Spring's Ahead?

As I scoured the local visitor's guides and things-to-do-in-Idaho-besides-grow-potatoes-and-attend-rodeos websites, I came across the locals favorite cross country ski trails in Harriman State Park. With trail names like Coronary Bypass and Heart Attack Hill and trail descriptions like "...steep hills, sharp corners and many obstacles. You need to be quick on your feet to round a corner and avoid hitting trees... should not be attempted by the novice skier... very steep with hairpin turns, an extreme workout on the way up, and a nerve racking ride down avoiding the many trees. This trail is best for the snowshoer...", I couldn't resist seeing what the hype was all about. Of course, it also promised views of the Teton's, but they didn't account for the snow clouds. So, I loaded up and headed out Saturday morning and here's what I saw:
The sun rise and snow clouds were competing for a view of the Teton's in the distance. Right now it's an even split.
While serene, the problem with making first tracks, is, well, you're making the first tracks. About half way around, I met a gentlemen and we exclaimed how excited we were to see each other, knowing we wouldn't have to make first tracks anymore!
I think my 53" pole is touching the ground... now that's a lot of snow! Fences were completely buried and you had to look down to find the trail markers.
"When through the woods, and forest glades I wander... How Great Thou Art!"
Just how do they stay warm?
Looking at this makes my neck hurt.

Swan Dance (a little choppy to improved download time)
It's a bridge. (Who comes up with these captions anyways?)
Reflective ripplings (alliteration at it's finest)
From cat tails to pine forests
It's a yurt! (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yurt)
.... but the door was locked, so no peaking inside.
Heart Attack Hill
North Menan Butte
I hiked around this butte in November and stopped by to see if you could XC ski into the crater in the middle. However, the first requirement is snow...
...so instead I took pictures.
There it is!
Sitting amongst million dollar homes, this reminded me of all the vehicles I suggested while car shopping for my sister. A new set of tires and she should be good to go! Air conditioning is free.

Skiing Grand Targhee... yet again

Saturday brought another beautiful day at Grand Targhee Ski Resort. I met up with Lowell, (friend of a friend) and we hit it off right away. While he's a much better skier, we have kindred spirits and, well, I'll let the pictures explain:
Practicing my 900 (that's 2.5 360's). Not really, that kid's probably half my age and my 900 was head-over-heels in a ball of snow.
These next two pictures are an attempt to describe "West" skiing. Notice the 1 groomed trail, all the people, the wide open terrain and 2000 feet of vertical to top it off.

Lowell in front of the Teton's
Lowell scoping out some summer hikes
Sorry - no handstands today. Standing on my feet proved to be the bigger challenge.
The year was 1832 and Lewis & Clark were leading an expedition over Teton Pass in search of ........ deep powder.














Lowell: "Joe, have you ever hiked that?"
Joe: "Nope, you?"
L: "No, but it looks pretty fun."
J: "Yeah, but isn't it hard to hike in ski boots? I've never hiked in ski boots, and walking to the car is hard enough."
L: "I think it's only about 15 minutes. I'm sure there will be steps." (Never trust somebodies guesstimate when it comes to hike times)
J: "It would be a really nice day to do that."
L: "Yeah, if we were to do it, today would be the day."
J: "Do you want to do it? If it looks too steep, we can always cut out, right?" (Cutting out early? That's like giving up - Joe should know he doesn't do that - reference "Scouting" post.)
L: "Yeah, may as well. If it tires us out, we can always call it a day."
J: "I'm game if you are."
L: "Let's do it."
Don't worry Mom - if you don't see my telltale ski-tumble-ski impressions, you know they aren't my tracks. This is what we didn't do.
The dashed line on the left is where we hiked up. "X" marks where I fell. OK, so the first one you can all relate to - just standing there minding your own business when "whoosh", down you go. It just happens. The others - well, it was steep, it was deep, and a lot of fun! Next time we'll have to go before everyone else makes tracks.
The trail follows the valley at the bottom. And yes, people we're skiing off the cliffs on the left. You may also notice some black shadowed marks on the left/middle of the picture. That's where they blast the side of the mountain to trigger avalanches before the skiers do!

Mesa Falls, Joe Falls

After a long week at work, it was time to enjoy some sunshine on Saturday. So, following a meeting in the morning, I headed out to Ashton, Idaho for another cross country ski trek to Mesa Falls. The trail was groomed most of the way, except where snowmobiler's had intervened. While I was thoroughly enjoying the sunny weather, it tends to make for sticky snow, the demise of a great XC ski trip. But in this case, it probably kept me from getting too much speed and heading off the cliff. Here's a few pictures from the trail:

The ski trail followed the cliffside on the right. Lower Falls is about 3 miles upstream, then another mile to Upper Falls.

Lower Falls

Upper Falls in black and white.

If you look close, you can see the rainbow! Recently I've been reminded of the pain and suffering that is so evident in our world. But don't forget about the One who created that first rainbow. The beauty of His creation is just an example to remind us that God cares for us individually! Whether you've had a good or bad day, God knows and cares for YOU!

The last of the serious photos...

Now THAT, is a lot of snow!

I dare you to stand under that while I...

Cheap entertainment - especially for the other's watching.

Here it is... the pose you've come to expect.

Uh oh, something isn't right...
That's cold...

But not defeated.

Who turned up the heat in the think tank?!?

Yellowstone on #209

This weekend brought another trip to Yellowstone! Yellowstone continues to by my favorite national park and winter was no different. Well, it was different, but I'll let the pictures do the talking. If a picture is worth a 1000 words, you better get reading... it's a long one!

The roads through the park are closed to traffic during the winter, unless you've got tracks for that van of yours, or rent a guide and a snowmobile!
Our first stop, and supposed destination was the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. This picture is looking right...
...looking straight on...
(are you into rock climbing?)
...looking left...
(don't miss the 300 foot waterfalls behind the rising vapor)
...looking far left. I think one of the falls was upper and the other lower, but such details have long since been replaced by more important information... like the 900 earthquakes Yellowstone experiences daily.

At this point, we were supposed to turn around and head back to the lodge. But thanks to a fast moving group (I will not publicly admit to speeding - just keeping pace with the guide) the guide offered to take us a little further where we got to see...
...yes, a tree.
(But I'm told it's a famous picture!)
Out of frame is Dragon's Mouth Spring, a boiling, gurgling, sputtering and spitting cauldron that's generating the steam in front of these trees.
While searching for otter's on the edge of Yellowstone Lake (we did see some, but no pictures), we came across some bacteria organisms, aptly named "Bacteria Mats".
The steam is enough to melt the snow in some places...
...but not others. (Yes, the packed down snow was deeper then 4 feet, much to our amusement when a fellow tourist stepped off the beaten path and found himself "swimming" out of the snow.)
This one's for Mom.
This is for everyone else (and no, I still don't like my picture being taken.)
Elk don't like their picture taken either.
Momma Elk didn't care so much.

I caught two bald eagles sittin' in a tree...
A coyote sitting pretty.

So, there you have it! In the end, we went all the way around the park loop, logging 138 miles and enjoying so many of God's wonderful creations! I'm not sure it get's any better! But the weekend wasn't over as I headed to Kelly Canyon for some night skiing. Kelly only has 900 feet of vertical, but hey, I wasn't begging for a masseuse afterwards either! Here's a few pictures from the evening:
Even after dark you could always locate Chris, a co-worker.
Here's a look down at the lodge from about 1/4 of the way up. You quick ones will figure out why it's called Kelly Canyon.

REALLY?!? I wonder what the punishment is - a body cast? Maybe they just put your body in a stretcher sled and give it a push toward the bottom. Incidentally, a ski patrol informed me that it was a misdemeanor, punishable up to $250. Apparently they like to keep the idiots around in Idaho.