs in 1995 and 1997, and the Punchers were state champions in 1998 and 2000.
   Big Piney beat Mountain View in the state championship game last year 44-23 and beat them during the season this year 21-14 at Mountain View.
   Mountain View has been on a roll and has dominated playoff games beating Saratoga 60-0 and Lovell 62-7. In playoffs, Big Piney beat Kemmerer 32-8 and Glenrock 34-33 in overtime.
   These are two evenly matched and powerful teams that should make for a close, tough game. There will be a Tailgate Party at 11 am north of the football field with food, bands, and raffles. (more)

Museum of the Mountain Man Selects Laurie Hartwig as New Director
The Sublette County Historical Society, parent organization of the Museum of the Mountain Man, has announced their selection for new Interim Executive Director and CEO of the Museum of the Mountain Man. Effective November 1st, Pinedale resident Laurie Hartwig replaced Laurie Latta, who resigned in June, 2001.
   Hartwig has lived in Pinedale for 22 years and served on the Sublette County Historical Society Board for seven years, including three years as Vice President and six months as acting President while Dave Bell took a leave of absence. She has a minor in history from the University of Wisconsin, with majors in Cytotechnology (cell biology) and English literature.
   She plans to continue the Museum's current objectives for quality exhibits and educational programs as well as work on the long term goal of accreditation for the Museum.

Lynx Amendment Comment Period Extended
Bridger-Teton National Forest News Release
The BLM and Forest Service are extending the comment period for the proposed Northern Rockies Lynx Amendment through Monday, Dec. 10, 2001. Originally, the public comment period began Sept. 11 and ended Oct. 26. The agencies want to give people more time in light of requests for extension and the disruptions stemming from September 11.
   The Canada lynx was listed as a threatened species in the lower 48 states last year. More than 70 percent of lynx habitat in the northern Rocky Mountains is found on BLM and national forest lands. The agencies are proposing to amend land management plans for 22 units in this area to address habitat needs for the lynx.
   All BLM lands in Idaho are included, as well as the Salt Lake Field Office in Utah. Montana national forests include the Beaverhead-Deerlodge, Bitterroot, Custer, Flathead, Gallatin, Helena, Kootenai, Lewis and Clark, and Lolo. Idaho forests include the Clearwater, Idaho Panhandle, Nez Perce, Salmon-Challis, and Targhee. Wyoming forests are the Bridger-Teton, Bighorn and Shoshone. In Utah, only the Ashley is included.
   Within the last month, several hundred people have attended informational meetings the agencies held in 21 communities throughout the northern Rocky
Mountains. Comments should be sent to the Northern Rockies Lynx Amendment, Jon Haber, Northern Region Headquarters, P.O. Box 7669, Missoula, MT 59807. The full proposal is on the web at http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/planning/lynx.html, and is available at local BLM and Forest Service offices.

Bar J Wranglers Return
Saturday, Nov 3, 7 pm
The popular Bar J Wranglers are returning to Pinedale on Saturday, November 3rd for a performance at the Pinedale High School Auditorium. "Some folks call it a western musical show, some call it a stand-up comedy show with masterful cowboy music, others just call it the best muscial experience in the West." The group typically has a sell-out crowd, so people are encouraged to get their tickets early. The performance is family entertainment, brought to Pinedale by the Sublette County Christian School. Advanced tickets are $10 available in Pinedale from the Cowboy Shop, Office Outlet, and the Pinedale True Value. In Big Piney, tickets are available at the Midway Mall. Tickets at the door will be $12.

Dave Lankford Retirement Party
Celebrating 30 Years in Law Enforcement
Saturday, Nov 10, 6:30 pm, Stockman's
Everyone is welcome to help Dave celebrate his retirement from the Wyoming Highway Patrol, a career that has lasted 30 years in law enforcement. Festivities begin at 6:30 pm at Stockman's Restaurant in Pinedale. Cost is $18 per person, which covers dinner and the party. For more information, please contact Tony Fagnant-367-6358 or Mary Lankford-367-4820. Paid reservations by Nov. 4th.

Wyoming Wildlife Photo Contest (WY G&F)
Photo Contest Deadline Nov. 26, 2001
If you'd like the chance to have your photography published in Wyoming Wildlife magazine and perhaps even win some prize money, submit your best slides and/or black and white prints to Wyoming Wildlife by Nov. 26. The magazine's annual photo contest accepts images taken in Wyoming by all photographers. First through third place and honorable mention prizes are awarded in wildlife, scenic/pictorial, recreational and flora (slides only) categories. Photographers have a 20-entry limit.
   Black-and-white prints must be 8-by-10 inches. The preferred, and smallest slide format, is 35 millimeter. Color prints and digital formats are not accepted for any category. Entry forms are available on the G&F website at gf.state.wy.us or by calling (800) 842-1934 or (307) 777-4600 (out of state).
   Winning entries will be printed in the February, 2002 issue. Noteworthy entries that did not place will be printed in the annual April essay issue. Send entries with a return postage mailer to: Wyoming Wildlife Photo Contest, 5400 Bishop Blvd, Cheyenne, WY 82006.

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