Saturday's hike in the Targhee National ForestCopyright 2008 Lydia Hinshaw
DRIGGS, ID -- Once again, Prince Charming and I have traveled west in order to reach the east.
It worked for Columbus.
After two days in Jackson, WY, we had to get out, not because we wanted to go but because it was the weekend, and in these parts, when it gets to be late September, every weekend could turn out to be the last good one. This, plus a gun show, was why all the hotels in Jackson were sporting "no vacancy" signs.
So we drove back into Idaho to this small farming town which is being transformed into a haven for wealthy urban refugees. Driggs is on the west and much less famous side of the Grand Tetons.
Saturday we wanted to go hiking, but had trouble figuring out where to do that. Although several freebie publications we consulted spoke breathlessly of various trails, all unhelpfully left out those critical "directions to the trailhead." The local chamber of commerce/visitor information center is closed on weekends. We didn't want to spend a bundle on a hiking book or map for just one day.
We drove around for a while, finally setting off on a dusty washboard road labeled "Teton Canyon." This took us into the Jedediah Smith Wilderness, part of the Targhee National Forest.
After we'd bounced along for seven miles (several miles farther than the Prince wanted to go,) we found ourselves in a parking lot with maybe 20 spaces, 19 of them occupied. Sure enough, we'd stumbled onto the trail-head for a number of eastbound hikes headed into the Grand Tetons by the back door.
We got in our 5.5 miles, through a landscape decorated with aspens the color of flames.
Most everyone we met, on foot and horseback, stopped to comment on what a glorious day it was. They were locals. Poor things, they'll be putting the snow tires on soon.
It worked for Columbus.
After two days in Jackson, WY, we had to get out, not because we wanted to go but because it was the weekend, and in these parts, when it gets to be late September, every weekend could turn out to be the last good one. This, plus a gun show, was why all the hotels in Jackson were sporting "no vacancy" signs.
So we drove back into Idaho to this small farming town which is being transformed into a haven for wealthy urban refugees. Driggs is on the west and much less famous side of the Grand Tetons.
Saturday we wanted to go hiking, but had trouble figuring out where to do that. Although several freebie publications we consulted spoke breathlessly of various trails, all unhelpfully left out those critical "directions to the trailhead." The local chamber of commerce/visitor information center is closed on weekends. We didn't want to spend a bundle on a hiking book or map for just one day.
We drove around for a while, finally setting off on a dusty washboard road labeled "Teton Canyon." This took us into the Jedediah Smith Wilderness, part of the Targhee National Forest.
After we'd bounced along for seven miles (several miles farther than the Prince wanted to go,) we found ourselves in a parking lot with maybe 20 spaces, 19 of them occupied. Sure enough, we'd stumbled onto the trail-head for a number of eastbound hikes headed into the Grand Tetons by the back door.
We got in our 5.5 miles, through a landscape decorated with aspens the color of flames.
Most everyone we met, on foot and horseback, stopped to comment on what a glorious day it was. They were locals. Poor things, they'll be putting the snow tires on soon.
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