Last Days of Elaine's visit in Jackson

In the 26 years that Elaine and I have been friends, we have always traveled and vacationed well together.  This past week in Jackson was no exception.  Every day the pace of our schedule was different and on most days unplanned.  We would head out from the house and stumble into fun.  On the days that I joined the hiking group for long hikes, Elaine enjoyed the house and became as addicted to "50 Shades of Grey" as are all of my Florida girlfriends!  Because of her love of this book and her need to follow these characters, we had to venture to town to find a wireless area where she could download book 2 and 3 of the series on her kindle!  Elaine found what she was looking for and I found another great "nook" in Jackson in which to spend some "chill out" time.

Elaine's happy place where she could continue her love of "50 Shades"

I am so glad that Elaine's intense connection to "50 Shades of Grey" resulted in us finding Jackson Hole Roasters.  While Elaine was downloading and reading, I enjoyed the best roast beef sandwich I have ever eaten.  I am talking awesome roast beef sandwich!

No matter where Elaine and I travel, we always meet nice people and
make new friends.  While sitting in the outdoor area of Jackson Hole
Roasters, under a brightly colored umbrella, Elaine and I enjoyed
just watching the world go by.  One wonderful thing that passed by
was the biggest and most luscious piece of carrot cake that either
of us had ever seen.  The waiter saw Elaine and I eyeing the slice of

Elaine enjoying the birthday carrot cake

carrot cake and offered to bring us our own to share.  We displayed amazing amounts of self discipline and did not order our own slice.  We did,  however, continue to eye the carrot cake that the waiter placed on the table next to us.  The two ladies sitting at that table also saw us eyeing their carrot cake.  This lead to much laughter between the four of us and introductions all around.  Our new friends were mother and daughter and the mother, who was celebrating her birthday, was visiting from Wisconsin.  They insisted that both Elaine and I eat a bite of the carrot cake.  I can now report that is was the best carrot cake I had ever eaten.

I know that I will visit Jackson Hole Roasters again and again during my summer adventure!

Jenny Lake

  On the day after our lazy day in town when we discovered Jackson  Hole Roasters, we decided that a bit of physical activity would do us both good!  So we headed off to Jackson Lake to walk through the beauty.



 

Jenny Lake

Enjoying our walk around Jenny Lake

Sunday, June 24th was Elaine's last full day in the paradise we call Jackson Hole.  As usual, it was a beautiful day and we enjoyed a lazy start.  Eric (hiking group) had organized a Sunday hike to the top of the gondola at Teton Village.  The reason for the hike was to celebrate the opening of The Deck.  The Deck is an outdoor area at the top of the gondola that has a beautiful view of the valley and a great happy hour.  The Deck opens at 4:30pm and happy hour runs until 6:00pm.  There are only two ways to arrive at The Deck.  You can ride the gondola which starts operating at 4:30pm or you can hike up the 3.2 mile trail.  Eric had invited us all to meet at the Teton Village clock tower at 2:30 to begin the hike to The Deck.  We planned on being the first to arrive and the first to toast to another great happy hour summer season at The Deck.

Hiking group attacking the Gondola Trail

The hike up to the top of the Gondola trail to reach The Deck, is not an easy hike.  It might only be 3.2 miles, but it has an elevation change of over 2700 feet, so you feel as if you are walking straight up.  These factors resulted in Elaine choosing to read "50 Shades of Grey" in the lobby bar at the Four Seasons (located in Teton Village) and taking the 4:30 gondola to meet the hiking group at The Deck.

The start of the Gondola Trail

Views on the way up the Gondola Trail

Views on the way up the Gondola Trail

View getting closure to the top

After 3.2 tough miles, an elevation change of over 2700 feet, a burn of 1150 calories and breathing heavier than I have breathed since arriving in Jackson, I arrived at The Deck for happy hour!  I was the last of the group arrive, but I made it!  After catching my breath, I indulged in a plate of edamame and shared some great tasting sliders with Elaine.  She arrived looking fresh and breathing evenly.....what taking the gondola up will do for a person!

The hiking group enjoying the spoils of their work at happy hour at The Deck

Elaine making new friends with Adam and Marty from Indiana

Fire Festival in town and Taste of Jackson in Teton Villiage with Elaine

In town square for Fire Festival

After my hike to Jackson Peak, I headed back to the house to grab Elaine and head to town.  While I was off hiking Jackson Peak, Elaine was most content at the house spending the day reading "50 Shades of Grey."  I returned to the house at around 4:30 and pulled Elaine away from the book and off to town we went to see what we could find.

Fire Festival in town square
(notice red ball decoration)

We noticed that the town square was blocked off and there was some type of festival taking place.  As we poked around and asked a few questions, we found out that it was a "Fire Festival" in celebration of mountain culture around the world.

Trigger on his walk about the town square

We enjoyed our walk around the square and the Fire Festival. The best part of having no plan at all and simply meandering around town is the things you might see!




Neither Elaine nor I had ever seen a miniature horse on a leash being walked on the sidewalk, but at the Fire Festival we saw just this site!
Before taking this picture, we asked the owner for permission and were graciously introduced to Trigger!  We were also told that Trigger comes to town often for a bit of a "walk about."


After our visit with Trigger, Elaine and I each enjoyed an ice cream cone as we continued our stroll.  The square was a bit crowded for the festival so an extra police presence was ready.  Elaine and I agreed that neither of us had ever seen such a mixture of the old west and modern technology.  Not sure where else you could see two police women on horses talking on cell phones!

Jackson Hole is ready in case bad guys come to town!

On Thursday, June 21st, Elaine and I participated in the "Taste of Jackson."  This was an event that is held as part of the three day wine auction that is held as a fund raiser for the Grand Teton Music Festival.  I heard about the event from my hiking friend Craig who is so nice to always inform me of the different happenings around town.  The "Taste of Jackson" was held in Teton Village at the Couloir restaurant.  The only way to get to Couloir is by hike (we were not dressed for that) or by a gondola ride.  The organizers of the "Taste of Jackson" did a nice job of kicking off the evening by providing each guest with a glass of champagne for the gondola ride!

With champagne waiting for our gondola ride to the top

 Once at the top of the gondola ride, red carpets and banners greeted us as we entered the event.  There were also a slew of photographers ready to snap away at the beautiful crowd of Jackson, but they somehow failed to take a photo of Elaine and me  .... shocking!

Background music

Most of the restaurants in town participated in the "Taste of Jackson" along side many vineyards from all over the US.  Elaine and I wondered around the event sampling yummy dishes (my favorite was the lamb chop from Snake River Grill) and different wines.  The event took place both inside and outside of Couloir providing beautiful views on a beautiful night.  A band played background music to add further to the fun.  Besides Elaine and I enjoying the food and wine, we loved checking out the "beautiful people" of Jackson and their outfits.

Elaine enjoying a mango margarita popsicle from Trio

Elaine and I did a bit of stalking this guy.  We gave him our prize for the "most representative Jackson Hole."  We figure he owns the ranch down the street that is for sale for $100 million!  

Shoes of the "seen and be seen" ladies

It was a very fun evening for the two of us.  We drove home as the sun was setting over/behind the Tetons.  Dawn and dusk are the best times to see the wildlife of the valley.  Since neither Elaine and I are awake at dawn, we rely on the dusk hours for wildlife sightings.  We drove home along the Moose Wilson road, which is always a good place for viewing the animals.

View of our ride home along Moose Wilson Rd.  That is an elk in the middle of the photo.

This beaver was getting some work done on that branch

Beaver friends at work

Wonderful hike to the summit of Jackson Peak

At the summit of Jackson Peak.  Elevation 10,741 feet.  Grand Teton range in background.

On Wednesday, June 20th, I headed out with the hiking group to summit Jackson Peak.  Jackson Peak is one of the closest summits that can be reached from downtown Jackson.  The top of Jackson Peak has an elevation of 10,741 feet.  Once at the summit, there are sweeping views of the Gros Ventre Range and the Grand Teton Range.

The hike is a 9 mile adventure filled with beautiful views.  The group met up around 9:00am and began the journey.  As usual, I always seem to stumble into strange "6 degrees of separation" happenings.  While hiking, new friends Eric and Rani (from Austin, TX) asked me if in my Dallas/Greenhill years I had ever met a friend of theirs named Meredith Small.  I gave a good chuckle and responded that "yes. I did know Meredith quite well, in fact I spent many hours house sitting/baby sitting Meredith and her brother and sister."  At some point of the hike, Eric took a photo of Rani and I making our way up the trail and emailed it to Meredith with the question, "guess who."  I am not sure that Eric actually believed I knew Meredith and her family as well as I do.  Eric seemed surprised when Meredith responded "she practically raised us."

The start of the trail

The trail to the summit is lovely.  Jackson Hole had a mild winter compared to previous years.  This has allowed hikers to get out on the trails earlier this summer season.  The Jackson Peak trail was dry and easy to navigate ....... for the first 6 miles!

At the 6 mile mark, we rounded a bend in the trail and came upon beautiful Goodwin Lake.  A bit crazy to this city girl that there is a large and lovely lake 6 miles up a mountain!

Goodwin Lake

The 6 miles of the trail leading to Goodwin Lake had an elevation gain of only 880 feet.  The challenging part of the hike was from Goodwin Lake to the summit.  From Goodwin Lake to the summit, we had an elevation gain of 1500 feet.  We also found that portions of the trail were covered with snow.  Hiking in the snow is always a bit funny to me!

More snow hiking

                                                                           

Snow on the trail after Goodwin Lake

After 3 hours of hiking, we reached the summit of Jackson Peak.  The views made the steep hike worth it!  At the summit, the group took a rest and enjoyed lunch. 

Rani, Craig and Carol enjoying the rest at the summit

Lunch at the summit

The "group" at the summit!  From left to right, top to bottom - Eric in maroon (winters in Austin), Alan in black (full time JH), Rani in green hoody (winters in Austin, married to Eric), Andy in royal blue (winters in Tucson, married to Cami), Craig in white hat and black vest (hike leader, full time JH, married to Carol), Bob in white hat and squatting (full time JH and 80 years old!), Cami in white hat and black jacket (winters in Tucson and married to Andy), Carol in white hat and white jacket (full time JH and married to Craig), Gaucho with four paws and black fur (winters in Tucson and child of Andy and Cami)

Head back down from the summit

After a nice break at the summit, we headed back down.  Hiking down in snow is the toughest part of any hike for me.  Since I have no ski experience, I provide comic relief for the rest of the group as I slip, slide and fall in the snow.  Carol is convinced that my falling is just to allow me to have fun in the snow.  I am going to allow her to believe this instead of telling her I am simply that unbalanced on snow!

With Rani (Meredith Small's friend) at  the summit

With Carol and Cami near the end of our hike

                

Elaine's In Jackson Hole

Elaine arrived in Jackson Hole on Monday, June 18th and is already enjoying the cool climate and slow pace.  All of this is a far cry from a summer day in Dallas.  On Tuesday we enjoyed a lazy day around the house and then some fun in town.

Our first stop was lunch at Merry Piglets

Just a Bear taking a break

Managing the shop

As we walked around downtown and explored the different shops,     we ran across some laid back Jackson Hole sites.  I found myself having to explain to a rather large bear that he was in need desperate need of a manicure.  He appreciated my concern and agreed with my observation.  As a result of our discussion, we became fast friends!

                      

My new bear friend with bad nails

New friends after my manicure suggestion

                   

The day after the hike to the summit of Taylor Mountain, Susan was not sure what to expect from her body.  I must say that she was an amazing trooper the entire hike up Taylor.  Only 18 hours after landing in Jackson Hole, which is a very short time to acclimate to the altitude change, Susan and I were hiking Taylor Mountain with 6 "Jackson Hole Regulars."  It was a tough hike and both Susan and I were a bit frightened when thinking about how our legs would feel in the morning.

I credit my "torture trainer Eric" in Sarasota, for preparing my legs for the hike.  When I woke up on Thursday morning my legs felt fine and off to the family room I walked.  I found Susan in the family room not feeling quite as good as I felt.  I told her to drink lots of water as I headed out the door for my first session with Terry, my Jackson Hole trainer.  I made it through my session with Terry and headed back to the house with a smile on my face.  As I walked into the family room I saw that Susan had given in to her muscle soreness and was napping on the sofa under a blanket.  We both had a good laugh, drank a bottle of water and decided the best solution for her soreness was to get her legs moving again.

Nice view while biking

Jackson Hole has a wonderful paved path that runs from downtown Jackson Hole and all the way to and through the Grand Teton National Park.  It is a wonderful path and provides beautiful views for a nice bike ride.  I had my road bike shipped to Jackson Hole and Susan had rented a road bike for her stay.  With the goal of just getting Susan moving and our blood flowing through our bodies, we headed out to ride about 7 miles to grab some lunch and enjoy the view at Dornan's.  After a nice salad for lunch we headed back to the house.  Susan felt much better after our 14 mile bike ride.

After lunch at Dornan's and preparing to bike home.

Susan and I climb Taylor Mountain on Day One

On the way up Taylor Mountain

My friend Susan Rakey flew with me to Jackson Hole from Sarasota.  We arrived on June 12th and quickly settled into the same house I rented last year.  I immediately felt at home once again as I unpacked with the beautiful view of the Tetons outside the window.  Susan and I quickly unpacked and made our way to town to hit the grocery store and grab some dinner.  As soon as we arrived back home, I received a phone call from my hiking friends Craig and Carol.  They invited Susan and I to join the group in the morning for a hike that would have us summit Taylor Mountain at an elevation of 10,000 feet.  After a brief discussion, we decided the only way to start was to just jump in with both feet!

Taylor Mountain is on the Idaho side of the Tetons.  We began the hike at an elevation of 7200 feet.  The hike covered 7.2 miles and took us 5 hours.  With an elevation change of 2800 feet, there were times we found ourselves hiking in snow.  The views were beautiful.  Having no time at all to adjust to the altitude change from Florida, both Susan and I were gasping for air.  We took it slowly and made it all the way to the summit at 10,000 feet!

Another view on the way up

Susan and I at the Summit !

On the way back down in the snow.