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Nature Center Events, Summer 2018

Week of June 11 - June 17

Greetings from the Nature Center,
It’s a beautiful early summer in Jackson, and I encourage all of you to get out and explore the mountains at lower elevations.
A few notes: The young of many songbirds are starting to leave the nest, Red-tailed hawk and Raven eggs are hatching...most of our ducks on our ponds have young a week or so old, moose calves are just being born about now... And the wildflowers are spectacular right now, a few perennial favorites with balsam root, long-leafed phlox, larkspur, paintbrush, woodland star, serviceberry and chokecherry among numerous others, are all in bloom.
Respectfully,
Roger

MONDAY, June 11
Day Hike: Cache Creek to Game Creek
Time: 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Location: Meet at the Nature Center at 8:30 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 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, plenty of water! lunch/snacks, rain jacket, warm layer, hat, sunscreen.
Notes: 8:30 AM meeting time. 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 12
Day Hike – Coal Creek to Mesquite Pass
Time: 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Location: Meet at the Nature Center at 8:30 AM
Description: Moderate
Distance: 5.7 miles R/T
Elevation Gain: 1,995' Maximum Elevation: 9,210’
Snow in the high country is disappearing fast, but large snow fields still exist on north facing slopes of many trails. Thus, here is a shortened version of the Coal Creek-Philips Pass Loop but still allows us to venture into some spectacular higher elevation country. We will begin at the Coal Creek trailhead (7250’) on the west side of Teton Pass, and end our hike at Mesquite Pass, a steady climb of almost 3miles and 2,000’ of elevation. Depending on snow cover, we might venture a short way up the trail to Taylor Peak.
Bring: daypack, extra warm layer, rain shell, lunch, water bottle.
Notes: 8:30 AM meeting time. Anticipate possible snow near the pass, but expect fabulous wildflowers.

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WEDNESDAY, June 13
Day Hike: Granite Canyon to LSR Visitor Center
Time: 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Location: Meet at Nature Center at 8:30 AM
Description: Easy
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: 8:30 AM meeting time. We will need to shuttle a vehicle to the LSR Preserve VisitorCenter

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THURSDAY, June 14
Road Bike: Cedron Road Loop - Victor, Idaho
Time: 8:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Location: Meet at the Nature Center at 8:00 AM
Description: Moderate
Distance: 15-17 MPH PACE: 26.5 miles R/T,
Elevation Gain: 4,600' Maximum Elevation: 6,193"
This entire ride is on public roads. This is a very enjoyable ride along the rural back roads of the west side of Victor, Idaho along the base of the Big HoleMountains. Starting and finishing at Fitzgerald’s bike shop, we will ride on relatively flat terrain with small dips and rises on a quiet road that offers continuous views of TetonValley and the west side of the Tetons. The northern end of our route takes us through Driggs, Idaho, where we return to Victor along the bike path. Great coffee and treats atFitzgerald’s Bike shop awaits us at the finish.
Bring: bike, helmet, water bottles, warm layer, sunscreen.
Notes: 8:00 AM meeting time. 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: 2:30 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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FRIDAY, June 15
Birding in Teton Park..bring your binoculars and bird book!
Time: 7:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Location: Meet at the Nature Center at 7:30 AM
Description: Easy
Join me for a casual and relaxing morning looking for birds at a few locations in the Park. To find the most diverse number of birds requires searching in the most diverse plant communities, or habitats. Thus, we’ll start at Blacktail PondsOverlook that includes a transition of three different plant communities: sagebrush flats, willow and wetlands and coniferous forests. We can expect to see waterfowl, up to 6species of swallows, warblers and flycatchers. We’ll move on to Antelope Flats that include remnant hayfields, sagebrush, and grasslands..all three attract bluebirds, sparrows, meadowlarks, and a diversity of raptors.
Bring: Binoculars and a Bird book! snack, warm layer, hat, sunscreen, hiking shoes.
Notes: I’ll bring spotting scopes and extra binoculars.

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SUNDAY, JUNE 17
Community Event: RaptorFest: Teton Raptor Center & Jackson Hole Live:
Time: 3:00 PM - 5:30PM
Location: Base of Snow King
Celebrate summer this Father’s day with live birds of prey and live music at Raptorfest at the base of Snow King. Join us for a wonderful assortment of raptor festivities for all ages and stay for JacksonHoleLive’s first summer event of the year.Admission $5/person, 17 and under free, includes Raptorfest (3:00 PM-5:30 PM) and JHLive concert (5:30 PM-10:30 PM).

Roger Smith
Resident Naturalist
3 Creek Ranch Nature Center

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