Weekend Trip: Driggs/Victor, ID

July 13-16, 2007
This is a standard destination for my family and I on the weekend. This was my third time this summer in the Teton Valley. Once to Driggs on my road bike. Once to Jackson ,WY to Mountain bike the Cache Creek Trail with the family and intern. Out west any trip under 100 miles is a treat. When I was living in New Hampshire, an 80 mile drive would get us well into Vermont or Massachusetts and to the Maine state line. Often, I would opt for a closer destination because I would consider that an was awfully far drive. Its all relative, eh?

The drive via Swan Valley and Pine Creek pass is the most scenic way to arrive in the Teton Valley. Much of the way is along the Snake River or Pine Creek and Targhee National Forest. Victor is the last town before enter Wyoming and is situated at the base of Teton Pass. It and Driggs are currently being ruined by short-sighted developed with seemingly no other purpose that to put as many mini-mansion as possible on every acre of land. The development is certainly keeping up with the pace of greed. Since this is "progress", I have recently decided that when we do ever manage to live IN the mountains I will choose a non-progressive locale if we are going to stay in Idaho.

We met some friends to camp for a couple of nights and go to the Music Festival at Targhee Resort. We camped off Ski Hill Rd. We did some climbing and playing in the creek building dams.

Afters Sunday's venue at the music festival we spent the night at a friend's house in Driggs. The next morning Tony rode his mountain bike back to Idaho Falls via the Big Hole Mounatains, something he has wanted to do for years. I took Owen over to Jackson Hole to play in the Snake River with his kayak before heading back home.

Roadtrip: Bozeman, MT

Independence Day Celebration: No loud bangs, no crowds
July 4-8, 2007

One of my favorite summer rituals is our annual camping trip to Bozeman. It's not real rugged camping, since we actually stay at a campground and make frequent trip to the Co-op for its organic offerings and refuge from the intense Montana summer sun. We actually managed to talk our friends into forgoing Luxuristan (i.e. the Marriott) for a taste of the plebeian, tree-hugging life. I think they had fun and weren't just faking it. Right, Heather? I know all the kids loved it. How can any man-made, pay-to-participate activity trump hours of dam building in the campside creek? Besides, we did not make them mount their bikes for any of those multi-hour treks that we have talked ouselves into believing that they enjoy as much as we do. We also took along our summer intern, Topher. He also seemed to enjoyed it but regretted the lack of cell phone reception in the canyon. The girlfriend thing, you know. Hmmmm.

We rode our mountain bikes, ran single track trails, ate good food, and slept in the cool mountain air. What better way is there to celebrate American Independence? Certainly not sitting on a blanket surrounded by a cesspool of humanity oohing and aahing over ridiculous fireworks. A little judgemental, eh?

This is the third summer I have rendezvoused in Bozeman with my good friend and former NH neighbor, Emily a.k.a. Emmo. Emily was enrolled in a Masters of Science Education program through the university in Bozeman that required her to spend consecutive summers in residence living the college life after so many years. She has graduated. Congratulations Emily. Now she gets a big fatty raise compliments of Conval school District! Try not to spend it all in one place Emily. Maybe spend a little on a ticket to Moab during winter break to meet up with your former neighbors? Just an idea. http://www.expedia.com/

Tony and Owen headed back to Idaho Falls with Topher and the Bruemmers and I stayed an extra 1 1/2 days to go ride with Emily on her weekend off.

Our first ride was sweet. We went up Hyalite Canyon past the reservoir to the Emerald Lake Trailhead. This trail was perfectly rideable singletrack that switchbacked up to an alpine basin. We did not tarry long at the lake due to the carniverous nature of the mosqitoes. The description on my map of this ride says it will make you "giggle like a school girl". Yep. Upon arrival back at the truck the heavens opened and it hailed to beat the band. Good timing. See photo.

Our second ride was less technical but equally as beautiful and longer. Across from our campground in the Hyalite Canyon is a is the Moser Creek Trailhead. We connected this short loop to the Bozeman Creek Road (the lower portion of the Mystic Lake trail).