Gros Ventre Wilderness

We went backpacking about a month ago in the Gros Ventre Wilderness in Wyoming near Jackson Hole. Our hike was supposed to be a two night three day loop but plans changed after hitting a high creek crossing that we couldn't cross with all three dogs. Water was raging high. We changed our route to backpack in to Shoal Falls and only stayed one night. The weather was so bad all night. Intense booming thunder and lighting kept me up most of the night. Little did we know there were tornado warnings for the area! Haha! Weather forecasts for the mountains can change on the minute! The following day made the sleepless night worth it. Here are a few highlights from this trip. 

Some lovely day hikes

These photos are some highlights from several different day hikes in May. We had a lot less snow this past winter which opened up the backcountry earlier than usual and I'm okay with a longer hiking season! 

This photo was taken June 3rd. All north facing slopes hang onto winter snow the longest.

Forage

I absolutely love hunting for morel mushrooms every spring! Spring came early this year and I've found about 5 lbs of these ugly tasty little things. Since they are so mild in flavor I have been putting them in everything we eat! Except for morning our morning smoothies. Haha!

Teton Canyon Bike & Hike

One of my favorite early season outings is to bike Teton Canyon Road to the trailhead before it opens for the summer. It's great to have the road all to yourself without getting hammered with dust from passing car traffic. Plus, your chances of seeing wildlife is greater without all of the human disturbances around! Unfortunately, we didn't see anything other than the usual marmots and squirrels. Once we made it to the trailhead we parked the bikes and hiked in to the first waterfall which is flowing big from the winter run off. This waterfall usually dries up buy early August so the earlier you see it the better. 

After snapping some pics and eating lunch we hiked and biked back to the car just in time to beat the afternoon thunderstorm. What a perfect Monday afternoon. 

Bike section complete! Now we hike! 

First Hike Of The Season!

There was just enough of a break in the weather to get myself and the dogs out for a little walk. The snow is slowly receding leaving the trails in lower elevations nice and dry. There is still a lot of snow in the high country so it'll be another month before I can fully access those trails. But in the meantime the spring flowers are starting to bloom and the season is prime for hunting for morel mushrooms! 

Lake Havasu Wake Surf Camp

The origional London Bridge--brought all the way to Lake Havasu brick by brick and reconstructed.

Snow Way!

In the seven years that I've lived in Teton Valley and skied/snowboarded at Grand Targhee--this is the lowest snow fall season yet. Apparently, it hasn't been this bad since the 1930's! We can only hope for a rainy spring and summer to make up for the winter drought. Here is a photograph of me standing in the same place comparing the snowpack from last March 2014 to this years March 2015. Notice the dramatic lack of snow on the right. 

A Little Ski In Big Mountains

A couple weeks ago my friend Marni and I went went on our own little field trip to cross country ski in the Park. (Grand Teton Nat'l Park) Wyoming, Utah & Montana have been enduring a month long high pressure system over our region. Everyone is jonesing for snow. We want to play in powder! The concern for summer water levels are beginning to enter everyone's mind. Hopefully this will be a super snowy March and April so we can avoid drought and forest fires this summer. Tell those east coast folks to send all that snow they are getting to Wyoming! We want it! 

Grand Targhee with Friends