Not a Hike but Does it need to be

The Hole Tourist, that's the name of the blog, and as we all know tourist just don't hike. They go to plays, movies, see some sites. To be honest, few tourist probably do hike, or a least make that their main priority.
Anyway I figured I would add in a quick blog about some other stuff we do here in Jackson.

Jackson is an amazing community town, that being said we have some amazing community centered organizations that provide activities to do, and occasionally are kid friendly if not oriented. Once such organization is the Jackson Hole Center for the Arts. They are responsible for putting on numerous plays, ballets and shows throughout the year and recently they have added a digital media center. Which is essentially a movie screen and surround sound to go with it.

Anyways the On December 19th they put on a free day to show off their new technological advancement. Kevin and I took the girls to go see one of their free movies "Curious George's Curious Christmas". Before the show they were giving out cookies, cupcakes and other sweet snacks as well as water and juice boxes, and that made for a nice environment for the kids to mingle and meet. We even ended up seeing some "old friends" that the girls went to pre-school with. It was nice, the movie was the exact right length for kids to stay focused on and the atmosphere somehow seemed more kid friendly than that of the typical movie theatre. The best part, no snacks in the theatre; which meant that instead of worrying about getting a fair share of popcorn, or when they get their candy ,or their drink being all gone the kids could actually focus on the show. Another upside was that it was full of kids and parents, thus the laughing, the giggling, the talking, and even the occasional crying wasn't as disruptive as it typically is in a theatre, it didnt have that feeling of condenming eyes that typically follow a chatty child in a movie theatre. After the show the kids were each given a goodie bag, which just summed the whole trip up as a success as far as they and I were concerned.

As an adult the added benefit of this new entertainment system at Center for the Arts is all the added concerts and shows that we may now be able to participate in without leaving town. Not many big acts come to Jackson, Willie Nelson comes about once a year and we hosted Tom Petty I think a few years back, but mostly its has-beens or wanna-be's that come here to play.  Not that I blame the big guys, its treacherous to get here in the winter and in summer its so busy and its not like we have a venue that can allow for a grand concert, that can be kept to paying customers only. So in my opinion I am happy for the development. Center for the Arts has always been an outstanding place for this community to get its fill of the Arts, with the new system I am sure it will only add to the opportunities it provides to this valley.

An Accidental Adventure

The weekend of December 11th we took the kids up Fall Creek road to go sledding. We took the Wilson entrance and followed it up past Red Top Meadows. Parts of Fall Creek are unmaintained in the winter due to heavy snow, steep hills and the lack of necessity to plow it. We of course didn't let a  foot or so of snow stop us, so we kept on going, and headed for the infamous sledding hill that is somewhere between the Canyon and Red Top Meadows. We made it all the way to the base of the hill and then got stuck. It wasn't too bad and with a few minutes to clear out some snow and some heavy pushing on Kevin's behalf we were free. Until I turned the wheels of the truck too sharp and promptly parked the truck in a ditch. On my behalf I didn't know there was a ditch as the four or five feet of snow had filled it in. Alas with that we started our inadvertent adventure.
There was a small burm where the truck was parked so we sent the kids down it a few times on the sled. After a few minutes of discussion we decided to hike and get a cell signal. So we loaded the kids in the sled all bundled up, grabbed a bottle of water and some snacks and headed out. The kids didn't last long in the sled, apparently they like the snow, and running and playing in it is no problem as long as there is a path and they don't have to dig through it. So we walked and looked for a signal.

Yes thats the kids way out in front!

After we hiked for about a mile or two and still had no signal, the kids and I stopped and took a break and Kevin climbed a hill to see if he could get better reception. I stayed and hung out with the kids, which I have to say was much preferred to Kevin's task. After about 45 minutes he came back with the unfortunate news that he was unable to get service. At this point we had some tough choices to make. 1. We could all keep on hiking until we had service, 2. One of us could keep hiking on, the other stay where we were with kids or 3. One of us goes on, the other takes kids back to car.

We decided that option three was the best, so the kids and I went back to the car and Kevin walked on to find help. Kevin and I had decided when I got to the truck I would start a fire to keep warm, instead of using the heater in the truck and wasting all that gas. So when the kids and I arrived back at the truck we settled in a willow patch and I made a fire.

The next four hours wasn't all that eventful. The kids and I hung out at the fire, they played house and dug and made snow figures, never once complaining or whining about being stuck on the side of the road in the dead of winter.  I spent the entire time finding dry willow branches for the fire, not an easy feat keeping a fire roaring with only willow twigs for fuel.  All in all I was successful, and I'm proud to say the fire didn't die once. (I would have used actual wood if any was near by, but I was not comfortable letting kids out of my site to go find real wood, so I made do.) Eventually the kids got tired and bundled up on the sled in front of the fire, then  somehow drifted off to sleep.  I had considered moving them to the truck but they were warm and weren't complaining so we just stayed out in the cold by the fire. Once we heard some howling that was most likely a coyote, but we never saw what it was.  he only true scare came when I mistook Emma's snoring for the sounds of a hoofed beast snorting.


I can't really say what Kevin did for those four hours besides walk. He said he was nearly to Red Top Meadows (10 miles from us) before he got a signal, and instead of calling and walking back he kept going in hopes of maybe finding someone to help before the tow truck found him. Unfortunatly he was unsuccessful, the first cars he ran into were a pair of State Troopers that AAA called, to alert them to our situation. About 30 seconds behind them was the tow truck. It was about 8:00 when the tow truck and Kevin emerged from the darkness and came to our rescue. The truck was pretty stuck and it took an hour to get out, at this point I was grateful that we chose to stay by the fire, having the kids in the truck while trying to get it out wasn't an option. To have moved the kids once they were asleep in a warm truck, and then toss them out into the cold winter night would have been.   As it was we stayed safe, warm and dry while the two tow truck people and Kevin rescued the only thing in need of help, the truck.

 As a side note, being stuck on the side of a deserted road in winter with three kids is never fun. But being prepared and using reasoning skills and thinking through things, versus just acting, and reacting without thought makes a world of difference. We just stayed positive, keeping our spirits up and never letting ourselves doubt the possibility that all would end well. As a testament to the absolute difference preparation can make Lulu has asked the we "go camping again where we got stuck" for her birthday as it was the most fun she has had since Washington! There mere fact that our our four year old considered this unexpected an unplanned adventure "camping"  and wants to do it again for her birthday makes me both proud and humble.

Until next time, Be Safe & Be Prepared!

Sleeding in Bondurant

So this post is a little late, but forgive me, afterall it is the Season of forgivness is it not. Its been a busy month, we've not had a typical hike yet but we have had a few snow adventures. I will get around to posting them all. Kevin and I have been pretty busy, we have been spending all of our free time at a new endeavour. But we have still made weekends about family.


Anyway on with the blog, on December 3rd we headed down the Hoback canyon. First we were going to go up Fall Creek road but when we arrived at the point where the road dead ends and there wasn't a place to park it was so full of cars. So we turned around and headed through the canyon keeping our eye out for a place to sled. We eventually wound up in Bondurant, there is a place to park on the side of the road pretty close to a Ranger Guard Staion. The parking area was full of construction vehicles but we found a place to park and headed out anyway. The Guard Station is closed in the winter and the road up to it is not plowed so don't try to drive up it. After we parked we got the sled ready and all the kids, as well as our selves bundled and set out.

This hike was by far the most difficult hike we have done. Not for the distance we went in, which wasn't far, maybe a mile, but snow is not a very easy thing to hike through. Knee deep snow that's thick is even harder, then try towing three 30+ pound kids on a sled as you are trying to wade through it well, lets just say its strenuous. It took us about 20 minutes to get up to the ranger station from the parking lot where we all took a break. The kids got out of the sled and had a blast making snow angels, snowmen and a  general enjoyment of the snow. Kevin and I just sat and rested.

Behind the Guard Station is a nice steep hill. Really steep, so we set out to make it up the hill. We did pretty good, until we were half way up the hill and the kids will and energy gave out. We decided to push them a bit further up the hill, because by now we realized that this was the one and only time up that hill. Finally we reached a point that we felt would be a nice long trip down on the sled and packed the girls on it. Jack had stopped about ten feet up the hill and decided he was done and laid down in the snow to take a nap. He and I hung out there and waited for the girls and Kevin to come back down.








Once we all dug our way back to the cabin at the guard station we had lunch and a rest. As we made a trail on our way in, we thought that a bribe might be able to save us some energy on the way back. We told the kids that whoever could hike all the way back to the car could earn a lollipop. I know bribes are "condoned" but as parents we all need to save our sanity as well as our bodies some strain sometimes. Besides knee-deep to Kevin and I equals thigh deep to Emma, waist deep to Lulu, and Jack, well he disappeared a lot and eventually (after 5 mins) we plucked him out of the snow and into the sled for safe keeping.

Lucy walked most of the way but Kevin felt bad for her, I dunno why she wasn't complaining or whiny but he tempted her with a ride and of course she caved (she still got a lollipop for her efforts). Emma, with her pride intact, refused a ride and made the whole trek on her own (she got a lollipop and a tootsie roll, figured that was only fair as she did make the whole walk). Jack fell asleep in the truck so he didn't notice that he didn't get a lollipop.

All in all it was fun, despite the deep, deep snow, and the ridiculous mountain we had to climb.

And They made it down!

The Raptor Reserve

 The Raptor Reserve, is essentially our front yard. We live right up the hillside of the banks of the Snake River. During the summer months this area is closed for as a raptor sanctuary, and we can often see, bald eagles, osprey, and a variety of hawks flying around here. In the winter however it opens up for public access. Though to get here you have to drive through our neighborhood.
Anyway its a bit of a climb down to the banks of the river, and very treacherous if you don't know whats underfoot. The bank of the Snake is a huge wide river-rock bed and has a few eddy's and pools where the river calms a bit. Once it snows though all these physical attributes are hidden beneath a blanket of white.

If you do venture down here, be very careful where you put your feet and don't go alone. Any step you take the rocks could shift and you can get hurt very quickly.

This was a short little hike to get us accustomed to the weather and the cold as well as build up Kevin's sled towing muscles for the winter. We hiked down to the river by way of an old river access point that starts just across the street from our front lawn. This hill would be a good one for sledding once the snow gets deeper, but this time we skipped it.

 Once we got to the bank, (about 5 minutes) We let the kids run around and play in the snow and try to throw snow, twigs and rocks into the river. The bank was pretty icy and we couldn't be sure exactly where the edge of the river was so we had the kids stand back quite a ways (which they weren't happy about).

Once they got their fill of the river we headed up to the sled hill that was our purpose. We made a deal with the kids that if they wanted to sled down the hill they had to pull the sled up the hill. We gave them the first on free and they all rode down together. After that we had the kids who weren't riding wait at the bottom for their turn.

First up was Lulu, Kevin gave her a running send off and she went barreling down the hill and a bit farther than she expected and got a little frightened. The sled stopped and she climbed off crying, we told her that if she ever needed to stop she could just roll out of the sled and she would be okay. A little distraught she was more than eager to hand over the reins to Emma.

Emma knowing what was about to happen and thrilled to see if she could zoom farther than lulu ran up the hill with the sled. Kevin gave her a running start as well and she coasted a few feet further than Lulu.

Jack having waited long enough for his turn was ready to go, however he wasn't very inclined to pull the sled. Kevin held his hand and walked up the hill with him, but still had Jack pull the sled. Fair is fair after all.

Each of the kids took a dozen or so turns before the were too tired to walk anymore, so we sent them all down the hill together one last time. Emma volunteered to pull up the sled but Jack and his independent ways thought that it was his job and threw a fit until we let him do it himself.

Once up the hill Kevin graciously pulled them all home.

A Great Simple Sledding Hike....

Next week we push it.

Rocky Mountain National Park

The one and only true, authentic hike that we did make on this trip was our hike in RMNP. It was planned as a "get-out-of-the-car-so-we-dont-go-insane" break and suited its role nicely. Unlike Florissant Fossils this park was not out of the way. However like Florissiant Fossil Beds you need to know where to go in order to find it. At first we went to a gate that was closed in the winter and didn't have any of the nice park maps around only newsletters with a rudementary map that might be well understood by frequent park guests but did little to hep us. We did eventually figure out the newsletter map with the assistance of my Verizon Wirelless Navigator (a shout out to all modern technology here). We arrived at a park gate and were furnished with a proper map and offically within park boarders.

The one thing I walked away from this trip was the overwhelming understanding that I have been cured of my city ways, and have realized that I forever belong in a small and simple town on the edge of the wild. The city was nerve racking and loud. It stunk and had me worried for the few feet of space that I let grow between me and my kids. I had a contstant death grip on at least one child (Gak) and usually reaching for another. It was terrifying. Once again in a National Park, surrounded by trees, snow and wind I felt a sigh release from me that I hadn't known I'd been holding for days.

 I had known that  Rocky Mountain National Park would be different than our span of the Rocky Chain here in Wyoming, and it was oddly familiar and yet unique. RMNP is softer and more lush, It has a soft facade and gently slopes compared to the sheer and jagged edge of the Tetons. However the roads here lead into the mountains winding to the tops of snow blanketed peaks. We decided to take a road that closed in the winter and hike from there. It assured a nice clear path and a set way back to the car. We didnt plan on going off trail here or making a campfire as signs stated that both activities were prohibited.

We stoped at Many Curves Road Parking area where they close the gate in the winter, then we all bundled up and set out for our hike. It was very windy and there was about 4 inches of snow on the ground. I was a bit concerned that the cold was going to be to much and had a moment of doubt. But I settled on the idea of a hike and I couldnt let our first opportunity be wasted so we set out and bared down. The road is easy, with a mild ascent as it leads to the first bend. There a simple stone wall marks the edge of the road in a sharpe curve, it took us about 15 minutes to reach the small wall. Up to this point we had been followed by a group of three young men apparently on a little tourist trip of their own. At the wall however they turned back and we kept on, which was nice as we couldnt set a dteady pace with the kids and they often stopped to take pictures so we were often passing each other. It was obvious that many people walked to that wall for a panoramic view of the mountain from such an advantagous overlook, few kept on. After we made the first bend there were only two lines of tracks in the snow, and understandably so. As we turned the corner and broke through the protection of the trees we were meet by an icy and fericous wind. We kept on hiking for another 20 minutes untill we came to a spot on the road that wind and trees protected enough to leave bare. We rested here and had some water before we headed back.

The return trip was delightfully less frigid as we were now walking with the wind to our backs. as bundled as we were the cold was not a bother, unless the wind lashed us with it. On the way back, as is his fashion Kevin made up a game for the kids to keep their spirits up and their feet moving. This time it was a game of white-out, the basic purpose was to see if you could knock anyone in the snow. However as Lulu and I both seemed to understand the discomfort awaiting those being shoved into snow that blankets pavement, we opted out and settled with each others hand to hold.  Kevin, Emma and Jack spent the half hour walk back to the car running, sliding, shoving and ocassionally falling into the icy powder. None complained and the walk back was more enjoyable than the hike in.







We made it to the car and survived the long car ride home. since we've been back we went on a quick welcome home/ welcome to winter hike. I will post that adventure here in the next day or so and then we will be all caught up! Until Then!

 

Downtown Denver

Most people wouldn't consider a day in downtown Denver a hike. Unless of course you turn it into one. Growing up in Denver I have seen many things the city has to offer and know a few places of interest. One of my favorite places to visit is Civic Center Park and the surrounding area. I am a fan of architecture and pretty buildings and Downtown Denver is a great place to see what beauties mankind has to offer. Kevin and I figured this would be a fun change of pace for the kids as they don't live in a big city, let alone one with such old and grand buildings.

Sunday the 14th of November we left the hotel around 9 am and went to Civic Center Park. If you can find and stay on Colfax Avenue you will eventually hit the square in the middle of Denver. I suggest going on a Sunday or Holiday as all parking meters are exempt on these days; the down side being most buildings are closed and there are no tours! We parked in front of the Colorado Congressional Building, which had many of its displays up for the Parade of Lights. We spent a few minutes running up and down the stairs and trying to see if we could find all the holiday decorations. Then we crossed the street and went into the park. There isnt a playground here so don't expect one but there are still many places to explore and play. The summer is when the park is at its grandest, with big square lawns of green grass bordered by beds of flowers. Even in fall however it is still a place full of architecture and grandure. As we headed into the park we took the path to our right that lead to an ampitheatre. The kids loved running down the staris and through the back enterances and hallways.

As we headed out the front of the ampitheater we head striaght across the lawns to the left hand side of the park where there was an empty fountain. The kids again dove right in and started playing on the statues of seals and cherubs. then we headed up to the capitol building.  We didnt get to go inside but we did explore around the building and the steps. In the square are plenty of statues and memorials and you could spend a day winding in and out of streets never knowing what kind of historic places you will find embedded among the newer bigger buildings of the city.

We even walked up the Capitol Steeps and saw the two mile-high markers on the steps!

The most exciting part of the downtown hike was finding an unlocked empty building. On our way back to the car we decided to check if we could get into any of the buildings and look around. Most buildings were locked, however we found one, It was originally the Colorado Museum, the intended purpose still etched deep into the marble above the entryway. Now its function was something less exciting I think having something to do with the Legistlave process, but dont fully recall. Anyway it was an extradionary building with marble floors and glod stair cases. Open echoing hallways and large soild wooden and brass doors. We spent a while going up and down the stair cases and looking out windows. Then took the elevator down to the basement area where we found a way out through a tunnel.

Florissant Fossil Beds

So as you all may be aware last weekend the family and I went to Denver to celebrate Emma's birthday. We had an absolute blast and enjoyed the vacation very much. Most of our activities were not what we would typically call hiking, but still were long days on our feet. We went to the Denver Zoo which was supremely exciting as all the babies were out on display and very playful and fun to watch. Saturday we went to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science which was also great fun and exhausting as well. Anyways that's not what this blog is about so shall we get on with it then?

Last Saturday the 13th of November we went to Florissant Fossil Beds National Park near Colorado Springs, Colorado. It was a long drive to get there from Denver about two and a half hours, if your not a local I would suggest having a GPS or printed out directions as until you are on the back roads and nearly to the park there are no directional signs. We got to the parking lot of the visitor center about 4:30 and got out of the car to get all bundled up when a park ranger came out and told us that the park was closing in about half an hour. Most park entrance's do close at some point but the park it self stays open so this took me as a bit odd that the whole park would close at 5 and we wouldn't really be able to get a good hike in. But we had driven for over two hours so we were at least going to see what we could.

 

Right behind the visitors center is a wide sidewalk with the typical park "information stations" those boards that tell you about the local landscape and why it is important. So we followed the winding path till it curved around to another sign and a very interesting artifact. There in a big hole in the ground was a petrified red wood tree. Colorado is a state littered in prehistoric history, a place where the dinosaurs and the hidden treasures buried deep in the Earth are rich and a primary focus of preservation. Even though we only spent about 20 minutes on the sidewalk looking around I could tell that getting off the beaten path and exploring this park further would be a real spectacular treat. Though as it was we didn't get off the path and we only got to see the 5 or so trees right on the visitors center path. 

My advice to anyone visiting this park is to get there earlier in the day to give your self some time to explore and get off the path. Also take a second to read the boards, there are some really interesting facts to be learned, not only in how old the trees are, but how the are made. I learned that redwood trees will sprout from their roots if the main tree dies. That way the ding tree can serve as a support system for the new tree.  Also on some of the trees it is hard to see but one the last one ( in the pic with the kids and I) if you look closely you can still see the grains of the wood.

No Hike This Sunday

Hey All,
 So we went for a small 30 minute hike on Thursday, just to get out of the house. Not really worth mentioning except that today we stayed home. No we arent getting lazy, or down by the weather (actually its pretty nice out), it just this weekend we are having Emma's birthday celebration. Her actual birthday is on Tuesday, but we are having our family party today as next weekend none of us will be in town. The Grandparents are headed to Ohio next week and we will be going to Colorado.

 A little back story on the trip to Colorado. This Summer we went to Washington for a week to celebrate Lulu's birthday. It was an excellent trip even though we had to leave one of our own in the loving hands of Grammy and Grandpa. We didn't feel that Jack was quite ready for a 17 hour road trip, the hiking he could of handled, the car trip well that would of destroyed Kevin and I. So when it came time to plan Emma's birthday we assumed that she would want her traditional lavish birthday party with all her friends and class in attendance. When we started talking to her about it she asked if we could go to Washington with Jack, we told her that was a little much for this time of year, so she settled on Colorado (with the promise of Chuck E. Cheese). So this year Emma decided to forgo the her traditional party and instead we are going to
Colorado. As promised all family vacations will be National Park centered, so we will be visiting Florissant Fossil Beds National Park, as well as Rocky Mountain National Park. We are also going to squeeze in the Denver Zoo and the Denver Meusem of Nature and Science. It going to be a quick three day trip (no school Friday) sometime next week I will post it all here. Wish us Luck and of course a special Happy Birthday to our 5  going on 14 year old Emma!

Emma 12/04

Taggart lake

This week in Jackson it snowed, and a good bit of it lasted. So as promised last week we went for our first snow hike. The GTNP road closed at Taggart Lake when you enter from the south, so we figured this was a good destination to start off the winter hiking season. We didn't want to shoot for too long of a hike for the first snowy day so we decided not to leave until after lunch hoping that the afternoon weather would be a bit more comfortable for the kids. As it turned out we need not have worried the kids loved the snow and the weather was great for hiking.

We arrived at Taggart lake at one o'clock and since it wasn't too cold we decided to leave off the snow pants and mittens and take them with us in case we needed them. Its a nice path that starts out wide open and flat. After a short bit the trail forks, we took the Taggart Lake trail to the right, about another ten minutes and the trail forks again, and again we took the trail to the right. Once you take the second right in the background you can hear a loud river, it comes up on you quite suddenly and there is a nice wide bridge (no railing) that crosses the boulder and rock strewn river. After the bridge the trail narrows out a little bit and loops around to a barn. I assume they have horses kept at the barn in the summer for trail rides but it was empty as we walked passed. Once the trail loops back around it follows the creek upstream for a while.

                   

As you follow the stream the trail starts a little climb and continues on for a little ways, the trail is littered with rocks and boulders which made the path a little more adventurous with the added texture. The kids loved jumping on, up, and over all the rocks. Eventually the path becomes snow covered and tapers out into a small pine forest. The trees and the snow create an atmosphere of reverence and silence. Unlike last weeks hike this hike was truly quite, not even the faintest echo of a whisper stirred the air. Even the snow beneath our feet was silent.

After about 45-50 minutes we arrived at the lake. It was stunning to arrive as it seems to appear out of nowhere. Suddenly you are just there. Its a quite serene lake that sits stoically behind a shield of pines. We took the trail to the lake edge and rested a moment and enjoyed the beauty of the crystal clear glacial lake. We then took our first detour into the trees. As there was no path and the snow was hiding many obstacles the bushwhacking took a bit longer than it typically would have. The kids made it through with a few helping hands and a slip and and fall once or twice but no complaints. (probably because we spent the hole hike telling them to stay out of the snow and now were we fully immersing them in the fluffy white powder) We found a few boulders at the edge of the lake and decided to take a break and have a small fire. It wasn't necessary as we were bundled up and dry but its a good moral booster so we went ahead and splurged.  We hung out for a bout a half hour and enjoyed some apple sauce for a snack before we headed back.

           




Always Making their own trail.

  We considered taking the second half of the loop trail back. But  it was another 2.4 miles to finish the loop making it a 4 mile hike, and just 1.6 to go back the way we came. We decided we best just take the same trail back, all in all it was a 3.2 mile hike and the kids did excellent. Kevin started a snowball fight and that kept the kids all motivated to outrun his throwing distance, Jack needed a short ride to regain his willpower and then finished the hike without any further support. The whole trip took us a little under three hours and the kids didn't even take a nap (Kevin and I however were in need of one)! Next time we will push for the 4 mile hike. Next week a Dillon Family favorite The Snake River Bottoms.