SNOW KING MOUNTAIN, WYOMING
In contrast to its surroundings, Snow King Mountain is merely a bump that flanks the town of Jackson, Wyoming. The grandeur of the Teton Range dwarfs nearby mountains, such as Snow King. Snow King technically is a high point along a ridge that extends from the Gros Ventre Range, which itself, is merely an extension of the Wind Rver Range. I should add that the mighty Wnd River Range would practically dwarf the Teton Range! But back to the backyard mountain called Snow King, .. it is a convenient place to recreate, to socialize, and if you walk a short distance it is a place to get away from it all.
Recently this autumn I went for another walk on "the town hill," as it is often called. This time I packed a small day pack, as in, a pack that had everything I would need for an entire day.
I began my first 1600' vertical ascent by bushwacking up an obsure, unassuming route. While trails grace most aspects of the town hill, I often prefer to literally get off the trail. This time I was rewarded by seeing a cow moose with her two calves. I do believe it's a safe guess that these were the same three moose that I saw two days prior, right in my backyard. After summiting the mighty town hill I immediately dropped down the other side, once again off trail. From this next canyon I continued straight back up, continuing to another ridge that I would then travel back to the main summit ridge of Snow King.
The ascent was mostly uneventful, giving me time to ponder and time to listen to the trees whistling through the leaf-less aspen trees. As I traveled through prime cougar country I thought of all the new residents that move to this area every summer and winter, many of whom just do not know or appreciate their curroundings. So many folks plug in the earphones, no extra layer or rain jacket, no food, maybe they have a small water bottle, .. and they run through this prime habitat, tuned out to what it has to offer. As I wondered, and wandered, I heard a snap, then immediately a crash. Thrity yards away a standing dead tree had fallen prey to the afternoon winds. No tunes to dull my senses, thank goodness.
At the top of the ridge I observed the blowing ash and soil from the recent fire. This recent fire was started by an old man, defiant of the temporary fire ban in place on this extremely dry year. While burning his trash an errant ember flew into adjacent dry grass. In an hour's time the fire raged up the mountain side and into the thick forest where it really began to build up momentum. The fire ended up burning over 3300 acres and costing $9 million. The town of Jackson was seriously threatened for about two weeks as fire strategists worked diligently to redirect its course. They were successful, with the help of 600 personnel.
Continuing along my unburned ridge I noticed an antiquated liimber pine that had been struck by lightning. The blast blew off a very large portion of the tree which did not catch fire. And a trench, approximately 1' deep by about 20' long extended from blown out tree roots.
Farther along the ridge I intersected with the main ridge that would take me back to my original high point on Snow King. Here is where the recent fire was. Though it was windy and there was risk of falling trees I spent a little time wandering theough the aftermath. This paritcular section had obviously burned intensely, leaving nothing behind except for a few standing dead trees and an occasional portion of a partially burned stump. The ground was black and covered in ash, even after two days of recent rain. Eerily beautiful, it was. My culminating thought was that the elk, moose, and deer must be eager for next spring when this area will provide reprieve from bugs, and in one more year it will be loaded with nutritional grasses.
Leaving the burn area, I continued along a ridge back to my first high point. The late afternoon sun provided hints of warmth that the wind quickly neutralized. I added another layer of clothes, finally had a very late lunch, and lied down and relaxed, out of range of the noise, traffic, and perpetual backup alarms of town development, Soon I mustered up the momentum to climb the one last hill, where on the other side I ran across a rather large bull moose. He looked up at me from his bed and realized that I was simply passing through. Giving him a wide berth I continued past flocks of ravens surfing the eddies and vortices of ridge effected wind. For some reason the ravens really congregate near Snow King this time of year.
The sun has now dropped below the horizon. I've spent almost an entire day of walking and exploring on the town hill, yet far from town. Thoughts, pondering, wandering, wondering. Moose, ravens, fires, and lightning. Wind, warmth, exploring, snoring. Not a bad day really, for being so close to town.
As I dropped into the thick woods to bushwack my way back home, the Teton Range emerged from its veil of clouds. Bright brief light illuminated the newly snow-covered rugged range, extending along this huge piedmont valley we call Jackson Hole. And one by one, the town lights began to emerge as night fell. My long walk today was from town, to the town hill, and back to town.
