Fall has arrived!


The Wyoming Range is definitely taking on fall colors. The high flower parks are about finished blooming except for yarrow and aster, but all the fading flowers have great fall colors in the leaves. This photo is from the Wyoming Range Trail looking south toward Deadman Mtn. The section of trail between Pickle Pass and Roosevelt Meadows has not been recently cleared or maintained, so there are lots of logs to go around and places where the trail is sketchy and you have to watch for blazes on the trees. Worth the effort though.

Upper Shoal Beaver Ponds


Beaver have been at work in upper Shoal Creek this year. The photo shows a new pond that now serves as a lovely reflecting pool, though it has flooded out an informal short-cut that leads to Tin Can Park. The flowers are about gone but the fall colors are only beginning.
End of season wildflowers at Sheep Pass!


On September 1 Sheep Pass was still awash in wildlfowers and some residual snow remained. Hikes up adjacent ridges yielded great views in addition to all the flowers. Even saw buttercups and phlox emerging from late snowbanks. Yellow and purple dominated with arnica, sulphur paintbrush and lupine.
Blind Bull Summit
On August 19 the flowers were beginning to be replaced by fall colors in the high parks on the Wyoming Range Crest. This photo shows the Wyoming Range trail heading north toward Deadman Mountain. The trailhead conditions have changed a bit - the buck/rail fence mentioned in the book is now gone except for a small section where the trail takes off to the south. Most of the directional signing for the trail is also gone. But good places to park are obvious and the trail is easy to find regardless. Views are splendid and the access road is in good condition with a washed-out bridge now repaired. NOTE--keep dogs close by - a government trapper (yes, they still have them) has set leg hold traps in the vicinity and has posted a warning sign. Traps usually aren't right on the trail so if your dog stays with you it should not be a problem.
Check out Commissary Ridge!

Commissary Ridge, at 9800 feet, still has fields of paintbrush, lupine, and even a few shooting stars. These photos are of Mink Lake (hike 67), taken August 13. Beautiful hike!
Sheep Pass/Tri-Basin a wildflower city!
Tri-basin divide and Sheep Pass area is wildflower city . Susan even found some spring beauty where a snowbank melted recently!

Swift Creek Trail Report


As of July 28 the upper wildflower parks in Swift Creek are still full of blossoms and the mountainsides are emerald green. Periodic Springs gushes continuously along with other cascades in the canyon, and pika haypiles are growing tall. The trail has washed out at about mile 3 but it is easy to skirt, you can follow where others have done so. Beautiful mountain views, wildflowers. and even some remnant snow fields await.


Sunflowers Peaking in Cliff Creek!

Late July, and the sunflowers are at their peak in the Cliff Creek area. There are many places to wander from the trail into some of these spectacular mountainsides and soak up sun and flowers. Hummingbirds and young sapsuckers visible, as well as many beds of deer and elk like little nests in the tall wildflowers.

Palmer Creek Trail Report

7/12/09: Palmer Creek to Grayback Ridge: the trail is in good condition and the wildflowers are a bit late this year, so they should be at their peak until the end of July. Wind along the top helps keep the horseflies at bay.
Shoal Creek Wildflowers Peaking!

Little Sunflower and Wyethia up Shoal Creek via Riling Draw, hike #23, are reaching their peak bloom for the season, pictured here July 13. Note: The total mileage to the split in the road to the trailhead is 3.4 miles beyond the Dell Creek Road turn-off; it is 2.5 miles to the gate at the cattle guard. A line was inadvertently deleted from text.
July 2009 Trail Updates

A recently completed boundary survey has affected access to Parody Draw. Trails to Tin Can Park and the Parody Draw/Rock Creek Loop, hikes no. 24 and 25, are still open, but the road is closed to vehicular traffic. Park at the Riling Draw sign and walk to the trailhead. This adds 1.5 miles to the listed mileages.


Beyond the Tetons to Benefit Wyoming Wilderness Association!

Beyond the Tetons has arrived! The book will be available for sale at the Eco Fair in Jackson on Saturday from 11-4 p.m. at the Wyoming Wilderness Association booth. 25% of the proceeds of this book kick-off event will be donated to the association. A summer's worth of great hiking, supporting great work.

Hope to see you there!

Beyond the Tetons to be released end of April

White Willow Publishing is pleased to announce the release of the 2nd edition of Beyond the Tetons. In this updated and expanded edition, veteran outdoorswomen Susan Marsh and Rebecca Woods field checked and compiled over 80 hiking excursions in Hoback Basin, the Wyoming Range, the Palisades and more. The book showcases spectacular backcountry terrain within the six mountain ranges straddling or adjacent to the Western Wyoming/Eastern Idaho border. The 320-page book features over 200 photos, maps, hike descriptions with digitally measured mileages and elevation changes, an extensive area reference section and a wealth of original research on area history. To preview a sampling of selected hikes, view the slideshow by clicking on the link in the column to the right.

Get inspired. Get outside. Get Beyond the Tetons.