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Nature Center Events, Summer 2017

Week of June 26 - July 2

MONDAY, JUNE 26
Day Hike: Atherton Ridge
Time: 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM
Location: Meet at the Nature Center at 8:30 AM
Description: Moderate
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 ridgeline trail that gains about 1,200’ of elevation in the first 2 miles. This hike 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 entire Teton 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!
Bring: daypack, plenty of water, snacks, lunch, hiking poles, bear spray.
Notes: Dogs are welcome.

Day Hike: Wildflowers and Birds along the Old Pass Road to Crater Lake
Time: 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Location: Meet at the Nature Center at 8:30 AM
Description: Easy
Distance: 2.6 miles R/T
Elevation Gain: 690' Maximum Elevation: 7,190’
Join us for a casual stroll up the paved Old Pass Road to do a little bird watching and take a few photos of the wildflowers. We’ll stop at Crater Lake, or continue up a short ways, then return down the forested trail adjacent to the Old Pass Road.
Bring: Daypack, lunch, water, sunscreen
Notes: We will drive to the trailhead of the Old pass Road just a short distance past Wilson

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 27
Day Hike: Ski Lake Ridgeline
Time: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Location: Meet at the Nature Center at 9:00 AM
Description: Moderate
Distance: 7.3 miles R/T
Elevation Gain: 1,880' Maximum Elevation: 9,710’
This is a very enjoyable hike along a well-traveled trail to the ridgeline above Ski Lake. The trailhead starts half-way up Teton Pass at the ‘PhillipsPass’ sign, with a parking area on both sides of the road. After an easy 2.5 mile hike to the lake, and depending on the snow line, we’ll gain another 980’ of elevation in 1.5 miles to a beautiful ridgeline that offers expansive views of the valley. Abundant wildflowers this time of year as well.
Bring: daypack, food, rain jacket, sunscreen, bear spray.
Notes: Dogs are welcome to join us!

Day Hike – Crater Lake and the Big Rocks Trail
Time: 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM
Location: Meet at the Nature Center at 7:30 AM
Description: Moderate
Distance: 4.9 miles R/T
Elevation Gain: 1,150' Maximum Elevation: 7,212’
We begin this hike from the parking area at the base of the OldPass Road, just past Trail Creek Ranch. We’ll hike up almost 700’ in the first 1.5 miles toCrater Lake along the ‘History Trail’, and return down along the Crater Lake Trail. Both travel through beautiful forests and open meadows along a well-worn trail, and offer a pleasant alternative to the paved ‘old pass road’ that winds to the top of Teton Pass. Once back to the bottom, we’ll climb back up about 350’ and hike a beautiful trail around the ‘BigRocks’ trail, so named for several massive boulders, or ‘glacial erratics’ that we encounter on the trail. These glacial erratics’ were transported to this location on top of huge glaciers that once filled the valley to an estimated 1,500 feet above the valley floor. Great views ofMt. Glory, mature Douglas fir forests and plenty of interesting birding.
Bring: daypack, snack, rain jacket, warm layer, hat, sunscreen, hiking shoes.
Notes: Dogs are welcome to join us!

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28
Day Hike: Willow Creek and Elk Ridge Loop
Time: 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Location: Meet at Nature Center at 9:00 AM
Description: Moderate
Distance: 6 miles R/T
Elevation Gain: 1,170' Maximum Elevation: 7,482'
Let’s try and catch the balsamroot and Wythea in full bloom! We will start this hike about 6 miles up the Hoback Canyon at the end of the Bryan Flats Road. This is a beautiful hike that loops through open forests to a ridgeline that offer spectacular views in all directions of the Hoback Range. We will travel on a well maintained trail. Let’s hope for a beautiful display of wildflowers as we make our way along the ridge line.
Bring: Daypack, bear spray, lunch, water, sunscreen
Notes: Dogs are welcome.

Day Hike: Wilson Canyon-Snow King
Time: 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Location: Meet at Nature Center at 9:00 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.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 29
Road Cycling: Gros Ventre Junction-Antelope Flats Loop
Time: 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Location: Meet at the Nature Center at 8:30 AM
Description: Moderate
Distance: 21 miles R/T
Elevation Gain: 380' Maximum Elevation: 6,790'
We’ll load bikes on the rack and begin this ride from Gros Ventre Junction. We’ll ride 5.5miles and gain 100 feet of elevation along the pathway north to Moose, continue for one mile north on the main highway to the North Antelope Flats Junction, then ride the 13.5miles around Antelope Flats back to G-V Junction. This is an excellent ride if you are just starting or wanting assistance learning the finer points to riding that new road bike! Expect one of the most scenic bike rides in the world. Opportunities exist for additional mileage if the group so desires.
Bring: bike, helmet, water bottles, warm layer, sunscreen.
Notes: Restrooms and a good cup of coffee and snacks at the Kelly store. Please stop by orgive me a call if you need help preparing your bike or other cycling needs.

Notes from the Field: Bears and Bear Safety
Time: 3:00 PM – 4:15 PM
Location: Meet at the Nature Center at 3:00 PM
Description: Please join me and our special guest Steve Cain, SeniorWildlife Biologist, GTNP (retired), for our annual discussion on bears, bear safety, and the use of Bear Spray. Collectively, we will bring over 50 years of experience studying, handling and teaching about grizzly and black bear behavior and ecology. We will focus our program on recreating safely in bear country and the proper use and handling of bear spray, including the opportunity for everyone to practice using actual bear spray with INERTTraining Canisters. This is a great opportunity to gain real experience firing bear spray, and hopefully get answers to questions you might have about hiking in bear country.

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FRIDAY, JUNE 30
Song Bird Banding
Time: 7:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Location: Meet at the Nature Center at 7:30 AM
Description: Easy
Join me for a unique experience capturing and banding songbirds at the Boyle’s Hill research site, located just minutes away from the Nature Center. This annual program is part of a global effort by avian biologists to monitor long-term population trends of migratory songbirds. Birds are captured in fine mesh nets, measurements are recorded, a band with a unique number is placed on the bird’s leg and the bird is released back to the wild. The site is all on flat terrain, so we have an opportunity to listen and learn about the birds while walking to check nets. This is an incredible opportunity for anyone interested in an ‘up-close’ experience with birds and the world of bird conservation.
Bring: warm layer, snack, water, hat, sunscreen.

Live Raptor Program
Time: 3:30 PM – 4:30 AM
Location: Meet at the Nature Center, backyard
Description: Teton Raptor Center is bringing several of their live raptor ambassadors to the Nature Center. This is an exciting opportunity to see these magnificent raptors up close, and appropriate for the all ages. This is the first of five live raptor programs we are offering this summer here at theNature Center. Not to be missed.

Roger Smith & Murph
Resident Naturalist
3 Creek Ranch Nature Center

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