Teton Pass ‘ambassadors’ pitch 7-day presence, bigger ask

At the top of Teton Pass, where winter parking, Highway 22 safety, and the seasonal push and pull between access and impacts all collide, the Teton Pass Backcountry Alliance is asking for a bigger slice of lodging-tax support to keep its “Backcountry Ambassadors” visible every day.

In a presentation to the Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism Board, TBCA frames the problem as a familiar one: less agency staffing paired with more backcountry skiers, more trailhead congestion, and a higher likelihood of safety issues along the highway. The group says lodging-tax dollars have helped with face-to-face contacts, responsible-use messaging, and reducing congestion and wait times via a free shuttle, which it also argues lowers carbon emissions. The slide deck tracks growth from a mostly volunteer program in 2023 to a mix of paid and volunteer ambassadors now, with a goal of about 25 ambassadors and roughly 700 shifts in 2026 to 2027.

TBCA says it is seeking more JHTTB funds because staffing has changed (“No Jay Pistono”), it wants to support a director of the ambassador and shuttle programs, expand ambassador service to seven days a week, and cover costs like workers’ compensation and an executive director hire. The presentation also lists other sustainability-related work TBCA says is not funded by the lodging tax, including weekly snow and safety reports, free avalanche search clinics, the Coal Creek beacon park, and bighorn sheep conservation work. See: JTTTB Presentation by TBCA, Teton Pass Backcountry Ambassadors & Free Shuttle Program.