Ending in Detroit: Coal Creek to Taylor Mountain Ridge

We hiked the Coal Creek trail which is in WY but still quite close to ID. It is one of the 10 most popular trails in the area since it meanders through wildflower fields, crosses the spring feed Coal Creek, arrives at a very large open meadow and offers access to the Taylor Mountain Ridge at just over 10,000ft. It is 3.4 miles to the point that we wanted to go and gains over 3000' of elevation. For us, a bit of a challenge given that we normally breath at sea level.

For this trip, we met up with Bev and Whitey, long time friends who live just outside of Jackson WY in Kelly. We will be taking up residence at their place when they head off on an Arctic canoe trip.

This was quite a nice place to be and to take photos, as a result, there are quite a few.

The day in pictures:

Whitey heading up through wild flower field and Coal Creek. Due to wet weather the flowers were generally early to bloom and the amount of flowers in bloom was consider higher than normal.

Bev and Alicia doing the same

Bev, Whitey and Alicia in the wildflowers

Them again

Gaining elevation --- Okay enough of them

Some of the flowers seems --- Buttercups, these show us just after the last snow melt. If we were 2 weeks early these would not be out, but under a small snow field.

Green Gentian

Alicia arriving at the end of Coal Creek Meadow

Then a slog uphill to the Taylor Mountain ridge (Taylor in the background)

Happy campers since the views were spectacular -- well worth the effort.

Looking West over the Teton County basin, the Big Hole range in the distance and the town of Victor

Alicia at the top of the hike

A very unexpected and different view. That's the Grand Teton in the back, right side, providing a south facing view. We were "gobsmacked" at the different perspective of the Grand and the 3 Tetons. Here, the Grand stands out alone. Quite unusual.