Archives for July 2011

After a successful camp drop-off on Tuesday depositing India for her third year and Maia for her first year at Teton Valley Ranch Camp in Dubois, I finally have a little bit of private time with my son, Evan, after he’s just completed his second year there. Evan loves being with me, and at home he’s my big farm and garden helper. Yesterday we spent several hours driving up through Teton National Park, Kelly, and Mormon Row taking photographs. He’s extremely patient with me while I constantly stop the truck to get another shot.

Yesterday we came across many wonderful things, and I’ll show you just a few.

Today as evening was falling we went up through Teton National Park, the entrance to which is maybe a mile from our house here. On our way through heading to moose we saw a beaver dam. I did see a beaver swimming along in the water, but couldn’t focus quickly enough before he dove under.


There was also a female moose taking a rest in a bush next to the beaver dam, but she would not cooperate for a photo.

We headed up to Lost Creek Ranch and got a few more photos.

Luckily though on the way back home not far from where we’d seen the female, this glorious buck was having his evening meal.


It’s hard not to be awed by the beauty surrounding you here.

I got to take a trail ride today – finally – with just my friend Terry and another friend of Terry’s, Sandy. I’ve taken to calling myself Consuela the Housekeeper because I’ve felt a little overwhelmed and burdened by children, cooking, laundry, and camp preparations, etc. for the past few weeks (months, years…). It was nice to get away, even if it was just for 6 hours. We went to an area that I’d never ridden in before, up north toward Moran Junction, in a beautiful area by the Snake River with great Teton views.


As we rode further, we came upon the mighty Snake River, which is particularly mighty this year. Having more snowfall this past winter than ever recorded, the Snake is higher than I’ve seen it in the 16 or so years I’ve been coming to Jackson. The air was actually cooler riding along the shores of the snake than it was riding further inland.

I got to see two animals that I’d never seen before. First we heard this strange loud noise that sort of had a clacking sound to it as well, and then we saw it – an enormous Sandhill Crane flying a little off to our left. Just a bit further up the trail we came across one on the ground. Magnificent. Almost 5 feet tall and a lovely brown color with a partially red head, he walked along a path horizontal to ours, but was extremely elusive when it came to being photographed. I pulled this one off the internet so you can see how spectacular he was.


Then I was leading our ride as we were heading back towards the trailer and had been loping along for a ways when I dropped down into this little valley and there, over to my left, was a badger running along the hillside, not 50 feet from me. Now the badger is a nasty animal, so I was quite pleased that he was running away from me and not towards me. I was even more pleased about this when I turned around and discovered that my two trail riding friends were absolutely nowhere in sight! I did not even have my camera out at this point so a photograph was not possible, but here’s what a badger looks like for anybody that isn’t familiar. And that is exactly what he looked like in real life! Low to the ground, but wide with those interesting markings on his face.

It was great to be out riding with friends. Jim and the kids entertained themselves all day showing our friends Lorraine, Ted, and their son James around. A hike to Phelp’s Lake, a trip up the tram here in Teton Village where James and Evan gave everyone a real scare disappearing for about a half an hour on a little hike without telling anyone, and a trip into town to do the Amazin’ Maze, which is always a good time. We met camp friends of India’s and their families in town for Thai food for dinner and did last-minute packing at home tonight.

Tomorrow we take India and Maia back up to Dubois for their month at camp. India is counting the minutes until camp starts and she can spend a month with her friends, and Maia is counting the minutes until camp starts and she has to leave me for the first time!