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| Grand Teton |
To see the GoPro video of the trip click here:
Adventure 2015: Episode 10: Jackson Hole
I have longed to visit Jackson Hole for a long time. The reputation of the ski resort here is legendary. Upon cresting Tahoe Pass I got my first glimpse and I was excited! Before I could drive down into town, however, I noticed there were some trails that started at the top of the pass built specifically for mountain biking. I jumped on my bike and started up the Blacks Canyon trail and was immediately pleased by the slope and the total lack of loose rocks! A couple miles in I turned on to the Lithium
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| Random Geyser near Old Faithful |
trail which was restricted to downhill bike traffic only. The guide described this trail as having a really gnarly and technical ridge with high consequences for falling. This sounded to me like exactly the trail I needed to test myself on! The Lithium trail did not disappoint. I was able to ride through all the technical sections without any issues and there were even a few small gap jumps built in to the straightaways. My stoke level was high! The ridge section was so steep, and my legs were so tired from all the climbing I had done in the last few days I had to take a break before I ventured in to the "jump zone." The zone, I discovered, is full of big gap jumps, rock drops, and even one large bridge. I was not expecting such devotion to trail building out in the middle of the forest. The Lithium trail was almost as well built as the trails at Northstar resort! In the jump zone I had to scout a couple drops and take a few tries at some of the jumps. One of the jumps, however, was big enough that even on my second
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| Lower Yellowstone Falls |
attempt I didn't think I had enough speed so I just bypassed it. After reaching the bottom I began the long climb back up the Old Pass Trail. As I was riding I saw a trail veer off labeled "Powerline Jump Trail." I couldn't just pass this by so I turned in. The entrance to the trail is a long ride down a fallen tree trunk. I managed to balance down it clean on my first attempt, which I have historically struggled to do. As I went down the jump trail I was taking things relatively easy since I hadn't seen any of the features before. I managed to nearly crash on the landing of one jump, then roll my bike right in to the gap of the next one. I endo'd, but thankfully didn't hurt myself. The trail was so fun, and so short, that I rode back up and did it again. My second time through was much cleaner and much more fun. Later that day I met up with an old friend I hadn't seen since high school. George has lived in Jackson for ten years and since he was already planning on going for a ride that afternoon I joined him. We rode on the Cash Creek trail system which was a joy for my worked legs. There was not any extended climbing, just some short ups followed by short, fun descents. I managed to clip my handlebars on a tree trunk and endo pretty hard, and then took a corner too wide and lay my bike down, but all in all, had a great time. George let me take a very welcome and much needed shower before we went out on the town. We started at a restaurant called Locals, which was jam packed on a Friday night. It reminded me of the Red Lion in the middle of the winter! Afterward we went next door to a Jackson staple, the Million Dollar Cowboy. I love this place. I
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| Lower Yellowstone Falls |
need to come back with a lady on my arm because there is a big dance floor and live country music! Since I didn't have a lady, and I was too tired to try and find one, we just hung out and caught up on the years. The next day I headed up in to the Grand Teton National Park and did some hiking. The Tetons remind me somewhat of Chamonix so I was missing Bucky, my climbing partner from last summer. I did go on a few hikes, but the whole time looked longingly at the jagged peaks which were, for the time, inaccessible. I will certainly come back here some day to attempt the Grand Traverse route. The next day I headed up into Yellowstone, another place I had never visited before. I have to say, despite the crowds, Yellowstone is awesome. All the hot springs, and geysers, and waterfalls, and bubbling mud pools, and steam rising everywhere! This place is out of a fairy tale! Lower Yellowstone falls was especially striking. I was standing there taking some pictures when all of the sudden the sun came out from behind a cloud and lit up a rainbow in the mist from the falls. Gorgeous! I had to start over taking all my pictures! I am back in Jackson now, wrapping up the last of my journey. Tomorrow I plan to be back in Vail, and back to a (somewhat) normal life. It has been a remarkable journey. I am very glad that I decided to stay stateside and explore all the national wonders that are so near to home! Good one America.
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| Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone |
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