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Nature Center Events, Summer 2017

Week of June 19 - June 25

MONDAY, JUNE 19
Day Hike: Cache Creek to Game Creek
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: Meet at the Nature Center at 9:00 AM
Description: Moderate
Distance: 9.7 miles R/T
Elevation Gain: 1,435' Maximum Elevation: 7,410’
This is a popular hiking and mountain destination trail along a well maintained trail. We begin this hike at the Cache Creek trailhead, maintaining a very easy and gradual uphill gain of only 700 feet in the first 3,7 miles. We then cross over CacheCreek, and hit our only short but steeper section of trail, gaining just 250 feet to the pass between Cache and Game Creek. From the pass, we descend 1,290 feet over the next 5.5miles through beautiful aspen and pine forests to the game Creek trailhead. Every point along the way offers gorgeous vistas of open meadows, timbered stands of spruce and fir, and abundant wildflowers.
Bring: daypack, snack, rain jacket, warm layer, hat, sunscreen, hiking shoes.
Notes: We will need to shuttle a vehicle to Game Creek. Dogs are welcome.

Office Hours
Time: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Location: Nature Center
Notes: Stop by the Nature Center for a casual visit to say hello, request some help planning your next outdoor adventure, or bring your guests for a tour of the Center.

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TUESDAY, JUNE 20
Day Hike: Wilson Canyon-Snow King
Time: 9 AM - 2:30 PM
Location: Meet at the Nature Center at 9 AM
Description: Moderate
Distance: 7.7 miles R/T
Elevation Gain: 2,050' Maximum Elevation: 7,888’
We’ll start this hike from the trailhead located behind the Lower valley Power and Light (LVPL) building, located on HW 89 across the road fromThe Bird restaurant. This trail gains almost 1,200’ of elevation in first 2.25 miles. We’ll hike through open meadows, thick forests of fir and aspen, with dramatic rocky outcroppings along the narrow canyon. We also hike through sections of the 2012 Wilson Canyon forest fire which burned almost 3,500 acres. The trail will wind around the back side and over the top of Snow King, then descend to the bottom where we have our shuttle vehicle
Bring: daypack, snack, rain jacket, warm layer, hat, sunscreen
Notes: we will need to leave a shuttle vehicle at the base of Snow King. Dogs are welcome to join us.

Notes from the Field – Raptor Migration
Time: 3:30 PM - 4:45 PM
Location: Nature Center
Description:
Join me and my special guest Bryan Bedrosian, Senior Avian ResearchEcologist for the Teton Raptor Center, for a program and discussion on the remarkable feats of migration taken by Red-tailed Hawks and Golden eagles from our valley in JacksonHole. Twice a year these magnificent birds fly all the way to…well, you’ll just have to join u sto find out where they are going, how they get there, and to gain a first-hand glimpse into how large-scale migratory bird research is done!! This is a topic that I am sure you will enjoy and most certainly spark your imagination…
Notes: light refreshments will be provided.

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21
Road Cycling: Cedron Road Loop - Victor, Idaho
Time: 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Location: Meet at Nature Center at 8:30 AM
Description: Moderate
Distance: 26.5 miles R/T
Elevation Gain: 460' Maximum Elevation: 6,193'
This is a very enjoyable ride along the rural back roads of the west side ofVictor, Idaho along the base of the Big Hole Mountains. Starting and finishing atFitzgerald’s bike shop, we will ride relatively flat terrain with small dips and rises on a quiet road that offers continuous views of Teton Valley and the west side of theTetons. The northern end of our route takes us through Driggs, Idaho, where we return toVictor along the bike path. Great coffee and treats at Fitzgerald’s Bike shop awaits us at the finish.
Bring: bike, helmet, water bottles, warm layer, sunscreen.
Notes: Expect minimal traffic on the Cedron Road. Please stop by or give me a call if you need help preparing your bike or other cycling needs.

Office Hours
Time: 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Location: Nature Center
Notes: Stop by the Nature Center for a casual visit to say hello, request some help planning your next outdoor adventure, or bring your guests for a tour of the Center.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 22
Day Hike: Granite Canyon to LSR Visitor Center
Time: 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Location: Meet at the Nature Center at 8:30 AM
Description: Easy, Standard Pace with Roger
Distance: 7 miles R/T
Elevation Gain: 760' Maximum Elevation: 7,060'
This ‘Valley Trail’ courses through beautiful rolling hills of mixed aspen and coniferous forests and across several small creeks as we travel along the foothill moraine of the Tetons. This trail gets its name from the early days in Jackson when a handful of popular dude ranches existed along the base of the Tetons.Guests, on horseback, would often visit one another using what is now called the valley trail.
Bring: Daypack, lunch, water, sunscreen
Notes: We will need to shuttle a vehicle to the LSR Preserve Visitor Center.

Day Hike: Atherton Ridge
Time: 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: Meet at the Nature Center at 8:30 AM
Description: Moderate, Standard Pace with Murph
Distance: 4.5 miles R/T
Elevation Gain: 1,345' Maximum Elevation: 8,306'
This is a variation on the main gully trail to Atherton Ridge. We start from the same place at the Slide Lake campground, but quickly veer off to the south and begin climbing a beautiful ridge line trail that gains about 1,200’ of elevation in the first 2 miles. This is a shorter hike but offers so much for the naturalist hiker in all of us...from hiking along an old forest fire burn area, wide vistas of the Red Hills and Gros Ventre Slide, endless sign of bighorn sheep, elk and deer, even an active high-elevation beaver lodge and ponds…and a spectacular panorama of the entireTeton Range from our destination. We will hike downhill for the remaining 2.5 miles back to our vehicle. This is a very enjoyable loop hike that offers a nice workout but with a high scenic reward at the end! We can also extend this hike by leaving a shuttle vehicle at the‘Marrying Tree’ along the G-V road for our return home.
Bring: daypack, plenty of water, snacks, lunch, hiking poles if you have them.
Notes: We will leave a shuttle vehicle for this hike.

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FRIDAY, JUNE 23
Birding Walk in South Park Management Area
Time: 7:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Location: Meet at the Nature Center at 7:30 AM
Description: Easy
Please join me for a very casual morning bird walk along the South Park levee. We will walk about 2 miles on a maintained two-track road through cottonwood and willow forest and adjacent to the Snake River-a fabulous place to see birds... The very first step to enjoying and appreciating birds is simply to increase our awareness of them. We’ll focus our time detecting the most common birds in the area, discuss identification skills using bird books and the latest ‘Birding Apps’ for the IPad, and some of the best places to watch birds. I encourage all of the ‘beginner birders’ out there to join us, as my goal is simply to help you ‘See more birds’…
Bring: Binoculars and a bird book, snack, warm layer, hat, sunscreen, hiking shoes.
Notes: I have two pairs of binoculars to loan for the morning. Please stop by or give me a call if I can answer any questions.

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SUNDAY, JUNE 25
Bicycle Tune-Up Day at the Nature Center
Time: 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Location: Nature Center
Description: Bring your bike to the front porch of the Nature Center for an early season tune-up and inspection. I’ll dig out my bike mechanic apron and check the tires, chain, brakes, shine it up a bit and tighten what’s loose..I’ll also let you know if more detailed repairs are needed and how I can help you get those repairs fixed. Show your bike some love!! Whether you are riding to the grocery store or out on a 40 mile ride with friends, I’d like to help ensure you have a safe and enjoyable season on your bike.

Roger Smith & Murph
Resident Naturalist
3 Creek Ranch Nature Center

3 Creek Ranch Outings are reserved for club members and homeowners.