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.

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.

New views

We have started revisiting some of our favorite hikes amid all the snow.

Only a few are still accessible, though. Taggart Lake's parking lot is clear and we've taken advantage of the packed trail with our hiking boots. Others cross-country ski, or snow shoe. Hiking with snow boots makes for a longer walk. Each step is a cautious track searching for stable snow. The piles are three to four feet high in places so we keep to the groomed tracks. 

Sled Dog Race

The International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race 2009 kicked off in Jackson on Friday night. It is the largest sled dog race in the lower 48 and features teams from all over the world with various skill levels, including one musher who has won the Iditarod 4 times and has logged over 100,000 miles on a dog sled! 

For more on the race visit www.wyomingstagestop.org

In preparation Jackson road crews trucked snow back into the town and packed it down on local streets, much to their chagrin I'm sure.

The teams were a surprising mix of breeds and ages with some teams comprised of many pups from the same litter. 

There was one constant: all the dogs were incredibly anxious to run. While waiting to start dogs barked nervously and lunged against their harnesses. You might also notice that the dogs in this photo are wearing little booties to protect their feet from sharp ice and frostbite.

Mushers were men and women alike and rode on different types of sleds. Perhaps a new career for Traci???

Teams left in 2 minute intervals with a crowd of several hundred people cheering them on in single digit temperatures.