Jackson, WY -Teton Village, Hoback Canyon & Jackson

Friday, June 13th and the skies sparkled bright, clear and sunny; temps are expected in the low 60’s. Joe took Foxy for her morning walk and she came face-to-face with a deer. Neither one of them knew what to do so they just stared each other down for a while until Joe convinced Foxy to move on.

After breakfast, we went into Jackson to explore. The streets of the historic town square are lined with boutiques, art galleries, bars, restaurants, western stores, and outdoor outfitters. You can buy anything here from the ridiculous to the sublime. The four corners of the town square are adorned with arched elk antlers, and elk horns are used as accents on many shop signs and doorways. There are some wonderful historic buildings and the town is surrounded by rugged country scenery. A strong cowboy culture is reflected in the many saloons, playhouses, and shops selling western attire. We had lunch at The Bunnery and bought some bakery goods. We met two lovely ladies from Tampa and chatted with then over lunch. Foxy loved walking the streets and was really taken with sniffing the antler arches; she did a double-take when she saw the stuffed buffalo outside the merchantile. Horse-drawn buggies are available for tours around the town. Jackson is definitely a town of contrasts where you can experience modern chic elegance and Old West intrigue all on the same street.

I needed to go to the Post Office so we headed for Teton Village and Jackson Hole Ski area. This is the winter playground for the rich and famous where ski runs, lifts, and an aerial tramway criss-cross the slopes above the village. Today, it seemed like a large construction site with building and remodeling of lodges and condos in full swing. This is reportedly a very challenging ski area due to its vertical drop of over 4,000 feet. The Post Office was closed so we took a quick detour to Wilson so I could mail my packages.

It was such a nice day we took a spin south to Hoback Junction and through Hoback Canyon. The road follows along the deep canyon cut by the Snake River. Lots of people were on floats and rafts on the river enjoying the high water rapids. The Snake River was very cloudy and silty while the Hoback River seemed much cleaner and clearer. The forested slopes and rocky peaks towered high above the canyon bottom. This was a beautiful drive and we were glad we doubled back to experience it since we didn’t see much of it when we came into Jackson in the snow just a few days ago.

There is a large grassy area in front of our RV Park complex and there’s an antique car show this weekend. Some of the cars are here already and we strolled around admiring the lovingly restored vehicles. Some had souped up engines and lots of fancy paint jobs. Joe had fun with all that car nostalgia.

Jun 13, 2008

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