Teton Valley Magazine Summer 2024 by Powder Mountain Press

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Connect with our team today at WWW.TETONVALLEY.REALESTATE and witness the difference firsthand.

ken dunn broker

AMY DERY Sales associate

delwyn jensen Sales associate

sam DERY Sales associate

douglas rey Sales associate

PROOF IS IN THE NUMBERS.

• Zach Smith has 18 years’ experience selling Teton Valley real estate and has closed more than 240 transactions in Victor alone

• Represented clients in 300+ transactions

• $88 million in sales between 2019 and 2023

“Highest possible recommendation for Zach Smith. Zach previously served as the mayor of Victor, he knows everything about local market dynamics, and has deep experience with all real estate processes. He gave immediate and thorough responses to all our questions. Thanks, Zach!”

Stefan Turkula, MD Orthopedic Surgeon, Sports Medicine

McGurn, DPM Podiatry, Podiatric Surgeon

Mike Haskell, PA-C Orthopedics

Build New. Build West.

JACKSON, WYOMING • ALPINE, WYOMING • DRIGGS, IDAHO • PARK CITY, UTAH

7TH ANNUAL

September 18-21

TETON VALLEY, IDAHO

Come stay overnight in Teton Valley!

Enjoy crane tours, workshops, and Saturday Community Celebration. For more information on the week’s activities, please visit tetonlandtrust.org.

“South Fork Hilton”

Publisher + Editor in Chief

Kate Hull kate@powdermountainpress.com

Publisher + Art Director

Sage Hibberd sage@powdermountainpress.com

Sales Manager

Jessica Pozzi jessica@powdermountainpress.com

Publisher Emeritus

Nancy McCullough-McCoy

Editor at Large

Michael McCoy

Design Advisor

Linda Grimm

Graphic Designer

Julie Martin

Copy Editor

Rebecca Mitchell

Chloe Eichler

Contributors

Molly Absolon

Lara Agnew

Judy Allen

Brad Boner

Jeannette Boner

Camrin Dengel

Cody Downard

Julie Ellison

Tom Hallberg

Julie Martin

Michael McCoy

Christina Shepherd McGuire Alex Nabaum

Kristen Pope

Jenn Rein

Linda M Swope

Lara Agnew

As a visual storyteller, Lara (Basin Flowers, page 48) is drawn to stories of people and places. Her work is deeply influenced by her curiosity and appreciation of the natural world, humans, and connection. When not behind the lens, you can find her tending her garden, curling up with a book, recreating outside with loved ones, or seeking out a new recipe or song. If you’re wondering whether or not you should share your favorite joke with her—you definitely should. She lives in Teton Valley with her family.

Judy Allen

Celebrating 41 years in the Tetons—21 in Teton Valley— Judy Allen (Beau Jacoby, page 36) writes, teaches, and grows organic produce year-round in her solar greenhouse and garden, Darby Canyon Gardens, where she rents garden beds to the public. Through her work with Teton Valley Magazine, she enjoys getting to know a sampling of the creative, committed people who call this community home.

Brad Boner

Brad’s (The South Fork Hilton, page 98) career as a photojournalist spans more than two decades of documenting some of the most culturally rich corners of the American landscape. He strives to capture the essence and spirit of the subjects in his images and uses photography to illustrate his love for the outdoors.

Brad has been the chief photographer at the Jackson Hole News&Guide since 2004 and photo editor of Jackson Hole Magazine since 2005. He lives in Victor, Idaho, with his wife, Jeannette, their kids, Adeline and Will, a grumpy cat, and Rosie the red heeler.

Camrin Dengel

Camrin (Legacy of the Land, page 70) is a Teton Valley based photographer. The heart of her work centers around environmental storytelling, regenerative food systems, sustainable trades, and nature-based lifestyles. Her clients include The Nature Conservancy, Patagonia, VICE, and Friends of the Teton River.

Alex Nabaum

Alex Nabaum (Inclusive Outdoor Recreation, page 62) grew up in Colorado and Utah, but currently skis in Wydaho. He has worked as a treadmill tester, caricature artist, T-shirt designer, newspaper artist, and for the last 18 years as a freelance illustrator. His illustrations have appeared in the pages of the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, National Geographic, Backcountry Magazine, and on the cover of Newsweek, Forbes, and ESPN. However, his favorite subject to illustrate is skiing at skiposters.art.

Jenn Rein

Jenn Rein’s (Boondoggle Baking, page 30) byline has been seen in regional publications that reflect the Teton Valley lifestyle and that of other parts of the Rockies since 2006. She is also a regular contributor to PleinAir Magazine, Southwest Art, Artists Magazine, and Watercolor Artist. You can read more of her work on her portfolio site, jennrein.com

anne.fish@evrealestate.com annefish.evrealestate.com COMMUNITY,

Follow your dream, home...

Anne has a reputation of delivering exceptional service and possessing unrivaled expertise of the real estate market in Teton Valley, ID and Jackson, WY for the last 20 years. She prides herself on creating a bespoke experience for each client to help them follow their dream, home.

ENGEL & VÖLKERS | ANNE FISH

307.413.1159

anne.fish@evrealestate.com

annefish.evrealestate.com

Pierre’s Theatre

GIVING 10% TO WHAT MATTERS

Anne Donated 10% of Her Commissions on $30M in Sales to Local Nonprofits in 2023.

IMAGINE The Impact!

Pierre’s Theatre

Supporting Local Arts, Culture, and Heritage

Proudly Owned by Anne Fish

Ways to Play 30

SAMPLE BAKED GOODS over a cup of Joe at Wydaho Roasters look for special events and game nights

ENJOY LOCALLY ROASTED BREW from Victor’s Alpine Air, now with a brick and mortar cafe

STOCK UP ON GEAR from WorldCast Anglers’ fly shop, then book your next fishing adventure

HIKE OR MOUNTAIN BIKE the South Horseshoe trails in the Big Hole Range west of Driggs

SIT OUTSIDE with a latte at Rise Coffee House in Driggs—don’t miss live music on weekends

SAVOR BRUNCH OF BISCUITS and poblano sausage gravy at Butter Cafe in Victor

SPOIL A GOOD WALK (as Mark Twain would say) by golfing at one of our three public courses

FLOAT YOUR CARES AWAY on the Teton River with a kayak rental from Teton River Supply or Wai Mauna

TAKE HOME FRESH CUT FLORALS from the farmers market on Fridays, June through September

PAMPER YOURSELF with a manicure and facial at Victor’s Renew Salon & Spa

Midday

TAKE IN WORLD-CLASS orchestral performances at Jackson’s Grand Teton Music Festival

RENT A MOUNTAIN BIKE and brush up on your skills with a lesson from Grand Targhee Bike School

PACK A LUNCH of Victor Valley Market’s fresh deli sandwiches, then explore Teton Canyon

DISCOVER LOCAL TALENT at the Teton Valley Art Market, Saturdays at the Driggs City Center

DELVE INTO THE CHARACTER of the valley at the Teton Geo Center or the Teton Valley Museum, both in Driggs

BIKE ALONG a piece of history on the AshtonTetonia Trail, formerly a line of the Union Pacific Railroad

COOL OFF with a huckleberry shake from the Victor Emporium or a lime freeze at Corner Drug in Driggs

HEAD OUT ON A HIKE at Grand Targhee and try to identify the vibrant wildflowers

MAKE PLANS for the Greater Yellowstone Crane Festival, September 18-21 (more on page 56)

CATCH LIVE MUSIC , Shakespeare in the Parks, and more hosted by the Downtown Driggs Association

THE TOWN with live music, special events, movies, and more at Victor’s

ENJOY A POST-HIKE BEER or wine at Victor’s hotspot, Refuge Taphouse on Main Street

CELEBRATE THE SEASON and dance the night away on Thursdays at Music on Main in Victor

SIP A SAMPLE at Victor’s craft cidery, Highpoint Cider, then stick around for bingo or trivia night

SHARE A SPECIAL DINNER with family and friends at Linn Canyon Ranch

SOAK UP THE SUNSHINE with sushi and sashimi enjoyed on the patio at King Sushi in Driggs

KICK OFF HAPPY HOUR at Grand Teton Brewery and enjoy burgers on the lawn from Otto’s Kitchen

HOOT AND HOLLER for the cowboys and cowgirls at the Friday evening Teton Valley Rodeo

HANG WITH THE LOCALS at the Royal Wolf where “snow sagas and fish tales are told nightly”

ENJOY LIVE MUSIC over cocktails at the Tetonia Club or Victor’s Knotty Pine Supper Club

HIT

historic Pierre’s Theatre

Hops Cyclery

VICTOR’S NEW BIKE SHOP , Hops Cyclery, is a local spot for more than bikes. Offering bike service, consignment bike sales and services, new bikes sales, and accessories, Hops Cyclery is also carving out a space for community connection centered around a love of hitting the trail.

“We will host clinics for those wanting a little more education on caring for their bike at home or on the trail,” says Jim Schuppler, who owns the shop alongside his wife Lisa and Jeremiah Keavney. “We will also host bike rides from the shop, events, and be a place for connection with other bike enthusiasts.”

Located at 38 West Birch Street in Victor, Hops Cyclery sells Pivot, Orbea, and Salsa bikes. Jim and Jeremiah run the day-to-day business and tech scene, while Lisa manages the marketing. This summer, the trio is excited to get to know the bike community.

Stop by to get a tune up, find a new bicycle, or hit up a summer trail ride with Hops Cyclery. hopscyclery.com

BEAUTIFYING OUR BYWAYS is a grassroots effort that aims to restore native wildflowers, grasses, and shrubs along a lengthy stretch of Highway 33’s bike path corridor. The goal is to benefit native pollinators, reduce noxious weeds, and beautify the scenic byway. This new nonprofit is a volunteer effort operating under fiscal sponsorship of Teton Valley Trails and Pathways. To volunteer, become a business supporter, or learn more, visit bon33tv. org.

Home Grown

Atop Pizzeria Alpino’s gourmet pizzas or on the shelves at Barrels and Bins, MORNING DEW MUSHROOMS gourmet mushrooms and microgreens are a year-round staple in Teton Valley. Sarah and Patrick McDonnell, the cultivators behind Idaho’s biggest mushroom

farm, grow a dozen varieties of mushrooms at their Felt farm.

“This past fall, we finished a new grow facility and are growing more mushrooms than ever,” Sarah says. “We grow about a dozen different varieties, using commercial equipment to create a humid environment indoors for the mushrooms to thrive in.”

From shiitake to lion’s mane, find their mushrooms on menus and at local farmers markets, or contact them to order your own. morningdewmushrooms.com

THE TETONS ARE ROCKING all summer long with a packed calendar of concerts. From free live music as part of Teton Valley Foundation’s Music on Main to renowned acts hitting the stage at Grand Targhee’s Bluegrass Festival. Here are just a few must-see shows happening throughout the valley.

34TH ANNUAL GRAND TARGHEE

BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL

Three days of incredible bluegrass in a high-alpine setting.

Friday – Sunday, August 9 – August 11 grandtarghee.com

DOWNTOWN SOUNDS

Downtown Driggs Association’s free live music series with a wide range of genres, held at the Driggs Plaza stage on Main Street. downtowndriggs.org

MUSIC ON MAIN

Free concert series put on by Teton Valley Foundation.

Thursdays, June 20 – August 15 tetonvalleyfoundation.org

KATIE COONEY

GRAND TETON MUSIC FESTIVAL

Eight weeks of performances under the leadership of GTMF Director Sir Donald Runnicles. Concerts span orchestral and chamber music to special events, free outdoor shows, and community events. June 27 – August 17 gtmf.org

PIERRE’S THEATRE

Enjoy live music and special events all summer like an Elton John Tribute Band on July 11, two phenomenal Austin-based singersongwriters on July 12, and free classical music presented by GTMF On the Road held July 13. pierrestheatre.com

TETONIA CLUB

Teton Valley’s original bar, the Tetonia Club, hosts live music, open mic nights, special events, and more, all summer long. tetoniaclub.com

Teton Valley Museum

STEP BACK IN TIME at the Teton Valley Museum, where artifacts, displays, and historical relics celebrate the early days of life in the Tetons, from the ShoshoneBannock tribe to early pioneers.

The two-story building features more than 10,000 square feet of exhibits covering two hundred years of history. Peek inside a real pioneer school room, take a look at World War II weaponry, and explore the histories of local families with thousands of digitized photographs and documents. The museum is staffed by volunteers and funded through donations.

SUMMER HOURS

Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

ADMISSIONS

Adult: $8

Children: $4 (under 6 are free) Family household pass: $25. Learn more: tetonmuseum.com

PHOTOS: JAMYE CHRISMAN

Jackson Hole & Teton Valley, Idaho

Experience Birth at its Best

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Why Choose the Birth Center at St. John's Health:

High Patient Satisfaction

At the Birth Center at St. John's Health, we take pride in our outstanding patient satisfaction scores. We are committed to providing an experience that exceeds your expectations, ensuring your comfort and conﬁdence throughout your journey to parenthood.

A Trusted Legacy

With a long history of providing exceptional care in the region, we've become a cornerstone of support for families. In fact, half of our deliveries each year are to families who live outside of Teton County, Wyoming.

Expert Providers

Board-certified OB-GYNs and certified midwife providers on our medical staff are currently accepting new patients for prenatal care, and look forward to delivering your baby at our awardwinning Birth Center.

Continued Investment

We are continuing to expand the physician staﬀ for labor and delivery services, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to excellence and expanding the program to better serve you.

To learn more about the Birth Center at St. John's Health, please visit: www.stjohns.health/birthcenter or call: 307.739.6175

BOONDOGGLE BAKING’S Amelia Lohrenz bakes sourdough loaves in the mud oven she and her partner, Andrew McCarthy, built at their Tetonia home.

BY JENN REIN PHOTOGRAPHY BY CAMRIN DENGEL

Ancient baking process rises to the occasion Boondoggle Baking

While living and working in Antarctica, Amelia Lohrenz was participating in a group trip that she noted at the time was a “boondoggle.” The term stuck with her.

“A boondoggle is a trip or an activity that is ostensibly useful, but it is basically for morale,” Amelia says. She aligns some of her own adventures with this word.

The sense of joy Amelia finds in baking led her to apply the word to her own enterprise, Boondoggle Baking. The fun behind this moniker includes using an age-old baking method, and an approach that requires time, patience, and passion.

Amelia’s property, located on the outskirts of Tetonia, is surrounded by thick aspen growth. Behind her home, she has created a mud oven in which she hones her sourdough baking process. Her mud oven, also referred to as a cob oven or earthen oven, is a throwback to the ancient world with elements of nature shaping its function.

“This is good ol’ Teton mud and rocks,” Amelia says. “The protective structure that shelters the oven costs far more than the oven itself.” Made of treated wood and galvanized steel roofing panels, the shelter is critical to the oven’s survival. Should it be exposed to elements such as rain or snow, it would disintegrate. Amelia, alongside her partner Andrew McCarthy, built the mud oven in the fall of 2021.

“I did not intend for it to become a commercial endeavor, or it would have been a lot bigger,” Amelia says. She attended a workshop as part of the Grain Gathering at Washington State University, during their annual Bread Lab Collective, a group that works to put sustainability and nutrition at the center of the food conversation.

There, she took in a workshop led by Kiko Denzer about making mud ovens. Amelia purchased his book and, after some time, decided: Why not make my own? “It was either that, or build a chicken coop,” she says, laughing.

The process of preheating the oven involves sheer manpower. Wood is chopped and fed into the confines of this large baking vessel. Once the fire is lit, it has to burn for at least two hours to produce white-hot coals. The top of the interior of the oven should be white when ready, and the baker has other tests available to ensure the proper temperature has been achieved. “It’s ready when you poke into it, and all of the hair on your arm burns off,” Amelia says, grinning.

While any other baker would simply preheat an oven by turning a knob, there is no simple switch for Amelia’s hand-

AN ANCIENT BAKING practice, the mud oven is made with Teton mud and rocks, and covered with treated wood and galvanized steel roofing panels to protect it from the elements. Once the oven is searing at just over 600 degrees, it is ready for the loaves.

made equipment. “This is baking in its oldest form,” she says. “There’s no flipping this thing on or off.” Once the oven is searing at just over 600 degrees, Amelia throws a pizza in for good measure. This is both a test for heat and a ritual of meal-making that precedes the creation of her sourdough loaves.

“I can place six, twenty-four-ounce loaves in at a time,” she says. “The first batch takes twenty-five minutes, and the second takes forty.” As the process moves along, the oven loses heat and there is no recreating the initial blaze during baking. For one full firing, Amelia is able to bake a dozen loaves.

After the heat diminishes, warmth remains in the oven. Amelia has attempted to use the full firing and the residual heat, post-firing, to produce other baked goods. Apart from her experiments with yeasted dough, which require impeccable timing, she has tried to use the captured heat to bake cookies. Because of the intricate timing required, however, Amelia had to let go of using the complete arc of the heat. “It turns out that two ancient, imperfect processes make the perfect marriage the mud oven and the sourdough,” she says.

Just as an artist must choose the right tools to approach a composition, Amelia seeks out the particular ingredients that will make her creations sing with flavor.

Growing up adjacent to U.S. military facilities (her mother worked as a civilian for the Armed Services) allowed Amelia to experience home in many places. She has lived in Iceland, Japan, Italy, and Germany. Once on her own as an adult, she found herself in Alaska, Antarctica, the Pacific Northwest, Glacier National Park, and Boston.

She did not pursue a formal culinary education but instead matriculated as an art major. Her training in food has evolved on-the-job, initially with a master chocolatier, and then with colleagues in baking. And a lot of trial and error. Throwing one’s hat into the art of making food reflects a willingness to experiment, and the fact that Amelia identifies as an artist leaves room for personal finesse.

She came to the valley because of love, she says, moving out to be with her

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP Amelia preps the dough for her sourdough loaves; a selection of mini pies ready to be enjoyed; the Boondoggle Baking stand at the Teton Valley Farmers Market ready for hungry patrons.

“It turns out that two ancient, imperfect processes make the perfect marriage— the mud oven and the sourdough.”

Amelia Lohrenz

partner. After a variety of valley jobs, she ended up working at Victor’s Canewater Farm for a summer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through that connection, she established relationships with sources in grain. Just as an artist must choose the right tools to approach a composition, Amelia seeks out the particular ingredients that will make her creations sing with flavor.

Through Hillside Grain in the Wood River Valley, she obtains stone-ground, high extraction flour. For the Vollkornbrot loaves, a traditional grain loaf, she sources closer to home from local outfit Grand Teton Ancient Grains for rye berries.

“They grow predominantly organic Einkorn wheat, and I get whole rye berries from them,” Amelia says. Farther afield from the roots she has established in Idaho is Conservation Grains out of

Choteau, Montana. “I’ve started getting rye flour and malt from them,” she says. Sourcing local flour that had not been sprayed with chemicals was very important to Amelia. “These are all people who are doing the good work, for sure.”

The baked goods Amelia crafts have seen great success, especially at the Teton Valley Farmers Market held Fridays throughout the summer. She has, many times over, been the first booth to run out of product while selling there. This is a bragging right that makes her proud, and clear proof that her approach is working to its potential.

On the other hand, the yield she has committed to, thus far, does not meet the demand for her sourdough loaves. “From a craft standpoint, I love my mud oven, but from a production standpoint, it’s preposterous,” she says. But Amelia is a problem-solver who carries a passionate commitment for the process. She hopes to rebuild the oven this spring and expand beyond the existing footprint in order to produce more.

Look for Boondoggle Baking at the Teton Valley Farmers Market for the summer season, hopefully with Amelia’s access to a larger-capacity mud oven to better meet demand. And know that the baked goods purchased and enjoyed are a celebration of ancient baking traditions in an oven made from Teton mud and rock.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP Amelia adds a log to the roaring mud oven fire; artisan sourdough loaves baked to perfection; a line forms at the Boondoggle Baking booth, a typical Friday for Amelia and team.

The littlest town with the biggest view

WELCOME TO TETONIA, the only Teton Valley town with not only a full-frontal view of the Grand Tetons, but a fun and friendly variety of independently owned small businesses.

• Two hopping bars, Tetonia Club and Dave’s Pub, with regular live music;

• Tribe Artist Collective art gallery with gifts and paintings and First Friday Art Walks;

• Grand View General Store featuring homemade sandwiches;

• Special events like the Dutch Oven Cookoff and Tetonia Celebrates America; and

• Badger Creek Café, voted Teton Valley’s best spot for breakfast, serving such delicious breakfasts and lunches that it draws diners from miles around!

A FAMILY MAN with deep faith and local roots, Beau Jacoby, alongside wife Esther, has continued Barrels and Bins’ position as a hub for natural foods and community connection. For more than a decade, the pair have run the grocery alongside Beau’s parents and, now, the oldest of their six children.

BY JUDY ALLEN PHOTOGRAPHY BY JULIE MARTIN

It’s a family affair inside Barrels and Bins Natural Market Beau Jacoby

The colorful storefront on Main Street in Driggs, just north of City Center Plaza, is surrounded from spring through fall by pots and planters bursting with blooming flowers and ornamentals.

There’s a continuous flow of customers in and out both entrances. Inside Barrels and Bins Natural Market, three generations of the Jacoby family might be working at any time. The ins and outs of the local grocer are orchestrated by Beau Jacoby, alongside wife and partner Esther.

Beau’s circuitous life path gives few hints of his eventual success in a local retail business. A native of Teton Valley, he loved growing up here, embracing what he calls its “quiet, rural, and free nature.” After attending public school through eighth grade, he was homeschooled in high school by mom, Cindy, which he says changed the trajectory of his life. From age sixteen on, he worked for his dad Steve Jacoby’s construction company, learning both carpentry and architectural software in the process. Raised a non-denominational Christian, Beau left the valley in his early twenties to attend George Fox University, where he stayed for two years, hoping to pursue a career in medicine and become a missionary doctor. He soon realized that avenue was not his gift and forged a new goal of ministering to youth. He returned to be the resident assistant for Jackson Hole Bible College and a youth pastor for the Community Bible Church in Jackson.

There, in the summer of 2004, he met Esther, who was attending the college. Their romance blossomed, but as Beau describes it, he failed to propose marriage in a timely manner, and Esther gave up on him, returning to her church camp job in Wisconsin at HoneyRock, a summer camp program that is a part of Wheaton College. Realizing his grave error, Beau quit his Bible College job to travel there and propose. They were soon married at Esther’s Wisconsin camp. The newlyweds returned to Teton Valley, and Beau worked at first for his dad’s construction company, then landed employment at Plan 1 Architects, thanks to the architectural experience he’d gained as a teenager. Being a business owner was not on his radar. But during this time, a family health crisis became the catalyst to motivate Beau and Esther to pursue more natural food choices, a choice that resolved their health issues. By then, their family had expanded with four children and they were in search of a career shift that might give them a financial boost. One day Esther saw a “For Sale” sign on Barrels and Bins, put on the market by then-owner and Jacoby-family neighbor Kathleen Egan. It was Esther’s idea to buy the business, and the choice meshed well with the family’s nutritional goals and lifestyle. In 2012, according

BEAU AND ESTHER JACOBY took over Barrels and Bins Natural Market from founder Kathleen Egan in 2012.

to Beau, the couple put together “a really creative purchase plan” that included hiring Beau’s parents, Steve and Cindy, as part of the crew.

For two years, Esther ran the store and Beau oversaw hiring, building, and technology, while still at his full-time job with Plan 1. But the pressures and needs of the store led to Beau’s resignation at Plan 1 in 2014 and full-time commitment to their burgeoning business. Esther returned to their growing family at present, six children, four of whom are homeschooled and two who attend public school but continues the business bookkeeping.

Now, a decade later, the store is jampacked with a cornucopia of natural and organic products, some not even available in larger chain locations. Its tiny kitchen and juice bar create seasonal soups, salads, and smoothies daily. Customers can special order bulk and case goods every day at a substantial

discount, as well as follow sales on their monthly newsletter. And Beau, alongside produce manager Bobbi Clemmer, works hard to maintain relationships with smaller regional vendors and growers, to supply fresh produce, mushrooms, meats, honey, and other locally sourced items whenever available.

Beyond products and marketing, a sense of community infuses the business. “We really are a family,” Beau says. “Our customers are like those in no other place. We have the support of stable, local customers.”

As evidence of Beau’s dedication, a cadre of long-term employees remains loyal to the store, like now (semi) retired Lynda Olesen, who was first employed in 2009 by previous owner Kathleen Egan. “Beau is honestly the nicest man I’ve ever worked for,” she says. “He’s kind,

But beyond products and marketing, a sense of community infuses the

OPPOSITE PAGE Beau and Esther with their children (clockwise from top) Kendal (15), Tegan (16), Alayna (17), Presley (12), Greta (6), and Corban (8), alongside dogs Knox and Casper. BELOW Beau with Barrels team members (from left) Brandon Marshal, Lucas DeSmit, Tucker Tyler, and Bobbi Clemmer.

GINA PANNORFI

SR WOODWORKING

MANY TEARS

D. JAMES HATS

JILL DUZAN JEWELRY

consistent, honest, and forgiving. If it’s a nasty, ugly task, Beau will do it with you.”

By all accounts a successful business, what’s next for Barrels and Bins? The Jacobys’ main priority is for it to stay independent. According to Beau, there are not a lot of independent health food stores left, with chains and corporations eating up small businesses across the country. After that, Beau and Esther are in an exploratory phase, examining what would best serve Teton Valley. On the wish list: a general manager to take over in-store duties.

What began as a young couple’s experiment has continued and further evolved as a Teton Valley staple. This summer, look for Beau’s daughters behind the cash register, more evidence of the family’s commitment to community and service.

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM The youngest Jacoby children, Corban (left) and Greta; Beau and son Tegan; and the oldest of the Jacoby daughters (from left) Kendal, Presley, and Alayna.

TETONIA ELEMENTARY students Magnolia and Noemi show off the fruits of their labor ripe cherry tomatoes grown as part of their school garden program led by nonprofit Mountain Roots Education.

BY CHRISTINA SHEPHERD MCGUIRE PHOTOGRAPHY BY LARA AGNEW

Mountain Roots Education

How does your (school) garden grow?

“I loved the program! It let us get dirty while we were learning,” recalls Teton High School senior Luke Brinker, about his third-grade garden program at Tetonia Elementary.

“Now, as I’m becoming an adult, knowing where my food comes from is something I’m concerned about. I can definitely taste the difference between produce bought from the store and produce that’s grown in a garden.”

As the former Tetonia Elementary garden manager, I remember those days, too. Back then, my daughter, Olivia, who graduated from high school this spring, participated in garden programming at Tetonia Elementary provided by Emily Sustick and the nonprofit then known as Full Circle Education. Emily was the farm and garden educator and went on to become executive director. Together, with the kids and teachers, we resurrected the large greenhouse already on site, built four outdoor garden beds, and organized weekly spring and fall garden lessons that culminated with a wood-fired pizza party each October.

Students, like Luke and Olivia, helped plant and care for the veggies, engaged in lessons that fulfilled the requirements of their district’s science curriculum, and harvested, prepped, cooked, and ate the items they grew. The garden and its programming allowed students, grades kindergarten through third, to get outside and explore the natural world dur-

ing a typical school day.

Today, led by Mountain Roots Education, Teton Valley’s school gardens have blossomed, and the programming surrounding them enhances the educational experience of students at Teton School District 401’s Tetonia, Victor, and Driggs elementary schools, and Alta and Wilson elementary schools, part of the Teton County, Wyoming, district.

Mountain Roots’ mission to “enrich lives and build sustainable communities by offering hands-on experiences in gardens, farms, and wild places” has transformed the typical classroom experience in Teton Valley. The organization now manages four school greenhouses in Tetonia, Driggs, and Victor, Idaho, and Alta, Wyoming; maintains thirty outdoor beds (six in Tetonia, four in Alta, seven in Victor, and thirteen in Wilson); and has secured $15,000 in grant funding for a garden and outdoor beds to service both Driggs Elementary and Teton Middle School.

“The growth of the program and the momentum we’ve had over the last several years is so spectacular,” says Hayes Swinney, executive director of Mountain Roots Education. “We’re currently serving nearly eight hundred kids, and when we presented for the high school’s Youth

MOUNTAIN ROOTS EDUCATION’S garden program is a part of the school curriculum, teaching garden-focused science lessons like soil prep, photosynthesis, and the water cycle for the older students and hands-on activities for the kinders with stories and songs.

Philanthropy Grant through the Community Foundation of Teton Valley, the students there asked when we were going to

tary, explains that each fifty-minute garden class is oriented around a specific topic, like soil prep, photosynthesis, and the water cycle, and always includes the concept of mindfulness, as well as a work component. She says that lessons incorporate hands-on activities for the kinders, complete with a story or a song component. Then, the bigger kids tend to the “heavy lifting” in the garden and engage in more in-depth science lessons.

Next, comes the harvesting and the cooking.

“In the spring we plant lettuce, radishes, and pea shoots,” Hayes says. “In the fall, we harvest beets and make beet hummus and chocolate beet cupcakes. We also harvest pizza toppings for our annual pizza party.”

Last year the Youth Philanthropy Grant funded a kitchen box for each

Each fifty-minute garden class is oriented around a specific topic, like soil prep and photosynthesis, and always includes the concept of mindfulness, as well as a work component.

TETONIA ELEMENTARY STUDENTS Paisley and Silas (opposite) munch on watermelon grown in their school greenhouse. A towering sunflower (above) grows in the outdoor garden beds.

plates, and pots. Mountain Roots also has a chef on their board, Erik Lyngso of Café Genevieve in Jackson, who is dreaming up recipes that are easy for kids to make.

“We will be creating a cookbook of the various recipes that the kids loved, which will also contain ingredients that can be grown in Teton Valley,” says Hayes.

Currently, some of the gardens’ produce—like potatoes, squash, and onions—goes into the schools’ kitchen and is served at lunch in both Tetonia and Alta Elementary Schools. Last year, Alta kids prepared scalloped potatoes that were served at their annual Thanksgiving Feast. Hayes says the school also donated a huge amount of greens, squash, and sugar snap peas (more than 30 pounds!) to the Teton Valley Food Pantry.

Jenna explains the building progression of their garden, and how the experi-

Mountain Roots now manages four school greenhouses and maintains thirty outdoor beds. They are serving nearly eight hundred kids in the region.

ence connects students and families: “It started with just a greenhouse,” she says. “From there we added outdoor beds, and then compost bins and a storage shed. Next, came a fence to keep the deer out, apple trees, and a bench and sitting area dedicated to Travis Gay.” (Travis, garden and sustainability educator, mother of three, and cherished community member, passed away in 2022 of cancer.)

Jenna says the school once offered summer gardening programs with varying levels of success. And now, they rely on volunteers to tend the garden each week in the summer in exchange for produce. The surplus produce is then sold at the Alta Branch Library, and the money is used to buy seeds for planting in the spring.

“I feel like [the garden] enhances our sense of community,” says Jenna, “Some years we’re able to give to the food bank, and one year we gave to a family in need as part of our May Day celebration.”

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Hayes Swinney (above) says the program has seen a lot of momentum over the past year. They received a $15,000 grant to build a garden and outdoor beds to serve both Driggs Elementary and Teton Middle School.

Garden educators, school administrators, and past students all agree that their favorite part of the school garden is the harvest pizza party each fall, which, nostalgically, hasn’t changed much since

is finished at home. The kids harvest the basil, and we make basil pesto in the food processor in the garden classroom. Then, in early October, we bring out the mobile pizza oven and parent volunteers join us for the feast.”

Luke Brinker thinks school gardens are important in Teton Valley because, unlike his birthplace of California, kids here aren’t as accustomed to eating from a home garden unless they come from a farming family.

“[Gardening in elementary school] has helped me realize the huge difference between the food at the farmers market and any other food,” he says. “And of course, I loved the pizza parties because that was the reward. I still talk to my friends about how we use to make pizza at school.”

In addition to school gardens, Mountain Roots hosts a variety of sustainable living workshops throughout the year, like an edible plant walk, geared for adult learners. Learn more: mountainroots education.org

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AFTER TESTING THE WATERS growing flowers while working at Canewater Farm, Zena Wolcott-MacCausland went out on her own last summer and started Basin Flowers, a cut flower farm based in Victor. On her quarter-acre lot she leases from Snowdrift Farms, Zena grows vibrant varieties like tulips, ranunculus, and bupleurum.

BY JEANNETTE BONER PHOTOGRAPHY BY LARA AGNEW

Basin Flowers

The ‘Tulip Queen’ cultivates flourishing market for local blooms

Over the last several years, the local cut-flower market has been blooming, to say the least.

This summer is Zena WolcottMacCausland’s second full season as the owner, operator, and grower-in-chief of Basin Flowers, one of a handful of specialty farms sprouting amidst the Teton Valley agricultural community.

“It sounds so ‘businessy,’ but compared to vegetables, there is a potential to make a higher amount per square foot,” Zena says of the practice of peddling floral over fennel. “And when I think about living in a place that is so expensive, that factors into my business plan.”

Zena’s roots run deep into the dirt as she cultivates her own rows to hoe. She is the daughter of dairy farmers from New England, where the hills roll endlessly and her parents still tap their own maple trees that seep sap each spring. The sap, which begins as a low sugar, watery substance, is boiled down to syrup. Zena says it takes about forty gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup.

Growing up, Zena, now thirty-five, worked on local vegetable farms after tending to the dairy chores with her brother and sisters. Between pulling weeds and milking cows, her childhood worked to nourish Zena’s passion, planting the seeds that would shape her future.

“They committed their lives to it,” Zena says, remembering her parents raising cows and growing a huge garden at their home, where they would preserve “a ton of food.”

“The first time we went on vacation I was twenty-six years old,” she says, laughing. “Growing up, we didn’t go anywhere. That was their work and their passion.”

Like so many, after college Zena sojourned to the bigger mountains, following friends to the Tetons. She landed at the National Outdoor Leadership School, Teton Valley branch, before heading over to the nonprofit Friends of the Teton River.

After finding her hum in the valley, Zena also found Canewater Farm, a newly sprouted organic farm tucked into foothills on the south end of Teton Valley owned and operated by Rafe Rivers and Ansley West Rivers. The farm relocated from Georgia to the Tetons in 2019.

Zena quickly rose in the ranks at Canewater, growing vegetables, managing workers, and navigating the hustle and bustle of weekend farmers markets in the summer. It was at Canewater that her idea to tap into the flower market took root. Growing a handful of flowers one summer, she sold rustic bunches of blooms, wrapped in plain brown paper and tied with a simple string, propped next to the Canewater veggies.

And like bees around a honeypot, marketgoers wanted more.

“You can’t beat getting locally grown flowers,” Zena says. “They look better and last longer. When I look at flowers at the grocery stores, many of those flowers

EVEN THOUGH Zena refers to dahlias as “total wimps” when it comes to getting frosted, she still loves to dabble in growing the symmetrical beauties. Zena likes the challenge of growing these heat-loving blooms amidst the sometimes unpredictable Teton summers.

are coming from insane distances. And there are so many different varieties that just don’t ship well.”

Sometimes she’ll have just a bunch of zinnias and at other times a mix of long stems and short stemmed flowers; pinks, greens, and purples mixing to offer a colorful celebration of the season.

By 2023, she branched out on her own, giving life to Basin Flowers and finding her own plot to rent, for now, from Greg Collins and Sue Miller, owners of Snowdrift Farm. Zena leases less than a quarter acre of ground that holds the rich soil where her Basin Flowers bloom.

Zena’s growing season, like for all high-elevation farmers, starts out cold. She laughs when she looks at pictures of herself in June, wearing winter clothes while she cuts the hardy tulips that are usually the first flowers to sprout for the season. Erika Eschholz, of Teton Full Circle Farm in Victor, has dubbed her the “Tulip Queen.”

“For the most part, I focus on coldloving flowers,” she says of her choosing

varieties such as bupleurum, agrostemma, and ranunculus, also known as buttercups. (You can google these varieties, or simply buy one of Zena’s bouquets and see for yourself how beautiful these coldtolerant flowers can be.)

As the summer season warms and the sun grows higher and hotter in the mountains, Zena likes to tap into heatloving flowers like zinnias and dahlias for mixed bouquets.

“Dahlias are total wimps,” Zena says. “It doesn’t take much for those to get frosted. But they are so beautiful and there is something special about the symmetry of them that you have to just touch them. They are not one that grows well here, but they are fun and they are a challenge.”

Peril comes from all directions. Gophers launch subterranean attacks beneath the plants. Wind and summer

WHILE THE SEASON may begin with conditions that call for cold-weather attire as Zena harvests tulips (the first flower of the season to bloom), eventually Basin Flowers is graced with colorful varieties sprouting under the warm summer sun.

thunderstorms can slay the snapdragons. But the soil on the south end of the valley is rich and naturally high in organic matter, Zena says, which is critical for growing and makes the hardships worth the effort.

“I’m not certified organic, but I use organic practices,” she adds. She feeds the soil with mixes of compost and doses of soil amendments like bone meal or alfalfa.

Zena admits that she is not a floral designer and she creates her bouquets for sale in no particular order. Sometimes she’ll have just a bunch of zinnias and at other times a mix of long stems and short stemmed flowers; pinks, greens, and purples mixing to offer a colorful celebration of the season.

“We’re a small, tight-knit community of growers,” Zena says of the flowerfarming community in Teton Valley.

“You can’t beat getting locally grown flowers. They look better and last longer.”

Zena Wolcott-MacCausland

“The market is expanding with more people moving here and for flowergrowers, we have a niche that we can tap into. We as farmers are more collaborative than competitive.”

Zena’s flowers can be found at MD Nursery in Driggs, at the Aspen Market and Persephone in the Westbank Center on the Teton Village Road north of Wilson, at Persephone Bakery and Cafe just off the Town Square in Jackson, and at the Jackson Hole Farmers Market in the summer. She also sells to cut flower farms and florists that do events like Red House Flowers in Victor. She plans to add more local outlets this summer; stay tuned for location details. As for the future? “It’s growing,” Zena says.

Teton River Float Guide

Over 65,000 visitors recreate on the Teton River during the summer! With this many river users, everyone’s actions and choices while recreating add up. The river relies on your stewardship to ensure that the river ecosystem stays healthy for people, wildlife, and fish that call the river home.

AT THE RIVER ACCESS

• Organize gear before approaching the water.

• At the boat ramp, keep smaller crafts to the side and leave a clear lane for boats with trailers.

• Use the restrooms before launching on the river.

ALL THE TIME

• Keep dogs under control. Dogs harassing wildlife are a threat to the Teton River ecosystem.

• Pack out all trash, including the proper disposal of human and dog waste.

ON THE RIVER

• Be courteous to other floaters and anglers.

• Bring clothes for all weather! Afternoon thunderstorms and changing conditions are common.

• Remember, most of the land adjacent to the river is privately owned. Stay on the water or on cobble bars and beaches, but off surrounding private property.

Follow this river float guide to ensure you are a responsible steward of the Teton River.

Scan the QR code for a digital river guide and more information!

Friends of the Teton River is working to restore and conserve the Teton River Watershed, ensuring a lasting legacy of clean water, healthy streams, and a thriving wild fishery. Learn more about river restoration projects, innovative fisheries science programs, collaborative work with agricultural producers, and more at www.tetonwater.org.

friends of the

Teton Valley Rewards the Curious

There is so much to explore and enjoy in Teton Valley this summer.

Our remote, rural valley may take a little extra effort to navigate, but the rewards are great.

Book

Summer is a celebrated and popular time of year in Teton Valley. Here are a few tips for navigating peak season, while being a great visitor:

• Be early, for everything. Whether it’s hitting the trail or park or going out to eat, get there early and you’ll be amply rewarded.

• Be self-sufficient. Carry water, snacks, extra clothing, and first aid supplies on your adventures.

• Be prepared. Start at the Geo Center, Forest Service office, and local outdoor shops and load up on maps, guidebooks, and local intel.

• Be patient, kind, and respectful of the people, animals, and ecosystem.

• Drive slowly. As we like to say, you didn’t come here to be in a hurry.

• Seek out local goods and be generous to the hardworking staff.

your stay now!

Linda Swope

Enjoy your visit.

Sandhill Crane Festival marks birds’ fall gathering in Teton Valley. HERALDS of the SEASON

BY KRISTEN POPE PHOTOGRAPHY BY LINDA M SWOPE

The sky was still dark when I pulled into the Teton Regional Land Trust’s parking lot. The forecast was gloomy with 40-degree temperatures and rain, but the cozy office was bubbling with enthusiastic birders ready to see sandhill cranes. People had traveled from as far away as California and Chicago for an early morning tour to witness Teton Valley’s annual spectacle of migratory cranes visiting en masse, as they do each fall.

The tour is part of the annual Greater Yellowstone Crane Festival, which takes place in mid-September when the cranes congregate in the valley to forage and fuel up before continuing their journey south for the winter.

We loaded up in two vans with expert guides, traveling on the western side of the valley to spots where we could see the cranes. At one stop, Hilary Turner, our guide, counted nearly 250 cranes—and said the day before she had seen around 140. Hilary is the program coordinator for the Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation, which partners with the Land Trust on numerous projects, including wildlife-friendly fencing and collecting wildlife data.

Each standing up to four feet tall with a seven-foot wingspan, the cranes are incredible to watch while they feed, and mesmerizing when they dance. We watched through binoculars and spotting scopes as pair after pair of the massive birds faced each other, flapping, leaping into the air, dipping, and stretching their wings. They bobbed their heads up and down as they danced, making their distinctive call as their movements flowed.

CRANE WATCHING Tips

This fall, take some time to scan the skies—and fields and rivers—for our migratory sandhill cranes. Generally, they will roost in the river. Early morning and dusk are some of the best times to spot them. Keep a watchful eye when you’re on the western side of the valley, looking in fields where they may be foraging.

“They have that special kind of bugling call they make that we’ve all likely heard here in the valley at some point,” Hilary says. “That’s a really iconic sound, especially during fall migration.”

Our other guide for the morning was Michael Whitfield, a wildlife biologist who helped found the Teton Regional Land Trust in 1990 and went on to serve as the organization’s executive director for eighteen years. He is currently an elected official serving on the Teton County Board of County Commissioners.

“Their size and their flight and everything just entrances people,” Michael says. “If you think about cranes around the world, they’re considered in many places as sacred birds. That’s the case in Japan and a number of other places where different crane species are found.

sons. We watched the sun peek through the clouds, and a rainbow shine across the sky, as the snow-capped peaks and golden fall foliage set a background for cranes and other wildlife. We spotted five moose, a coyote, and plenty of other birds, including a Swainson’s hawk, as we learned about the cranes, which stage in Teton Valley to eat their fill each fall before journeying south for the winter. They usually gather in the valley in September and remain until early October, feeding on grain to prepare. They might winter in Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico, or southern Colorado, or a number of other locations in the southwest United States and Mexico. They can fly hundreds of miles in a day, moving through the sky at twentyfive to thirty-five miles per hour. Cranes also come to Teton Valley each spring, though generally in smaller numbers than in the fall.

“Mornings and evenings are pretty stellar for crane watching,”

Michael Whitfield, Wildlife Biologist

You’ll need to keep your distance so you don’t disturb the birds. Bringing along binoculars or a spotting scope is very helpful to observe the cranes and their behavior.

“They’re typically going to be a bit of a distance from the road,” Michael says, “and they’ll be out there not only foraging, but they’ll be doing some of their dancing and calling. So, if you’ve got a good spotting scope, it’s pretty fun to watch with that kind of equipment.”

“I think of them in that way for Teton Valley,” he says. “They are the heralds of the season. They tell us when it’s springtime and they tell us when it’s fall. The fall gathering, when they come here in big numbers on their premigration gathering, is almost like a holy event.”

Just as the leaves of aspen trees transform from summery green to autumnal golden, orange, and red, the cranes’ distinctive calls in the valley herald the change of sea-

Every night, sandhill cranes roost in shallow water like that along the Teton River, standing with their feet submerged so they can hear the splashing of any approaching predators, giving them a signal to escape. The birds can also cause conflict with farmers by eating their crops. In Eastern Idaho, they are hunted during the fall season, with nearly six hundred tags available in 2023. Cranes are listed as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Idaho by the State Wildlife Action Plan of Idaho Fish and Game. In order to provide the cranes with food near their roosting sites, the Land Trust runs the “Grain for Cranes” program, which pays farmers to

grow barley not to harvest, but for the cranes to eat. Working with partners, the Land Trust raises funds—including proceeds from the Greater Yellowstone Crane Festival—to subsidize grain fields in strategic areas within a mile or two of the cranes’ nighttime river roosts, before cutting them and letting them lay on the ground for the cranes’ benefit. Each year, the Land Trust aims to manage forty to sixty acres of grain for cranes in the valley, with each area carefully managed to comply with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulations.

“There are not a whole lot of areas that have that kind of juxtaposition of grains on the ground close to roost sites that can support large numbers of birds,” says Mandy Crane, outreach and events coordinator for the Teton Regional Land Trust. “So, that’s why it’s so important in Teton Valley, and that’s why we try to protect those roost areas and grow more grains.”

It is difficult to estimate the exact number of cranes that come through the valley each year, but the Land Trust says the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducts an annual fall count by airplane for an area that includes Teton Basin. The average tally for this count has been

around 1,175 cranes. Working with partners and volunteers, the Land Trust also conducts a ground count every year, and has averaged a peak fall count of 1,244 birds, though the organization emphasizes that these numbers are just a snapshot in time rather than a comprehensive count.

“Not a lot of other places have these massive congregations like we have. Going out and being able to see a couple hundred cranes foraging in a grain field is a really cool thing.” HILARY TURNER

program coordinator Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation

Sandhill cranes can live between twenty and forty years, and many of the same cranes return each year. “They’re very long lived, and over the years, they learn where the special places are and return to them year after year,” Michael says. “One year I was watching cranes, it was in springtime, and there was a crane that had been marked when it was just a youngster coming off a nest, and I saw it when it was thirty-five years old. This bird has traveled thousands of miles, many thousands of miles, in its life during its annual migrations, but it always comes back to Teton Valley. That just speaks to me of what a special place we live in.” Michael was able to identify the bird, using a high-powered spotting scope, thanks to its unique leg band.

Cranes are slow to reproduce, with typically only one young—called a colt—surviving per year. “It’s important that we protect those long-lived birds and recognize that sensitivity,” Michael says.

The 7th Annual

GREATER YELLOWSTONECrane Festival

In order to raise awareness of the birds and celebrate them, the seventh annual Greater Yellowstone Crane Festival will be held September 18 through 21. The celebration focuses on science and art, with proceeds going to help with local sandhill crane conservation.

In 2023, more than three hundred and fifty people attended the festival’s numerous events, which included sciencebased talks; early-morning crane tours; and a variety of art events, like a photography workshop with artist and photographer Linda Swope, and a cranefocused paint-and-sip evening with Nicolette Maw. Other events included a storytelling evening at Highpoint Cider led by the nonprofit Valley Voices focusing on the theme of “migrations,” as well as a keynote speech by Daniel Collins, a migratory game bird biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in New Mexico—where many of the cranes spend their winters.

There was also a screening of the documentary Crane Song. That Saturday featured an art fair with a variety of other artistic activities and workshops for kids and adults, printmaking, poetry, dance, drawing, and an art auction.

“The real focus of the festival has always been this place where science and art can come together,” says Mandy Crane, outreach and events coordinator for the Land Trust. “It’s a blending of science-based talks and tours, along with a really big focus on crane art. We have always tried to incorporate dance and

poetry and music and photography, and also sculptures, paintings, and drawings, to put it all together to create a festival that celebrates cranes through both art and science.”

The festival helps fund the Land Trust’s Greater Yellowstone Sandhill Crane Initiative, which aims to protect the cranes and their habitat. The Land Trust has been monitoring cranes in the valley since 2003. The initiative includes a variety of efforts, including partnerships, habitat protection, strategic resource enhancement, and community awareness—hence the festival.

“We wanted to have opportunities for people to see cranes and also to increase the community awareness of the number of cranes and how important Teton Valley is to the cranes of the Rocky Mountain population,” Mandy says.

Seeing the cranes passing through Teton Valley each year is an incredible sight—one that makes people work even harder to protect the species. Wildlife biologist Michael Whitfield recalls one of his most memorable crane encounters, which occurred more than forty years ago. He remembers the precise date: September 26, 1982. He was on top of Mount Baldy when he saw the cranes.

“All of a sudden here came waves of sandhill cranes starting their migrations, these big groups of noisy cranes,” he recalls. “They caught that little breeze from the north, and they were riding it to Colorado and right at my elevation at 10,000 feet. That was pretty cool.”

September 18 – 21

PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE:

SEPT. 18 Morning sandhill crane tour

SEPT. 18 Evening film at Pierre’s Theatre

SEPT. 19 Morning sandhill crane tour

SEPT. 19 Evening crane viewing

SEPT. 20 Morning sandhill crane tour

SEPT. 20 Evening crane viewing

SEPT. 21 Morning crane photography workshop with Linda Swope

SEPT. 21 Evening Community Crane Art Celebration with dance performances and crane art and sculpture auction.

For times, tickets, and details, visit tetonlandtrust.org.

Being Participants, Not Spectators

BY TOM HALLBERG ILLUSTRATIONS BY

ALEX NABAUM

Idaho’s growth in inclusive outdoor recreation reaches Teton Valley

“Adaptive sports has evolved as the equipment has become more available, more capable, and more comfortable.”

NATE CAREY, Valley Adaptive Sports Executive Director

Options for people with disabilities to engage in outdoor recreation were once scarce across Idaho, but in the past two decades, organizations have emerged to support these athletes. Locally, Valley Adaptive Sports is bringing in new ways for athletes to enjoy all of the recreational choices in Teton Valley, in

Joe Stone sat in his handcycle at the top of the Bridger Gondola. It was June 2022, and I was in a gaggle of journalists there for the opening of Deepest Darkest, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort’s intermediate, adaptive downhill mountain bike trail. The adaptive athlete and mountain biking instructor was giving a lot of direc tions, talking about side hits and where to shed speed.

“There are some really steep berms,” he said. “Watch out for the compression at the bottom.”

Compression? Wasn’t this an adaptive trail? I ad mittedly didn’t know much about adaptive biking and even less about accessible trails, but I’d assumed, without much basis, that the ride would be a bit eas ier than a non-adaptive trail. Journalists, professional mountain bikers, and resort representatives followed Joe down a wide, machine-groomed trail that gave am ple room for his three-wheeled steed. After a very fun banked turn, we regrouped: Ahead, a small step-down jump led into an extremely steep berm that dumped riders full speed across an ephemeral creek rivulet be fore launching them off a lip and back into the trees.

“All right, follow me,” Joe yelled as he dropped in, careening into the turn and going three wheels in the air over the lip. With dusty smiles, we followed through several more big turns back to the base area. Filled with small jumps, side hits, and technical sections (all with optional ride arounds), the trail was engaging whether you were on two wheels or three.

Deepest Darkest is just one example of local enti ties not just making space for athletes with disabilities, but making trails that are accessible to all.

This trail has been celebrated for working for ev ery type of rider, adaptive or not. Joe, the former ex ecutive director of Jackson Hole-based Teton Adaptive who now runs Dovetail Trail Consulting, was pivotal in ensuring the trail accomplished that goal. Joe’s con sulting firm provides solutions for adaptive recreation opportunities in national parks, resorts, and outdoor hubs.

At Grand Targhee Resort, while the extensive mountain biking trail system does not have a trail spe cifically designed and built for adaptive riders, most all of the gravity and cross-country trails are accessible for adaptive equipment, the resort says.

“For the past few years, we have partnered with Teton Valley Trails and Pathways, Teton Adaptive, and Valley Adaptive Sports (VAS) to facilitate adaptive group rides and clinics on our trails, specifically around the Wydaho Rendezvous Teton Bike Festival,” says Jill Gaylord, marketing director at the resort. “Wydaho has simultaneously grown to a point where we host the largest adaptive component of any mountain bike festival in North America.”

From the twelve-mile, adaptive-accessible Southern Valley mountain bike trail system near Victor to support from the relatively new nonprofit Valley Adaptive Sports, sit-ski lessons and adaptive-accessible biking at Grand Targhee, and sled hockey games at Kotler Ice Arena, the list of local options for adaptive athletes is growing.

“Adaptive sports has evolved as the equipment has become more available, more capable, and more comfortable,” says VAS executive director Nate Carey. “Sled hockey, golf, bicycles, skis, swimming equipment, and more are now available like never before.”

And advocates think the momentum will continue to build, starting with statewide access.

Access in Idaho

Muffy Davis never expected a ski-racing fall to leave her in a wheelchair. “I always knew there was risk ski racing,” she says. “But the idea of a life-altering injury was never even in my wheelhouse.” However, after crashing through the course-side fencing on a training run at the age of sixteen in the late 1980s, Muffy sustained a back injury that left her paralyzed from the waist down. A Sun Valley native, she rehabbed in Colorado, but when she returned home, skiing again seemed out of the question.

Options for adaptive sports at the time in Idaho ranged from limited to nonexistent. Muffy went to Winter Park, Colorado, for sit-ski lessons, but she fell a lot and struggled, often ending up in a ski patrol toboggan. She left Idaho to attend college in California, where she met instructor Marc Mast, who told her she’d been skiing on the wrong equipment for her injury. “What works for a double amputee is not going to

on expertise, funding, and support from regional and national entities, especially in their early years. Higher Ground was part of Disabled Sports USA; it is now a juggernaut in its own right, leading hundreds of lessons a year for skiers, riders, and bikers, along with a thriving network of weeklong programs for veterans.

As evidenced by Muffy’s need to recruit Marc from California to Sun Valley two decades ago, Idaho has not historically had a robust network of such programs. That’s changing, in both Teton Valley and the state’s largest population center, Boise. Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF), a national nonprofit that promotes and facilitates adaptive sports by putting on camps and clinics and giving athletes grants for travel and lessons, now has an Idaho chapter.

“We’ve done a handful of court sports, but we really try to focus on the Idaho sports, if you will, which is outdoor recreation,” programs director Heather Lopez says.

The organization is housed in the new Idaho Outdoor Fieldhouse, an adaptive sports colossus in Boise funded and built by the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Family Foundation. In addition to a large gym with fitness equipment, the fieldhouse features rock climbing

and bouldering areas; a swimming pool; a Ninja Warrior-type course overhanging said pool; and outdoor areas with a variety of walking surfaces (think boulders, uneven trails). Two other nonprofits use the campus: Summit Hyperbarics and Wellness, a clinic that offers hyperbaric chamber treatments, and Mission43, which provides programming for wounded veterans.

Opened in November 2023, the fieldhouse, for now, isn’t a gym that adaptive athletes can pop in and out of. Instead, it hosts group fitness classes and lessons with adaptive instructors. “Our mission is really about empowering people through sport,” Heather says. “I think sport is almost secondary, and it’s really the community that’s the most important.”

“Our mission is really about empowering peo pl e through sport.”

HEATHER LOPEZ, Programs Director, Challenged Athletes Foundation

Adaptive reach in the valley

That sentiment extends past CAF’s home in Boise all the way to a bitterly cold January 2024 day at Grand Targhee Resort. Buoyed by CAF’s funding and logistical support, and a group of instructors from Higher Ground, a dozen adaptive athletes descended on the resort for the Challenged Athletes Foundation East Idaho Ski Camp. They included Idaho Falls resident Chris Hayes, who returned to the slopes for the first time in more than twenty years.

The ski camp didn’t go quite as VAS executive director Nate Carey had planned. “This was supposed to be four days,” Nate told me as we gathered at the adaptive program building at Grand Targhee the day

before Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. He’d envisioned athletes from around the state participating in a festival of sorts, featuring equipment demos and clinics for instructors and lessons for all types of adaptive athletes. The weather, however, had other plans.

Blizzard conditions kept many from making the trip at all, and below-zero temperatures made keeping wheelchair-bound skiers warm difficult, so Nate trimmed the event to just one day. Despite the weather, roughly a dozen athletes showed up for ski and snowboard lessons, mostly in the afternoon. Following lunch, Chris’ family wheeled him out to a Snow’Kart, a type of sit-ski with two levers that control a pair of skis; or, in a new model developed at the University of Utah, featuring sip-and-puff technology that would allow a person who is quadriplegic to control it using their mouth.

“I would like to see Teton Valley continue to increase accessible recreation because this attitude benefits everyone.”

NATE CAREY Valley Adaptive Sports Executive Director

Bundled up and with a helmet on, Chris sat patiently as Higher Ground instructors adjusted straps and checked his gloves. “This is your Ferrari for the day,” Nate told him. Smiling nervously, Chris nodded in reply.

In January 2001, Chris, then eleven, came down with the flu. The disease spread to his trachea, cutting off airflow and depriving his brain of oxygen. He went into a coma for a month, and when he awoke, he had lost much of his ability to move and speak. For an active kid who skied, biked, and played many traditional sports, the change was earth-shattering. “Prior to getting sick he wasn’t much of a spectator; he was a participant,” says his dad, Tom. “Now he doesn’t get a lot of opportunities anymore to participate, except as a spectator.”

Flanked by his entire family and two instructors helping to clear the run and control the Snow’Kart, Chris skidded hesitantly across the slope near the bottom of the Shoshone Lift, finishing each turn to a stop, learning the intricacies of the vehicle. His smile still looked nervous.

At the top of Shoshone, his family gathered—dad, sister, nieces, brother-in-law. “I want to ski with Chris,” one his nieces yelled to anyone in her vicinity. And then he dropped. In a herky-jerky clump, the clan skid ded down Little Big Horn behind Chris, their iPhones raised to capture their first run as an entire family in two decades. Through the broad, shallow expanse of the run’s middle, Chris picked up more speed, becom ing comfortable with the turns. By the time he took the cat track to the lower section of Bobsled, one might have taken him for a celebrity as he linked flowy turns while his family lined the run, cheering and snapping photos.

When he cruised past the maze to get back on the lift, Chris was still smiling, but no longer nervously. “Afterward, I was feeling pure joy as it felt so good to be back in my former domain for an afternoon,” he told me later in an email. “It had been at least twenty-three years since I last skied. It was an incredible experience. Although different, it was familiar, familiar in a way that used to give me such joy, and doing it again made me so happy.”

Working toward equality

“I would like to see Teton Valley continue to increase accessible recreation because this attitude benefits everyone,” Nate says. “Trails and pathways are being improved, and we are expanding our recreation offerings, our partnerships, and our equipment cache. Everyone enjoys getting out in Teton Valley. We look forward to being right there in the mix.”

People with disabilities in Teton Valley contend with snow on the ground half the year, which can make life more difficult. And they have historically lacked services like what VAS provides. Nate and the organization are continually working to change that.

“I’d like this to be a yearly event,” he said at the January adaptive camp, despite the meteorological challenges. In just two years, Nate has broadened the scope of what VAS offers, buying cross-country skiing equipment, starting sled hockey in Idaho Falls and Victor, working with the Teton Rock Gym to buy specific harnesses for inclusive climbing nights, and participating in the Wydaho Rendezvous Teton Bike Festival, which includes adaptive lessons and rides. It’s a big endeavor, given that each sport requires its own equipment, and each type of injury might, as well, but the community has allowed Nate to steadily grow his stable of gear. “It’s little baby steps,” he says, “but we’re really excited to have all the support from several nonprofits that we’re happy to call partners.”

Running as an undercurrent throughout the work on adaptive sports in the valley and across the state: a message of dignity and accessibility. As Nate says, athletes with disabilities don’t necessarily want to be an example of perseverance; rather, they just want to enjoy the same activities that have drawn so many to this area. They want lessons and equipment tailored to their injuries and bodies. They want bike trails like Deepest Darkest, ones that are wide enough for handcycles, but engaging and fun enough to make a journalist and avid mountain biker like me take notice. They want to meet other athletes with disabilities, and some want the chance to enjoy the outdoors not in a group setting, but perhaps with just an instructor or a friend.

In other words, they want opportunity. With the progression of local nonprofits, expanded cutting-edge gear, and a statewide effort to create more resources, the opportunities are growing.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CAMRIN DENGEL

Old structure at the Breckenridge Farm

Celebrating families that have maintained working relationships with the land for more than a century

Teton Valley has deep roots in agriculture. For decades, the open lands and pastoral foothills have supported acres and acres of potatoes, wheat, barley, and hay, or been grazed by herds of cattle and sheep—a contrasting complement to the towering peaks that surround the basin, beckoning locals and visitors alike to explore the many trails and slopes. From Tetonia to Victor, farmers and ranchers have found ways to stay fruitful amidst decades of development.

And it’s no small feat. In the latest agricultural census, Idaho reported a loss of nearly 150,000 acres of farmland between 2017 and 2022. But while the landscapes and demographic makeup of the area are changing, some local families continue in the ways of their ancestors, having worked the same land for more than a hundred years.

To honor this legacy, the Idaho State Department of Agriculture and the Idaho State Historical Society created the Idaho Century Farm and Ranch program. This program recognizes the “importance and extraordinary contributions of Idaho’s farming and ranching pioneers by honoring those families who have farmed or ranched the same land their ancestors did one hundred years ago, and at least forty acres of the original parcel of land is still maintained as part of the present holding.” During the past thirty-four years, more than four hundred and fifty farms and ranches statewide have been designated Idaho Century Farms or Ranches by the two agencies. Nine of them are within Teton County. Photographer Camrin Dengel captured images of three of these mainstay farms and ranches whose owners work the land, just as their forebears did.

Driggs

Established: 1921

Original farmers: Virgil Penfold

Current farmers: Paris & Janet Penfold

Lineage: Paris is the great-grandson of Virgil Penfold. Paris’ son Wyatt works alongside his parents today.

“Change is the only thing that is constant,” says Paris and Janet. "If you are not ready to adapt and change directions when needed, you will not be a consistent generational operation. The hard part is teaching the next generation that if they are not innovative and willing to be involved, they may be the last generation [on the farm].”

Penfold Farms

“Our goal as the current generation is to leave the next generations something better; and something that can be continued for the next one hundred years.”

The beauty of the harvest

A recognizable landmark Maria and Felipe Zamora (left) with Paris and Janet Penfold

Paris & Janet Penfold

Vibrantbloomsquinoa

Carrying on with traditions, Felipe Zamora and Paris Penfold

Breckenridge Ranch

Tetonia

Established: 1885

Original farmers: David Breckenridge

Current farmers: David & Alene Breckenridge

Lineage: David is the great-grandson of the original David Breckenridge.

“Breckenridge Ranch has very diverse and unique qualities. It has the Teton River running through it, birds that live in uplands and wetlands, and some big-game animals. The location is unique because in drought years, we have the river bottoms that stay green for cattle pastures, and the upper land produces grass hay with sub-irrigation.

“Ranching is a way of life that we enjoy and it was a great place to raise kids. This ranch has a history of milk cows, sheep, horses, crops, and beef cattle. Because of the nature of the soil, the most profitable venture was grass hay and beef cattle,” says David and Alene.

David has many friends who ask him why he works so hard when he could sell the land and live a pretty easy life. David’s an swer? “The land is part of our family.”

David & Alene Breckenridge

Historic barn

“Having a Century Farm means generations of families, and extended family, working together to keep the land in the family, [keeping it] working and profitable.”

David & Alene Breckenridge

Farming with friendsfour-legged

Iconic Teton views at work

Beef cattle in high summer

Mickelsen

Ted & MickelsenShana

Ranch

Tetonia

Established: 1918

Original ranchers: Canute Mickelsen

Current ranchers: Ted & Shana Mickelsen

Lineage: Ted is the greatnephew of Canute Mickelsen.

“In the early 1900s, my grandpa Theodore Mickelsen and his brothers came to Teton Valley, Canute being one of them. My grandpa home steaded 160 acres on the Teton River and Canute purchased a number of acres from John Moffatt, my 40 acres being part of that purchase,” Ted says.

“[To adapt to the changing world] Shana and I both worked jobs to supplement our income and keep operating our property.

“What makes this land spe cial is the views of the Tetons and its very productive soil.”

Black Baldy cattle

Life at the farm

The

“The

ranch is my heritage to this valley and my ancestors. It is a multi-generational family ranch and has been operated by my family for over one hundred years.”

Ted Mickelsen

beauty of the West

RUNNING COMMUNITY FINDS FOOTING ON THE TRAILS OF TETON VALLEY

BY MOLLY ABSOLON PHOTOGRAPHY BY JULIE ELLISON

Kelly

Bettner felt like pinching herself. Just a few hours earlier, she had slipped out of her house, leaving her three sleeping children at home with her husband, and headed to Teton Canyon, where she took off running up the trail to Alaska Basin. Now, eight miles later and more than two thousand feet higher, she stood next to an alpine lake surrounded by wildflowers and the jagged, snow-capped peaks of the Teton Range.

“When you live in Teton Valley, this can be your morning run,” Kelly says. “When you live here, you get to do what people go on vacation to do, anytime you want.”

Kelly ran track and cross-country in high school and college, but it wasn’t until she moved to Teton Valley seven years ago that she began to trail run. Now, she says, she’ll only run on roads if she has a friend who wants to do some speedwork; otherwise, she’s on trails. She likes to be able to run wherever she wants, at whatever speed is comfortable, for as long she pleases. For Kelly, trail running is all about freedom and being in nature.

And that seems to be the common thread that links the growing community of trail runners in Teton Valley.

Charged with a mission of connecting one another and finding camaraderie amongst the high-elevation trails throughout the Greater Yellowstone region, this informal and passionate group of individuals is helping more and more people discover the sport.

Michelino Sunseri is a professional runner sponsored by the North Face. He grew up running and went to college for cross-country and track, but by the time he graduated, he was burnt out.

“Where I went to college in Ohio, I was always running on concrete through suburbs,” Michelino says. “It was not very inspiring.” He actually quit the sport for a few years after he finished school, but then he moved to the Lake Tahoe area and took up trail

running. “I began to find joy in running again,” he says. “It’s hard to look at the top of a peak and not want to go there. I love having the ability to get up in the mountains and to be inspired by the nature I get to experience.”

Michelino relocated to Teton Valley with his girlfriend, Bri West, in 2020. When he first arrived, he found it hard to meet people, especially other runners. But he quickly discovered that the Strava app—a popular fitness tracking app and website that allows users to record and share their activities, particularly focused on running and cycling— could be used for more than logging his runs and keeping track of his training. It also helped him make friends.

“I found other people doing cool runs in the Tetons on Strava,” Michelino says. “I’d send them a message, saying something like, ‘Hi, I’m new to the area, would you be down to go for a run together?’ I actually made friends that way. That kind of led to my idea of trying to put together a weekly group run.”

“I found other people doing cool runs in the Tetons on Strava.

I’d send them a message, saying something like,

‘Hi, I’m new to the area, would you be down to go for a run together?’

I actually made friends that way. That kind of led to my idea of trying to put together a weekly group run.”

- MICHELINO SUNSERI

GREEN RIVER LAKES – GRANITE BASIN LOOP:

20.5-mile loop, 4,229 feet elevation gain

The loop, which starts north of Alta, Wyoming, at South Leigh Creek, can be run in either direction. The trail ascends through coniferous forest, passes through meadows painted throughout the summer by wildflowers, winds along the shores of alpine lakes, and goes over a mountain pass. It can be hard to follow at times, so carrying a GPS and/ or map is critical to ensure you are on the route. The trail is often snowcovered in June and doesn’t get a lot of traffic, so go with a buddy to be on the safe side.

ASPEN TRAIL:

4.9-mile out-and-back, 853 feet elevation gain

A popular trail that doesn’t venture too far into the mountains, the Aspen Trail is a fun roller that meanders through glades of aspen, popping out in a few places to give runners an expansive view of Teton Valley. The trail is particularly popular in the fall when the aspen leaves turn gold and the tread dries out.

ALASKA BASIN:

16.2-mile route with a lollipop loop, 3,070 feet elevation gain

Though the trail is very popular and can be crowded, especially on the weekends, it’s a classic area with spectacular views of the Tetons, abundant wildflowers, and enough challenge to keep most runners entertained.

MAIL CABIN TO MIKESELL:

10.8-mile point-to-point with car shuttle, 2,086 feet elevation gain

The route starts with a steady climb out of the Mail Cabin Creek drainage then runs along a ridge west toward Oliver Peak. July and August are prime time for wildflowers along the ridgeline, and much of the run is through open meadows that offer views of the Palisade Mountains. The final descent is a little rocky and steep, dropping you quickly down to the Mike Harris parking area.

The resulting Wednesday night runs have been one way members of the Teton Valley running population have found each other. Local races—Wrun for Wray and the Targhee Wildflower Trail Run, for examples—also provide opportunities for people to meet other runners and find partners who move at similar speeds over similar distances. In the summer, local Hall of Fame triathlete Barb Lindquist hosts free running clinics at the high school track in Driggs, where runners congregate and find each other.

Kelly Bettner says she’s even made friends mid-run.

“I saw this woman running on a trail right near my house,” she says. “She looked about my age, and she seemed to like to run for a long time like me, so I stopped her and made her be friends with me. We laugh about it now. She’s more of an introvert than I am. I was worried that I was coming on too strong, but I also thought, ‘What’s the worst thing that can happen? She says no?’”

Most trail runners like to run with a partner, a dog, or some kind of personal locating beacon in case something goes wrong. Running in the mountains is not without risk. Bears, moose, lightning, sudden weather changes, falls, and injuries are hazards that can be particularly dangerous when one is miles from the house or car, especially when running solo. That’s one reason weekly group runs have been a popular way to build community. Michelino says, on average, six to ten runners show up every Wednesday throughout the summer. Overall, he says, approximately seventy people are part of the WhatsApp group— Teton Valley Mountain Runners—he uses to organize the weekly sessions.

Michelino does most of his competitive running in Europe in the fall. His time in the Tetons is about training and finding cool routes to explore. He likes to meet new, aspiring runners and is quick to emphasize that the group runs he organizes are not meant to be competitive.

“Running for me is a chance not to be competitive,” says Stacy Stamm. “Trail running is about being outside and enjoying the natural world. For me, it’s very meditative. I think it’s growing in popularity around here because people are moving here for the world-class trails.”

“Running for me is a chance not to be competitive. Trail running is about being outside and enjoying the natural world. For me, it’s very meditative. I think it’s growing in popularity around here because people are moving here for the world-class trails."

- STACEY STAMM

SPITFIRE ULTRA TRAIL CHALLENGE

Menan, ID (North of Idaho Falls)

April 20

55K, 30K, 12K, 5K trail run

Menan isn’t exactly local, but it’s a popular warmup run for Teton Valley runners who are still limited by snow on trails here.

WRUN FOR WRAY TARGHEE HILL CLIMB

Grand Targhee Resort, Alta, WY

June 22

Held at Grand Targhee Resort, this roughly three-mile run goes from the bottom of the Dreamcatcher Chairlift up 1,840 feet to the top of Fred’s Mountain following the Bannock Trail.

WILDFLOWER TRAIL RUN

Grand Targhee Resort, Alta, WY

July 6

Half-marathon or 10K trail run

The course follows Grand Targhee’s extensive singletrack trail network through fields of wildflowers and aspen glades to the top of Peaked Mountain and includes spectacular views of the Tetons.

CIRQUE SERIES

Grand Targhee Resort, Alta, WY

August 24

7.1-mile trail run

Part of a mountain race series held at six ski resorts located in Alaska, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, Grand Targhee’s race climbs

2,212 feet from the base area to Mary’s Nipple and over to Peaked Mountain, before descending back down.

“Granted, it’s a really short season, but there are tons of incredible trails in the area,” Stacy says. “My favorite trails are the ones that go through varied terrain, like the Green River Lakes–Granite Basin Loop. You start running through tree cover, then hit fields of wildflowers, until you get up into the alpine. It’s incredibly beautiful, and you can get really far quickly when you run.”

Stacy emphasizes that the trail running community is welcoming and nonexclusive. People might be intimidated by the image we tend to have of skinny runners in tiny shorts with little more than a water bottle dashing past them on a trail deep in the mountains. And certainly, Teton Valley has those kinds of athletes, but it also has people who walk more than they run, and for whom a trail run is as much about the conversation

they have with a friend as it is about how fast they move.

“I think everyone can be a trail runner,” Stacy says. “If you run a little while on a hike, you are a trail runner. A lot of us walk uphill, jog on the flats, and run downhill. It’s really not about speed. It’s about getting outside, getting exercise, going to beautiful places, and feeling good.”

Megan LaTorre began jogging a few miles a few days a week for exercise as an adult. But then she and her husband started a family, and for a while she felt like she was either pregnant or breastfeeding, so the running stopped. Her family moved to Teton Valley in 2016, and for a couple of years, she was absorbed in kid world. Then, as the children became less dependent, she started going on trail runs and quickly fell in love with the activity.

“I struggle to call myself a runner,” Megan says. “It’s classic imposter syndrome. I’m slow. I haven’t run all my life. Then I remind myself that I ran a 10K, two half marathons, and climbed the Grand in a five-month period. I am a runner.

“It’s almost like going to church for me,” she adds. “Trail runs are the only time I can truly disconnect.”

Megan says that she was initially intimidated by other trail runners—“the tiny, stick-like gazelles” you see dashing through the mountains—but she’s learned that the trail running community is welcoming to all types of runners.

“People don’t care if you are fast or slow,” she says. “They just love that you are out there running. They love running, and love that you love it, too.”

Megan says she’s been amazed at how willing people are to share tips and

“People don’t care if you are fast or slow. They just love that you are out there running. They love running, and love that you love it, too.”

- MEGAN LATORRE

information about different trails and techniques. One time she was in the parking lot at the base of the Aspen Trail getting ready for her run when a man who appeared to be an elite runner descended the trail. She asked him how the trail surface was that day, and he ended up talking to her for nearly twenty minutes about running, the trail, shoes, you name it. Everything running.

“There are really educated, really elite people around here who are happy to share with you,” she says. “People have been so supportive. There’s one woman who is a sponsored athlete who’s taught me so much about training, but she never would have told me about herself if I hadn’t asked. That’s just indicative of this community. People like to help out. They like that people are having fun running.”

Michelino appreciates that everyone who is a part of the local running community has a different background, approach, and reason for getting out on the trails.

“For me personally, trail running is about the freedom to go places on foot that other forms of transportation can’t take you,” he says. “Some people may be inspired by losing weight or feeling better by getting into shape. Some just want to be out in nature. All of those reasons are awesome.

“But one barrier for a lot of people is there can be danger involved—bears, injuries, weather—that’s why having a group where you know other people are out there, even if you are running at your own pace, can give people the confidence to do a trail run when they might not go on their own.”

To join the Teton Valley Mountain Runners group, visit Michelino's website, tetontrailcoach.com, and click the Teton Valley Mountain Runners tab for a direct link to the WhatsApp group. Michelino and other members of the group are excited to see enthusiasm growing to get out on the trails, in whatever capacity works for each runner.

ALTHOUGH SMOKE can come from nearby fires, the smoke we experience in Teton Valley often blows in from wildfires hundreds of miles away. For instance, smoke from 2023 fires throughout Canada sent a mass of unhealthy smoke to Idaho.

BY KRISTEN POPE

Smoke Season

Navigating the inhales and exhales of unpredictable summer air quality

When a thick layer of wildfire smoke settles in Teton Valley, it obscures mountain views, leaving a haze. Sometimes, the smoke is thick enough to taste and feels gritty on the tongue.

It can leave people coughing, with aching lungs and itchy eyes, among other symptoms. The smoke can come from nearby, but more often, it blows into the valley from fires hundreds of miles away.

The smoke we see in Teton Valley is dependent on large-scale wind patterns, as well as on the weather. Paul Corrigan, the Intermountain Region Smoke Coordinator for the U.S. Forest Service, works to analyze the air-quality impacts of fires, using technology to observe, forecast, and mitigate smoke impacts.

When forecasting smoke, Paul needs to know how much smoke he thinks will likely be produced from a fire based on several factors, such as the available fuels, precipitation, winds, and humidity, as well as the likelihood of containment or explosive growth. He uses heat detection satellites to help learn how hot a fire is burning. He also needs to be able to interpret models and know how the wind patterns are likely to carry the smoke over the course of the coming days.

“It’s challenging because we’re working in a really dynamic system,” Paul says. “That’s the hardest part about forecasting smoke. You do not just need really good weather forecasts, you also need to use your best judgment or prediction

of what’s going to happen with wildfire growth.”

In Teton Valley, the smoke season can vary greatly, with some years like summer 2023 light on smoke, while other years leave the valley socked in for longer periods of time. “We’re having longer fire seasons … and we’re seeing an increase in smoke because we’re having those longer fire seasons,” says Jay Pence, District Ranger for the Driggs-based Teton Basin Ranger District of the Caribou-Targhee National Forest.

And the fire season effects stretch far beyond our region. Smoke can travel thousands of miles with the winds, and smoke in Teton Valley can come from California, Oregon, Washington, Canada, and beyond. When it arrives in Teton Valley, local conditions can trap it in the area longer.

“If there’s an inversion layer of warmer air up above the surface, that can act like a lid and just keep the smoke in the valley for a month,” says Bruce Mason, weather blogger for Teton Valley News. Bruce has lived in Teton Valley for more than eighteen years. The unofficial weatherman for the area, he runs the popular Teton Valley Weather Facebook page and keeps everyone abreast of everything from winter storms to potential poor air quality. He

WHILE SOME YEARS are lighter on smoke than others, the increase in wildfire season length adds to the prevalence of smoke felt throughout the summer.

says in 2016, the Tie Canyon Fire by Pine Creek Pass created the thickest smoke he’s seen in the valley. “It looked like a thick fog as it rolled in,” he says.

Whether the smoke comes from near or far, it can be hazardous to breathe in. “Depending on exactly what’s burning, the smoke can contain a lot of different particulates, a lot of different chemicals— and they’re not good for you,” Bruce says.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to report air quality. It ranges from zero to 500, with lower numbers reflecting better air quality. A color scale accompanies the numbers, ranging from “green” good air to “maroon” hazardous air quality.

When the AQI is below fifty, it is considered “good” air, indicated with green. The 51 to 100 range is “moderate” (yellow), while 101 to 150 is orange and “unhealthy for sensitive groups.” Red indicates the 151 to 200 range, which is considered unhealthy for everyone, followed by the “very unhealthy” purple range from 201 to 300. “Hazardous” is the highest range (301+) with maroon indicating a “health warning of emergency conditions.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), wildfire smoke can be harmful to anyone, but is especially dangerous for people with a number of health conditions, includ-

According to the CDC, wildfire smoke can be harmful to anyone, but is especially dangerous for people with lung or heart issues.

Be Smoke Aware

Since the Air Quality Index (AQI) can change quickly, it’s vital to know how to check the air-quality conditions. “Air quality can change rapidly even over the course of a few short hours or even minutes,” says Paul Corrigan, Intermountain Region Smoke Coordinator for the U.S. Forest Service.

While a quick glance can tell you if there’s heavy smoke in the air, several websites provide far more detailed information.

A great source for all air-quality information is: airnow.gov.

For a real time fire and smoke map, check out: fire.airnow. gov.

• If you smell smoke or see smoke, consider restricting your outdoor activities.

• Smoke effects increase substantially with strenuous or prolonged activity outdoors.

• Keep in mind that air quality can change rapidly at different times during the day due to wind shifts. It is important to monitor the smoke throughout the day in your area and make plans for outdoor activities accordingly.

• Many weather apps also include air-quality information.

ing lung and heart issues, as well as the young, old, and pregnant.

“I do think it is important to talk to your medical provider if you are a sensitive person, and to just make sure you follow their direction,” Jay Pence says.

The CDC urges individuals to prepare for fire season by planning evacuation

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routes and gathering supplies for emergencies, including National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)approved respirators to help filter out smoke and particulates. People can also take action to improve indoor air quality. EPA recommendations include taking measures to clean or filter indoor air, as well as to avoid contributing to additional indoor air pollution by avoiding things like burning candles.

“It’s important that we recognize that people need to go outside, whether their job requires it, or you need to walk the dog, or you need exercise yourself,” Paul says. “So, trying to find those times of day when the air quality is better is a great option. You certainly can limit your intake of air pollution by wearing an N95 respirator mask.”

“Depending on exactly what’s burning, the smoke can contain a lot of different particulates, a lot of different chemicals—and they’re not good for you.”

Bruce Mason Teton Valley Weather

THE SMOKY HAZE makes for an eerie sunset. Large particles of smoke disrupt wavelengths of light, causing the reds and oranges to be more vibrant.

Since so many fires are humancaused, Bruce also points out one way we can all work together to reduce the impact of smoke season. “The main thing, I think, is to just be really careful and responsible with fire during fire season, and that’ll solve many problems.” he says. “Listen to Smokey Bear.”

TEVA • Aventura • Pistil • Smartwool

HELD SEPTEMBER 5 THROUGH 8, the Western Design Conference brings together more than one hundred artists from a variety of genres, from leather crafters to jewelers to furniture makers. This celebration of all things American West takes place at the Snow King Events Center in Jackson, Wyoming.

BY KATE HULL

Western ConferenceDesign

Celebrating

the best of the West from furniture to fashion

Wooden accent chairs with a mid-century modern style; timeless cashmere knitwear with crystal embellishments; statement jewelry made with naturally sourced gems; bespoke leather handbags these, and so much more, are at the heart of the Western Design Conference Exhibit + Sale.

A four-day juried exhibit and sale held at the Snow King Events Center in Jackson, Wyoming, the Western Design Conference (WDC) brings together more than one hundred artists—interior designers, furniture makers, architects, fashion designers, leathermakers, jewelers, and others—for a celebration of the breadth and dynamic nature of the style and spirit of the West.

The thirty-second annual conference takes place this year from September 5 through 8. As always, it is a signature event of the renowned Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival, which caps the summer season with a ten-day celebration of art in the Tetons. And for the four days of WDC, the Snow King Events Center becomes a hub of all-things American West, from the craftsmanship on display to the community that gathers to celebrate and support the artists.

“No matter your age or interests, whether western or contemporary, this is your not-to-miss event of the summer,” says Allison Merritt, executive director of the Western Design Conference. “It is so

festive, inspiring, and invigorating. Not to mention, it is in your backyard and people travel from all over the country to attend.”

Every artist displaying at WDC is selected by a jury of renowned experts, and more than $20,000 in cash is awarded to handcrafted works in leather, metal, accents, woodworking, jewelry, and fashion. While WDC celebrates the West, the influence of what encompasses western style is not limited geographically. In 2023, artists came from twenty-eight states.

“We love to see how western trends have influenced people over the years,” says Mollie Wetzel, the auction director who has been a part of WDC since 2012. “So often people think of western couture and western fashion as rhinestones and cowboy boots, but there is so much more to it. Western culture is now popular throughout the world, from architecture and interior design to jewelry and fashion.”

While every year brings a fresh take on each maker’s collection, WDC wel-

DURING THE THREE-DAY EXHIBIT AND SALE, patrons can shop direct-to-consumer and meet the artist behind each one-of-akind piece. The event begins with a fashion show on September 5, a favorite of the event and a great way to get early access to shopping.

The Teton Valley Music Alliance

comes back returning artists who have garnered a robust following and make the event a family of artists and aficionados. New artists, designers, and exhibitors quickly join the ranks as regulars, and often attendees feel the same way.

Stephen Rosini, maker behind the functional art furniture company SR Woodworking, is participating in his second Western Design Conference this fall. Based in Salt Lake City, Stephen crafts handmade custom furniture inspired by

mid-century and contemporary designs.

“I love clean minimalistic designs that are sleek but bold,” he says. “I am drawn to furniture where your eye moves around the piece, so most of my designs are playful.”

He was attracted to the event because of the emphasis on functional art.

“This show really puts functional art and furniture makers right in the spotlight alongside other incredible makers,” he says. “You see everything from contemporary to western design—there are so many styles of work that are made to the highest of standards.”

The event kicks off with the Preview Party and Fashion Show held on September 5, giving patrons a first-look opportunity to shop and enjoy the show. The styles highlighted are quintessentially WDC and modeled by community members, anchoring the special night as a local’s favorite.

For the following three days, the exhibit and sale allow for direct-toconsumer shopping for one-of-a-kind

pieces. However, one-of-a-kind does not always mean expensive.

“The fashion show is an opportunity to have a first look at the entire Exhibit and Sale, and a chance to shop,” Allison says. “There is great food, a full open bar, signature cocktails, and it’s a festive night out, whether it is as a couple or with a big group of friends.”

The roots of WDC are in the art of craftsmanship. The event was founded in Cody, Wyoming, by a group of artisans aiming to celebrate and promote artists working in historical American craft methods. WDC moved to Jackson Hole in 2007 when Nancy McCulloughMcCoy, publisher emeritus of Teton Valley Magazine, purchased the event with Kevin Olson from Teton Media Works, the publisher of the Jackson Hole News& Guide. Allison Merritt, executive director, has been with WDC since it first came to Jackson and continues the strong com-

ALLISON MERRITT first joined Western Design Conference in 2007 when the event was moved from Cody, Wyoming, to Jackson Hole. For her, what makes this event so special is the artists.

“It’s the people who make this event so special. Each year there is renewed energy and camaraderie.”

Allison Merritt Executive Director, Western Design Conference

mitment to western arts in Wyoming while expanding the reach of the show.

“It’s the people who make this event so special,” Allison says. “Each year there is renewed energy and camaraderie. The uniqueness and quality of everyone’s work coupled with the genuine love for what they do brings return buyers year after year. We work to add new components like this year’s design lecture series and the WDC Lounge.”

“It’s amazing, the people who come together for this event,” Stephen Rosini adds.

And while this is a once-a-year event, Allison is now providing more opportunities for patrons to peruse goods from WDC artists. This past November, WDC partnered with the Jackson Hole Art Auction (JHAA) to spotlight artists from

1st Friday Art Walk Series

JUNE 7: 2nd Annual “Ripples on the Teton.” Artist Invitational featuring works inspired by the Teton River benefiting Friends of the Teton River.

JULY 5: “Eye of the Beholder, A Photographic Journey” by St. Paul-based photographer Jared Arvin. Jared will be sharing his distinct creative vision of our one-of-a-kind landscape.

SEPTEMBER 14: 2nd Annual Steamroller Printmaking Art Exhibition. Street Art Party.

Featuring the Fine Art of owner and artist Michele Walters and seasonal visiting artists.

“Eye of the Beholder” by Jared Arvin, July 5

Steamroller Printmaking Art Exhibition, Sept. 14

“Ripples on the Teton,” June 7

the event with a year-round show inside the gallery space. The gallery, located on Broadway, currently focuses on furniture makers Henneford Fine Furniture, SR Woodworking, How Kola Furniture, Nordberg Furniture, and work by Many Tears and Integral Thread.

“The team at JHAA works directly with interior designers and the public alike, so they can source this collection throughout the year,” Allison says. “It is mainly furniture and items for the home, but there is a vision for artist trunk shows and special events down the line.”

Whether you’re a first-timer or a returning fan of WDC, get ready for an unforgettable look into the wide and wonderful world of western design. Maybe you’ll leave the show with a oneof-a-kind find.

Western Design Conference

Schedule of Events

Building Better Communities Together

Preview Party + Fashion Show

Thursday, September 5

6 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Purchase VIP tickets for reserved seating. Early entry into the Exhibit + Sale and a first glance at the one-ofa-kind creations in furniture, fashion, jewelry, home, and lifestyle accessories. Shop and enjoy a runway fashion show and live auction with local culinary creations and signature cocktails.

Exhibit + Sale

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday September 6, 7, and 8 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

The preeminent exhibition of the finest western design in the world—from cowboy to contemporary. Meet the makers and shop direct at every price point from more than one hundred artists.

Concessions by Spoons Bistro and complimentary daily happy hours begin at 2 p.m.

Design Excellence Awards are held on Friday at 2 p.m.

To purchase tickets, visit westerndesignconference.com.

HARM ONY

as one

the premier world-class

Anglers South Fork Hilton Overnight fly fishing adventure takes anglers on a one-night, two-day fishing getaway to experience this stretch of water while they enjoy the luxury of solitude.

THE SOUTH FORK of the Snake River is celebrated

fisheries in the Lower 48. WorldCast

BY TOM HALLBERG PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRAD BONER

The South Fork Hilton

Finding the luxury of solitude on the riverbank

Anglers from around the world travel to fish the South Fork of the Snake River. On the WorldCast Anglers South Fork Hilton Overnight fly fishing adventure, you can spend a night in luxury on the banks of that renowned fishery.

Precious are the days when you untether yourself from the world and become absorbed in the swish, flick, swish, flick of the fly rod. Imagine this: The summer sun is about to crest the gentle hills, the predawn twilight chasing out the black, starry sky. You wake in a canvas-wall tent, stirring in a feathery bed. Cottonwood leaves rustle in the slight wind that accompanies the warming of the earth.

You wake from a dream of casting from a drift boat into smooth, riverine waters and catching a native cutthroat trout. But that dream is actually a memory of the day before, and a vision of what’s to come. That idyllic, no-computers, lotsof-trout reverie is reality on the WorldCast Anglers South Fork Hilton Overnight trip, a one-night, two-days-of-fishing getaway that doesn’t require you to rearrange your whole summer around executing it.

“People get this great, compartmentalized camping experience with incredible fishing, food, and service in a remote area, then they go enjoy restaurants and amenities in the greater Jackson Hole region the next day,” says Mike Dawkins, president of WorldCast Anglers.

The Hilton is a long-running offering,

dating back two decades, long enough for WorldCast Anglers guides to have honed the experience and developed a loyal following of customers who return every year for a valuable reset.

Take Ray Thompson, who took his first trip to the Hilton in August 2008. His wife bought him a trip for his fiftieth birthday, sending him with his father, son, and brother-in-law. “It was just a magical couple of days,” Ray says, “and we’ve been going back just about every year or sometimes a couple times a year since.”

Taken literally, the word Hilton evokes an image of a comfy hotel, one that can range into the realm of luxury. Taken with a small grain of salt, the tongue-in-cheek name suggests a level of ease and comfort not always associated with river trips, let alone ones that add camping in the mix.

Starting at the WorldCast Anglers’ fly shop in Victor, Hilton-goers can grab the flies and gear they need before being whisked over Pine Creek Pass via Highway 31 to Swan Valley, a quick halfhour drive away. Most often, they put in on the South Fork of the Snake River at the Spring Creek Bridge boat ramp. For

A GROUP OF ANGLERS settle in for dinner and relaxation at the remote South Fork Hilton camp, tucked away off the riverbank, after day one of world-class trout fishing.

Jonathan Selkowitz

those unfamiliar with the South Fork, it’s a worldclass fishery for brown, rainbow, and cutthroat trout that has attracted global luminaries from politics, business, and more.

(Comedian and latenight host Jimmy Kimmel even owns the South Fork Lodge, which the WorldCast Anglers float passes.)

The agenda for day one is simple: Fish, enjoy a big riverside lunch, fish, arrive at camp. Camp life consists of happy hour, dinner, campfire, bedtime. Day two is more of the same: breakfast, fish, riverside lunch, fish, home. Where the magic happens in that seemingly simple itinerary is the quality of each piece.

Start with the fishing. To hear about a world-renowned trout river and luxury overnight, one might assume the trip caters to those who tie their own flies and study entomology to learn hatch cycles. It does. However, WorldCast Anglers guides can also tailor the experience to the uninitiated. Ray has been out with groups well-versed in their river knowledge, but he said taking newbies out on the Hilton trip brings a special level of satisfaction.

“Usually, I’m sitting in the back watching a friend or family member hook up their first-ever fish in the midst of this magical scenery,” Ray says. That landscape he is referring to is the South Fork Canyon, an inaccessible-by-road section of river hemmed in by cliffs and lined with cottonwoods, firs, and pines.

Once the fishing is done and the drift boats skim into camp, Hilton attendees

“People get this great overnight camping experience with incredible fishing and food and service in a remote area.”

Mike Dawkins President, WorldCast Anglers

spend the night in that rimrocked area most anglers simply pass through. And they do so in style. Camp consists of five wall tents with a pair of beds in each one, a kitchen/eating area, and a campfire pit, all connected by a maze of trails that gives the place an air of privacy. “It makes it feel a little bit more intimate than if it was just like a big camping field,” Mike says. Clients’ goal at camp is relaxation. Hors d’oeuvres and drinks are served post-fishing, followed by a western dinner of steak, starch, and sweets for dessert. Those looking for a quiet evening

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT The canvas wall tents at the South Fork Hilton camp; chef Jake Bray cooks up western-style fare for dinner; the tucked-away Hilton camp that is inaccessible by road.

Women of Depot Square!

“It was just a magical couple of days, and we’ve been going back just about every year.”

Ray Thompson

can escape the hubbub of camp and sip a glass of wine on the deck of their abode.

Evening in the canyon, when the rest of the boats have passed by or made camp, is one of the trip highlights. Sure, you’ll catch a lot of fish, get better at casting, and eat delicious food, but the sheer time spent in the roadless, secluded canyon might be the biggest draw. That chance to unplug and watch the twilight disappear through the leaves of the cottonwoods is, after all, the sort of thing we all need more of in this frenetic world.

As Mike says: “You sort of step back, take a deep breath, and you look around and know you have the place to yourself.”

Book Your Adventure

Prime summer months carry the highest demand, and WorldCast Anglers recommends interested individuals plan their fly fishing adventures as soon as possible.

Shoulder season (June & September) openings are more readily available.

TOP Chef Jake Bray preps hors d’oeuvres, dinner, and dessert for camp. BOTTOM Mike Dawkins, president of WorldCast Anglers, enjoys a day on the South Fork.

IDAHO IS HOME to thirty state parks scattered throughout the state. They range from parks with pristine lakes to those protecting lush forests; from cliff-lined rivers to immense sand dunes.

BY MICHAEL MCCOY

Rocks, Water, and Sand

This trio of state parks hints at Idaho’s endless diversity

The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation’s mission is “to improve the quality of life in Idaho through outdoor recreation and resource stewardship.”

This seems a rather mundane way of putting it, when you look at all the agency has to offer.

In fact, to declare that Idaho boasts quite a variety of state parks is like saying the Kansas City Chiefs are a pretty good football team. Take just the following three out of thirty choices two of which are just under 150 miles from Victor, while the third is twice that far away. (Yes, Idaho is large, but consider that Priest Lake State Park is more than 600 miles away from Teton Valley, and you need to traverse a big chunk of western Montana to make the shortest connection.)

These three parks showcase 1) a Caribbean-hued freshwater “sea” shared 50-50 with the state of Utah; 2) a river and trails steeped in American pioneer history; and 3) a desert sandscape suggestive of the setting for a movie like Dune or Lawrence of Arabia. Each offers a fine selection of campsites, and the areas you’ll drive through to get to them dish up a splendid mix of Idaho’s landscapes and diversity of farm crops.

Additional information on these and other parks may be found at parksandrecreation.idaho.gov.

Massacre Rocks State Park Sugar beets and a prehistoric splasher

To get to Massacre Rocks you could zip over to Idaho Falls and take Interstate 15 to American Falls before continuing the ten miles to the state park. But really, shouldn’t getting there be part of the adventure?

So, consider taking the backroads route instead: Blackfoot to Aberdeen to American Falls via Idaho 39, which cuts through some of the state’s richest agricultural lands as well as a string of dots on the map you might not have heard of. (Rockford? Pingree? Springfield?) During the fall, mountains of piled sugar beets hover above the roadsides. Roll down the windows of your rig and breathe deep to inhale the earthy aroma of harvest season.

Massacre Rocks’ name reportedly derives from a jumble of boulders that form a narrow passageway that Oregon Trail and California Trail travelers squeezed their teams and wagons through. Imag-

A STURGEON leaps from the water. These giant fish with shark-like tails can be found in the Snake River at Massacre Rocks State Park near American Falls.

ining that a band of American Indians lie waiting in ambush around every corner, pioneers applied the name Massacre Rocks to the area. Deep ruts marking those historic trails can still be seen in the park, which features nearly eight miles of hiking trails. Bicycling, rock

Bear Lake State Park

Revelry amid the raspberries

To get to Idaho’s Bear Lake State Park—not to be confused with Utah’s nearby park of the same name—travel from Swan Valley, Idaho, southeast to Alpine, Wyoming, then continue south to Montpelier, Idaho, via either Star Valley, Wyoming, or Soda Springs, Idaho. Expect a beautiful drive whichever route you choose. The park is about 15 miles south of Montpelier.

climbing, a vertically challenging disc golf course, and boating and fishing (with canoe rentals available) can be enjoyed, too. Nearly a thousand acres in scope, the park also includes a great selection of RV and tent camping sites.

On our most recent visit to the park, I was treated to the unexpected vision of an immense white sturgeon rocketing out of the river and splashing back in. With a cartilaginous skeleton and sharklike tail, these giants which can grow to ten feet long and 400 pounds in weight have, in lieu of scales, five rows of bony plates, or “scutes,” reaching from gills to tail. It’s not known for certain why they exhibit this occasional, energy-sapping jumping behavior, but it’s hypothesized that it’s a form of communication that helps maintain group cohesiveness.

Backdropped to the west by the Bear River Range, this water-lover’s paradise is twenty miles long and eight miles wide, cleaved almost exactly in half by the Idaho–Utah state line. The state park’s mile-long Bear Lake North Beach offers a vast area for swimming and other water play, with its gradual slope toward the middle of the lake. Sites at East Beach’s ultra-popular Mountain Fawn Campground are available only by reservation, which can be made up to nine months in advance.

With its sun-seeker vibe, this is not the park to visit if you’re looking for peace and quiet. That, however, can be found just north of the park at Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1968 to preserve resting and feeding habitat for waterfowl and other migratory birds. Its 18,000 acres comprise a picturesque and tranquil (although sometimes honkingly loud!) mosaic of open water, wet meadows, cattail marshes, and sunbaked uplands.

its

and its sand beaches, making it the perfect place for a day of lounging in the sun.

Garden City, on the west shore of the lake just across the state line in Utah, is deliciously renowned for its raspberry milkshakes. The most popular spot to slurp one is LeBeau’s Drive-In, but a host of other shake venues can be found. If summer could be plucked from the vine and whipped up in a blender, this is what it would taste like.

BEAR LAKE STATE PARK is famous for

Caribbean-like blue waters

MASSACRE ROCKS STATE PARK, located along the Snake River, is home to miles of hiking trails, a world-class disc golf course, and ample rock climbing routes. Visitors can also see remnants of the Oregon Trail from either end of the park.

This final park is the place to enjoy peace and solitude. The last time we visited, in October of 2019, we had the campground to ourselves. Nancy, our field spaniel Eddie, and I hiked to the top of the namesake dune, and ours were the only footprints in the sand to be seen.

To reach the park, avoid Interstates 15 and 86 and opt instead for the stellar drive between Idaho Falls and Mountain Home on US Highway 20. From Mountain Home, go south on State Highway 51, cross the Snake River, then go east on State Route 78 for a couple of miles before turning south onto the park entrance road.

Thanks to its relatively low, Idaho westside elevation of 2,470 feet above sea level, Bruneau Dunes boasts the longest camping season—virtually year-round—

of any Gem State park. But, one may ask, from what point in the park was that official elevation measurement taken? After all, it boasts the tallest singlestructured sand dune in North America, with a peak standing nearly 500 feet above the surrounding desert floor. You can hike up the dune and then run back down, or even rent a board at the visitor center for a unique “sand-boarding” ex-

But before you descend, stop and listen. What’s that sound you can’t hear? Total silence is what it is.

This is also a true dark-sky place, explaining why Bruneau Dunes was chosen as the site for an observatory established in 1998 in partnership with the Boise Astronomical Society. A second observatory was added in 2023. Visitors can earn marvelous peeks at distant planets and stars on Friday and Saturday nights from early April through mid-October, weather permitting.

For another form of evening entertainment, remember that wineries are scattered throughout southwest Idaho. The one closest to Bruneau Dunes State Park is Cold Springs Winery, 17 miles east near the little town of Hammett.

PHOTOS: VISIT IDAHO

Scenic Flights

Airplane Scenic Flights

Your

BRUNEAU DUNES STATE PARK boasts the longest camping season of any Idaho state park thanks to its low elevation of around 2,500 feet. The dunes are an exciting natural wonder to climb, explore, and even surf on a unique sand-boarding adventure.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP Dried beans are available in varieties from fava to pinto; shelves stocked with everything from spices to snacks; flavorful helados pack the freezer; on display at the checkout counter are baseball-style caps and many other goodies; bills in the Mexican currencyexchange drawer; Patricia Bocardo welcomes customers.

OPPOSITE Tamales are available during weekends.

BY KRISTEN POPE PHOTOGRAPHY BY CODY DOWNARD

I was greeted with a friendly “Hola!” and Spanish-language music was playing as I browsed the aisles. The Mexican-style grocery store, located in Victor, offers an array of items, from fresh produce and cheeses, to dried chilis, ice cold Mexican ice cream called helados, and even fresh hot food on weekends.

Established in 2021, Juanita’s Market found its home in the bustling Togwotee Center complex, sandwiched between the eclectic 2nd Act Thrift Store and the aromatic Atelier Coffee. Owned by José de Jesus Bocardo Susano and wife Patricia Bocardo, the store is named after José’s grandmother, Juanita, who operated her own market in the Mexican state of Tlaxcala where he grew up.

The store is a well-stocked market where people can also make internation-

July

up tasty hot foods like quesadillas and tamales.

On the far wall, a spice array displays flavorings like ground shrimp, ground arbol chili, avocado leaves, and dried pasilla chili pods. A multitude of teas and herbs, from corn silk to mugwort and mullein, emit a lovely aroma, beckoning to be sipped and savored. The shelves are lined with seasonings and sauces to accompany nearly any Mexican dish, such as tajin and chamoy, as well as a variety of salsas from salsa picante and guacamole salsa to mole verde, and more.

While the shop holds a wealth of ingredients for homemade meals, it also has plenty of quick bites. Chips like quesoflavored Ruffles, wagon-wheel shaped duros, and Churrumais con Limoncito are a few favorites.

By the front door, a freezer full of helados features ice creams and fruit bars in a rainbow of colors, with flavors like

The

store is named after José’s grandmother, Juanita, who operated her own market in the Mexican state of Tlaxcala.

CUSTOMERS CHECK OUT at Juanita’s Market. The Mexican-style grocery store has hot foods like tamales and quesadillas on the weekends.

strawberry lemonade, banana, and coconut. Colorful piñatas dangle from a wire. A colorful star-shaped red Mickey Mouse piñata hangs alongside pale pink, baby blue, bright green, and yellow ones in all sorts of shapes, with dangling streamers, all for celebrating birthdays, holidays, and other special occasions.

Whether you’re preparing for a party, gathering the ingredients for a homecooked meal, or simply snagging a snack on the go, the friendliness and flavors at Juanita’s will keep you coming back.

Agave

310 North Main Street, Driggs 208-354-2003

Open Daily 11am–10pm

From the owners of El Abuelito in Jackson comes Agave, Teton Valley’s very own family Mexican restaurant! Serving fajitas, burritos, and all of your Mexican favorites, cooked to perfection seven days a week, with lunch specials from 11am to 3pm daily. Bienvenidos amigos, mi casa es su casa! [p. 18]

Alpine Air Coffee Roasting & Cafe

175 West Center Street, Victor Tues–Sat, 7am–2pm; Sunday, 8am–2pm alpineaircoffee.com

Alpine Air Coffee Roasting was born from a long-time passion for coffee, an eco-conscious drive to provide packaging that won’t stay on Earth forever, and a desire to share just how great one of the most consumed beverages in the world can be. Stop by our café and roastery for fresh coffee drinks, bagged coffee roasted fresh in-house, and gourmet toasts, burritos, and baked goods. All Alpine Air coffee is sourced responsibly and is 100 percent organic, certified by the Montana Department of Agriculture. [p. 24]

Apex Private Chef Service Serving Jackson Hole and Teton Valley 208-351-7380 apexprivatechef.com

Apex Private Chef Service is a wedding and event catering and private chef serving Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Teton Valley, Idaho. Led by chefs Dylan Smith and Marlee Marie, Apex Private Chef Service creates customized meal plans that cater to all dietary needs. The team brings a wealth of experience, creativity, and deep appreciation for locally sourced ingredients to every meal they prepare. Let Apex Private Chef Service craft a memorable and delicious experience for you. Whether you need meals made weekly for you and your family or a larger event, they’ve got you covered. [p. 28]

Barrels & Bins

36 South Main Street, Driggs 208-354-2307

Open Daily 8am–7pm barrelsandbins.market

Teton Valley’s source for all-natural and organic products including local and organic produce, meats, cheeses, and bulk food; 460 Bread baked fresh daily; beer and wine; nutritional supplements; health and beauty products; all-natural pet foods; and much more! Juice & Smoothie Bar is open 9:30am to 1:30pm daily. Check in for sandwiches and salads, as well as other grab-and-go takeout options. [p. 44]

Broulim’s Fresh Foods

240 South Main Street, Driggs 208-354-2350

Order our delicious Bistro sandwiches, breakfast sandwiches, or panini sandwiches made fresh daily. Our deli has hot baked or rotisserie chicken, take-and-bake pizza, and other meal options to go. Check out our assortment of hand-cut specialty cheeses, full-service coffee bar, freshly prepared salads, Sushi Bar, and hot Asian food. Daily specials of smoked meats available. Inquire about our catering services at service deli counter. [p. 101]

Butter Cafe

57 South Main Street, Victor 208-399-2872

Visit website for menus, hours, and online ordering butterinvictor.com

Indulge in the rustic charm and culinary delights of Butter Cafe, nestled in the heart of Victor. Discover a haven where regionally sourced ingredients meet creative culinary flair, offering a delectable menu that celebrates the world’s flavors. From mouthwatering pastries and savory brunch dishes to daily happy hour and bistro-style dinners, Butter Cafe guarantees a memorable dining escapade for all taste preferences. Whether you’re a local food enthusiast or a curious traveler, stay connected with us on Instagram for the latest updates on hours, specials, and menus, and embark on a flavorful journey with Butter Cafe. [p. 88]

Open Mon–Sat 7am–11pm broulims.com/driggs Citizen 33 Brewery & Restaurant

364 North Main Street, Driggs 208-354-2073

Open Daily 4pm–9pm citizen33.com

From the team behind Forage Bistro and Tatanka Tavern, Citizen 33 Brewery & Restaurant in Driggs is dedicated to serving fresh, delicious, and locally sourced food and beer from the Main Street pub. Enjoy ever-changing brews on tap by Brew Master Nick Farney and a delicious menu by Chef John Perry featuring elevated bar bites like local fried cheese curds and fried pickle chips, burgers, and flavorful entrees. Citizen 33 was built for the community and visitors of Teton Valley to come together and celebrate this amazing place with delicious food and cold craft beer. Cheers to the citizens, “a native or inhabitant,” of Route 33! [p. 32]

Forage Bistro & Lounge

253 Warbird Lane, Driggs 208-354-2858

Open Daily 12pm–8pm Reservations Recommended forageandlounge.com

Forage Bistro is now at a new location, the Driggs Airport! Dine while you watch the planes in action or take a tour of the Warbird planes. Specializing in seasonal mountain comfort food with an emphasis on local ingredients, Forage offers creative, chef-inspired lunch, happy hour, dinner, and weekend brunch. Enjoy craft cocktails, beer and wine, amazing burgers, steak, game meats, scallop tacos, pasta, house made desserts, and more made from scratch. [p. 32]

4/29/24,

Grand Targhee Resort

3300 Ski Hill Road, Alta, WY 800-TARGHEE (827-4433) grandtarghee.com

This summer come check out the Powder Cache Bar & Grill. When you join us for a meal, you’ll see why Powder Cache is one of the bestkept secrets in Teton Valley. Our warm, welcoming atmosphere and excellent service allow you to sit back, relax, and take in the incredible views from our floor-to-ceiling windows or expanded summer patio. Our culinary team offers fresh, local, and sustainable ingredients to create our American West-inspired mountain comfort dishes. At the Trap Bar and Grill, enjoy a wide selection of local microbrews on tap, great food like the famous Wydaho Nachos, and HD TVs with your favorite sports teams! Snorkels is your slopeside bistro; enjoy grab and go options to fuel you up before you hit the trails. [BC]

Grand Teton Brewing

430 Old Jackson Hwy, Victor grandtetonbrewing.com

Come enjoy our outdoor lawn and cozy tap room. Grab a bite from Otto’s Kitchen and a pint after a day in the mountains. [p. 38]

King Sushi

98 East Little Avenue, Driggs 208-354-5464

Tues–Sun 4:30–9pm kingshushijh.com

A sushi staple on both sides of the Tetons, King Sushi offers an inspired menu featuring sushi, sashimi, and rolls along with cocktails, wine, and sake crafted from head chef and James Beard nominee, Jason King. Enjoy an ever-changing specials menu with seasonal rolls, delicious nigiri, and more. Located on Little Avenue just off Main Street; stop by for happy hour on the front patio, grab a seat at the bar, or book a reservation at resy. com. Walk ins welcome. [p. 26]

Linn Canyon Ranch

1300 East 6000 South, Victor 208-787-LINN (5466) linncanyonranch.com

Whether you are staying at Linn Canyon Ranch or just want to join us for dinner, the Sunset Dinner Ride is not to be missed! Friendly mountain horses will be waiting to take you for a leisurely guided ride through the foothills of the Tetons, winding through aspen groves and fields of wildflowers. After your ride, members of the Linn family will welcome you back to an elegant western evening at our historic lodge. Appetizers and music on the porch precede a gourmet dinner, after which we’ll gather around the bonfire to roast marshmallows and stargaze. [p. 88]

Refuge Taphouse

2 North Main Street, Victor Sun–Thurs 3pm–9pm; Fri–Sat 3pm–10pm

Ages 21 and over @refuge_taphouse

Stop by Refuge Taphouse on Main Street in Victor for craft beer and wine by the glass. Enjoy twelve constantly rotating taps from top-tier local, regional, and international craft breweries and cideries. Take happy hour home with an eclectic selection of to-go beer and wine. Ages twenty-one and over. Menu features light bar snacks, and outside food is welcome. Refuge Taphouse is the place for summer après, best enjoyed in our outdoor beer garden. [p. 39]

Rise Coffee House 40 Depot Street, Driggs 208-354-RISE

Open Daily 7:30am–2pm risedriggs.com @risedriggs

Voted best coffee in Teton Valley six years in a row, Rise Coffee House is a place where our community gathers and connects with one another. If you are looking for a beautifully crafted espresso drink, breakfast or mouth-watering baked good, you’ll be sure to find it here. On weekend mornings this summer, enjoy live music. Follow us on social media for details. Cheers! [p. 41]

Pinky G’s Pizzeria

37 S. Main Street, Victor 208-787-PINK (7465)

Open Daily 11:30am–10pm Delivery 12pm–9pm in Victor order at pinkygs.com

Pinky G’s is bringing a taste of the Big Apple to Wyoming, Montana, Washington, and our own Victor, Idaho. Founded by Tom Fay in Jackson Hole in 2011, Pinky G’s rocketed to fame a year later, when Guy Fieri shot an episode of “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives” there and was blown away by their hand tossed New York-style pizzas. Stop by the newly renovated downtown Victor location for dine-in and/or takeout. Delivery within a 3-mile radius inside Victor city limits. Enjoy house-made dough and marinara made from scratch daily, with pizzas like the Abe Froman, topped with spicy Italian sausage, fresh mozzarella, fresh chopped basil, and a balsamic drizzle; or try Guy’s Pie invented by Guy Fieri himself. [p. 103]

Pizzeria Alpino

165 North Main Street, Driggs 208-354-8829

Open for dinner pizzeriaalpino.com

Open for dinner. Pizzeria Alpino is proud to offer Teton Valley fresh and delicious Italian-inspired Rocky Mountain fare. We are grateful to showcase house made pasta and pizza using seasonal, locally grown products. Please come join us on the deck or in the dining room. Reservations are recommended and can be made at pizzeriaalpino.com.

DRIGGS, IDAHO

Tatanka Tavern

18 North Main Street, Suite 315 Colter Building, Driggs 208-980-7320

Open Daily 4pm–9pm tatankatavern.com

Tatanka Tavern offers wood-fired artisan pizza, salads, and the finest of craft beers and wines. Bring in the family for a night out or grab a seat at the bar and watch the game. Enjoy local favorites like the Fungus Amongus for dinner daily. [p. 32]

Teton Thai

18 North Main Street, Driggs 208-787-THAI (8424)

Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30am–2:30pm; Dinner Daily 4pm–9pm tetonthai.com

Voted Teton Valley’s favorite restaurant, Teton Thai offers something for everyone. Enjoy a variety of our family’s favorite recipes like our homemade crispy egg rolls, coconut milk curries, or savory wok seared noodles. Stop by our taproom located down the hall from Teton Thai. Serving old-world beers along with a menu from Teton Tiger, our sister restaurant located in Jackson, Wyoming. Dine in or take out. [p. 108]

The Royal Wolf 63 Depot Street, Driggs 208-354-8365

Open Daily; serving lunch and dinner 11am–late theroyalwolf.com

Since 1997, locals and visitors alike have enjoyed discovering this off-Main Street establishment offering a diverse menu of sandwiches, burgers, salads, appetizers, and entrées served in a casual, smokefree, pub-style environment. Complementing our menu is a full bar serving all your favorite beverages, including cocktails, wine, and a selection of regional microbrews on draft. Enjoy outdoor dining on our spacious deck during the summer. Daily food and beer specials, WiFi, and billiards. Stop by to meet old friends and make new ones. Snow sagas and fish tales told nightly. (Hours and menu subject to change.)

Victor Emporium 45 North Main Street, Victor 208-787-2221

Open seven days a week

Over one million served! For more than sixty-five years, the Victor Emporium Old Fashioned Soda Fountain has served delicious milkshakes, including the World Famous Huckleberry Shake. Gourmet coffee and espresso served daily. The Emporium is also a great place to pick up those unusual gifts. Where the locals meet before enjoying the great outdoors here in Teton Valley. [p. 90]

Victor Valley Market 5 South Main Street, Victor 208-787-2230

Open Daily 7am

Victor Valley Market is your local grocer and the place to get fresh seafood and choice meats in Teton Valley. Offering a unique selection of groceries, from organic and specialty items to your everyday needs, including a full selection of wine and beer. Our gourmet deli counter offers delicious house-made takeout dishes, along with sandwiches made with locally baked bread, fresh salads, house-made soups, and so much more! Victor Valley Market has all that you need to make a delicious meal, whether for eating in or picnicking out. [p. 12]

Wydaho Roasters Coffee House

465 S Main Street, Driggs 208-999-3387

Open Daily 6am–6pm

Crafting connections, one cup and one bite at a time. Situated near downtown Driggs, Wydaho Roasters Coffee House features an array of espresso and coffee drinks, all made using beans that are roasted on the premises—you won’t find fresher coffee in Teton Valley. Come stop in, hang out, work, or study using the in-shop WiFi, and enjoy a well-crafted cup of coffee. Wydaho Roasters’ coffee is ethically sourced and artfully roasted. Pair a fresh cup of coffee with handmade baked foods like freshly-made croissants, galettes, muffins, quiche, and more. [p. 13]

Grand Targhee Resort

3300 Ski Hill Road Alta, WY

800-TARGHEE [827-4433] grandtarghee.com

After a day ripping single-track or taking in the views from the top of the mountain, it’s time to relax with the family in one of a variety of western-style slopeside accommodations that invite you to relax in the high alpine setting with a quaint mountain village that offers dining and shopping. Rooms vary in size and budget, from sleeping four to ten guests. The Sioux Two Bedrooms offer a small kitchenette and are perfect for your next resort getaway. The resort is dog friendly and offers pet friendly rooms. Call 800-TARGHEE to book your stay. [BC]

Hansen Guest Ranch & Event Venue

956 Rainey Creek Road Swan Valley, ID 208-483-2305 hansenguestranch.com

Hansen Guest Ranch & Event Venue offers western-style accommodations perfect for individuals as well as large groups. The property is on 18 scenic acres and features a historic 125-year-old barn, private cottages, creekside cabins, and cozy bunkhouses with porches and vaulted ceilings. Whether for a quiet getaway or a full buyout of the ranch for your retreat, wedding, camp, or family reunion, Hansen Guest Ranch is the perfect setting. The property has an outdoor cooking area, pickleball courts, horseshoe games, a fire pit, and more. Fishing, horseback riding, hunting, and hiking are all nearby. Enjoy convenient access to the national parks and Jackson Hole. [p. 26]

Linn Canyon Ranch

1300 East 6000 South, Victor 208-787-LINN [5466] linncanyonranch.com

Our lodging combines the best of luxurious accommodations with nature’s simple pleasures. Sleep peacefully in one of our luxury platform tents, or indulge yourself in creature comforts and rustic elegance in our artisan-built timberframe cabin. Our guests feel relaxed and inspired in our cozy mountain sanctuary. When you make your lodging reservation, we will also book your riding and dining activities at the ranch. We are also happy to help you reserve off-site adventures such as floating, fishing, hiking, and sightseeing. [p. 88]

Moose Creek Ranch

2733 East 10800 South, Victor 208-510-0216 moosecreekranch.com

Moose Creek Ranch is a beautiful location for retreats, weddings, family reunions, weekend getaways, or your base camp while visiting the surrounding area. Situated just over the pass from Jackson Hole, enjoy access to endless world-class outdoor recreation. Offering comfortable accommodations from cabins and glamping tents to RV sites and conestoga wagons, we have something for everyone. Guests and the public can horseback ride from the ranch, rent E-bikes, explore nearby trails, and so much more. Make your next visit an unforgettable experience at Moose Creek Ranch. [p. 33]

Teton Homestead

18 North Main Street, #105, Driggs 800-746-5518 mail@tetonhomestead.com tetonhomestead.com

Welcome to Teton Homestead, where we continue a proud threedecade tradition of excellence in property management in Teton Valley. As industry pioneers, we’re on the cutting edge, redefining standards and elevating expectations. With Teton Homestead, expect more: more revenue, more communication, and more confidence in your property management team. Whether you’re interested in vacation homes, long-term rentals, caretaking, or housekeeping services, we are committed to exceeding your expectations. [p. 23]

Teton Valley Cabins

34 East Ski Hill Road, Driggs 208-354-8153 or 866-687-1522 stay@tetonvalleycabins.com tetonvalleycabins.com

Nestled in the heart of Teton Valley, our family-owned cabins welcome you for special getaways, vacation home base, family or group reunions, and more. Quaint charm, rustic cabins, and affordable rates await! Enjoy locally owned restaurants and shops, along with easy access to Yellowstone National Park, Grand Targhee Resort, and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Staying at Teton Valley Cabins means you don’t have to leave your furry friends behind. We offer various room types equipped with microwave, fridge, satellite TV, WiFi, and pet friendly room accommodations. Check out our website for trip planning and activities in Teton Valley. We can’t wait to see you! [p. 34]

Teton Valley Property Management

253 South Main Street, Driggs 208-354-3431

info@tetonvalleypm.com tetonvalleyvacationrentals.com

Allow us to find that perfect home or condo to make your vacation memorable. All our homes are nicely furnished, meticulously maintained, and fully equipped to accommodate your group at a fraction of what you would pay for hotel rooms. All homes come complete with linens, kitchen necessities, smart TVs or satellite TV service, high-speed internet, soaps, and paper products. Book online and receive all the conveniences of home, away from home. [p. 8]

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Teton Valley is home to three meetinghouses of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Visitors of all ages and backgrounds are welcome.

Sunday worship services are held in Victor (87 East Center Street; 9am, 10:30am, and 12pm), Driggs (225 North 1st Street; 9am, 10:30am, and 12pm), and Tetonia (209 South Main Street; 9am and 10:30am). Worship services are centered on the partaking of the bread and water of the sacrament. This one-hour meeting includes congregational hymns, prayers, and brief sermons focused on the love of God and atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Following this meeting, visitors of all ages are invited to attend a one-hour Sunday School class, divided by various age groups. Additional information can be found by calling Zane Calderwood (208-317-3325), Wade Treasure (208-351-4480), or by visiting ChurchOfJesusChrist.org

Good Shepherd Catholic Church

2559 South ID-33 | Driggs | 208-354-1771 uppervalleycatholic.com

Good Shepherd is a Roman Catholic Church serving the needs of the faithful in Teton Valley. As an ever-growing parish, we welcome all in participation in our liturgies, devotions, ministries, and activities. Mass times on Sunday include a 9am mass in English and an 11am mass in Spanish with Confession after each Sunday mass. In addition, there is Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on Wednesdays from noon to 5pm, followed by bilingual mass. Confession is offered Wednesdays, 3:30-4:30pm. Preparation is offered for all the Sacraments. The church is open for prayer during the day, and we would love for you to join our Catholic community.

Headwaters Calvary Chapel

500 Ski Hill Road | Driggs | 208-354-WORD [9673] headwaterschurch.fun

Our vision is to simply teach the Bible simply—and thus, our pattern of study is verse by verse, chapter by chapter, book by book, right through the whole Bible. Sunday service starts at 10am; dress is smart casual. Wednesday Bible study starts at 7pm; dress is casual. From the stoplight in Driggs, head east on Ski Hill Road and the church will be on your left as you round the turn.

St. Francis of the Tetons Episcopal Church 20 Alta School Road | Alta, WY | 307-353-8100 sftetons@silverstar.com | stfrancis.episcopalidaho.org

Join us for Sunday morning worship beginning at 10am. St. Francis of the Tetons Episcopal Church welcomes worshippers of all walks of faith. In the shadow of the Tetons, this historic church offers an opportunity to experience God’s presence and join in fellowship, spiritual renewal, and service to others.

Teton Valley Bible Church

265 North 2nd East | Driggs | 208-354-8523 tetonvalleybiblechurch.org

Teton Valley Bible Church exists to glorify God and exalt Jesus Christ as Lord through Holy Spirit-empowered living and worship. Our mission is to make disciples through gospel-centered outreach, the spiritual building-up of believers, and living in loving fellowship with one another. We gather together to worship the Lord on Sunday mornings; please visit the website for service times. Pastor Jim Otto (MDiv) is committed to expositional preaching and Biblical theology. Childcare is available and all are welcome. [p. 46]

Teton School District 401

District Office: 208-228-5923

tsd401.org

Empowering our students to reach their full potential—Teton School District 401 provides a safe and exceptional learning environment where career and college readiness are the academic cornerstones of a relevant and progressive education. [p. 111]

Teton High School

Grades 9–12 | 208-228-5924

tsd401.org

Teton High School strives to recognize the uniqueness of the individual in preparing for a lifetime of learning. THS provides a safe and academically focused learning environment, where students are challenged for career and college readiness.

Basin High School

Grades 9–12 | 208-228-5928

tsd401.org

Basin High School is an alternative for students who meet the state criteria for enrollment. Students obtain credits through a stateapproved independent-study format, with assistance from certified staff.

Teton Middle School

Grades 6–8 | 208-228-5925

tsd401.org

The mission of TMS is to be a safe and innovative organization that empowers each student and staff member to develop a foundation of self-efficacy, build relationships, overcome challenges, stretch their grit and resilience, and recognize their potential.

Rendezvous Upper Elementary

Grades 4–5 | Driggs 208-228-5926

tsd401.org

Rendezvous’ mission is to create a caring community of learners who inspire each other to embrace curiosity, value others’ opinions, and develop a foundation of self-efficacy.

Teton K-3 Elementary Schools

Victor 208-228-5929 | Driggs 208-228-5927 | Tetonia 208-228-5930

tsd401.org

The mission of the TSD 401 elementary schools is to be integral in the partnership between school, home, and community in nurturing and encouraging all children to become productive citizens and lifelong learners.

FREE MUSIC, ART & THEATER IN DOWNTOWN DRIGGS, IDAHO

Downtown Sounds Concerts

presented by:

Belle Nuit: A Beautiful Night of Song - Opera

June 7 - 6pm | Teton Geo Center & Museum

Teton Valley Chamber Music Festival

Cordovas - American Rock

July 3 - 6pm | Driggs Plaza

In partnership with Teton County Idaho Fairgrounds

The Shift - R&B and Jazz

July 21 - 6pm | Driggs Plaza

Black Rock Winds - Classical

July 26 - 6pm | Driggs Plaza

The Wild Potatoes - Irish

August 16 - 6-8pm | Driggs Plaza

Dirty Cello - Blues, Americana and Rock

August 30 - 6pm | Driggs Plaza

Nicolas Meier Trio - World Jazz

September 5 - 6pm | Driggs Plaza

Driggs Plein Air Festival

July 21 – 27 | Driggs Plaza & Gallery

July 21 - Opening Reception and Concert

July 26 - Awards Ceremony and Concert

July 18 - September 20 - Art Sales at Teton Geo Center

Shakespeare in the Parks

July 28 | Teton County Courthouse Lawn

Vaudeville Skits by ACT Foundation - 5:30pm

Hamlet - 6pm

Visit Driggs, Idaho

to enjoy live music, art and theater. Stay overnight to explore the historic downtown with great shops & dining.

Pickleball in the Tetons

PHOTOS BY LINDA M SWOPE

Pickleball is on the rise in Pierre’s Hole. Eight courts located at Primrose Park in Driggs offer picklers the chance to practice perfecting the world’s fastest growing sport, which is like a mix of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. Join Teton Valley Pickleball on Facebook for times and more information. Seasoned players are also ready and willing to teach newbies the moves and rules.