"I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order." -John Burroughs

Mad River U- Day 8

Goats of the Mountains

The Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus) is a large-hoofed mammal found only in mountainous areas of western North America. Mountain Goats are not true goats but are closely related; Mountain Goats and true goats both belong to the same sub-family Caprinae (goat-antelopes). Mountain goats are very agile animals and typically live in the rugged terrain of mountain sides were they have few predators. Mountain Goats forage in small alpine meadows that are inaccessible to most other large animals. They feed on grasses, sedges, lichens, and small leafy shrubs. Mountain Goats commonly seen at higher elevations around the Jackson Hole area are non-native to Wyoming. They were introduced to Wyoming and with six other States. The native range of the animals is from northern Washington, Idaho and Montana through British Columbia and Alberta, and into the southern Yukon.
Nannies (female goats) live in herds with their kids (young goats). The herds can be as large as 20 animals. Billies (Male goats) live by themselves or with one or two other males. Both sexes have long pointed horns. The males have longer and more curved horns than the females. The males sometimes use their horns to spar with other males over potential mates. The number of rings on their horns can determine the age of the goats. In the winter, their heavy wool coats help them to withstand extreme temperatures, as low as −50 °F and winds of up to 100 mph. Mature mountain goats weigh anywhere from 100 to 300 pounds and stand about 36 to 48 inches tall.
Mountain Goats can sometimes be seen from the Snake River Canyon and are most commonly viewed in the Alpine Junction area.

"Other places do seem so cramped up and smothery, but a raft don't. You feel mighty free and easy and comfortable on a raft." -Mark Twain

Mad River U- Day 7

Local Farmer's Market
Ever wonder where the food you are eating comes from? Shopping at the Jackson Hole Farmers Market is your answer to this question. The Farmers Market allows customers to buy local produce, baked goods, flowers, chocolate and a multitude of other goodies straight from the source. Of course, the Jackson Farmers Market is unlike anything many people have experienced.

Throughout the summer, every Saturday from 8-12am, locals and tourists alike congress on the Town Square to enjoy live local music organized by Dan Thomasma, sample herbal teas, and learn about local businesses. At each setting, one local non-profit is featured, and 10% of all vendors’ revenues that day are donated to this organization. On top of all this, there is a local chef of the week who is graciously cooking and passing out samples from a few of his menu items (don’t forget to pick up a recipe after having a taste).

The Jackson Hole Farmers Market is a great place to spend your Saturday morning while learning about and supporting local business. As always, the market is dog friendly. So get out there and learn about the benefits of eating locally!

"For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver."

Mad River U- Day 6

Mountain Biking In the Jackson Hole Area
Whether you are in Jackson to sightsee or experience new adventures this summer, mountain biking is a great way to do both. In Jackson Hole, there is a unique trail to fit your expertise ranging from easy and relaxed to challenging and difficult. Teton Mountain Bike Tours is a great contact if you are looking for guided tours in Yellowstone Park, Grand Teton National Park, or Bridger National Forest. However, if you are interested in going it alone at your own pace, here is one trail that will provide you with an incredible scenic ride right here in Jackson.
Leaving from the base of Snow King Mountain in Jackson, Cache Creek/ Game Creek Loop offers the best of all worlds. This 23 mile ride trails through a beautiful canopy of conifers, steep track to the alpine meadows, and an incredible descent. The short steep tracks are forgiving and never too long without a break. This great trail entails all that Mountain Biking stands for. Once you have conquered this local hotspot, check out the mountain bike map, Adventure Cycling’s Mountain Biking in the Jackson Hole Area, at Hoback Sports in town to take on a wide variety of trails in Jackson Hole. From whitewater rafting to mountain biking, summer in Jackson Hole has it all.

Mad River U- Day 5

Riding a Phase Change: Snow and Western Rivers It’s hard to imagine that the same powdery white stuff that makes up the groomers at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort fuels the hits at Lunch Counter and Big Kahuna. While we all know that snow melts and water freezes, the thought of rafting on snow or snowmobiling on water seems bizarre and outside the realm of possibility. Yet, if we ignore the phase – solid, liquid, gas – of the playing surface and focus on the molecule both share – H20 – it’s all the same thing. When snow falls throughout the United States, it is measured by meteorologists, hydrologists and avalanche forecasters in a variety of different ways. If one lives in the Northern half of the United States, he or she is accustomed to hearing snow as measured in depth of inches and sometimes feet. The amount of snowfall measured in inches of actual depth allows us to project whether or not school will be canceled, what heroics the days commute will entail and if worth heading up the mountains to ski over the weekend. For hydrologists, avalanche forecasters and river runners, the depth of the snow only tells part of the story. In addition to measuring the depth of the snow, the snow-water equivalent (SWE) is often an equally important measurement. Snow water equivalence is measured by figuring how much water any given amount of snow contains: If ten inches of snow melt down to 1 inch of water, we can snow water density is 10%. This percentage is important as it helps define the snow on the ground during the winter, but also because it helps predict how much moisture the existing snowpack will contribute to the water table in the summer. In other words, a big snow year both in total accumulated snowdepth and in high SWE will lead to a big year in local rivers. In Jackson Hole, starting in late April following the closing of area ski resorts, this connection between our mountain slopes and rivers becomes increasingly visible. As temperatures rise, the area snowpack begins to melt, and early season runoff from the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem begins a journey of over 1,040 miles to Columbia River with its final destination, the Pacific Ocean. Along the way, snowmelt passes through Snake River Canyon offering up the opportunity to ride on the tail waves of a phase change.