Fatbiking and Other Junk

Trail Conditions.

This summer the county put in a paved bike path from the west bank to town so now you can ride from Teton Village and Wilson into Jackson on a separate bike path and not have to worry about shitty drivers.  Recently I noticed this path has been plowed so you can use it in the winter.  While riding on a path in the winter on a fatbike seems a bit silly (and aren't fatbikes silly just by themselves), the path goes right past Emily's Pond parking area on the northeast side of the Snake River dike at the Snake River bridge and up until last Thursday I did not know this dike is groomed in the winter.  This opens up all kinds of options for winter riding.  According to the Friends of Pathways maps it goes for a mile or so but I know there is more than that.  Stay tuned for more exploits.

Turpin Meadows Guest Ranch Rocks!

Way up at the eastern end of the Buffalo Valley is the Turpin Meadow guest ranch, a dude ranch that has been there as long as I have lived here (it started taking guests way back in 1932).  There were some rough times with the recent owners: a new guest cabin collapsed under the snow load four or five years ago, missed mortgage payments, repossession by the bank, and two years of non-operation.  Then last summer Hans and Nancy Johnstone (owners/operators of the Alpine House Hotel in Jackson) bought Turpin Meadow ranch and poured a boatload of money into the place.  They did a fantastic job and they have really pushed winter use in the area with a new network of cross country trails on and around the ranch.  This wouldn't be of much interest to me except they have graciously allowed fatbikes to use the trails so long as a daily trail fee is paid (around ten bucks I believe).  Anyway, Hunger and I went up on Monday (they are closed then) and rode a bunch of the trails on the bench above the ranch.  What a hoot.  Excellent trails and well worth the drive up there.  I am going again soon for sure.

Excellent conditions with real firm trails.

steep little pitch here: 15 degrees.

riding some of the pasture trails.

Fun Times With Fatties.

Had a tour on Antelope Flats today with a family of five and they all rode fatbikes despite the total lack of snow.  They had a great time and promised to recommend us to friends who visit Jackson.  I hope it is the first of many I guide this winter; patrolling is getting old.  Some photos:

Couple moose (plural? Mice?  Meese?  Mooses?  Moosii?).

All this and money too.  I was the only person not on a fattie; I was riding my trusty Kona Dr. Dew with studded Nokian tires.  Much better on the pavement and ice we had.