SUMMER REWIND 2011 - Hiking & Biking

Roughly 500,000 people call Wyoming home. That makes the “Equality State” the least-populated state in the U.S. The number of tourists that come to Jackson Hole annually is more than six times the state’s population! So we welcomed the beautiful summer weather alongside millions (literally) of tourists in our small town. The weather definitely over-shadowed the throngs of tourists found in and about town, cameras around their necks, always! The only suggestion that I would give the tourists is “don’t stand in the middle of the intersection to get the perfect picture of the Antler Arches on the Town Square." Next year I may not be as patient!  We had plenty of wildlife sightings in early summer. After the wildlife headed North into Yellowstone, the most dangerous thing we had to avoid on the roads was this:

You would not believe the number of RV rentals we saw...SCARY!

Here is a brief overview of hiking and biking this summer:

• Hiking….hiking and more hiking. Ashley was great at choosing some very challenging and beautiful hikes. The trails are never-ending, and one was more beautiful than the next. We found ourselves on new trails almost every weekend. We did much more hiking outside of Grand Teton National Park, since dogs are not permitted in National Parks. As you can tell by the pictures, Bella LOVES to hike, and there are plenty of great trails in the National Forest and around town to keep us all happy! Hope to keep more detailed fact tracks of our hikes next year – would be fun to look back at the mileage, elevation gains/loss, etc.  I currently have our hikes recorded by color-coded “degree of difficulty” and a few field notes (Barry thinks it is funny, but it comes in handy when company arrives and is looking for a specific type of hike)! Here are some of our highlights~
• We hiked with Ashley to the Summit of Jackson Peak - the tallest peak in the Gros Ventre Mountain Range. There was still quite a bit of snow at the top, so it was a very strenuous, but very rewarding hike. Our favorite hike to date!

Lunch break @ Goodwin Lake, before the final ascent to Jackson Peak

It was difficult to find the trail, and to hike through all of the snow (unless you were Bella)!

Ashley & Barry almost there. I took any opportunity to stop and take pictures (and rest) - especially at the final ascent!

WE MADE IT!!!!

• We hiked Teewinot Apex (in Grand Teton National Park) when Paige was out visiting Ashley. The Apex Trail starts up the East Face of the 12,325-foot Teewinot Mountain.

Teewinot here we come!

Overlooking Jenny Lake

Pretty girls in pretty flowers!

Happy Hikers! Enjoying the beautiful falls on Teewinot.

• Black's Canyon/History Trail - Hike from the bottom of the Teton Pass to the Top!

Top of the Teton Pass - Black's Canyon

Hiking up the History Trail amongst the gorgeous flowers!

Granite Canyon - GTNP

Granite Canyon

Top of Alkalai Ridge - Gros Ventre Mountain Range

Granite Hot Springs

Shoal Falls

Josie's Ridge

Summit of Rendezvous Mountain - Top of the Tram

Bradley/Taggert Lake Hike - GTNP

Bradley Lake - GTNP

Hidden Falls with our best buddies - GTNP

Inspiration Point with Shayna & Terri - GTNP

Snow King Summit with Harvey & Kim

Putt-Putt (Cache Creek)

String Lake - GTNP

Atherton Ridge

String Lake with (Mighty) Lia and Zak

Snow King with Mike

Ferrin's to Summit of Snow King with Lori& Jim

Cascade Canyon - GTNP with Mazureks & Greiners

Biking…mountain biking and pathway biking are both fantastic out here! I am a bit skittish of the downhill side of mountain biking, so I opt for the trails that have less elevation gain. Barry has been much  more adventurous in that category.

That's Barry in the blue shirt waiting in the lift line at the mountain resort. You ride the lift up and then ride down the mountain. I was a spectator this day for sure!

Bikes ride up on the chair lift too!

Mountain Biking on Cache Creek

 My favorite is the pathway biking in Grand Teton National Park – stunning!

Now you have an idea of what has been keeping us so busy this summer! We were thrilled that we had so many visitors to share the fun and adventures! Already counting down to Summer 2012~