Nature Center Events, Summer 2019

Week of July 29 - August 4

Greetings from the Nature Center, 

I am sending, as an attachment, the Schedule of Events for the upcoming week of July 29-August 4. 

And if you thought we as humans are busy this time of year…here’s a short list of a busy natural world around us, most of what we all can see..Red-tailed hawks, Bald eagles, ravens, kestrels and Gray gray owls are fledging and still begging parents for food, geese are about finished with their annual feather molt and ready to take flight in their pre-migratory flights around the valley, ground squirrels are about ready to go back into hibernation (after being active and eating for only 3 months a year!)…and lastly..it won’t be long now till it’s huckleberry picking time.. 

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me if I can be of assistance in any way.

Respectfully,
Roger

Road Cycling: Cedron Road Loop - Victor, Idaho 
Time: 8:00 AM - 1:30 PM
Place: Meet at the Nature Center at 8:00 AM
Difficulty: Moderate
Mileage:  26.5 miles R/T    Maximum Elevation: 6,193'    Elevation Gain: 460'   

Description:  Description: MODERATE. 26.5 miles R/T, elevation gain 460’, max elev. 6193’.We’ll load up our bikes at the Nature Center and begin/end this ride in Victor, Idaho. This is a very enjoyable ride along the rural back roads of the west side of Victor, Idaho along the base of the Big Hole Mountains. We will start and finish this ride at Fitzgerald’s bike shop in victor,Idaho. We can expect relatively flat terrain with small dips and rises on a quiet road that offers continuous views of Teton Valley 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 pathway. Great coffee and treats at Fitzgerald’s Bike shop awaits us at the finish.

Bring: bike, helmet, water bottles, warm layer, sunscreen.
Notes:  Note early meeting time at the Nature Center. We will be riding on the County road, but we can expect minimal traffic. Please stop by or give me a call if you need help preparing your bike or other cycling needs.

Day Hike: Coyote Rock/Turpin Ridge
Time: 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Place: Meet at the Nature Center at 8:30 AM
Difficulty: Easy
Mileage:  3.5 miles R/T      Maximum Elevation: 7,650'      Elevation Gain: 970'

We will start the day at the Teton Science School in Kelly, hiking a beautiful ridge line to peak7,670’ through mature stands of aspen and Douglas fir forest. Once on the ridge, our trail follows an old two-track trail that offers incredible vistas of the Teton Range and theJackson valley. Coyote Rock offers a wonderful panorama of the entire Teton Range.Bring: daypack, lunch, rain jacket, warm layer, hat, sunscreen, bear spray.
 
Bring: daypack, lunch, rain jacket, warm layer, hat, sunscreen, bear spray.

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:  Gros Ventre Junction - Antelope Flats Loop
Time: 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Place: Meet at the Nature Center at 8:30 AM
Difficulty: Moderate 
Mileage:  21 miles R/T      Maximum Elevation: 6,790'      Elevation Gain: 380'

We’ll load up our bikes at the Nature Center and begin this ride at Gros Ventre Junction.We’ll ride 5.5 miles 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 13.5 miles 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 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. 

Thursday, august 1

Day Hike: Wilson Canyon to Snow King
Time: 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Place: Meet at the Nature Center at 8:30 AM
Difficulty: Moderate 
Mileage:  7.7 miles R/T      Maximum Elevation: 7,888'      Elevation Gain: 2,050'

We’ll start this hike from the trailhead located behind the Lower valley Power andLight (LVPL) building, located on HW 89 across the road from The 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 almost3,500 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.

Friday, august 2

Birding Walk - bring your binoculars and bird book! 3 Creek Ranch 
Time: 7:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Place: Meet at the Nature Center at 7:30 AM
Difficulty: Easy 
 
We’ll spend the morning looking for birds from the NatureCenter and along 3 Creek Drive. I have enjoyed watching birds from this road for the past16 years, noting a diversity of waterfowl in the ponds, grassland birds in the meadows, shorebirds and raptors to name a few. Just last week we noted 34 species of birds here in 3Creek Ranch. This is a very pleasant walk to start your day. 
Bring: Binoculars and a Bird book! Water bottle, 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, august 4

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.