This time we started out with a hearty breakfast at Rutherfords.
Our first ride was up this nice canyon called Elk Creek. We had ridden there about 12 years ago when we ended up getting lost and spending the night under a big tree. This time it was much less eventful, but still lots of fun.
When we got to Woolstenhulme's ranch we turned the horses loose in this lush pasture laced by springs of clear water. They were ecstatic!
The first time we came here over 15 years ago we took this long ride over the skyline trail in Wyoming and have talked about doing it again for years. Finally we did.
We started up Moose creek and went all the way over to the Tetons and down Teton
canyon to Driggs. About 45 miles.
The flowers up top were breath-taking.
After a long climb it was fun to frolic in this flat meadow.
I always like to get some pictures of the beautiful wild flowers.
The best part of the ride is Marion Lake where we like to have lunch. It is the most beautiful and tranquil spot.
We finally met a pair of hikers, the only ones we say all day, so we had them take this picture.
The majestic Tetons create a spectacular horizon for a couple of hours of the trip.
Up on top we found snow and that brought the kid out in the Champ.
This snowball hit Larry, who probably deserved it.
The camera could not begin to do justice to the mountain vistas.
It was a warm day and we all ran out of water, so we were thrilled to find this nice cold spring. We had never tasted better water.
Instead of going all the way to Alaska Basin we decide to take this cut-off trail which was about 4 miles shorter and looked really good at first.
However it got a much tougher at a
cliff called "The Devil's Staircase".
We discovered that it was well-named when we got to this really scary part. At the bottom we found a sign that said that this trail was "not suitable for stock!"
At the end we were totally exhausted but all agreed that this ride was the highlight of our trip, and probably of the year.
Since we had ridden about 45 miles that day, we decided to match that the next day by playing 45 holes of golf! What a blast!
The gorgeous 18th hole at Teton springs. We had a 3-way tie for champ so had to have a putt-off, and as usual the Champ was the Champ.
On Saturday we had planned to take a nice little ride with Vern and Bonnie who wanted to show us this wonderful canyon trail that we had never done before. It was raining when we loaded the horses, but no-one wanted to back out. When we saddled up it was pouring, but still no-one wanted to give up. then when we got mounted it started to hail but still everyone was determined to go. That scene was so amazing that 2 carloads of tourists pulled off the highway to watch in disbelief as we took off up the mountain in that downpour.
After about an hour it cleared a bit and we had a wonderful ride after that. The flowers were even better than they had been in on our long ride 2 days earlier.
We made the whole loop and came down Moose Creek. Then 3 of us took off hell-bent -for -leather so that we could shuttle back to the original trail head and get our trailers and bring them back before the others made it down.
We had a very exciting race the last mile or so where the trail was wide and smooth. What a great end to a super trip!
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