Nature Center Events, Summer 2018

Week of August 6 - August 12

Greetings from the Nature Center,

Most nesting activity of songbirds is over, young are out of the nest and beginning their feather molt into their ‘migration plumage’.

Most wildflowers in the lower elevations have gone to seed, while the mountain sides above 9,000’ are blanketed with an array of colors. I look forward to joining you on any number of outings this coming week.
 
Respectfully,
Roger

Weekly Schedule

Day Hike: Black Canyon: bottom to top
Time: 8 AM – 2 PM
Place: Meet at the Nature Center at 8 AM
Difficulty: Strenuous
Mileage:  9 miles R/T      Maximum Elevation: 9,200'      Elevation Gain: 2,800'

Description:  We will start this hike at the base of the Old Pass Road and ascend up the pass via the Black Canyon trail, a wonderful hike through towering subalpine and Douglas fir forests, aspen meadows and creek crossings. We will also get a glimpse of recent Jackson Hole history as we explore the various artifacts left behind from the old Teton Pass road into Jackson Hole. From peak 9279 (Mt. Ellie), we descend the 1.5 miles to our vehicle in Teton Pass, surrounded by wildflowers and incredible vistas of the Snake River Range and the Jackson valley.

Bring:  daypack, food, plenty of water, warm layer, hat, sunscreen, hiking shoes.
Notes: Dogs are welcome to join us!  We will leave a shuttle vehicle at the top of the pass for our return.

Day Hike:  Jackson Peak Summit
Time: 7:30 AM – 3 PM
Place: Meet at the Nature Center at 7:30 AM
Difficulty: Strenuous
Mileage:  13 miles R/T      Maximum Elevation: 10,741'      Elevation Gain: 2,680'

Description:  If you haven’t been on top of Jackson Peak this year, this is your chance!! 13 miles RT, elevation gain: 2,680 feet, maximum elevation: 10,741 feet. Jackson Peak is a true landmark in our valley and is remarkably close to downtown Jackson. One of my all-time favorite, yet challenging hikes, this trail leads us through wonderful stands of aspen, Douglas fir, open meadows and grand vistas of the Gros Ventre Wilderness and the Teton Range. We will pass Goodwin Lake on our way to the summit. Remarkable views in all directions, guaranteed to be a memorable hike for all.
Hikers: 6
Bring: daypack, water bottle, lunch/snack, rain jacket, warm layer, hat, sunscreen.
Notes: Please note the early meeting time of 7:30 AM at the Nature Center. Hiking to the summit will be weather dependent. I recommend bringing extra food. I have a water filter so we can refill water bottles along the way. This is a non-technical hike and we will travel on a hiking trail the entire day.

Day Hike:  Crater Lake and the Big Rocks Trail
Time: 9 AM – 12:30 PM
Place: Meet at the Nature Center at 9 AM
Difficulty: Moderate
Mileage:  4.9 miles R/T      Maximum Elevation: 7,212'      Elevation Gain: 1,150'

Description:  We begin this hike from the parking area at the base of the Old Pass Road, just past Trail Creek Ranch. We’ll hike up almost 700’ in the first 1.5 miles to Crater 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 ‘Big Rocks’ 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 of Mt. 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.

Thursday, August 9

Road Cycling:  3 Creek Ranch-Antelope Flats Loop 
Time: 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Place: Meet at the Nature Center at 8:30 AM
Difficulty: Strenuous
Mileage:  44.5 miles R/T      Maximum Elevation: 6,790'      Elevation Gain: 380'

Description: This is a strenuous ride due to long miles, but we will maintain a gentle, 14-18 mph pace. This ride is mostly on flats with one gentle hill up Antelope Flats to mailbox corner-the highest point of our ride. We’ll begin this ride from the Nature Center, ride 5 miles into town, continuing north on the bike path 13 miles and gain 315 feet of elevation to Moose, then continue north past Moose for one mile on the main highway to the North Antelope Flats Junction. From here we ride 13.5 miles around Antelope Flats back to G-V Junction, and return to 3 Creek Ranch. 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.

Bring:  bike, helmet, water bottles, warm layer, sunscreen.
Notes: Restrooms along the way, including a good cup of coffee and snacks at the Kelly store. Please stop by or give me a call if you need help preparing your bike or other cycling needs.

Friday, August 10

Birding Walk: Schwabacher’s Landing, Teton Park 
Time: 7:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Place: Meet at the Nature Center at 7:30 AM
Difficulty: Easy
             
Description:  We’ll spend the morning walking along flat terrain in the mature Cottonwood and Spruce forest and small channels of the Snake River. This is a very pleasant location to spend a few hours bird watching, providing an intimate look into bird life in classic riparian zone habitat. We will meander at will, discuss the importance of the river bottom to wildlife, and hopefully have time to stop at Dornan’s for a cold lemonade on our way home. Schwabacher’s landing is 4 miles north of Moose, about 16 miles from town.
Birders: 8

Bring: Binoculars! Bird field guide, water bottle, snack, rain jacket, warm layer, hat, sunscreen.

Office Hours, Sunday, August 12

Time: 10 AM – 3 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.