Climbing, Biking, Pictures

We headed out to an area about 15 miles north of Jackson called Blacktail Butte on Friday to do some climbing. Most of the routes out there are pretty difficult, so we were definitely challenged. We struggled our way up 3 routes, a 5.9+, 5.10c/d, and a 5.11b (difficulty ratings) and called it a day. I'm going to have to return to climb the 5.11b, called 'Wild at Heart,' without falls- pretty fun climb. Below is a pic from the base of that climb, and Mark, a bit tired after we both got off the climb.








On Saturday we took of on Highway 26 north from Jackson on bikes (wide shoulder, and yes, dad, I always wear my helmet). Evidently training for quite a few years to most efficiently run about 90 feet doesn't prepare you well for a 65 mile bike ride. Go figure. Plus, I'm riding a steel framed single speed, trying to keep up with a triathlete on a carbon-fiber with more gears than he knows what to do with. Consequently, I got dropped within a few miles. But, it was still a great ride. I rode out and back in 4 hours, with a few water/calorie breaks. I had minor mechanical problems at the start, MAJOR butt soreness by the end, and a funny sunburnt strip under my right arm. The conclusions at the end of the day: 1) I won't do this again without a better saddle and padded bike shorts 2) I still can't handle this altitude and 3) I'm not a distance athlete. By 9:30 that night I was fast asleep!

I drove through the park yesterday up to Jackson Lodge, and stopped to take some pictures along the way. It's just a bunch of mountain pictures, but I'm starting to get to know the details and characteristics of the individual peaks. (As always, click to enlarge)

The tip of the Grand, center, is covered by the clouds above.

Mt. St. John, above.

Jackson Lake

Jackson Life

Jackson is an interesting place. People mistakenly call it Jackson Hole, which I've learned refers to the valley or ski resort itself, and not the town of Jackson. To add more confusion, most people speak of Teton Village as Jackson Hole, yet many local Jackson businesses advertise that they are located in Jackson Hole.

It only consists of about 8500 people, but Memorial day brought the beginning of the onslaught of tourists. Millions visit every summer while checking out Yellowston, Grand Teton National Park, or the National Elk Refuge that is just north of Jackson. I had great intentions of snapping some pictures of downtown Jackson, but I was too intimidated by the many tourists doing the same, and I decided to steal their pictures instead. Jackson reminds me a bit of Keystone in the manner in which it appeals to tourists, but less gaudy and more western. You see the ski hill in the background.

The central portion of downtown is marked by its Town Square, where each of the four corners are decorated with an arch of antlers (these people are crazy over antlers!). The town disassembles the arch every year and auctions the antlers- each arch sold for over $10,000 this year! Crazy. Jackson's Stage Coach is in the foreground here.
While sitting in the square contemplating the arches, I asked Mark where all the antlers come from. His response: "Uh, the elk lose them each year, ya know?" Um, yeah, I think I knew that. Duh. Seriously though, it seems like such a waste of effort to have to grow new antlers each year! I think the elk should rethink this.

Teton Lodge

Mark and I went into Teton National Park on Friday (about 30 miles north of Jackson) to enjoy the mountains and eat at the Lodge there. We saw a lot of elk and one moose calf through binoculars, but no bears. The pictures below show the view from the deck of the lodge, taken about 30 minutes apart. This is the main part of the Teton range- they’re pretty amazing. I can’t wait to get into the middle of all this, but since I can’t ski well enough (yet), I’ll wait for most of the snow to melt. The lodge makes for a pretty cool place to hang out though. Click on the pictures to see the bigger version.

Nails are sharp

After a fairly uneventful 40 hr work week, the major excitement so far was coming out of the gym last night to a flat tire. Evidently I have a propensity for running over nails. I changed it (not in NASCAR time) only to find that my spare was also flat, of course. At least the parking lot was a perfect spot to watch the sun set behind the mountains- a good choice of place to fix a flat tire.

To a Select Few

This page exists to prove to a select group of people that I have yet to be eaten by a bear. I am spending the summer in and around Jackson, WY, and so far it seems like an amazing place to spend some time. I'm working a political science research position, which allows me more flexibility than a regular job, and enjoying most likely my last summer in the states for a few years. I'm off to Oxford in September, which is both exciting and scary for many reasons, but I wanted to spend one more summer exploring a new area- so here I am.

I warn that I'm normally horrible at writing, uploading and posting pictures, and keeping in touch in general. Yet, this is my attempt at keeping those who may care up to date on my activities, and I would love if you'd do the same. If you're here, it's likely that you're a pretty important person in my life. I miss my family and friends.

I apologize in advance for any material that follows that you'd rather not see or hear about. But, you only live once, and there's no time to pretend you're someone you're not. I know that some of the things I love in life scare my parents half to death, but they had a good deal to do with me ending up this way, so I guess you can maybe send any complaints their way. I love to explore; I love the adventure and the challenge. I intend to keep this stuff up for a very long time.