Terraforming Teton

[Darmok]

Running out of superlatives to describe this unbelievable set of pictures Phil.
This is an anthology update.  That winding road is one of the best I've seen in SC4 period!
No frills, no bells and whistle, beauty, simplicity and subtlety all over the place.
They say the best special effects are the one we don't notice and this is one great example of that saying.
My friend I'm taking notes, and I'm seriously rethinking my next SC4 project...
Please show us more...

Take care my friend!

-John

[petercintn]

Excellent work as always Phil, congrats on 200 posts.

WOOT!

[DarkLoki]

Wow, reading your md made me register to this site  .

You have really done a good job in making this already great map even better. I like the lake you created, it has a very interesting shore line. I do have one question, i really like the trees you use but i cannot find them, the only i have been able to find are the new meadowshire trees (that seems to have some ugly trees in them) and some old ones from 2005 where you can only use one single tree. I understand you use the olympic tree controller?

Anyway it will be very interesting to see how you will develop the region 

[pvarcoe]

Update 14, Highways, etc.



Hi all. Thanks for your patience and interest. Next update will be a full update,
and will include personal replies. The response to TT has been overwelming, to say the least.
This update will be fairly brief, but will bring us up to present day ?? (I'll explain more in a minute).


After Jackson and Teton Valley were reconnected to the outside world by rail, goods started flowing once again into the region. More than ever Jackson became the distribution hub for the Teton Valley. With the country in fairly rough enviromental shape, Teton was identified as one of the prime areas in the continental US for further agricultural and urban development. Several decisions regarding formerly "protected" lands were made by the federal government, two of which directly impacted Teton.

First, further extensive oil development in the Artic lands of northern Alaska was approved. This after many decades of lobbying to open up that area. This has an impact on Teton due to the relationship between the Republic of Alberta and the western USA. We will touch on oil's prominence in Teton in later updates.

Secondly, and most significantly, the existence of Grand Teton National Park, and other federally protected lands in the region, stood in the way of future development (in the opnion of the Federal Government). Effective May 2032, "permanently protected" statis was removed from all regional lands and a new department was created to administrate future deployment and development in Teton.


The government projected a sustainable population quota of up to 3 million people in Teton as well as an agricultural output supporting 40 million people regionally. The new department "NERO" (National Enviromental Response Organization) was set up close to Jackson, with nearly carte blanche given by the federal government, to facilitate the projected growth.

As mentioned, this was formalized in May of 2032, and we will consider that "present day" as we begin to move forward in Teton's development.




The region's highway and road system was pretty limited at this time. Only one rail line into the region existed, and it didn't extend much past Jackson.
We have broken the transportation maps down into three regions. Keep in mind that all maps in Teton are oriented a little different than normal. The top of the maps point west (rather than the usual north).

The first map shows the most southern portion of Teton. That is where we have spent the most time in our updates.
A - The town of Jackson falls in this area as well as the lake.
B - Teton pass and Highway 22 west are also in this area.






The central portion of Teton is notable at this time for a couple of things.
C - Teton Village, a formerly popular ski resort is found here.
D - A small airport exists here, and has major expansion planned.
E - The national park headquarters is here.
It is now being converted into the NERO administration center.






The north region map includes the scenic Teton Park road.
F - Camping and nature trails can be found around Jenny Lake.
G - State highway 89 leaves the region to the north but only extends a couple of more miles before being interupted by the Yellowstone devastation.






That's about it for this update.
Next update will continue with backstory and the beginings of new development.

Thanks for checking Teton out!

[dedgren]

200 comments- running stronger than ever!  'Grats, Phil!

further extensive oil development in the Artic lands of northern Alaska was approved.

I hate to say it, but it would be about time.  I'm not for developing everything under the sun, but the Alaskan Arctic regions are a really, really big place.  There's room for some reasonable energy development and, unlike many of the enviro types who have never been to Alaska but claim to know what's best for it- I've lived there.  Spent four years living north of the Arctic Circle in Kotzebue [linkie].  That "fragile tundra" stuff, btw, is a bunch of cr-pola.

...the tundra will eat you and then go looking for breakfast...

Arctic Alaska is just like anywhere else- its insensitive use by humankind will leave scars.  Energy development- and I am no friend of Big Oil, believe me- is regulated and overseen to the nits.  No development is perfect, but the degree of accountability for what the drilling outfits up on the 'Slope are doing, scare stories aside, is miles ahead of just about any other industry.

Back to TT- thanks so much for the overview.  Once again, I feel like I've got a great sense of the big picture, and am waiting with a great deal of anticipation for your next post.


David

[beskhu3epnm]

I've decided to christen pvarcoe with a nickname.

Uncle Phil.

Fabulous developments, it really does give it a "real world" flavor to the MD. You make some valid points that the human race will have to deal with at some point in time.

This is one of the best! I follow it exclusively (for obvious reasons!) 

[thundercrack83]

OK, I'm glad to see some more development! I love the maps that you make, they are done very professionally, especially with the letters pointing things out. Fantastic work! I can't wait to see what you have to show us next!

David: Actually, when I first saw that you were from Alaska, I was curious as to your position on the whole drilling thing, but didn't ask because it was never even close to be relevant. Now I know, and from your explanation, I tend to agree with you. But that's a different discussion for a different time...

[Badsim]

Hi Phil ,

I'm paying a visit  to TT ... Great to have some news . Same point of view than beskhu3epnm , your MD has  a real world flavor . Keep it up just like this .


(I love your meticulousness !)

[emilin]

Interesting features indeed. Looking forward to more closeup, but I quite enjoy these overviews too. They show an amazing dedication. Teton looks prefectly realistic from above.

[nova vesfalo]

like beskhu3epnm and badsim, I really love the way you developed your region, it's so real, with big choices to make !

Wunderful CJ, can't wait to see more !

[meinhosen]

That was a fantastic update about possible development in the region.  I like the overviews and all the different possibilities you brought up.

I'd like to add that your work with Teton has inspired me to start a mountainous region, thanks!

Great work!

[Giligone]

First, further extensive oil development in the Artic lands of northern Alaska was approved. This after many decades of lobbying to open up that area. This has an impact on Teton due to the relationship between the Republic of Alberta and the western USA. We will touch on oil's prominence in Teton in later updates.

haha. Do I sense a bit of western alienation sentiment there? Republic of Alberta, hehhe.  Amazing work on those maps. Looking forward to the full update!

[keithsed]

Pvarcoe:

What snow mod and rock mod are you using?  It looks GREAT along with everything else.    I really like to look and browse you pictures.

Keith

[Cali]

its been a while since i saw this, beautiful progress

[thundercrack83]

And by the way, I forgot to congratulate you on 200 posts! Better late than ever...

[Nardo69]

I remember a friend of mine posting in my CJ on "the other site" that he is a bit envious due to my smooth slopes  ...

I just went through 10 (+1) pages of TT by stretching out my lunch break and I am breathless - that mountain highway is 11 out of 10 points - at least ....

I will reread your first pages again since I don't have much experience with the columbus mod (I am just a stubborn oldfashioned donkey that needs its time ... ) but your woods are like the woods I want to have ...

so it is seems to be it is my turn to be envious rigth now ... 

Bernhard 

[bat]

a wonderful update you have made there!

[kwakelaar]

This is looking very spectacular, the nature you have created and this long winding road is sooo well done.

[Heinz]

hello, Phil. (if i may call you that) i think its the first time for me to drop a reply here... so here goes... you are absolutely amazing with the hand you have in the progress of this MD. the story, the realism, the BATs, the network lay out, the foresight for development and even the smallest things like the road that went around the new lake and the connections from the old roads. absolutely amazing. will gladly follow the progress of TT 2032.  will eagerly await the region's venture into agriculture and growing into the estimated 3million.  wow.  i wish you all the best

[sebes]

Fantastic updates again Phil. They way you play with the map, and how you place your roads and highways is awesome.   Each  time when I see the mountains on your pictures I actually feel like I am seeing them in real. If I only had a bit of your talent and patience....