“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to the body and soul.” -John Muir

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Moose on the Loose

After seeing the herd of Bighorn sheep in the National Elk Refuge I drove towards Moose, WY near Grand Teton National Park in search of bigger game. It turns out they don't call it Moose for nothing. The above photo was taken on Moose-Wilson Road, most of which is closed during Winter but will re-open on May 1. As I neared the closed section 2 moose were standing on the road. I jumped out and snapped a few shots trying not to scare them off.
They (I think it was a mother and her calf) walked a few yards down the road and stopped to see if I would pursue them. I did but also kept a safe distance.
Eventually, they moved off among the pines and we were all content to observe each other through the branches and falling snow.

Bighorn Sheep on the National Elk Refuge

All Winter we've heard about the Bighorn sheep in the National Elk Refuge, but until today I hadn't actually seen one up close. On occasion I had spied one or two with binoculars atop the lower buttes, but today, as I drove the Refuge road,  I got to see an entire heard grazing at "lower" elevations. During the Winter their coats are much longer, but in these pictures you can see the transition in attire occurring.
They've become quite used to humans and vehicles, even refusing to move off the road for joggers.  In the distance behind the herd below is the town of Jackson. 

Along the Banks of the Snake River


The weather forecast for April in Jackson has been a broken record of rain and/or snow with high temperatures of about 40 degrees. Luckily, we were able to take advantage of some sunshine along the Snake River last Saturday. The Snake River runs North and South to the West of Jackson and is a favorite for fly fishing and rafting. The levees that flank the river are extremely popular with runners and their dogs. Actually, I think the dogs preferred the chance to take a quick swim, much to the chagrin of the abundant waterfowl. 

Traci can't get enough of the mountains while Jason characteristically studies the water.


Currents are picking up with the continued melting of mountain snow, but when the sun was behind clouds it still seemed awfully cool. Spring has yet to bring warm temperatures to Jackson.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Spring Drive

Spring may not have come to the valley yet, but the valley is certainly ready for Spring. Ski resorts shut down this week amid continued snow storms and large end-of-the-season parties. Most Jackson Hole residents have fled to far-flung parts of the globe for a week or two of Spring Break relaxation. Those of us remaining are left to wait for the snow to melt, the national parks to re-open, and summer sports to begin. 
With clear roads and perfect skies we drove North toward Yellowstone yesterday. Yellowstone is still closed to automobile traffic but the Northern reaches of Grand Teton National Park were accessible. Hiking was severely limited by the recent snowfalls.  
Along HWY89 we stopped to watch 3 moose feeding in a small stream. Though we were only 20-40 feet away they seemed largely undisturbed by our presence and we in turn stayed close by the cars.
We witnessed a truly unusual sight on the drive back. With the highway deserted we yielded the right of way to 2 otters crossing the highway to get back upstream. The picture below shows the rushing creek, filled with fresh snow melt, where the otters were swimming. The Tetons and blue skies provided a great backdrop.

Sledneck Hill Climb

Last weekend was the annual Hill Climb on Snow King. Since 1974 snowmobilers have gathered in Jackson at the end of the ski season to race their snowmobiles up Snow King mountain at the South edge of Jackson. The event now draws over 10,000 viewers to watch over 300 snowmobilers race up the mountain. Top racers tackled the 1600-ft vertical climb in about 1 minute. Some sleds topped 325 horsepower and weighed only about 500 pounds!
The race track ran directly underneath the occupied ski lift. While speed was key, traction was a serious consideration as well. Without enough momentum and traction the snowmobilers slid backwards or tipped over on the steepest part of the ascent near the top. The above picture shows many volunteers stationed along the track to catch run-away sleds. 
Jackson was overrun by "Slednecks" a clever variation on rednecks who race sleds. Rigs like the one shown below crowded our small streets and brought in a culture largely unseen in Jackson. The unceasing sound of the racers reminded one of the chainsaw whose work is never finished. Of course the entire event was fueled by cheap beer, but police reports indicated that this year's event was comparatively tame. The official website for the event is www.snowdevils.org.