Slide Lake

I know I am behind on blogging our adventures, and I promise to catch up soon. Starting with the weekend of February 13, when we went to Slide Lake. As usual we loaded up in the truck, with lots of water, snacks, and warm winter gear. To get to Slide Lake you head north of Jackson on  Cache, then take the road to Kelley. Which can be found on the right side of the road shortly after the Elk refuge on Highway 191/89.  Follow this road until it curves at the town of Kelly, continue until you see a sign for Kelly Warm springs, also on the right side of the road.  Take this turn and continue on for a ways. The road is very windy, steep in many places, and in winter is often slick and covered in snow or ice. Be very careful on this road. The road itself stays open all the way to the Abernathy Creek campground (where the boat ramp is, and also the best access to the lake). We took the road that crosses over the slide, Taylor Ranch Road, which is again on the right hand side, and is adjacent to the slide information parking area. We drove to the end of this road and parked the truck at a pullout before the road turned into a private driveway.

It was a really warm Winter day and eventually the kids became so hot that they needed to ditch the coats. This helped propel them even faster and the race soon began.

 This hike was a short one and pleasant one. Taylor Ranch Road is a curvy, fairly unpopular road. Meaning that is is fine to walk down, and not risk seeing any other vehicles or people the entire time. It crosses the river right at the mouth and has some beautiful views of the red dirt hills. We chose this road as our hike because, well to be perfectly honest we are a bit sick of the snow. From where we parked to the start of the road is about a half mile, so all in all we went 1 mile. It was a fast hike and I didn't time it, Lulu nearly ran the whole way, Jack wandered along and Emma tried at every possibility to play in the snow.. To end the hike we had a fire and lunch on the only the snow covered beach that sits at the edge of the lake where the river begins. We had a quick lunch of Turkey Sandwiches with Clementines, and of course Water. Then we got in the truck and headed home. The easiest hike so far this winter.

Just Chillin'

The Slide

The Lower Gros Ventre River (Gro Vant)

Signal Mountain Road

                         

Super Bowl Sunday, to us non-football fans (Well one of us is, but that team isn't  in the game) is a great day to take advantage of the outdoors, free from those entranced in the big game. In the spirit of that mood, and also because Saturday we had other plans, we set out to enjoy more winter hiking while most were at home cozy and warm with friends and family. We set out once again to freeze our butts off.  

Yesterday (2/6/11), we decided to head up to Jackson Lake. Our original destination for last weeks hike as you may recall. We again entered GTNP through the Moran entrance and took a left at the Jackson Lake Junction. On our way to the Signal Mountain Lodge Parking area we spotted a pull out near the Chapel of the Sacred Heart. Seeing as it was adjacent to the Lake we thought that maybe it would be a good trail to follow. So we parked the van and got out to investigate. With the kids in the lead we followed the trail until it dead-ended in a loop around the churches parking lot. The kids as usual found a positive aspect in a let-down-hike and once again found a snow hill to play on, while Kevin and I regrouped. As is our fashion before giving up on the trail altogether Kevin went off to investigate whether or not we would be able to break a new trail. After about 5 minutes of plowing through the snow he came back with the report that it would be manageable, but climbing back up the slope would be difficult. With that information, and last weeks not-so-triumphant hike we decided that this week we best stick to a path. Thus decided we declared this hike over and went back to the car. Emma, being sure to let me know that these "mini hikes" were her least favorite, and she wanted to go on a long hike and have a fire, today. With Emma's demands in mind we drove to the end of the road, which like most closed roads in Wyoming, promptly leads to a non-motorized path. Once again we parked, and unloaded the car and set out.

The trail we were on was really just the main road of the park, buried under snow. Which in the winter is a convenient place to hike, cross country ski, snowshoe, or get out in the snow by whatever means suits you. A great bonus about this trail is that it allows pets! Most National Park trails are closed to our four legged friends, so this was a nice treat. Not that we have a dog, but we dog sit from time to time and its nice to find a trail that we can bring our furry friends on as well.
  
   Eventually we came to Signal Mountain Road and decided to take a left and see where that went. This path was less frequented than the previous trail. We only saw one set of cross country ski tracks and they appeared to have already come and gone. We followed this road as it wound through the forest and up a few hills. After about a half hour on this trail the kids were inches from lying down and quitting, Kevin took the hint and went ahead of us to find a suitable place to stop and rest. I with much coaxing, pleading and even a bit of pushing finally got the kids to Kevin's rest stop, where he had already gathered tinder and wood and was in the process of building a fire. The Children upon seeing Kevin's track fork off the road and into the woods instantly regained vigor and will power and followed the footprints into the forest. Jack and Emma started at once on making a fort, beds and a snow cave, Lulu was feeling a bit under the weather and took the opportunity to rest.




Kevin made us a nice toasty fire and we all took off our gloves and mittens and set them out to dry while we ate a lunch of sandwiches (tuna for the girls and pb&j for the boys), animal crackers and water. We stayed at the fire for about a half hour, before we became too restless to sit any longer. With toasty warm gloves and full tummies, we buried the fire and set ourselves on the path home.

This hike was by far the longest we have done this winter and it made us ever more grateful that winter will soon end. Jack needed a short ride on both the trip there and the trip back, and out of sympathy Kevin gave each the girls a five minute ride. From start to finish was two and a half hours and we hiked 3 miles. The end of this hike left me thinking, "If we can hike three miles, in fresh four inch deep snow, with the added weight of snow gear, at an altitude over a mile high with three kids, what can't we do?" Until next week, Be safe and Be well.

Kevin Never loosing an opportunity for Adventure

A woodpecker we stopped and watched.

Oxbow Bend

I don't think that there is anyone out there who will deny the many disadvantages of winter. Those of us in Jackson tend to see past the mountains of snow, the constant sub zero temperatures and the obvious downsides of the 8 months of cold, and instead focus our gaze on the positive aspects of winter. For example, rivers freeze over and provide access to places typically "off-limits" in the spring and summer. This past weekend we took advantage of such an opportunity to explore the islands of Oxbow Bend.

For those of you unfamiliar with Oxbow Bend, its an amazing place where the snake river floods around islands and is a magnificent gathering place for wildlife.. In the summer it isn't rare to find birds and beasts refreshing themselves along this wide mellow stretch of the Snake River. In winter it freezes, not all of it of course but a huge part of it, which makes crossing over to the islands super duper easy.

Oxbow Bend lies just inside the North Entrance (Moran) to Grand Teton National Park. From this entrance it is on the left hand side of the road and there is a pull off area where you can park. One of the best parts of Oxbow bend is that its just off to the side of the main road so you cannot miss it.

Once we got all the kids out of the car and bundled up in their winter gear we set out. This first obstacle was just getting down to the path. the kids felt the simplest way down was just to sit and slide, of course for us adults that's not such a simple thing, so we just walked down carefully. The path we followed this time was made by snowshoers and much more difficult to follow, though much easier than making our own. We followed the path as it traced the banks of the river and up and through a willow patch. Here it became much more difficult, as the snow was webbed through by willow branches and bushes. Kevin and I often found ourselves hip-deep in snow and that became very frustrating very fast.

After the path we were on crossed over the first small island it continued to edge along the bank instead of crossing over onto the more well established islands, the ones that are forested with trees and not just shrubs. We of course wanted to go into the trees, and as the path we were on seemed to follow the bank and didn't cross over to the islands, we figured we would make our own path.

Which was the most exhausting decision of the day. Emma and Lulu took the lead with Kevin hot on their heels and Jack drifted somewhere in between Kevin and I. Typically we wouldn't have the girls going first over a frozen river, but the elk path we were following lead us to believe if a minimum 600 pound beast could cross our 30-something pound kids would be OK. After all Kevin was less than an arms reach away, and it would be easier for them to make a trail then to try and walk in our four-foot-deep footprints.  With much difficulty for the adults and minimum exertion required of the children we crossed the ice and made it to a wooded island. Where we stopped and rested, while the inexhaustible Kevin went tramping through the snow to determine our next move.

Near the end of the hike, We made it into the trees.

Shortly however we discovered that snow-hiking isn't super popular for good reasons. Snow melts, and even snow that looks solid might just crumble away at the notion of a boot heel. Exasperated and exhausted we convinced the kids to trek back to the car and we would find a better place to hike. So we set ourselves on the way back to the van.

The total hike took about 45 minutes. As a rough guess I would say we covered just under a mile in distance.
When we arrived back at the van Emma asked us if she could play on the giant pile of snow we had to climb down to get to the trail. We were in no rush and since the hike wasn't an epic success we figured we would have a bit of fun before the day ended. Since it was unbelievably warm we ditched the coats (but kept the gloves and snow pants) and hung out in the warm (22*) winter sun.

The "Mountain"



Emma Sliding down "The Mountain"



Jack's turn

Lulu near the bottom.

The kids found a path down the "mountain" and turned it into their snow slide. I, in the heat of the moment, threw a snowball at Emma as she was perched at the top, and thus started an all out snowball war. She promptly took advantage of the opportunity, hiding behind the burms and lobbing down chunks of snow at Kevin and I. Lucy and Jack set their minds on making "snow beds" and let Kevin, Emma and I battle it out on our own. We hung out on the "mountain" for about 45 minutes and then headed on our way home, as we had other fun adventures in store!

Dubois Fish Hatcery

Saturday the 22nd was our first get out of Jackson hike in quite a while. It was also quite fantastic, even though we were not a complete group. Saturday morning started off with Emma suffering the ill-affects of the stomach flu. Which was a huge bummer for her, but turned into a sort of blessing (if being sick ever has one). She got to spend most of the day just resting with Grammy. (Read no little brother and sister bothering you about being sick, while your sick) So this hike we left her in the loving and capable hands of my absolute treasure of a Mother-In-Law, while the rest of us embarked on New and Glorious Adventures.

Walking the plank

This week for work Kevin had to make a delivery to Dubois, and while there, noticed how nice the weather was in comparison to Jackson. So when he returned he mentioned what a great place for a hike it might be. Looking into it we found a few places and were very excited to get out of the snow for a change. The drive to Dubois takes about two-two-and-half hours from Jackson depending on the weather. Just head North and keep going past the Moran Junction into Yellowstone. We originally set out to hike to Lewis Lake in the Shoshone National Forest. To get there you drive through Dubois and continue onto US-26 for a few more miles. You will see the typical brown national parks service sign pointing you toward Fish Hatchery road. Which is on the right hand side of the road if you are leaving Dubois headed towards Shoshone. Immediately the road forks, the road to the left is Trail Lake Drive, the road to the right is Fish Hatchery Road. Though our original intent was a lake down Trail Lake Drive, Kevin couldn't pass up the opportunity for a fish hatchery, plus Jack had to pee. So we went left.

The frozen marsh

Ice Hike anyone?

The Hatchery was pretty much vacant, we didn't see anyone there, and we even went into the back room to find a bathroom. Inside there were around 5-6 tanks with minnows in them. We picked up Lulu and Jack to see in them and they of course asked where the big fish were, which we set out to find. Seeing as there were no big fish inside we decided the next place to look was outside in the big tanks.In the doorway of the hatchery building there was some informational points about the hatchery and its purpose along with the types of fish they breed there. Good info for those who go.

we ended up climbing up this bank

Outside Lulu and Jack found the big fish. In big pools they had hundreds of fish swarming. The kids liked how the fish would swim away from whichever side of the tank they were on. (Cant blame the fish there). After we looked into every tank, even thoroughly examining the empty ones, and discussing their purpose. We finally set out on our hike.


The deer we spotted, can you find it?



Since the drive was long we didn't really travel to far from the car or the hatchery, and as it goes we started on a trail but didn't end up there. Near the front door of the hatchery was a split rail fence that seemed to lead to a path. We followed this and it shortly lead to some wooden planks laid through what would be a marshy area in summer; but was now just a path lined by dead leaves frozen in a slab of ice. We followed this trail only to be lead into a residential area. So we then went off trail, no more fussing around.

Kevin checking the Ice Bridge before we all cross

This is where it just blends, we went over frozen creeks, up sheer river banks, on a dessert hillside with caucuses, clambered through a wooded area. Watched a deer climb a mountain, found an antler. Crossed an Ice bridge over a stream. Turned around and went back. Although we weren't done yet, so we let each of the kids take the lead, Jack took us down to the creek and preceded to venture dangerously close to the frozen water. Lulu went for the woods, she wound us up, under, and through dense coverings, around trees and over dead fall. She even lead us within 20 feet of the truck but veered back into the trees instead of coming into the open.

Back to the Tetons

                                                                                                                                                                     

Togwotee Pass

We didn't stop and have lunch or a fire as it was a very quick hike and we felt we covered enough of the area. The hatchery also bordered a private ranch and weren't clear on the boundaries so we didn't want to have a fire. Once back to the truck we had Po' Boy sandwiches and apples, with water and juice boxes. The drive from Dubios to Jackson is a beautiful one, with such diverse and beautiful landscapes. From the red dirt hills of Dubois to the Ragged Mountain Peaks of Togwotee Pass, to the Teton valley and back to the Teton Range. The hike is beautiful regardless of the season.

A snow cactus

An attempt at Huckleberry Hot Springs

On Saturday the 15th we took advantage of the free park weekend and went through GTNP to the John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway. Our original plan was to hike an unnamed trail in GTNP that forks off from the main road, but seeing as it is winter, summer trails are rarely defined. Thus being the case with our mystery trail we just kept on driving until we found a path suitable for hiking. Seeing our hidden trail was halfway through the park we just drove until the road closed, which happened to be at Flagg Ranch Resort (http://www.flaggranch.com/). Knowing that this was a huge destination for snowmobilers and cross country skiers we figured that this was a place we could find a fairly decent trail. 

Flagg Ranch isn't a place that we visit often, or at all really. This was only my second time navigating the windy and poorly marked area of Flagg Ranch. The one time I was here previously, it was summer and we were heading over Grassy Lake Road. As winter does to so many things, it utterly and completely changed the scenery which made it much more difficult to figure out the trail situation.

We parked in the Commercial Parking lot (the public lot was full) and headed up the plowed road. We then reached what should have been a fork in the road, a sign pointed snowmobiles to the left and there was a sign marking a trail head for cross-country skiing. There seemed to be a trail that was buried beneath the last snow fall and we thought that with Kevin and I leading the way that we would establish it enough to follow. Unfortunately, after about 50 feet the trail dead-ended and Kevin and I were back to sinking waist deep in snow. So we gave up this trail, and slugged our way back out to the snowmobile trail. We followed this along until there was another more literal fork in the road. One fork lead up next to a cabin and the other seemed to veer off into more of a wilderness. So of course we took that path (it was on the right hand side). We followed this around for about 10 minutes hoping to find a cross-country ski trail that we could follow. Eventually we did, well we found another path that was buried beneath the last snow fall, however this narrow and half buried trail was preferable than walking down a road  15 feet wide, so we took this right too.

The path was easy enough to follow, it was very narrow and if we stepped an inch off the trail we would sink to our hips in the snow. The kids made an easy trip out of it as they are about a fifth our weigh, half our height not to mention a great deal narrower than us. After a bit we came to another trail marker and decided to follow it ,though there was no established trail. The previous trail we were on seemed to lead into the "housing" area of Flagg Ranch and that is not exactly what we had in mind when we set out. So we said screw it, and with Kevin breaking trail we all followed. happy to finally be headed into wilderness. The markers that we saw said we that the destination point was Huckleberry Hot Springs, however the trail head maps were pretty bad. They didn't indicate where you were on the map, didn't have the trail clearly marked, didn't describe the hike or distance to the Spring. So it was a craps shoot, and we just walked.

Kevin wound us through trees, and near the edge of a steep bank that lead down to a stream. We stayed a ways back with snow being the deceptive trickster that it is we couldn't be certain of the edge of the bank.
We figured this was as good a place for any for a campfire so we told the kids we were taking a break and set out to make a fire. It wasn't a remarkably easy task, though it wasn't all that difficult either. Kevin had brought with us some tinder and kindling, so all we needed to collect was the basic and easy to find dead twigs and branches to keep it burning. Not to difficult a task in a forest recently abused by pine beetles, but made a bit more cumbersome by the four feet of snow we had to trudge through to get it.



We had a lunch of hot dogs, pretzels, carrots and water, with cream soda as the special treat. While we were in the middle of prepping our lunch, two cross-country skiers had followed our trail and skied right into our little "camp". They asked us if "we broke trail" and we told them that we did, so they had to turn around a bit and find their own path through. We stayed at our "camp" for about a half hour, then we all helped bury the fire and set back out this time following the trail of our impromptu guests. Eventually this trail met up with another trail, and we just followed along. Seeing as we already had lunch, and that is what we typically use as our half way point we didn't have any set place to turn around. The girls were doing an excellent job as always in their own battle to be in the lead. Jack however was beginning to slow, so on a ridge above the creek we decided to turn back and head home.

This is where the day became a little vexing, somehow, heading back on the same trail we missed the fork where our visitors connected to the path we were now on. Eventually we reached the snowmobile trail and had to make a left or right. Admittedly we were a bit lost, so we just set out in one direction, knowing sooner our later we would come across some sign, or marker. After all we were at a resort and on a well established trail, not breaking snow pack in a forest. Eventually we wound up in the residential neighborhood and there was a man plowing the road, Kevin asked him how to get back to the parking area, and as it turns out if we had just taken a left when we arrived back on the snowmobile trail we were only about 10 minutes from our car. Oops!

With our side-tracking, we hiked about three miles and spent about 4 hours outside. Lulu and Jack both napped on the way back into town. It was a splendid adventure. Between the purr of the snow-mobiles the silence was soothing, the big fat snowflakes were comforting, and the world sleepily tucked away safe beneath a quilt of snow was enchanting.

Free Weekend Admission to ALL National Parks

Hello to all you out there,

 Just wanted to write a quick update and let everyone know that this weekend, the 15-17th, all National Park admission fees are waived! So yup that means a chance to explore your local National Park for FREE! And honestly whats better than free. So pack a lunch, tell someone where you are planning on going and when you plan to return. Keep blankets and extra food in your car, and be prepared for the worse! Then go enjoy the natural beauty and wonder you are sure to find on your trip!

But, Angel you say, its winter how will I know if my park is open? Where the closest park is, or if the roads are open? Even if it is what on Earth will we do? Well head on over to http://www.nps.gov/ and find all the answers you will need to have an amazing day in nature with your family!

Look forward to telling you all about our MLK Jr. adventure soon!

First Hike of 2011

                                                            Happy New Year!

Our very first hike of the new year was also our first repeat for the blog! Last Saturday (the 8th of January) we went up to Emma Matilda Lake. As some of you may recall Emma Matilda Lake is easily reached by entering Grand Teton National Park through the Moran entrance. Follow the main road for a few miles then on the right you will see a sign for Pacific Creek Road. Take this right and head up to the lakes (Emma Matilda and Two Ocean).  The first time we made this hike we parked at the first pull out, however this time that pull-out wasn't plowed so we drove about a mile up the road to the second pull-out. We parked and then headed out there were two paths made by cross country skiers that had previously been used by hikers so we followed along these trails.

The trail started out going uphill and then led into a clearing, soon enough we were on a trail that wound through a forest of pine trees. It was a bit chilly but only a few degrees below freezing, much better than the below zero temps we had been having. Emma and Lulu as usual were running a head of Jack, Kevin and I, and every five minutes or so we had to holler at them to wait for us to catch up. Jack though a bit slow, didn't complain or ask for a ride, he just needed more time for his shorter legs to go the same distance as his taller sisters. The kids and their tiny little selves had no trouble running a-top the packed snow, however for us larger adults it wasn't so easy, nor too difficult. About every fourth or fifth step we would sink to our knees in the powdery trail. All in all though it was a pleasant hike.

We hiked in for about an hour and half, maybe making it 2 miles in. Then we stopped and had a fire and lunch. We chose a convenient spot near a standing-dead pine that promised an unlimited amount of fuel for a nice warm fire. Kevin even got to use his new Gerber survival knife to chop and trim the wood for the fire. For lunch we had hot dogs with bbq sauce, and of course water. Then for dessert we had some double chocolate chip cookies ( view link). We hung out by the fire for about 30 minutes and then headed back to the truck.