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Contact: Public Affairs Office, 307.739.3393 Come take a walk on the virtual wild side and explore one of the most popular hikes available at Grand Teton National Park. A new web-based, interactive program takes viewers on an 'eHike' around String Lake, one of the six glacial lakes that grace the foot of the Teton Range. Grand Teton National Park interpretive rangers invite classroom students as well as visitors far and wide to explore, through the convenience of their personal computers, the beauty and wonders of the String Lake area. Whether viewers want to relive a previous hike taken around String Lake or plan for an actual visit, this virtual field trip -- or eHike -- provides an introduction to the features that make up String Lake and its mix of natural habitats. The web-based tour introduces viewers to the various elements -- earth, wind, water and fire -- that form the physical environment of the String Lake area. It also explains the role these forces have played in the creation of today's landscape. eHikers can control images and sounds at each stop along their virtual tour, and they can activate videos to further explore the human and natural history stories related to each location. Alternate views will appear by hovering a mouse over side images, and hidden images will be revealed through the click of a button. eHikers can also click on audio icons to hear the sounds of birds and mammals along the trail, use video buttons to imagine being there, and "mouse over" a main image to find hidden gems in the virtual landscape. "eHikes are becoming a useful and beneficial tool for providing park information to visitors before they can arrive in person," said Vickie Mates, Grand Teton National Park's chief of interpretation and partnerships. "We hope children and adults alike enjoy this virtual journey around String Lake, and we hope each viewer is tempted to make an actual visit to experience first-hand the captivating Teton landscape and wildlife." "The String Lake eHike is the first of what we hope to be a series of web-based, interactive programs that help orient visitors to Grand Teton National Park," added Mates. To experience this innovative program, visit the park's website at www.nps.gov/grte and click on links for photos and multimedia and virtual tour. |
Last updated: February 24, 2015