After a steep climb up "The Face", I was greeted with another mountain meadow of wildflowers along the trail.
Cresting the meadow ridge, you can see Table on the right with Grand Teton behind it... along with some nice drop-offs into the canyon.
A quick look across the valley...
...without the trees in the way.
Getting closer to the table! Looks easy from here...
...except you couldn't see this...
...and well, looks are just deceiving. The last climb up the trail is MUCH steeper then it appears. If you zoom in and find two people it might help with your perspective.
Just as I crested the top of the Table, my heart skipped a beat as Grand came into view.
There they are! It felt like you could reach out and touch them they were so close.
There they are! It felt like you could reach out and touch them they were so close.
Looking back on the trail, town and even the moon.
The ridge line to the North.
The ridge line to the North.
Getting in the way of a great picture...
...and of course a headstand too.
...and of course a headstand too.In an attempt to get an even better view, I climbed down the backside of the "Table", across the snow and rock fields up to the edge of the Range...
...where you could see all the way from the creek at the bottom to the peak at the top!
This requires technical skills and gear I don't have, but maybe someday.
This requires technical skills and gear I don't have, but maybe someday.
Another panoramic of the ridge to the North.
Looking back at Table Mountain with the rock and snow fields in between.
Looking back at Table Mountain with the rock and snow fields in between.
The back side of Table Mountain where I climbed down (good thing you could walk around to the other side to get back up!)
Table Mountain on a perfect sunny day!
Table Mountain on a perfect sunny day!
Some of the surrounding peaks and valleys.
Here's a view looking back at Table Mountain, along with the Teton Range as I headed down the longer but more gradual path.
Here's a view looking back at Table Mountain, along with the Teton Range as I headed down the longer but more gradual path.
Trying to frame the peaks. The hike up took the ridge on the right.
Anyone need some flowers?
Anyone need some flowers?
A cool view near the bottom.
I'm hoping to remember all the colors in the mountains when everything dies in a few weeks.
I'm hoping to remember all the colors in the mountains when everything dies in a few weeks.
Saturday included an afternoon picnic at Church (who knew croquet had so many rules?) followed by...
...a free concert in the park by the Idaho Falls Symphony!
Growing up as a brass player, I have always loved Sousa marches. In fact, the first two (and maybe the only two) CD's I ever bought were Sousa marches. The Liberty Bell, Washington Post, Semper Fidelis, The Thunderer, Jack Tar (I love the whistle at the beginning), Stars and Stripes Forever... you name it, I love them all (and hopefully my neighbors don't mind either). So what does a boy do on those rainy summer vacation days when playing outside isn't an option? Well, pop in one of those Sousa CD's, ensure the volume is equivalent to an entire orchestra (or two) and hop up on the homemade footstool (that doubled for bouts of "King of the Mountain"), and conduct with as much energy as you would play ball... calling out a piccolo solo here, a low brass line there, cymbals just about everywhere, crouching down for pianissimo and jumping up and down at fortissimo (that poor footstool)... no one missed a beat for the entire CD!
Why have I shared this childhood memory? The symphony has an auction each year and I seem to have missed out on one of my life's dreams... to conduct a Sousa march! I'm not sure how much this gentlemen paid to let his wife conduct the Symphony in Stars and Stripes Forever, but I was contemplating offering her cash on the spot! While I'm sure she was thrilled - I have to think that I'd a been just a little more energetic at such an opportunity! Here's a quick video so you can enjoy the enthusiasm of a Sousa march!
Well, you can't hang out at the park all night... so I made a quick exit from the concert and headed down to Blackfoot to catch the last night of the Eastern Idaho State Fair and the Demolition Derby. (Who doesn't like to watch a good car wreck... when it's not you or your car and nobody gets hurt.) Unfortunately, the Derby tickets were all sold out, so only my hopes of seeing it were wrecked. But, it is a fair so there were plenty of other things to see...
Well, you can't hang out at the park all night... so I made a quick exit from the concert and headed down to Blackfoot to catch the last night of the Eastern Idaho State Fair and the Demolition Derby. (Who doesn't like to watch a good car wreck... when it's not you or your car and nobody gets hurt.) Unfortunately, the Derby tickets were all sold out, so only my hopes of seeing it were wrecked. But, it is a fair so there were plenty of other things to see...
...like this little kid riding the mechanical bull with NO HANDS!!! I think he's gonna be a pro because everyone else was holding on and they struggled much more.
"Look Mom! No Hands!" Oh, and I like how he decides he's had enough and just bails. No getting bucked off for him!
"Look Mom! No Hands!" Oh, and I like how he decides he's had enough and just bails. No getting bucked off for him!
Well, it was a busy weekend - but fun. I'm just hoping we have lots of sunny weekends left before the snow falls! So, until next weekend... (yup, I guess I have to work all 5 days this week!)
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