We're moving!

Hello Everyone,

This will be our last post here at blogger.com. Never fear, however--the SML blog will live on at www.signalmountainlodge.wordpress.com. We look forward to seeing you there!

Spring Stirrings--Ice Off

Teton winters tend to be pretty long, and the early signs of spring can be difficult to recognize with eyes desensitized by months of nothing but the colors snow white and moose brown , but we're here to tell you, Spring is on its way. These gray, rainy days may not make us feel like tiptoeing through the tulips, but they do serve an important function--they are great at melting snow. For example, in just a few weeks, the snow banks in the Signal Staff Housing area have shrunk from head height to hip height. Progress!

For the staff here at Signal Mountain Lodge (not to mention JH locals and longtime guests), perhaps the biggest and most important harbinger of the coming Teton summer is know as Ice Off--the date on which the SML Marina portion of Jackson Lake is completely free of ice. Predicting the official Ice Off date has become something of a competition among Moran Locals. But when will it all actually melt? It's hard to say for sure, but here are some images to help gauge your expectations. More importantly, they may just convince you that GTNP is indeed creeping towards springtime....



Here's what Jackson Lake looked like on March 8th...

And here's what it looks like today!

Here's the restaurant building in March

April 25th!



Finally, here's our parking lot snow pile the day it was plowed for Nacho Night, March 7th.

TODAY!  Quite a bit dirtier but noticeably reduced in size : )

We know these aren't exactly the kind of jaw-dropping scenic photos we usually post on the blog, but we hope they provide some encouragement to those who, like us, are still crawling out of Winter's icy grip. (Or for our readers in warmer climes, perhaps they will merely provide an afternoon's worth of schadenfreude...)

Either way, hang in there, friends, stay warm, and we'll see you May 9th!!!!

Nacho Nacho Night!

NACHO NIGHT 2014!!!

For those of you not in the know, Nacho Night is a benefit put on by Signal Mountain Lodge and Moose Corner Daycare in order to help fund Moose Corner Daycare which offers affordable daycare services to GTNP residents and employees. It is also the premiere social event of the Jackson Hole winter season, at least for us Park dwellers : ) SML staff prepare the food and Moose Daycare staff wait table and sell tickets.

Near-record snowfall in the month of February had the NPS road crews working overtime and brought into question for a while whether the event was even going to take place at all, but at the last minute they came through and we were able to move forward (which was fortunate as we had already ordered the food!) All in all we sold 123 plates of Nachos, and were able to raise of $6100 for Moose Corner Daycare. We would like to thank the following folks for their generous donations, both material and temporal: Nicholas Food Service, Sysco Food Service, High Country Linen, Teton Coca Cola, Snake River Brewing, Osprey Distributing, NPS Roads Dept

Thanks to everyone who came out, and we hope you'll enjoy some behind-the-scenes images from the night!

Executive Chef Andrew digs into the Nacho Beef/ Our shovel crew worked all day to dig paths into the dining room for  the event. Nice walls, guys!

Shenanigans in the dish pit

Beautifully plated condiments (if we do say so ourselves)

Pre-melting

Now where are these going?

Bar Manager Mike, Accounting Manager Steve, and F&B Director Erik are ready to pour you a margarita!

Chief Nacho Architect Danny Cornell and his faithful assistant Toby take a well-deserved break

 

These ladies know how to top a Nacho!

 

 

Great Ideas Get Rewarded

At Signal Mountain Lodge, we are always striving to improve, and we know that the best ideas often come from our amazing staff. For this reason, we have an incentive program to encourage seasonal staffers to come up with ideas to make SML a safer, greener, and better place. Staff are invited to submit suggestions throughout the summer, and after the season is over, the management team selects one winning suggestion in each of the following categories: Health and Safety, Environmental policy, and Customer Service. The winner in each category receives a cash prize, as well the satisfaction of seeing their idea put into practice. Today, we are proud to introduce the winners from the 2013 season:

Health and Safety--Phyllis Dwyer, Employee Dining Room

"We should put hand sanitizer dispensers next to the gas pumps at the General Store."

Environmental Policy--Weston Kropelin, Housekeeping

"A compactor for aluminum cans would significantly reduce the number of trips to town to drop off recycling."

Customer Service--Jim Conroy, Restaurant

"We need a sign at the host stand letting guests know that even though the Trapper Grill closes for an hour every afternoon for cleaning, The Deck and Deadman's bar are still open and serving food."

Thanks so much to everyone who contributed ideas last season! We had lots of great suggestions, and many of those that did not make the top three will still be implemented and will contribute to making SML better and better every year. 

2014 Employment Opportunities

Howdy folks and Happy New Year!

New Years--a time of reflection and planning, when we look back on what we've accomplished in the past twelve months and begin thinking about what we'd like to achieve in the coming year. Perhaps this year, one of your resolutions might be to spend the best summer of your life in one of the most beautiful places in the entire world...

to apply now visit http://www2.coolworks.com/signalmt/

The Signal Mountain Lodge Human Resources Department is back in the office and ready to start building our staff for Summer 2014. Positions are wide open and now is a great time to apply. In general, the sooner we receive your application, the better your chances of being offered a position with us. Here are some other tips for a successful application:

1. Fill out the application as completely as possible, including accurate contact information for AT LEAST two references, and most importantly, accurate contact info for yourself.

2. Choose your references carefully. Ideally they should be people who can speak about your character as well as any work experience you may have that is relevant to the positions for which you've applied. Examples of good references include current or former employers, former clients, volunteer leaders, scout leaders, and other mentors. Coworkers are okay too. Examples of not so good references include current or former romantic partners, friends with whom you've never worked, people without phones or email addresses, people with whom you've had no contact in over five years, and your parents (unless your work experience is with a family business).

3. DATES DATES DATES. Signal Mountain Lodge will be open from May 9th-Oct 19th, 2014. The first staff arrive about a week before we open to help set up, and the last staff leave a few days after we close for the season. Although we have a limited number of positions beginning in late May/ early June and ending in mid August/ September, the vast majority of positions are full season and we give preference to applicants who can stay the whole time. We cannot offer employment to anyone who cannot commit to the dates required by our staffing plan.

4. Consider carefully the positions for which you apply. Some positions are more competitive than others and require experience. Be sure to include any relevant experience you have on your application, and let us know if you are flexible with the types of jobs you will accept. 

5. When we look at your application, we are trying to get a sense of who you are, so don't be afraid to inject some personality into it! We want to know about your life, your interests, and why you want to spend a summer in the Tetons. Work experience is important, but we are all more than the sum of our resumes, and at SML we endeavor to hire people, not just workers.

We are excited to begin the process of reviewing your applications, and we ask for your patience as we more forward. There are a lot of applications, and we read and attempt to contact references for every single one. Feel free to pester HR at any time via phone or email to let us know if you are still interested in working with us and to check the status of your application : )

Here's that link again: http://www2.coolworks.com/signalmt/
And here's our phone number: 307-543-2831
Direct email inquiries to: mlandberg@signalmtnlodge.com OR hrasst@signalmtnlodge.com

Nothing Like a Teton Sunset

Today for your viewing pleasure, some of the best Grand Teton National Park sunsets of this summer. Naturally, several of them were taken right here at our very own marina on Jackson Lake, but we've also included a few from Oxbow Bend, Shadow Mountain, and other picturesque spots throughout the valley. What's your favorite place to savor the last moments of the day?

 

Getting ready for Christmas

No, we haven't misplaced our calendar. We know that the rest of the world marks Christmas Day on December 25th, but in the National Parks, the holiday is celebrated in August. Read on to find out why....... 

Signal Mountain Lodge will be celebrating National Park Christmas this year on AUGUST 22ND. To enable the employees to enjoy this festive evening, the closing times for the following Signal Mountain and Leek's operations will be:

GENERAL STORE: 9:00PM

GIFT STORES:

                     Needles 9:00PM  

                    Timbers 9:00Pm

MARINAS:

Signal Mt Marina 7:00PM

Leek's Marina 5:00PM

RESTAURANTS:

Peaks Dining Room 8:30PM

Trapper Grill 9:00PM

DEADMAN'S BAR: 9:00PM

LEEK'S PIZZERIA*: 8:30PM *Take out until 9:00PM

Adventures on the Snake River

One of the most fun and memorable ways to experience Grand Teton National Park is on a scenic float trip down the Snake River.


A scenic float trip begins with a van ride down to the put-in spot at Deadman's Bar. Once their, the guide and driver help the guests into their life jackets.

 

 Driver backing the raft into the river

Once the raft is in the water the adventure begins! The next 90 minutes or so are spent enjoying a gentle float down the river, gazing at the incredible scenery and scouting for wildlife.

 Some of the most commonly spotted animals are beaver, moose, and bald eagle, but you might also see osprey, various species of duck, or even the illusive Jackson Hole local.  







Our knowledgeable guides can answer all your questions about the geology and history of Grand Teton National Park and the flora and fauna that dwell here and even provide tips on other fun things to do while you're in the area--all while expertly piloting the raft down the river as if they've been doing it for years (because they have!)

You can reserve your float trip today through the SML front desk by calling 307-543-2831. Trips depart daily from the main parking lot at 7am and 5pm.

Summer means Leeks Pizza!!

For those of us in the know, summertime in GTNP is synonymous with good times at Leeks Pizzeria and Marina.

The restaurant is open for just a few short months per year, so it's always a special treat to visit there and enjoy some of the best pizza this side of Togwotee Pass. To experience what we're talking about, just head north on the Inner Park Road towards yellowstone and turn left at this sign....

 Leeks Pizzeria makes every pizza from scratch from start to finish, beginning with our famous homemade dough made with organic flour. The restaurant goes through an average of 100-250 lbs of dough EVERY SINGLE DAY.

Once assembled, the pies go into our 550 degree oven where the mature into hot, crispy, golden-brown joy circles.

like this one----->

Need a table??? Marie has got your number!!!

Come visit us!! Open daily from 11am - 10pm, but only until September 8th! For more info or to place a takeout order, call 307-543-2494.

Let's get out on the water!

It's hot out there!

Let's escape the heat and get out on the water--Signal Mountain Lodge can help you get there!

Jackson Lake is one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the United States, at up to 15 miles long, 7 miles wide, and over 400 feet deep. A clear, calm morning like this is perfect for slicing through the glassy waters in one of our rental canoes. (Also a great day for those classic mirror-mountain photos!)

You can also explore the lake in a kayak.

 

Another great way to enjoy a day on the lake is by booking one of our guided fishing trips. You can even have our restaurant prepare what you catch and enjoy it in the Peaks Dining Room.

 If lakes aren't your style (and even if they are), you'll definitely want to sign up for a scenic float trip on the Snake River. It's a great way to learn about the park, have some great photo ops, and see wildlife. Our experienced guides make every trip a blast.










For more information or to book a float trip, boat rental, or fishing trip, visit www.signalmountainlodge.com or call us at 307-543-2831

Some Haiku's for June

Well, flowers are blooming, baby animals are scampering everywhere, and there's a predicted high temperature of 80 degrees for tomorrow. We're going to go ahead and declare it--Summer has officially come to the Tetons. To celebrate, we'd like to share some poetic thoughts and inspiring images of those first few magical weeks. 

Cool breeze and warm wood

scoping canyons to explore

new friendships forming

I'll jump if you jump...

Last one in's a rotten egg...

Holy crap that's cold!

                                 

It's park clean-up day!

Don your best flourescent vest

and go pick up trash!

Jackson Lake sunset

Yellow pink purple blue red

no filter needed

                         

Opening Weekend 2013!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen, it's official--Summer 2013 is under way
(albeit with a fair amount of snow still burying the Signal Mountain Summit Trail).

Signal Mountain Lodge opened for business this past Friday, May 10th. The Trapper Grill, Deadman's Bar, and Peaks Dining Room are all serving up local favorites and new delights, and the Timbers and Needles gift stores are chock full of unique items to suit even the choosiest souvenir hound. All guest lodging  options including the Signal Mountain Campground are also open.

Two major events have marked opening weekend for many years: the Opening of the Bar party, and Mother's Day Dinner. On the evening of May 10th, locals, Park employees and guests, and current and former SML employees got to rub elbows and share plate after plate of nachos, burgers, and sweet potato fries. There were warm reunions between long separated friends and many a toast to a long anticipated summer. A lucky few even scored a free commemorative hat, provided by an enthusiastic Deadman's Bar patron.

The Mother's Day dinner is one of the busiest days of the season for the restaurant. It's also the one and only day all year when you can actually make a reservation to dine at SML. It's an opportunity for the Peaks Dining Room cooks to show off their skills, and for guests to celebrate the special women in their families. (It's also a good reminder for staff to call their moms!) It was a gorgeous, warm, sunny Sunday, perfect for sharing fellowship with family and friends, and reflecting with gratitude on where we came from and where we are.

In between those two blessed events, 2013 Ice Off was officially declared on Saturday, May 11th. There is no more ice on Jackson Lake in the SML Marina.
This brings us to a reminder for the next big thing:

Signal Mountain and Leeks Marinas open this coming Saturday, May 18th!!!!!

Happy Earth Day 2013

Happy Earth Day!

I thought we would take some time today to talk about some of the cool environmental programs we have in our restaurants. We are a Green Restaurant Association 3-Star Rated restaurant group, and we do lots of great things to minimize our environmental impacts. Here are a few highlights!

We buy Local
Signal Mountain Lodge is committed to purchasing from local and regional sources whenever possible. Here is a quick snapshot of some of our local items. We get all our burgers in the restaurants from HD Dunn & Son Beef in nearby Tetonia, Idaho. We purchase whole cows, three farm shares of veggies and the occasional pig from Robinson Family Farm and Ranch in Bedford, Wyoming. We purchase locals beers from Snake River Brewing and other great local breweries. When we can't get something from the immediate area, we get it from the surrounding region- such as Utah, Idaho, Colorado and Montana.

We are Committed to Sustainable Seafood
Our oceans are one of our planet's most important resources, and as a restaurant group, we can help preserve our oceans for the future by purchasing from sustainable sources. Signal Mountain Lodge is a proud partner with Seafood Watch, and is committed to only serving food off the 'Green List' in all of our establishments. We also pass out Seafood Watch Cards for guests to keep so that they can easily make responsible seafood choices after they leave Signal.

We Buy Organic and Natural Products
Many of the products we purchase are USDA certified organic, have no added hormones, are naturally fed a vegetarian/grass-fed diet and/or are otherwise grown & raised in a sustainable manner. Both the local beef companies we work with raise grass-fed cows free of antibiotics or hormones. Many vegetables we purchase are USDA Organic. All the milk we serve is free of rBGH. Our coffee is quite the mouthful- it is Organic, Bird Friendly, Shade Grown, Fair Trade certified and locally roasted by Great Northern Coffee Company in Jackson, WY!

Fun Fact: The homemade pizza dough at Leek's Pizzeria is made from Organic Flours and Cage Free Eggs! (And it's the best darn pizza in Jackson Hole)

We Recycle, UpCycle and Reduce Packaging Whenever Possible
Here at Signal we are always trying to cut out our waste. We recycle everything possible through Teton County Reycling and are a Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Business Leader in Teton County. Here is an example of how we eliminate waste before it even exists- we do not serve bottled beer, saving thousands of bottles every summer!

Thanks for reading about some of our programs. To learn more, check out our menus online at  www.signalmtnlodge.com, or go to our Environmental Commitment page. Best yet, stop by the main restaurant building and check out our Wall of Sustainability! While you are there enjoy some delicious, sustainable fare.