Nature Center Events, Summer 2019

Week of September 2 - September 8

Greetings from the Nature Center, 

I am sending, as an attachment, the Schedule of Events for the upcoming week of September 2-8. 

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if I can be of assistance in any way. 

Respectfully,
Roger

Wishing you a relaxing and enjoyable Labor Day Weekend

Day Hike: Josie's Ridge and Snow King
Time: 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Place: Meet at the Nature Center at 9:00 AM
Difficulty: Moderate
Mileage:  5 miles R/T      Maximum Elevation: 7,750'      Elevation Gain: 1,650'

This is a wonderful hike only a few minutes from home. The trail starts at WildlifeDrive, varies from moderate to steep sections to the top of Snow King. We will descend the switchbacks on the face of Snow King, traversing along the ‘Sink or Swim’ trail back to our vehicle. The hike is well worth the effort as the views from the ridge are spectacular.
 
Bring: daypack, water, snack, dogs are welcome. 

NATURE CENTER
Time: 1:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: Nature Center
Notes: Stop by the Nature Center for a casual visit to say hello, relax on the front lawn overlooking Spring Creek with a magnificent Teton Range backdrop, request some help planning your next outdoor adventure, or perhaps bring your guests for a tour of the Center.

Road Cycling:  Driggs, Idaho - Targhee Ski Hill Road
Time: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Place: Meet at the Nature Center at 8:00 AM
Difficulty: Strenuous 
Mileage:  25 miles R/T      Maximum Elevation: 8,063'      Elevation Gain: 2,000'

Starting from Driggs, Idaho, we’ll have a relaxing start in the first 5 miles by climbing 500’, then climb 1,500’ in the next 7 miles to the base of Targhee Ski Area at 8,063’. While this might sound a bit daunting, the scenery on the west side of the Tetons is nothing short of spectacular, and the road has a wide shoulder and maintains a steady but moderate grade. For comparison, Wilson to the top of Teton Pass is 5.5 miles and gains 2,430’ of elevation gain! Great refreshments await at the coffee shop and bakery in Driggs upon our return.
 
Bring: bike, helmet, water bottles, warm layer, sunscreen.
Notes: We will depart promptly at 9:00 AM. Please stop by or give me a call if you need help preparing your bike or other cycling needs.

NATURE CENTER
Time: 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: Nature Center
Notes: Stop by the Nature Center for a casual visit to say hello, relax on the front lawn overlooking Spring Creek with a magnificent Teton Range backdrop, request some help planning your next outdoor adventure, or perhaps bring your guests for a tour of the Center.

Thursday, september 5

Day Hike: Cache Creek to Game Creek
Time: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Place: Meet at the Nature Center at 9:00 AM
Difficulty: Moderate 
Mileage:  9.7 miles R/T      Maximum Elevation: 7,418'      Elevation Gain: 1,435'

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 Cache Creek, 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 5.5 miles 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: Dogs are welcome.

Friday, september 6

Birding Walk: Bring your binoculars and bird book! At 3 Creek Ranch ~ South Park Feed Grounds
Time: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM 
Location: Meet at the Nature Center at 9:00 AM
Difficulty: Easy

Although the birding season is drawing to a close, and our local songbirds are preparing for the great migration...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, 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! Water bottle, warm layer, sunscreen. 
Notes: Note the early start, we will leave promptly! I have three pair of binoculars to loan for the morning. Please stop by or give me a call if I can answer any questions.

NATURE CENTER
Time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: Nature Center
Notes: Stop by the Nature Center for a casual visit to say hello, relax on the front lawn overlooking Spring Creek with a magnificent Teton Range backdrop, request some help planning your next outdoor adventure, or perhaps bring your guests for a tour of the Center.

SUNDAY, september 1

NATURE CENTER
Time: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Location: Nature Center
Notes: Stop by the Nature Center for a casual visit to say hello, relax on the front lawn overlooking Spring Creek with a magnificent Teton Range backdrop, request some help planning your next outdoor adventure, or perhaps bring your guests for a tour of the Center.