15 Mar 20 – Daily Trail Report

Thank you for continually sharing your photos with us of Nordic skiing in Jackson Hole

Freedom Flight

Read below a story from WyoFile about the journey of the eagle who flew through a window in a home south of Jackson near Hoback Junction on Jan. 28. Really cool that our local Teton Raptor Center can rescue and restore lives for our bald eagles, and so many of our large native birds. We love seeing bald eagles , hawks, owls, trumpeter swans, and many more birds while out on the winter trails. Keep your eyes in the sky (and waterways) while you venture out..

A volunteer at the Teton Raptor Center in Wilson released a rescued bald eagle from a crate last Friday and watched it fly to freedom. Anne Hare kneeled beside the repurposed dog crate that center workers had carried to the top of a mound of snow. She reached to the latch, helped the door swing open and watched the bird hop out. It took another hop then stroked the air with its wings and took off, disappearing into the landscape after flying a quarter mile or so.

“I got to rescue, then rehab, then release,” Hare said.

The eagle flew through a window in a home south of Jackson near Hoback Junction on Jan. 28, startling resident Reed Moulton, who summoned a rescue. Teton Raptor Center rescuers captured the bird inside his house and have been caring for it since. Among other things, rehabilitators dressed cuts and bruises and cleansed lead from its system. After training sessions, they deemed the eagle fit to fly and capable of making its living in the wild.

The eagle will turn 31 this spring, according to a band on one leg. It had faithfully nested in the Hoback area for years, observers believe, and its mate was likely the bird circling overhead when center workers rescued it.

Hare released the bird in Wilson, five miles or so from its nest. Center workers said they didn’t want it closer to home because, as things go in Jackson Hole, its mate had bonded with another male only the week before. A fight between the males could have been deleterious, given the rescued bird’s weakened state.

Before its release, rescuers cut a small, square hole in the bird’s left wing feathers so they will be able to identify it when it is soaring. The missing piece should not affect its flight and will fill in later in the spring when the bird molts, they said.

Trip Report: Kelly Warm Springs

Nice family outing in the new snow…

Connie, Gannett and I went skiing this evening at Kelly Warm Springs.  While the snow was a bit sticky we did have a good time.  As of 7 PM there was about 10 inches of fresh snow on top of a rock hard crust.  We set two parallel tracks for about a mile and a quarter.  -Steve S.

Bears are active in Grand Teton

Time to get your bear spray out and ready for your outings. Park Rangers advised that approximately  50% of male grizzlies start to emerge from hibernation beginning 15th March. 

Black and grizzly bears are roaming throughout the park even in most winter months—near roads, trails, and in backcountry areas. Hikers and backcountry users are advised to travel in groups of three or more, make noise, and carry bear spray. Visitors must stay 100 yards from bears. For more information on bears checkout out Safety in Bear Country.

GTNP – wildlife closure surrounding Timbered Island

The GTNP Rangers were on the Teton Park Road, marking off the wildlife closure surrounding Timbered Island. They expanded the closure area to leave a 200 yard margin from the timbered edge and updated the map.

For skiers going off the groomed road trail (i.e. on the crust), please be considerate to leave a wide margin away from the Timbered Island .

Snow Plowing Operations in the Park

Trail Creek Nordic

Last Updated: 3/14
Grooming Daily

Wow!

The image above was taken near the end of a very festive final official practice for the prep and comp teams of Jack Love defying gravity as he and his perhaps somewhat abused Nordic skis are in the process of clearing the road at Trail Creek. The grooming department is happy to report that he landed it perfectly, what a feat!

There is more wow going on today at Trail Creek with 8:45 AM conditions being -1ºC/30ºF, calm, and with moderate to heavy snowfall. So far a strong inch of the beautiful fresh white is on the ground with forecasts being up to the 6 inch range.

The image above was from last night’s grooming in which most all trails were smoothed and ready to receive some nice fresh snow. The field classic tracks were reset with mostly positive results yesterday. Woods trail’s classic tracks were a bit variable but skate lanes were smooth. From now onwards skiers that can keep their skis moving in the relatively warm snow should find nice conditions although if snowfall amounts get heavy, skaters might have to work a bit.

Turpin Meadow Ranch

Last Updated: 3/8
Last Day of Grooming was 3/8

Thanks to everyone for making this another great winter! We appreciate all of our regular guests who have become part of the Turpin family. We hope to see all of you again next season for more skiing, and biking. Thanks to all who made the journey out this winter, we hope you had a memorable ski or bike. Looking forward to seeing you all again next season.

Grooming ended March 8th. No lodge services available. Trails are open but no longer being groomed.

Teton Co./Jackson Parks & Rec

No Grooming Today
Last Updated: 3/14

The levee and Stilson are groomed but filling in quickly with new snow. The school fields will be finished around 10:30. Grooming to Noker mine draw on mondays is over for the season but cache will still be groomed Wednesdays and Fridays to the typical turn around point.

Grand Teton National Park
Teton Park Road

Last Updated: 3/14

We groom from Taggart Lake to Jenny Lake for the last time this spring.  Read more above about snow plowing operations for the spring. 

Teton Pines Nordic

Last Updated: 3/14
Last Day of Grooming

Shooting Star Nordic 

Last Updated: 3/13
Grooming Daily

Enjoy Friday’s sunshine as it looks to be a snowy weekend. Overall, skiing should be enjoyable. We’ve delayed our black sand operation until next week and after the snow storms settle. Have fun! 

Next Update: Monday 

Teton Village Pathway Trail

Update: 2/22

Jackson Hole Golf and Tennis Club

Grooming Today
Update: 3/9

From our Nordic track maintenance team:

With rising temperatures and winter coming to an end, adjustments will be made to the route of the groomed trail. Beginning this past weekend, the trail will only be groomed on the north side of Spring Gulch Road.

This accomplishes two important things. For one, it allows us to extend the grooming period of the season because as the roadways clear it becomes increasing difficult and unsafe for the staff to cross the roads with grooming equipment. In addition, suspending grooming operations south of Spring Gulch Road helps us minimize disturbances to the local moose population. In general, please be extra mindful not to disturb wildlife during this important period for their winter survival.

Grand Targhee Nordic & Fat Biking

Last Updated: 3/14
Grooming Daily

Good Morning all Wydaho!

Cross Country/Fat Bike 15k: XC OPEN (Last groomed
3/14/2020), Fat Bike OPEN.

Pinedale

Last Updated: 3/13

Nordic: Most trails above groomed this morning. Road dry. Chilly now, 9F degrees. Sun is poking out. Looks like it is going to be a nice day.

Fat Bike 2/13: All Lower Kelly Park is groomed with a great riding base. Should be perfect conditions for the next 3-5 days due to high pressure system. For more information contact Geared Up, 307-399-5539 c.307-760-1912, www.gearedupbikes.com

Grooming Today: Alta, Teton Canyon

Alta Track

Grooming Schedule: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday
Last Updated: 3/14
Skate: Good| Classic: Good

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JH Masters Recreational Clinic – Skate Ski 

Thursday, Mar 19, 2020
Teton Pines Nordic

Tips, Technique, & Fun -Coaches provided by JH Ski Club Nordic program

Open to all (no first time beginners)
-Drop-in $35 (includes clinic & Teton Pines Nordic all day ski pass
Teton Pines Pass holder or member $30

 

Register – email : info@jhnordic.com or call: 307 739 6399

Learn More

 

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