Wyoming Getaway

Labor Day weekend we vacationed in Wyoming. We arrived in Star Valley Friday evening and stayed at the ranch house (it was 40 when we pulled in at 11pm).

A cat living in the barn had kittens, which were a big hit with the kids, especially Kade.



A Star Valley security system on the barn.



Saturday Jolene and I went to Jackson to ride the trail south of town. This was my 3rd time (previous report) and Jolene's 1st time. I was hoping the wild flowers would still be going strong, but they had peaked weeks ago and it was on the dry side. But the trails were in good shape and we still had a really good ride.

We started at the Nelson Drive trail head and went up Putt Putt, a trail I hadn't done before. It's a good trail with more up and down than Cache Creek.





At the end of Putt Putt we had to decide how big the ride would be. I had planned to do the big loop, but Jolene's ribs were hurting. We started up Game Creek and luckily Jolene felt OK so we continued with the loop.

The climb up Game Creek (coming out of the Cache Creek drainage) was not as steep as I remembered. Going down into Game Creek the trail was bumpy, but still fun.

We turned up West Game Creek, which had a lot of tall vegetation.



Up and up we went. I like this photo of Jolene.





We topped out on the ridge overlooking Jackson.





Then started down Ferrin, a fun downhill ride.



We continued with Upper Hagen and the Hagen River trail, where I had a nice crash. The trail threads between two grandpa-box-sized rocks, I cleared the first but caught my pedal on the second which tossed me off the downhill side of the trail and left me "hanging" from my bike (clipped in) and me head-first down the steep slope. After some awkward wriggling I got free before Jolene could roll up and take a picture.

We finished with the lower part of Putt Putt back to the van. We ate at the Dairy Queen and Jackson then drove back to Star Valley.

Jolene's cousin, Robert, has a new baby girl, which was fun to see.



At their house Kade found a toy chainsaw.



Kade had fun on their dirt track.



Monday morning I went for a road ride with Robert (Jolene's cousin). After a few miles of pavement we had 4 miles of dirt road up Phillips Creek then back to pavement through Turnerville and Thayne then back to Auburn. It was a nice ride with good scenery.



It was a nice, relaxing getaway for the whole family.