Jackson Peak & Wildlife

So after a week of Place-Based Education, Mandy, Dani, and I had Friday off and decided to escape campus and do some hiking! Plus, it was also time to celebrate the parks reopening.

However, dogs are not allowed on National Park land so we decided to go into the Bridger-Teton National Forest instead and take Geo on a hike!  Geo is Dani's adorable border collie.

We knew it was going to be snowy but I did not realize how snowy it would be. I wore some of my hiking boots with gaiters. Next time, insulated boots! The snow was a dry snow unlike home where your gear gets so wet so quickly. So I was dry but kind of cold.

We decided to try and hike Jackson Peak. We all had not really hiked a whole lot since the beginning of the semester so if we made it to the top, great. If not, next time.

I was just a little excited and nervous about some of my first snowy hiking adventures!

Our View On the Trail Towards Jackson Peak

The hike up was gorgeous. The views here are beyond spectacular and I cannot get bored of them!

Dani's Dog, Geo, Loves Hanging Out with the TSS Grads!
Most Importantly, Loves to Have Sticks Thrown For Him.

Geo is such a hoot! He loves to play and loves people. He always wants to play fetch. If you do not give him a stick, he will go off trail and try to pull one for you. Even if that means a stick way beyond his mouth size!

Such an Amazing View and Hike...Even With Snow

We stopped at a clearly on a ridge for lunch. Again, with a beauitful view.

Geo Waits Patiently...With a Serious Face for Someone to Play With Him

The entire time, Geo trying to get our attention. If we did not have a stick to throw, we would throw him snowballs. It was so funny. He would chomp down on it, practically spit it out, and wait for the next one to be thrown. Silly dog!

We mostly chatted the entire time and did not make it to the top. Next time!  On our way down, I could not help but examine the snow! It looked so different from the snow back home in Delaware.

The Snow Up Here is SOOOOOO Different From Back Home

The crystals were so well defined, bigger, and prettier! Not to mention this snow is uber dry! Not very good snowball material!

Look at the Crystals of the Snow Flakes!
Nerding-Out!

On our way home back into non-snow territory: we ran into a traffic jam of bison hanging in the middle of the Gros Ventre Road. It still amazes me about living and driving through this national park with so much wildlife everywhere. And I do not think I can ever get tired of seeing them!

Bison In the Road - Preventing Us From Getting Home

Back on the Homeland...a Beautiful View!

After passing the bison traffic jam, we got back just in time for a PHENOMENAL sunset over the Tetons.  Again, the colors and the views were unbelievable.  Little did we know we had another surprise waiting for us back in the Grad Circle.

Cannot Ever Get Tired of The Colors

The Yard in the Grad Circle was Graced with Moose!

I love having the moose on campus!  So many of the reasons why I chose this place.  This family that has been hanging out on campus really makes themselves at home. After surviving the bison traffic jam, we come to find the moose family nestled down in the yard of the Grad Circle. It was really cool. One of the grads, Leah, was able to sit on her porch step of her cabin and watch them. Luckily she had a place to resort to if the moose got a little territorial or nervous.

An A-Moose-Ment Park!

Such an eventful day of nature, snow, bison, and moose! Hopefully every other day will be as excitingly jam-packed as today's was!

Into Snowier Days to Come,

TheChristyBel

First Snow Hike - Accomplished and Survived!