Teton Valley Magazine - Summer 2015

14TOP TO BOTTOM 26TEENS AND TWEENS 34GROWING THINGS 54OUT BELOW 60FAR FLUNG 64LOCAL FLAVORS 72EXPOSURE

SUMMER 2015

COMPLIMENTARY COPY

Band of Sisters LUCKY DOGS BICYCLE CENTRAL HIGH–TECH HIDE & SEEK

SUMMER 2014

magazine 3

Te to n Va l l e y 208.456.9581

Jack son H ole 307.733.9581 w w w. w i l k in son - m on t esan o.com

4

magazine

SUMMER 2014

BEST Organic Eggs in the Valley

See our new website at thebrokenspur.com

BEST Little HORSE HOUSE in Idaho

535 Moraine Court Located 1.5 miles north of downtown Driggs, Idaho, on the “Western Side” of the road

208-354-3389

SUMMER 2015

magazine 1

Beautifully designed Teton Springs home offers

58 Acres within walking distance to Driggs

Text: T205861 to 81035

Text: T205862 to 81035

Perfect3mountain in Teton Springs All sidingOwn luxury in a yet convenient a Worldway. away1/6th withfully live deeded water, bdrms, 5getaway baths, reclaimed barnwood meadows mountain topCommunity. of the line amenities throughout. ownership in lovely Season and Resort 5bdrm, 5 bath. this 3,000 sq. ft. and 3 bdrm, 4 bath views. fully and recently reduced to Fishable pond and golf views Exposed beams, Wolf/Sub-Zero, high-end finishes furnished log Fully home.fenced Golf Club amenities included. $745,000 $1,299,000 throughout. $1,149,000. $120,000.

Lovely & well kept 3 bdrm, 3 bath in Spoon

Peak PrintingCreek business.

1,800 sq. ft.view! bldg.2w/equipAcres w/Grand river rock fireplaces, spacious main floor master, ment and inventory for Professional Print Shop/oversized car garage, convenient location West of Victor.

Graphic2 Design and shipping.

Separate one-bdrm $399,000 apartment. $479,000.

Text: T205863 to 81035

Properties that are a World Apart ...

Service That is World-Class

SERVING Buyers and Sellers in IDAHO and WYOMING Two convenient locations!

Victor—TETON SPRINGS Driggs— 40 EAST LITTLE AVE

208.787.8000 Toll Free 866.445.3328 www.allseasonresortrealty.com

Homesites 2

magazine

Condo/Hotel SUMMER 2015

Fractional Ownership Opportunities

Variety of Homes

<1% infection rate Aesthetics Cardiac Stress Testing Emergency Care General Surgery Infusion/Chemo-Therapy Laboratory Services Mammography Medical Imaging Neurology Orthopedics Pain Management Physical and Occupational Therapy and so much more.

120 East Howard Avenue | Driggs, Idaho 83422 208.354.2383 | www.tvhcare.org SUMMER 2015

magazine 3

Christopher Hills, DO

Adult Spine Surgery Minimally Invasive Surgery Complex Cervical Reconstruction Board Certified Fellowship Trained

David Khoury, MD

Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy Shoulder & Knee Surgery Knee Replacement Trauma & Fracture Care Board Certified Fellowship Trained

Heidi Jost, MD

Hand & Upper Extremity Foot & Ankle Surgery Custom Orthotics Board Certified Fellowship Trained

Rafael Williams, MD Shoulder Surgery Hand & Upper Extremity Sports Injuries Trauma & Fracture Care Board Certified Fellowship Trained

Joshua Beck, MD

Adult & Pediatric Spine Surgery Joint Replacement Fracture Management Board Certified Fellowship Trained

Andrew Bullington, MD Sports Medicine Knee & Shoulder Surgery Joint Replacement Surgery Trauma & Fracture Care Board Certified Fellowship Trained

Geoffrey Skene, DO Non-Surgical Spine Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Board Certified Fellowship Trained

WORLD CLASS SPECIALISTS IN ORTHOPAEDIC CARE CLINIC LOCATIONS: JACKSON, IDAHO FALLS, REXBURG, AFTON, PINEDALE, BIG PINEY, LANDER, RIVERTON, ROCK SPRINGS 4

magazine

307-733-3900 â&#x20AC;˘ 800-659-1335 SUMMER 2015

2015 Lineup: Thursday, June 25, 2015

Todo Mundo Mandatory Air

Thursday, July 2, 2015

Mother Hips Screen Door Porch

Thursday, July 9, 2015

Blitzen Trapper One Ton Pig

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Young Dubliners Brian Maw Band

Victor City Park Victor, Idaho Thursdays June 25 - August 13 6pm - 10pm Free fun for all ages

Thursday, July 23, 2015

The Suffers Canyon Kids

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Ballroom Thieves Greg Creamerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dirt Road

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Stooges Brass Band

Sneaky Pete & The Secret Weapons

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Nicki Bluhm & the Gramblers

teton valley FOUNDATION

Wyatt Lowe & the Mayhem Kings

To donate or for more info visit www.tetonvalleyfoundation.org Teton Valley Foundation is a donor and sponsor supported non-profit organization. TVF works to make the good life in Teton Valley even better by providing cultural, recreational, and educational programs and facilities that boost the local economy and make our community a better place to live and to visit. Our programs include Music on Main, Kotler Ice Arena, the Great Snow Fest, and Oktoberfest.

SUMMER 2015 PO Box 50, Victor, ID 83455 | (208) 201-5356 | info@tetonvalleyfoundation.org

magazine 5

6

magazine

SUMMER 2015

contents

SUMMER 2015

8 Editor’s Note 12 Contributors

top to bottom

14

30 Ways to Play | Forage-ing | Wedding Plans Teton Rock Gym | Health Care Fox Creek Fandango

our neighbors

22 musical notes

26 teens and tweens

30 back when

34 growing things

Band of Sisters

Summer Jobs

42

Darby Girls Camp

Bike Central

Organic Chemistry Chemistry 34 Organic

features

36 Lucky Dogs 42 Bike Central

48 Living Small

compass points

54 out below

56 trail talk

Bear Lake and Beyond High–Tech Hide & Seek

30

Darby Girls Camp

60 far flung

64 local flavors

Albania by Foot Everest Momo Shack

PHOTOS: JAMYE CHRISMAN; BOTTOM LEFT, PARKER DUNN

Local Flavors

directories

64

13 66 68 71

71

Advertiser Directory Dining Guide Lodging Guide Church Directory School Directory

exposure 72 What’s SUP?

on the cover The 34th annual Hot Air Balloon Rally, slated for July 2–5, will once again fill the blue skies over Teton Valley with floating rainbows of color. Photo

by Jamye Chrisman.

by Foot 60 Albania

of Sisters 22 Band SUMMER 2015

magazine 7

Protection Since 1963

editor’s note

CHANDLER INSURANCE

Not long before this issue of Teton Valley Magazine went to press, we learned that our summer 2014 edition won first place in the category of “Magazine–General Excellence” in the Idaho Press Club’s Best of 2014 Awards. This makes us very proud, especially when you consider that we were competing against magazines that have greater monetary resources at hand. We could not have accomplished this feat without our dedicated staff, contributors, advertisers, and readers. Thank you everyone in the Teton Valley community!

MAPPING THE GREAT DIVIDE ROUTE IN COLORADO, 1996

Craig Chandler

(208) 624-3721 • craigc@myidahomail.com

220 East Main • St. Anthony, Idaho 83445

since 1992

And what a community this is. Not only for humans, but for their dogs as well. Just have a look at the selection of canines our photographer, Jamye Chrisman, managed to catch with her camera for the feature titled “Lucky Dogs.” We’ve got huskies, St. Bernards, Labradoodles, golden retrievers, cow chasers … well, you name it, and we’ve probably got it.

While Teton Valley has long been a haven for four-legged friends, it more recently has grown into a premier destination for two-wheeled, self-powered travelers. And not just in the summer and fall, but the year around, thanks to the advent of fat bikes, also known as snow bikes. We were already on the map as an up-and-comer for the activity, when a few years ago Grand Targhee Resort boldly announced that it would be the first ski resort in the nation to open its Nordic trails to fat bikes. There’s no stopping the forward momentum now. (See the feature “One Valley, Two Wheels, Four Seasons.”)

In one of this edition’s departmental stories, we pay a visit to the irrepressible Miller Sisters, Candice and Karee, arguably the valley’s most popular hometown musicians. We also check out the local Darby Girls Camp, venture vicariously to far-off Albania, and take a drive to not-so-distant Bear Lake.

We even discuss how you, too, could become a WWOOFer and/or a geocacher. Thumb through the following pages and you’ll understand what the heck I’m talking about.

With our management history and strong Internet presence, we are a first stop for long-term and vacation rentals.

f Explore Your Income Potential b Full Service, worry free, flexible to your needs, and experienced staff

www.grandvalleylodging.com 1-800-746-5518 P.O. Box 191 • 158 North 1st Street East Driggs, Idaho 83422 8

magazine

SUMMER 2015

As local history buffs will tell you, Teton Valley was known to the early nineteenth-century mountain men as Pierre’s Hole, named for trapper Pierre Tevanitagon. (One of summer’s biggest cycling events here is the namesake Pierre’s Hole mountain-bike race, held each August.) To honor that heritage, I hereby nominate a new slogan for Teton Valley Magazine: “Exploring the heart and soul of Pierre’s Hole.”

Because that’s what we do. I hope you’ll join us on the journey.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF TED ALAN STEDMAN

Let Us Manage Your Property

8TH ANNUAL TIN CUP CHALLENGE DRIGGS CITY CENTER SATURDAY JULY 18 2015 tincupchallenge.org | (208) 354-0230 Community Foundation of Teton Valley PO Box 1523 | 175 North Main Street | Driggs, ID 83422 SUMMER 2015

magazine 9

Seoul Restaurant authentic Korean food

SUMMER 2015

publisher

Kimchi Jjigae

Nancy McCullough-McCoy

nancy@powdermountainpress.com

editor in chief

Michael McCoy

mac@powdermountainpress.com

Bulgogi

art director

Sage Hibberd

graphics@powdermountainpress.com

Galbi

photographer

Jamye Chrisman jamye@jamyechrismanphotography.com

marketing + sales representative

Seafood Soon Do Boo

Nancy McCullough-McCoy

nancy@powdermountainpress.com

Seoul Restaurant will definitely fulfill your appetite Very Happy Sushi Roll this summer. Open 7 days a week. We also have sushi!

528 Valley Center Drive (North of Driggs)

(208) 354-1234 • seoulrestaurantdriggs.com

marketing + sales assistant Joan Mosher

info@powdermountainpress.com

copy editor

Kate Hull

kate@powdermountainpress.com

contributors

Lukas Boone Gary Chrisman Parker Dunn Meghan Hanson Kate Hull Sue Muncaster Mel Paradis Liza B. Wilson

brewpub & pizzeria 208.787.2623 145 S Main, victor

mon-thurs 4-9pm fri-sun noon-9pm

games • wednesdays open mic night kegs & take-out available

find us on facebook

10

magazine

SUMMER 2015

Winner of 1st place in the Magazine–General Excellence category, Idaho Press Club’s Best of 2014 Awards.

Teton Valley Magazine is published twice yearly by Powder Mountain Press, Inc. 18 N Main #305 | PO Box 1167 | Driggs ID 83422 (208)354-3466 tel | (208)354-3468 fax TetonValleyMagazine.com

©2015 by Powder Mountain Press, Inc. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Editorial comments, ideas, and submissions are welcomed. The publisher will not be responsible for the return of unsolicited photos, articles, or other materials unless accompanied by a SASE. Printed in the U.S.A. Volume 19, No. 1

SH-33 to Buffalo Junction Pathway Using the latest standards and best practices for pathway design, Harmony Design & Engineering designed and oversaw construction of a 1 mile section of the multi-use pathway north of Driggs.

Building Better Communities Victor Depot The Harmony Design & Engineering team is assisting with exterior improvements, including landscape design, site lighting, bike racks, grading, drainage, and utility plans for the Victor Depot revitalization.

West Little Improvement Project Improvements to sidewalks, landscaping, and lighting will help attract tourists from Hwy 33 down West Little to support local businesses. (Fall 2015)

We design and create conservation-minded projects that encourage a sense of community and provide for the long-term health of the environment.

Integrating Art, Engineering & The Environment

McCall McCall Downtown Master Plan

Sun Valley Blaine County Community Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan

Sandpoint Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail Master Plan

18 N Main #305, PO Box 369, Driggs, ID 83422 • 208-354-1331 • harmonydesigninc.com SUMMER 2015 magazine 11

contributors

Come the snowy months, Liza B. Wilson [Canyon Echoes, page 30] is typically found tripping south of the border. This past winter’s travel was interrupted by the arrival of four new grandbabies. Knowing they would never survive without being bathed by “Gran,” she returned to do her duty. “I agree with the saying ‘Had I known how much fun grandchildren were, I would have skipped the children step and had the grandchildren first,” says Liza, who also acknowledges a love for nurturing small growing things like chicks, colts, and kittens. “The colts are staying on the farm, but there are two litters of kittens if you need a good mouser,” she says.

Parker Dunn [Albania by Foot, page 60] grew up between Salt Lake City and Tetonia, where he has spent many summers working on the family’s Angus cattle ranch.

While attending college at Montana State University, Parker returned to the valley each summer to guide anglers on the South Fork of the Snake. After he spent time abroad in London to complete an M.A. in English Literature, the magnetic pull of our area’s mountains and streams brought him back to call Teton Valley his fulltime home.

Mel Paradis [Organic Chemistry, page 34, and Trail Talk, page 56] hopped around from big cities to college towns to islands before setting roots in the Tetons. She and her husband now reside in Tetonia with their daughter, dog, and chickens.

When Mel is not pulling weeds, educating kids, or chasing her wee one, she likes to spend her time writing, cooking, and making a fool of herself with Jackson Hole’s resident improv comedy troupe, The Laff Staff. You can find more of her writing at her rarely updated blog pazzaragazza.wordpress.com.

Growing up in Northern California, Gary Chrisman [One Valley, Two Wheels, Four Seasons, page 42] started mountain biking in high school in the late 1980s. He moved to the east side of the Tetons in 1991, and spent much of his twenties traveling to work as a river guide and kayak instructor. Gary settled in Teton Valley eight years ago with his wife Jamye and their three cats. He spends his summers working as a mountain bike instructor and guide at Grand Targhee Resort.

“Inspiring riders to get out and explore this area brings me a lot of joy,” he says.

WE DO IT ALL!

With over 69 years of serving the public in the same location— We “moose” be doing it right!

12

magazine

SUMMER 2015

On-The-Farm Service 4x4 Bearing Packs ” Oil Changes “ Alignments Brakes On-The-Road Service Safety Siping & Studs Best Buy on Tires

80 W. Little Ave., Driggs • 354-8161

advertiser directory

LLC 25 2 Barrels & Bins Community Market 40 Broken Spur 1 Chandler Insurance 8 Community Foundation of Teton Valley 9 Corner Drug 29 Dining In Catering 47 Driggs Digs Plein Air 29 Driggs Health Clinic 32 Drs. Toenjes, Brizzee & Orme, P.A. 21 Fall River Propane 58 Fall River Rural Electric Co-Op 70 Festive Living 63 Fitzgerald’s Bicycles 59 GPC Architects 53 Graham Faupel & Associates [Jenn Dawes] 70 Grand Targhee Resort BC Grand Targhee Resort Property Management 40 Grand Valley Lodging 8, 41 Guchiebird’s 31 Habitat 65 Harmony Design & Engineering 11 High Peaks Physical Therapy 33 Hugh Harrigan Craftsman Home 63 Jorgensen Associates, PC 39 Kaufman’s OK Tire 12 Linn Canyon Ranch 65 McDonald’s® of Jackson Hole 21 MD Nursery & Landscaping, Inc. 17, 19 Moyer Builders, LLC 13 Peak Printing 24 PowderMountainPress.com 28, 32 Seoul Restaurant 10 St. Francis of the Tetons 39 St. John’s Medical Center 20 Targhee Village Golf Course 58 Teton Aviation Center/Warbirds Café 57 Teton School District 401 53 Teton Orthopaedics 4 Teton Valley Bible Church 33 Teton Valley Cabins 24 Teton Valley Foundation 5 Teton Valley Hospital 3 Teton Valley Lodge IBC Teton Valley Realty 6 Teton Mountain Bike Festival 57 Valley Lumber & Rental 28 Victor Emporium 25 Victor Health Clinic 59 Victor Valley Market 47 Wildlife Brewing 10 Wilkinson Montesanto Builders [Gil Hundley] IFC Yöstmark Mountain Equipment 41 460 Bread

Frame, Post and Log Construction and Remodeling

All Season Resort Realty

Moyer Builders has a strong reputation for guiding our customers through the building process with respect, thoroughness, and quality construction. We are committed to serving our customers responsively and responsibly to assure that their expectations are exceeded in all aspects of their home construction experience.

40 Years’ Experience in all Types of Construction • Plan Designing Available • Remodeling and Additions • New Home Construction • New Frame, Post, Log and Contemporary Construction

Moyer Builders LLC. 10125 Rammell Mt. Rd.

Tetonia, Idaho 83452

208-456-2385 moyerbuildersllc.com moyerbuilders@silverstar.com Idaho Contractor Registration: RCE-60 Licensed Resident Contractor Class C Town of Jackson, Wyoming

SUMMER 2015

magazine 13

Stroll around town with a latte in hand from Coffee on the Fly Sample a quiche from Pendl’s Bakery & Café while seated outside in the cool air Hike or mountain bike the South Horseshoe trails in the Big Hole Range west of Driggs See Teton Valley from new heights on a hot air balloon ride Spoil a good walk (as Mark Twain would say) by golfing at one of our three public courses Find your center and paddle the Teton River on a SUP from Yöstmark Elevate your mountain biking skills with a clinic at Grand Targhee Resort Try your luck with a fly rod on the South Fork, with one of our local professional outfitters Peruse local art and crafts at The Local Galleria—or sign up for a Wine and Palettes class Dig into a breakfast potato bowl at Provisions on Main Street in Driggs

* 14

magazine

SUMMER 2015

Visit our Dining section for more bodacious breakfast ideas

PHOTOS: JAMYE CHRISMAN; EARRINGS, COURTESY OF GUCHIEBIRD’S

Ways to Play

Midday

top to bottom

Morning

30

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10

Evening 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Shop ’til you drop at Guchiebird’s, representing more than 150 American artisans Stroll Teton Canyon’s Sheep’s Bridge Trail, or tackle the Table Mountain hike Soak up the flavor of the valley at the Teton Geotourism Center in Driggs Fulfill your need to read at the new Driggs branch of Valley of the Tetons Library Get a blast from the past at the Teton Valley Historical Museum Pack a lunch of Victor Valley Market’s fresh deli sandwiches before hiking in Darby Canyon Treat yourself to a relaxing massage from Teton Springs’ Stillwaters Spa Cool off with a huckleberry shake at the Victor Emporium or a lime freeze at Corner Drug Enjoy a soak, and maybe a siesta, at the Teton River’s Big Eddy Groove on a smoothie from Barrels & Bins Community Market

*

Turn to our Dining section for additional lunch options

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Grab an early dinner on the deck outside at Grand Targhee’s Trap Bar Inspect the vintage aircraft then dine runwayside at Warbirds Café Dance the night away at Thursday’s Music on Main in Victor Sample Korean cuisine at Seoul Restaurant north of Driggs Share a special dinner with family and friends at Linn Canyon Ranch Order up a pie and a pint of Point It! Pale Ale at Wildlife Brewing & Pizza Hang with the locals at the Royal Wolf, where “snow sagas and fish tales are told nightly” Treat yourself to a homemade delicacy at Spoons Bistro (hint: Key Lime Pie) Cozy up to a movie under the stars at the Spud Drive-In Theater Hoot with the owls and dance to live music at the Knotty Pine

*

Flip to the Dining section for more delectable dinner ideas

SUMMER 2015

magazine 15

top to bottom

Accommodations

New Heights

Teton Rock Gym Teton Valley boasts ample opportunities to get outside and enjoy an array of recreational activities. Those looking to elevate their outlook can head up Teton Canyon and find access to sport climbing, or drive over Teton Pass to tackle Jackson Hole’s bouldering options. And now, climbing enthusiasts and beginners alike can also head to the Driggs Community Center on Main Street.

Inside, you’ll find the Teton Rock Gym, a nonprofit that opened this past January, giving all ages and abilities access to the fun of rocking out—3,000 feet of climbing, 1,000 holds, and 30-foot-tall walls, to be exact. With trained staff available for instruction, climbers enjoy options for bouldering, top-roping, and lead climbing, as well as access to rental equipment, climbing teams, and competitions.

The project was three years in the making, thanks to seemingly endless hours from volunteers, local business donations, and collaboration between the City of Driggs and the Teton Valley Recreation Association.

The hard work has paid off handsomely. During the summer months, Teton Rock Gym is open Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. And don’t miss the Family Climb hours every Sunday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., giving parents with little climbers ages seven and younger the opportunity to enjoy the gym in a relaxed environment. tetonrockgym.com 16

magazine

SUMMER 2015

It’s been an exciting year at Teton Springs Lodge & Spa, filled with new enterprises and big honors. For the fourth consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report has named the lodge the “Best Hotel in Idaho.” Teton Springs also welcomed two new businesses on site this spring, The Storehouse and Outfitters. This brings in new coffee offerings, lunch (try a panini and a huckleberry lemonade), and retail options for visitors. Now under the umbrella of leisure and travel company Natural Retreats, Teton Springs Lodge & Spa continues to focus on creating a family-friendly getaway.

What makes Teton Springs so special?

General manager Jeff Naylor attributes their success to “a great staff,” who, he says, moved to the area for the same reasons guests come and visit: to enjoy the beautiful area and all it has to offer. The full-service spa, world-class golf, and luxury rooms can’t hurt, either.

PHOTOS: JAMYE CHRISMAN; HOTEL, COURTESY OF TETON SPRINGS

Idaho’s Top Hotel

Coloring the Sky

Teton Valley Balloon Rally Summer Solstice

Celebrate the long Independence Day weekend at Teton Valley’s 34th annual Hot Air Balloon Rally, July 2 through 5. Festivities include four mornings of flights, special evening events, and more. The Fourth Annual Driggs Glow at the City Center will boast an artwalk, restaurant specials, live music, and hot air balloons lighting up the evening sky. Visit tetonvalleyballoonrally.com for the full schedule.

The region’s premier landscape contractor & garden center.

Serving Jackson & Eastern Idaho for more than 20 years

Fox Creek Fandango Welcome in the summer during the seventh annual Fox Creek Fandango at Linn Canyon Ranch, Sunday, June 21. Hosted by Karee Miller-Jaeger and Candice Miller-Kwiatkowski (see “Band of Sisters,” page 22),

208.354.8816 • 2389 S. Hwy 33 • Driggs, ID

www.mdlandscapinginc.com

there’s sure to be endless dancing, grinning, and good times. Food will be available for purchase, and admission is free. It’s also Father’s Day, so bring Dad out to celebrate! Visit millersisters.net for more information.

Open 9-4 Mon-Sat SUMMER 2015

magazine 17

Weddings

top to bottom

Dining

Say “I Do,” Teton Valley-style Teton Valley offers an unbeatable scenic backdrop for nuptials, whether big or small, casual or elegant. And abundant wedding businesses are at hand, ready to make that special day unforgettable.

Here are one or two ways to do it.

The Venue

The Caterer

Calling “elegant outdoor functions” his specialty, Bill Boney, chef and owner of Dining In Catering, is one of the premier caterers of the Tetons. Bill came to the area in 1986 to serve as the personal chef for the Rockefeller family. Now he caters everything from small celebrations to large-scale receptions and events. His far-ranging menu includes delectable seasonal fare like Smoked Trout and Goat Cheese Crostini, and Venison Tenderloin with Apple Chutney. diningincateringinc.com

The Flowers

Whether one is looking for a natural style or a classic romantic bouquet, Angie Belliston, the owner and florist at Cottage Creations, can do it all. Angie has been working with fresh cut flowers since she was nineteen, calling it her passion. “Every bride is different,” she says, “and I love to see their visions come true and give them what they have hoped for.” cottagecreationsllc.com 18

magazine

SUMMER 2015

What’s New at Forage Forage, Ski Hill Road’s locavore-inspired bistro, is a staple of Teton Valley fine dining. This winter, however, ownership changed hands, leaving husband and wife duo Christian and Lisa Hanley to make their mark. Christian, no valley newcomer, moved to Driggs in 1998 to ski and work. Later, after returning from culinary school, he opened the former Grand Ole Grill.

After temporarily leaving the valley, Christian took an executive chef job in Arizona, met Lisa, and the rest is history. Now with two kids, the young family is adding their flair to a Teton Valley classic. You’ll still find Forage favorites like the HD Dunn Ranch Burger and Black Rice Risotto, along with new dishes and extended hours. Stop by for lunch or weekend brunch, and take advantage of Wine Down Wednesdays, offering half-priced bottles of wine all day.

PHOTOS: JAMYE CHRISMAN; SALAD, COURTESY OF DINING IN CATERING

Offering rustic charm amid mountain views, Moose Creek Ranch provides an all-in-one wedding venue available to house family and to host ceremony and reception. Exchange vows adjacent to the glassy waters of the pond outside the lodge or celebrate inside the newly remodeled lodge. moose creekranch.com Another great option: Linn Canyon Ranch, nestled against the Teton foothills. Don’t take it from us; consider these words from a bride who experienced the place: “I can’t tell you enough how much I appreciate the work you all did to make this evening special. The place was beautiful, the service was impeccable, the food was spectacular.” linncanyonranch.com

Health Care

All the pleasures of home and garden

Quicker Emergency Access As all thrill-seekers and adventure-lovers know, unforeseen accidents can sometimes leave one in need of medical attention right now. For the Teton Valley region, helicopter response time has been drastically shortened thanks to Air Methods Corporation, a global leader in air medical transport. Air Methods relocated its Air Idaho Rescue base from Idaho Falls to Driggs-Reed Memorial Airport this past February, allowing for a faster response time to incidents in the national parks, wilderness areas, and elsewhere in the area.

“Placing the helicopter in Driggs is a move that will save lives,” said Doug Crabtree, chief executive officer at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls. “Response time to traumas in areas where most of our transports occur— this part of Idaho, Wyoming, and Yellowstone National Park—will be dramatically reduced. This is a huge step forward.”

In the past, if an accident were reported from Grand Targhee Resort, for instance, Air Idaho would arrive at the mountain resort within 45 minutes, ready to care for the patient. Now it takes only four minutes, according to Judson Smith, business manager at Air Methods.

Recreation

The Air Idaho Rescue base is staffed with fourteen personnel, including flight nurses, flight paramedics, pilots, and mechanics, and is in service twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. They cover a 100-mile radius in any direction from the focal point of Driggs. airmethods.com

Riding the rail-trail

Take a scenic ride and absorb a bit of history on the Ashton to Tetonia Rail-Trail. Roughly 30 miles long, the trail takes bikers, runners, and hikers along the abandoned railroad grade of the former Teton Valley Branch of the Union Pacific Railroad. Old grain elevators, wide-open farm fields, beautiful Teton panoramas, and cold mountain creeks are among the highlights. From north to south, the trail is gently uphill, with an overall 800-foot elevation gain. tetonrailtrail.tvtap.org

SEASONAL HOME & GARDEN DÉCOR INDOOR & OUTDOOR FURNITURE UNIQUE GIFTS FULL SERVICE FLORIST

208.354.8816 • 2389 S. Hwy 33 • Driggs, ID

www.mdlandscapinginc.com

Open 9-4 Mon-Sat SUMMER 2015

magazine 19

Get Back toYour Active Lifestyle Choose St. John’s Medical Center for the knee, hip, or shoulder replacement you need • Skilled orthopaedic specialists • Compassionate care team • Surgical GPS navigational equipment • Patient education classes and support.

Sign up online at tetonhospital.org/jointclass

To view a video on the joint replacement program, scan here or visit tetonhospital.org/joints

St John’s Medical Center 625 East Broadway 20

magazine

SUMMER 2015

Jackson, Wyoming

307 739 6199

888 739 7499

Doctors Toenjes, Brizzee & Orme P.A. COSMETIC & FAMILY DENTISTRY 305 East 5th North • St. Anthony • 624-3757 204 Main Street • Ashton • 652-7868

Highest Quality Dentistry A Lifetime of Value for All Your Dental Needs • Cerec - Same Day Crowns • Cosmetic Dentistry • Zoom In-Office Whitening • Veneers, Lumineers, and Crowns & Bridges • Implants • Professional Hygiene Cleaning • Dentures & Partials • Emergency Care • Smile enhancement consultations and second opinions at no charge

Dr. John Toenjes, D.D.S. Se habla espanol

Dr. Gabe Brizzee, D.D.S.

Dr. Drostan Orme, D.D.S..

Fast, Affordable, and On Your Way. McDonald’s® of Jackson Hole

Open & Serving your favorites 5:00am - Midnight Daily

Free Wi-Fi

1110 W. Broadway, Jackson, WY • 1 mile west of Town Square

307-733-7444

SUMMER 2015

magazine 21

our neighbors

Musical Notes

Band of Sisters

Talking life, music, and parenthood with the valleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

BY SUE MUNCASTER most tuneful duo PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMYE CHRISMAN

22

magazine

SUMMER 2015

T LEFT: CANDICE (IN BLUE HAT) WITH MARY JANE AND KAREE (PINK HEAD BAND) WITH BABY ENZA, CASHIUS, AND UKIAH (LIME GREEN SKIRT).

ABOVE: KAREE AND CANDICE DOING WHAT THEY DO BEST.

eton Valley’s Miller Sisters, Karee and Candice, are best known for their dynamic rock ’n’ roll performances dressed in outrageous costumes—transforming them into anything from French maids to chic cowgirls—at local après-ski venues, music festivals, and wedding and church services. The pair landed in the Tetons more than a decade ago after a string of brief stints in Nashville, Alaska, Reno, and California. Transplants from a small southern Minnesota farming town, they grew up in a tight-knit family with six other siblings. Their Midwestern roots define much of who they are, including their distinctive accents so reminiscent of Frances McDormand’s character in the movie Fargo.

I met the sisters for a coffee; we stayed for two. As they finished each other’s sentences, they also took on one another’s pain and revealed a remarkable story of faith, loss, and how music serves as a perfect metaphor for life.

To begin, I asked Candice and Karee to describe a typical week.

“We used to do four nights a week between Mandatory Air [an eight-piece rock band], Miller Sisters Duo, and Bootleg Flyer [a five-piece bluegrass band],” said Candice.

“Easily,” added Karee, with a groan.

“Now we do, like, two,” Candice continued. “And we’re also active with the Good Shepherd Church, and Karee’s active at the Presbyterian Church and Church of the Tetons, helping with music and song leading.”

I asked the sisters about their strengths, and their similarities and differences.

“Some people say we are the same,” Karee said, “but …”

“No, we are definitely different,” chimed in Candice.

“I don’t really like to admit my strengths,” said Karee. “I’m more of a person who will admit my weaknesses, so the things that I’m not good at are …”

“Let’s not talk about our weaknesses,” said Candice, eliciting laughs all around.

“What we can do with our talent?” asked Karee, rhetorically. “That’s there.

Thank God. When it’s just the two of us, if someone comes up and asks, ‘Will you play this song?’ we will play it. If we have heard it once, we can play it.”

“Originally, I brought songwriting to the table,” Candice said; “I started songwriting and playing guitar in my teen years. Well, then Karee … ended up picking up an instrument, playing mandolin, writing her first song. The band saw her natural singer-songwriter talent. And then there’s the costume thing.

Karee originally brought that.”

“I don’t know where we got that idea,” Karee said, “except for growing up we never spent money on clothes … the older kids would just hand us down stuff. So when we got out of college …” “… [and] got some money, it was to the mall!” Candice said. “We spent all the money we made on our costumes.”

“And makeup,” added Karee. “Just because it was fun to do.”

I asked how Candice and Karee balance family with careers as they settle into their mid-thirties and their roles as entertainers, wives, and mothers.

“Once you have kids it’s a whole new world,” Karee said. “Your [own] world? It’s not done, but it’s on pause.

I’m on pause. And I hope my crows feet stay on pause; I hope I look good and feel good when I come out of this.”

“Yeah, it used to be so super easy,” Candice agreed. “You show up, look good, and sing songs. Have a drink, party, go home … then do it again tomorrow. That doesn’t really exist anymore.

It’s like, well, maybe we should play the four to seven [o’clock] or maybe we should take the seven to ten gig and be home by midnight and we can [still] be up to get the kids on the bus. I think that’s been the biggest challenge.”

“I look back and [see that] the one thing that’s carried me throughout my whole life is having my faith and a founSUMMER 2015

magazine 23

Your Home Base for Ski great powder on both sides Relaxation or Adventure of the Tetons...for less bucks!

On the road to Grand Targhee Satellite - WiFi 10 minutesTelevision to Grand Targhee New Jacuzzi Kitchenettes HBO – WiFi Hand-crafted Fire Ring Hot Tub – Kitchenettes Picnic Grounds Welcoming Reunions and Groups Welcoming Reunions or Groups Affordable Rates and Specials Affordable Rates and Specials

(866) (866)687 6871522 1522

dation,” said Karee. “If anything goes down, I know where to turn to. And you www.tetonvalleycabins.com www.tetonvalleycabins.com know what? It’s not my mom and dad … it is physically, but mentally and emotionally it is to God and that’s what I’m delivering as a parent.”

Copies Shipping Graphic “Last night,” Candice said, “when [six-year-old] Mary Jane was taking a Architectural Prints Faxes bath, I was like, ‘Hmmm … what is she LOCALPrintersinging?’ I thought, ‘Oh, she’s singing Computer Accessories “Saints of the Mountains” because we Kodak Photos SOLUTIONS Posters Frames sang it on Saturday night mass, not the Signs Invitations Greeting Meghan Trainor song, “All About That Bass,” that she’s usually singing.’ Raise Flyers Lamination Binding your voices, lift your heart, this is the Passport Photos Invoices Postcards day the Lord has made, Let us rejoice Logos Presentations Letterhead and be glad. Those are good words.” siness Carddss Public Com Finally, I inquired about the tragic loss Candice suffered fairly recently.

UPS FedEx Office Supplies “In February of 2013 I had a baby boy,” she said. “Kelvin Arthur. On May 4th, Karee and I went to Sun Valley for a gig and he passed away in his sleep. He was a SIDS baby; he was nine weeks old.”

“Because I made her go to the gig,” said Karee.

“Not because Karee made me go to a gig,” countered Candice.

“Everybody was supposed to go to inff o@pea in o@peakk printin printingg .ne .nett the gig,” said Karee, “but Chad [Can208-33 5 4 -733 208-73377 dice’s husband] wanted to stay back, and so did my mother-in-law. So I said, ‘We need to go to this gig,’ and we got in

Peak Printing 76 S First Driggs, Idaho Mon-Fri 10 to 5

24

magazine

SUMMER 2015

ABOVE: THE MIILLER SISTERS ACOUSTIC DUO IS ONE OF THREE OR FOUR BAND VARIATIONS KAREE AND CANDICE ARE INVOLVED IN. RIGHT: CANDICE’S CLOSET SPILLS OVER WITH OUTFIT OPTIONS, BOTH PAST AND POTENTIAL.

the car and we went to Sun Valley. All the way there we were saying we didn’t feel right about it.”

“He’d be two February 26,” Candice said; “he was born on Johnny Cash’s birthday. The first year people would come up to me at a show and want to give me a necklace or something … tell me a story about when they went to check on their eighteen-month old daughter and she didn’t wake up.”

“Letting her know that she’s not alone,” added Karee. “Because you feel so all alone, you know?

“You have to get to a point where you say, ‘I’m going to just move forward,’” Candice said. “You have got to think about that every day in your life, but do you say, ‘Well, I had two, but …’?

Or do you say, ‘I have just one beautiful, healthy girl,’ and move into your conversation? It’s a constant.” She

Suncloud Suncloud • Smith • Carhar tt • Dansko • Temple Fork Fly Rods • Patagonia

Cloudveil • Huckleberry Mountain• • Native Native Eyewear Eyewear •• Pistil Cloudveil •• Huckleberry Mountain Pistil• • Patagonia Huckleberry Products

Homeofof Home THEWorld WorldFamous Famous THE HuckleberryMilkshake Milkshake Huckleberry IDAHO SOUVENIRS IDAHO SOUVENIRS FLYSHOP FLYSHOP GIFTS •FLYSHOP CLOTHING SUNGLASSES • HATS T-SHIRTS • HATS SUNGLASSES • HATS SHOES • GIFTS • T-SHIRTS SUNGLASSES SHOES • GIFTS• •SHOES T-SHIRTS ESPRESSO • JEWELRY IDAHO SOUVENIRS

Can you believe we got all this at the Emporium?

ESPRESSO • JEWELRY ESPRESSO

208-787-2221

Located in downtown Victor, ID Open 7 days a week

208-787-2221

LocatedJackson in downtown Victor, ~ Just 30 minutes from downtown Hole ~ ID

• Te m p l e F o r k F l y R o d s •

Open 7 days a week

S m a r t Wo o l • L a k e n • R a p a l a • S p o r t i f f

•

~ Just 30 minutes from downtown Jackson Hole ~

Patagonia C l o u d v e i l • Smartwool S m a r t W o o•l Toys • L a•z y One • S t•o Suncloud rmy Krom er • • P iPistil stil Bogs Boots • TEVA

S u n c l o u d • S m i t h • C a r h a r t t • D a n s k o • Te m p l e F o r k F l y R o d s •

C l o u d v e i l • S m a r t Wo o l • L a z y O n e • S t o r m y K ro m e r • P i s t i l

paused, then continued with a deep sigh and tears: “But then there’s good things. Like our Saint Bernard, who was nine and a half. He had bone cancer. I had this really good dream that Kelvin would have this big fluffy white dog to fly around on. That would be good.

“Last year in February for [Kelvin’s] birthday, Chad and I went to the cemetery out there on Cedron [Road] in the morning. We took Mary Jane. And we took red roses and spread them out across the snow on a trail and it was really pretty and it was sunny and it was all white. Afterward, Karee and I met at Ben Winship’s studio and recorded twenty-two hymns in three hours.”

“So, that’s what we did,” said Karee.

“And that’s going to come out sometime [soon]. Candice, this is what I was talking about—this kind of thing only happens to people who can handle it … you are the strength that others don’t have.

It’s hard to explain, but I think that you get given … “… life experiences …” said Candice. “… for a purpose,” Karee said, completing their shared thought; “and that is to help others. That’s what I think we do with our music. It’s not about the fame and fortune, because what we have is so much more than that. And it always will be.”

• Temple Fork Fly Rods • SmartWool Smar tWool ••Suncloud Laken • •Rapala tiff • Rapala•• Spor Sportiff SUMMER 2015

magazine 25

our neighbors

Tweens and Teens

Summer Jobs, Teton Valley-style From patching tents to pouring shakes, kids get grins while earning some green

BY KATE HULL PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMYE CHRISMAN

26

magazine

SUMMER 2015

S

acking groceries, mowing lawns, babysitting, moving irrigation pipe …

Teton Valley teens have a number of ways to earn a little cash when school isn’t in session. But for some, the months of summer are more than just a time to bolster their bank accounts; they’re an opportunity to pursue a budding passion, learn a new sport, or spend time with good friends in a fun atmosphere.

Late last August, on the shirttails of fall, I spent a few afternoons with local teens wrapping up their summer jobs. One earned his ticket to explore the Beaverhead Mountains while honing his backcountry skills. Another shadowed a Teton Valley bike tech. And a pair of girls enjoyed their final summer of serving a favorite local sweet treat to visitors from near and far.

PHOTO, THIS PAGE: KATE HULL

Earning His Keep Ryan Hutton, now sixteen years old and going into his junior year, spent the summer of 2014 as an intern for the Teton Valley branch of the National Outdoor Leadership School. An acknowledged leader in wilderness education, the Lander, Wyoming-based NOLS takes students of all ages on remote wilderness expeditions, teaching them outdoor skills, leadership, and environmental ethics.

When I caught up with him, Ryan had just returned from a month-long combined course where he backpacked for eighteen days in the Beaverhead Mountains on the border of Idaho and Montana, and then rafted the Salmon River. But here’s the catch: Ryan had to earn it.

With help and encouragement from his dad, Derek, a head fly fishing guide at WorldCast Anglers and manager of Grand Targhee’s ski and snowboard school, Ryan arranged for an internship through NOLS assistant director Dan Verbeten, so he could work and pay for his course. Ryan was also the recipient of a local scholarship funded by the Tin Cup Challenge, the Community Foundation of Teton Valley’s annual philanthropic event.

On any given day, you could find Ryan in the Issue Room, making sure it was fully stocked with tents, wind jackets, maps, and anything else a student may need for his or her upcoming course. He also learned how to make repairs; when I stopped by to chat, Ryan had been busy fixing and check-

ing stoves before they were handed out.

“You are setting people up to go live in the woods without a shower or a house,” he said of his work at the branch. “I thought that was cool. While working here, I got to see the technical side of everything NOLS does to make courses happen, and then I went on my course and I got to see it all come together.”

While he was on his course, Ryan said, a few tents fell victim to a wildlife visitor—most likely a bear—while his group was out hiking, leaving some of them with holes and tears. Thanks to his experience at the Teton Valley branch mending gear, Ryan was able to come to the rescue and apply what he had learned by patching the tents.

OPPOSITE: HARLAN KNOBLAUCH IS ALL SMILES IN HIS NATURAL HABITAT. BELOW: RYAN HUTTON, MANNING THE ISSUE ROOM AT NOLS’ TETON VALLEY BRANCH.

Switching Gears Inside Habitat (“High Altitude Provisions”) on Main Street in Driggs, tech nuts and outdoor fanatics work hard to ensure that Teton Valley residents and visitors are geared up for whatever adventure is in store. In the winter, the staffers pride themselves on being “your intergalactic powder headquarters,” meaning they offer all the tools needed to play in the deep snow. Come summer, you’ll find the latest mountain bikes from top-of-the-line brands like Santa Cruz and Kona, along with a topnotch group of bike gurus to service them.

That’s where Harlan Knoblauch comes in. Seventeen years old and going into his senior year in 2015–16, SUMMER 2015

magazine 27

Time For New Paint?

Open 7:30am-5:30pm Mon-Fri 8am-3pm Sat 208.787.WOOD • 9 Sagebrush Drive • Victor, Idaho

Custom Publishing

Put our expertise to work for you. friends of the

wat e r l i n e s FALL/WINTER

2014

Partnerships Matter 2015-16 EXPLOR

ER

Ramblings Snake River

ectory r & Service Dir Visitor Planne Directory Membership

Graphic design, Project management Writing/editing, copyediting Pre-press preparation services INC

POWDER MOUNTAIN PRESS 208 354 3466

info@powdermountainpress.com

28

magazine

SUMMER 2015

Harlan has spent the past two summers learning bike maintenance from tech pro Troy Olson. Harlan is sometimes behind the scene, bringing bikes to and from storage, acting as Troy’s extra eyes and ears, and ensuring that customers are taken care of, especially during the busy summer days.

“It is a great environment,” Harlan said. “I am learning and getting into a new sport. If Troy is too busy, I can change a tire, grab bikes, or whatever needs to be done. There is always something. I am moving in the direction of learning basic tuning, too.”

Although Harlan has many friends who are busy landscaping or bagging groceries, he prefers the relaxed, fun vibe of Habitat and the friendly crew, like shop manager Mitch Prissel. His favorite part of the job is the environment; a close second is the excellent bonus of discounts on gear purchases.

“It just fits in with what I am passionate about,” he said. Although he still skis more than he bikes, Harlan says he is enjoying learning the ropes of a new sport, and he hopes to expand his bike knowledge even further this summer.

A Sweet Deal

Creating a Legacy www. teton water

.org

1

Eight miles up the road from Driggs, the Victor Emporium is hustling and bustling with happy tourists anxiously awaiting a coveted huckleberry milkshake, or perusing potential keepsakes to take home as souvenirs. The oldtimey ice cream and soda shop has been around since 1949, selling “world famous” milkshakes, outdoor gear, toys, postcards, flies and tackle, and more.

SHERIDAN SACHSE (LEFT) AND SAVANNAH LUCAS WORE MANY DIFFERENT HATS DURING THEIR TENURES AT THE VICTOR EMPORIUM.

On a busy summer day, the shop whips up anywhere from three hundred to five hundred milkshakes. But on the 4th of July in 2014, they broke a store record by serving 905 milkshakes, huckleberry being the most requested.

When I stopped by, the enterprise had just received a two hundred-gallon order of the sweet, wild berries.

Just as enjoyable as the shop and its contents are its friendly staffers, like Savannah Lucas and Sheridan Sachse. I met with them when it was near closing time, so I wouldn’t interrupt the busy ice cream hours. As we chatted about their summer, I learned that both young women were starting college later in the fall, and that they expected to miss their days at the iconic store.

“I really enjoy the people I work with, and the free ice cream isn’t bad, either,” said Sheridan. She took the job, she added, to work with a friend and be in a fun, enjoyable atmosphere.

When she does take advantage of the free ice-cream perks, her favorite is plain-Jane vanilla. But when it comes to the milkshakes, she said, she’ll opt to slurp down a Muddy River, a fudge-andpeanut-butter combo that tastes like a cold, liquid Reese’s candy bar.

With ten to twelve employees during the busy summer months, newcomers start behind the ice cream counter before moving on to tasks like manning the cash register.

“There is always something that makes each day different,” Savannah said. Her favorite part of the job, she added with a smile, is the tips—an act encouraged by a handmade sign sitting on the cash register that urges customers to help send the young employees to college.

Despite the hundreds of daily customers and overwhelming amount of milkshake orders, both girls said they know the regulars and enjoy predicting what they’ll order when they see them walk through the door.

So, stop by this summer for a cool treat, and don’t forget to tip!

CORNER DRUG 10 S. Main, Driggs • 208-354-2334

OLD-FASHIONED SODA FOUNTAIN • pharmacy • lime freezes • huckleberry milk shakes • specialty toys • children’s books • fish & game licenses • • sporting goods • hand-tied flies • Idaho souvenirs

Susan Rose

TE TO N VA L L E Y F E S T I VA L O F A RT I S T S

JULY TH-AUGUST ST  PAINT OUTS | QUICK DRAWS | PORTRAITS MINIATURES | DEMONSTRATIONS AWARDS GALA | CITY GALLERY Katy Ann Fox

QUICK DRAW AT MUSIC ON MAIN JULY TH CITY GALLERY OPEN DAILY

WWW.DRIGGSPLEINAIR.ORG Workshop Artist Dave Santillanes

SUMMER 2015

magazine 29

our neighbors

Back When

Canyon Echoes Darby Girls Camp creates memories while shaping character

BY LIZA B. WILSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMYE CHRISMAN

“There is no one alive who is youer than you.” –Dr. Seuss When he penned those thoughts, Dr. Seuss could have been corresponding to the nearly three hundred girls from the Driggs Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who attended the Darby Girls Camp in July 2014. His words set the perfect theme for these young girls as they came to experience nature, learn about themselves, and make plans for their future.

When we visited the camp, girls were flowing like rivulets giving in to Mother Gravity as they coursed their 30

magazine

SUMMER 2015

way to the flag ceremony. Dr. Seuss quotes were posted along the path and the campsites resembled a slice of Whoville proper, with explosions of color sprouting like wildflowers.

Every week during the summer a different group of girls from surrounding stakes of the LDS Church arrive at Darby Girls Camp to occupy the log cabins, cook over a campfire, put on skits, learn crafts, zip down the huge slide, and go “snipe hunting.” The Darby site has been the designated camp

since 1950, when the Teton, Idaho Falls, and Shelley LDS Stakes joined forces with the Forest Service to create a permanent site for the girls’ youth groups summer camping experience. Since then, thousands of girls have enjoyed the pine-scented air, the grand expanse of the Milky Way, and the extravagant scenery of the Teton Range. They have been taught how to care for public land and move to the rhythm of nature, away from everyday distractions.

The girls can become certified in camping skills such as fire-building, camp cooking, and lashing logs for a latrine. The fourth-year girls are “The Lights,” who get an extra day at the beginning for activities like backpacking or whitewater rafting. By helping the younger girls and other leaders during the week, they enhance their leadership skills.

One can hardly say Darby Girls Camp without mentioning Fred Miller in the same sentence. Fred was there from the beginning, leading hikes and teaching, teaching, teaching … without preaching. He knew the names of the flowers, the birds, the mosses and lichens, and how the landscape was altered by glaciers.

Pam Wilson Wood has tender recollections of the man. “One of the fondest memories of my time at camp was the opportunity to hike with a group of girls to the Wind and Ice caves. We were led on our hike by Fred, who was

patient, kind, and always encouraging.

On this particular hike, I remember coming along a ridge where the view was breathtaking and beautiful. As we stopped and looked out over the mountains and valley, Brother Miller asked us to imagine a box full of watch parts. He asked how long it would take us to shake those parts in order to get them to come together to make a watch. Of course, the answer was they would never come together no matter how long we shook the box. Then he asked us, ‘Can you believe these beautiful creations could just come together in a great big boom? How could we have this beautiful world without a Creator?’ Then we sang ‘How Great Thou Art.’ This was a very profound and inspiring experience for me. I have never forgotten the feelings of that day.”

Representing over 150 American artisans

208-354-GIFT(4438) Open 10-6 six days a week Closed Tuesdays 160 E. Little Ave. Driggs, Idaho www.guchiebirds.com SUMMER 2015

magazine 31

Healthcare for your family. full time orthopedics family care general surgery pain management neurology telepsychiatry nutrition well baby chronic disease care and so much more

Lightning Strikes August 1, 1951: What began as a beautiful summer day in Darby Canyon turned to tragedy, an event that’s seared into the memories of campers from the Idaho Falls LDS Stake.

Open 7 days/week

At about 7 a.m., more than forty girls, along with their leaders, packed lunches and, under the direction of Fred Miller, hiked off toward the Wind and Ice caves.

Near noon they stashed their lunches and went into the Wind Cave. The plan was to explore the cave, then eat lunch and move on to the Ice Cave.

On exiting the cave, however, the group was met by foreboding rain clouds.

www.tvhcare.org

(208) 354-2302 • 283 North First East, Driggs

They took cover under some tall pine trees.

Rain turned to hail, followed by a loud clap of thunder and a lightning strike. Some of the hikers were thrown down the hill out of harm’s way; others were burned and dazed.

Tragically, four girls and one leader were

14TOP TO BOTTOM 26TEENS AND TWEENS

burned so badly that after immediate first34GROWING THINGS 54OUT BELOW 60FAR FLUNG 64LOCAL FLAVORS 72EXPOSUR E

aid they died from their injuries.

At first, some were concerned that Dar-

$10/year

SUMMER 2015

COMPLIMENTARY COPY

2 issues | Summer & Winter Band of Sisters

Subscribe

Lucky Dogs BicycLe centraL HigH–tecH HiDe & seek

Love Us on Facebook

GTR_full_page_2015_summer_TVM_out

.indd 1

magazine

the incident. Instead, the event has evolved into an integral teaching opportunity. A monument was erected at the consecrated site and the hike to it is now known as the

TODAY!

Monument Hike. Every year, as a new group

CALL 208.354.3466 or go to TetonValleyMagazine.com

fragility of life, and to live each day as if it

4/9/2015 2:56:11 PM

32

by Girls Camp would be abandoned due to

SUMMER 2015

SUMMER 2014

magazine 3

follows the trail to the caves and hears the story of that fateful day in 1951, the girls are reminded of the power of nature and the were their last.

Located across from Teton Valley Hospital on the corner of Howard and 2nd St. in Driggs

ABOVE: A CAMP SCENE, CIRCA 1960.

OPPOSITE: SAGE CURREN COOKING UP S’MORES ON A CAMPFIRE.

Lifetime friendships have taken root under the canopy of pines in Darby Canyon. “My years at Darby Girls Camp have had a lasting influence in my life because of the leaders who made my time [there] a special growing and learning experience,” says Peggy Durtschi Wyman. “I remember Peggy Jensen, the Stake Camp Director. I first met Peggy at camp when I was twelve years old, and immediately felt close to her. Peggy was warm and loving and funny! She made me feel like I was a very important girl. I always looked forward to Girls Camp because Peggy would be there.

Forty-eight years after meeting, we still keep in touch through our annual family newsletters. Peggy is now nearing eighty and still active and having fun.”

PHOTO: COURTESY OF JOYCE DRIGGS EDLEFSEN

“You’re off to great places. Today is your day. Your mountain is waiting. So get on your way.” –Dr. Seuss Over the past sixty-five years many improvements have been made. The tents share space with cabins and latrines have given way to bathrooms with showers. The aura remains the same, however: the smell of pines, the sound of the birds, the gurgling water, and new memories and friendships forged each year.

Darby Girls Camp is open for public use on weekends and during the last weeks of August for family reunions and other gatherings. Scheduling information may be obtained by emailing DarbyCamp@ldsmail.net.

www.tetonvalleybiblechurch.org

PHYSICAL THERAPY FITNESS GYM MASSAGE THERAPY COUNSELING BIOFEEDBACK SPEECH THERAPY

LIFE MOVES 208-354-3128 | highpeaksphysicaltherapy.com 500 Ski Hill Rd. Driggs, ID 83422 SUMMER 2015

magazine 33

our neighbors

Growing Things

Organic Chemistry Both hosts and guests give and receive during these farm stays

BY MEL PARADIS PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMYE CHRISMAN

34

magazine

SUMMER 2015

G

rowing up on a shady Chicago city lot, I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know much about growing things. So, after moving to Teton Valley, meeting my husband, and purchasing our Tetonia home and starting a garden, my perspectives on life expanded greatly. The organization known as World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) has become an amazing agent in cultivating that change.

WWOOF is a group of independent agencies in different countries that connect volunteers to gardens and farms where labor is needed. At its most basic level, in exchange for free labor, hosts give volunteers a place to stay and food to eat.

At its heart, though, WWOOF is an exchange of knowledge and cultures.

For our 2011 honeymoon, Jeff and I dreamed of going to Italy. We didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just want to see art and churches; we wanted to experience the culture. This is when a friend turned me onto WWOOF. I did some research and found I could learn about Italian-style home cooking, while Jeff could get his physical-activity fix through farm work. I signed up with WWOOF Italia and found Cimbolello, a fifteen-acre farm in Umbria with vineyards, olive groves, sheep, and a small vegetable garden. Francesco, Luisa, and their twenty-something sons, Nico and Sebastiano, took us in and treated us like family. They taught us how to sheer sheep with scissors, make cheese, and set up drip watering systems. For our part, I gave a lesson in making flour tortillas, while Jeff set up a bucket system for sprouting grains to feed the chickens.

“The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings.”

—Masanobu Fukuoka, The One Straw Revolution

During the day we worked the land.

By night, we sat at the kitchen table sipping wine while boisterously discussing politics and world views. The highlight of our stay was an excursion to a nearby hot springs. We almost felt back home in the hot water, except for the knowledge that the concrete pools had been built by the Romans two thousand years ago. We left Cimbolello filled with new ideas for our garden and anxious to share the experience with others.

The following summer, I got on the WWOOF–USA website and signed up as a host “farm.” While we do not have a proper farm, the footprint of our garden beds is larger than the footprint of our home. Each year, in addition to the sometimes overwhelming task of prepping garden beds and planting seeds, we have a list of projects we hope to accomplish. The four WWOOFers we have hosted have helped us out tremendously with these ventures.

Our first WWOOFers, David and Aly, were a young road-tripping couple from Wisconsin who arrived in midJuly. After battling through quackgrass to relocate our strawberry patch, they assisted in fencing a newly expanded chicken run. When not working, David and Aly toured the Tetons and enjoyed a respite from life on the road.

The next WWOOFer we hosted was my cousin Sean. He had heard us talk about our experiences and asked if he could come stay with us after his college graduation. An Agriculture Business Management major, Sean came in full of knowledge and enthusiasm. While prepping beds and planting seeds, he helped us think up new ways to extend our growing season.

When his hands weren’t in the dirt, he was a tremendous help with our infant daughter, Sylvia.

A few months after Sean left, Eva, a young French woman on a multimonth tour of the United States and Canada, arrived. During her ten-day fall stay, we harvested vegetables, planted garlic, pounded posts for fences, and built four new raised beds. She bonded with Sylvia and sang French lullabies to her. Eva had one dream for her visit to the area: to experience Yellowstone National Park. Because of the time of year, tours were scarce and expensive.

Jeff and I hadn’t been into Yellowstone in over five years, so we decided that a loop around the park with an overnight was in order. We felt nostalgia for our trip to Italy as things came full circle when we introduced Eva to her first hot springs, Boiling River, which pours into the Gardner River north of Mammoth Hot Springs.

Each WWOOFer staying with us has given our family far more than labor.

David and Aly reminded us of the simplicity of life. Sean’s quest for knowledge and zeal for agriculture got us excited about future projects. Eva made us stop and reconnect with the beauty of where we live. I’m confident that the next WWOOFers to visit our home, as well as WWOOFing trips of our own, will continue to cultivate and improve us as a family.

Visit wwoofusa.org to learn how to “Start WWOOFING!” as it says on the home page.

OPPOSITE PAGE: THE AUTHOR’S COUSIN, SEAN FLYNN, HARVESTING GARLIC. TOP: FREE-RANGE CHICKENS, PICKING OUT THE PECKING ORDER. ABOVE: THE AUTHOR (WITH PITCHFORK) AND EVA IMPERATORI OF FRANCE, DIGGING CARROTS.

SUMMER 2015

magazine 35

Lucky Dogs

“Happiness is a warm puppy.”

–Charles M. Schultz

only thing on “A dog is the s you more Earth that love himself.” than he loves –Josh Billings

36

magazine

SUMMER 2015

Could there be a better place to be a canine?

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMYE CHRISMAN

Hounds that live out their days in Teton Valley are lucky dogs, indeed. We have water, snow, trees, trails, wide-open spacesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; in short, pretty much everything dogs love.

We boast at least five veterinarians working in three practices, one in Victor, one in Driggs, and one wherever you would like her to be (mobile, that is). We have a very active nonprofit community animal shelter, four food-and-toy centers, several kennels, trainers, at least two groomers, and even a dedicated dog-washing station.

Bow-WOW!

SUMMER 2015

magazine 37

“The average dog is a nicer person than the average person.”

–Andy Rooney

“Dogs are not our whole life, bu t they make our live s whole.”

–Roger A. Cara s

you “Whoever said iness pp Ha y bu can’t puppies.” forgot little –Gene Hill 38

magazine

SUMMER 2015

PT = 205 + 98.52

PT = 205 + 98.52

205 + 00

PC = 204 + 96.48

205 + 00

PC = 204 + 96.48

20.00

y, all of “In times of jo ssessed a us wish we po wag.” tail we could n de –W.H. Au

20.00 204 + 00

204 + 00

THE LOGIC BEHIND THE INSPIRATION Civil Engineering Land THESurveying LOGIC Land Use Planning Information Technology Civil Engineering

For every home, community, or road traveled, Jorgensen Associates has a solution. We BEHIND THE INSPIRATION

create the foundation on which your inspiration becomes reality.

For every ahome, community, or road traveled,

Land Surveying Jorgensen Associates has a solution. We DRIGGS, ID 208.354.8330 JACKSON, WY 307.733.5150 Land Use Planning create the foundation on which your inspiration Information Technology becomes a reality.

DRIGGS, ID 208.354.8330

JACKSON, WY 307.733.5150

“The face of a golden retriever feels like home.”

–David Rosenfelt

SUMMER 2015

magazine 39

GTR_PropertyManagment_TVM_out.indd 1

4/9/2015 3:04:14 PM

Eat Well Play Hard

Natural Grocer

Smoothie & Juice Bar

Open Daily 9-7

Juice Bar Hours 9-2

As Fresh As It Gets

Local • Specialty • Organic • Wine & Beer • Raw Milk • Bulk Items Grab & Go Prepared Foods • Vitamins & Supplements • Gifts • Pet Foods

36 S. Main, Driggs, ID • 208.354.2307 Text Your Juice or Smoothie Pre-order to 208.329.5573

40

magazine

SUMMER 2015

inced that “... I am conv think gs basically do .” ts nu humans are k ec –John Steinb

PHOTO: GRIFFITH / COURTESY OF BLACK DIAMOND EQUIPMENT

“Everything I know, I learned from dogs.”

–Nora Roberts

GET OUT AND EXPLORE The complete store for all your outdoor needs OPEN DAILY 9-6 AT OUR NEW LOCATION! 110 E LITTLE AVENUE DRIGGS IDAHO 208-354-2828 YOSTMARK.COM

since 1992

Great Rates on Vacation Rentals Our location offers phenomenal views and easy access to Grand Targhee Resort, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, and Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.

f rentals for all seasons b Condos • Cozy Cabins • Luxury Homes Short-term, monthly, and long-term rentals

www.grandvalleylodging.com 1-800-746-5518 P.O. Box 191 • 158 North 1st Street East Driggs, Idaho 83422 SUMMER 2015

magazine 41

Teton Valley’s reputation as a year-round cycling destination is growing strong

BY GARY CHRISMAN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMYE CHRISMAN

he abundant outdoor sports and recreational activities close at hand are why many people choose to call Teton Valley home. They’re also what persuade a growing number of visitors every year to come and spend vacation time here. No matter the season of the year, there are outdoor pursuits to go along with it.

One of the few activities that can be enjoyed the year around is cycling. Wait a minute—cycling, as in riding a bicycle, a four-season activity? More and more it’s true, among a growing number of two-wheeled aficionados.

Those seeking the thrill and challenge of singletrack mountain biking have numerous options in the area. Looking high above the east side of the valley we have Grand Targhee Resort, voted the Best Bike Park in the Northwest in the mtbparks.com 2013 Rider Choice Awards. Here’s what they had to say: “Grand Targhee began offering lift-access biking sometime before the summer of 1994, but that was only on the Teton Traverse. … During the summer of 2007 the resort began to focus on the addition of downhill mountain-bike trails, [then, in] 2012 the resort really got serious and began work on improving and adding trails within the entire trail system … Not only has Targhee provided dedicated areas 42

magazine

SUMMER 2015

for different kinds of users, making the experience better for everyone, the resort has also worked hard to incorporate the natural flow and topographical features into the trail design.”

Still far better known for its powder-covered slopes come winter, Grand Targhee and its trail crew, headed up by trail-designing wizard Andy Williams, have indeed worked hard the past few years to create an incredible place to ride a mountain bike. To date, the network features more than 47 miles of cross-country and lift-accessed downhill trails; trails with names like Perma-Grin, Chutes & Ladders, Otter Slide, and Ain’t Life Grand just beg riders to come and explore. Looking for the ultimate downhill ride? Take the Dreamcatcher chairlift to the summit of Fred’s Mountain and connect trails back down to the base of the resort. Or, for cross-country riding, try out the 27-mile Grand Targhee Loop, which incorporates several trails and in 2014 received the prestigious “Epic Ride” designation from the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA). Add in the mesmerizing views of the Teton Range, stunning displays of wildflowers, and cool mountain air, and you can see why this is a premier riding destination that will only continue to grow in popularity as word spreads. (Bike rentals, skills instruction, and guide services are available at the resort.)

FROM SINGLETRACK TRAILS WINDING THROUGH GROVES OF SHIMMERING ASPEN IN THE FOOTHILLS TO SMOOTH PAVEMENT AT THE LOWER ELEVATIONS, TETON VALLEY HAS SOMETHING FOR JUST ABOUT ANY RIDER.

SUMMER 2015

magazine 43

“Whoever invented the bicycle deserves the thanks of humanity.”

–Lord Charles Beresford, former British admiral and member of Parliament

Summer 2015 biking events at Grand Targhee include the Montana Enduro Series race The Grand Enduro on August 2 (it’s the only one of the six-event series scheduled to take place outside of the namesake state); the 7th Annual Pierre’s Hole 50/100 cross country race on August 15; and the Wydaho Rendezvous Teton Mountain Bike Festival slated for Labor Day weekend (September 4–7). This will be the sixth year for the festival, put on by the nonprofit organization Teton Valley Trails and Pathways (TVTAP).

So, that’s the summer cycling scene at Grant Targhee.

Come winter, is it all skis and snowboards at the resort?

Not anymore. Besides offering world class skiing, Grand Targhee Resort became the first resort in North America to

THE ASHTON-TETONIA TRAIL, A GREAT OPTION FOR RIDERS OF ALL EXPERIENCE LEVELS, DISHES UP MARVELOUS VISTAS AND BREATHTAKING BRIDGES.

open its Nordic trails to fat bikes, one of the newer niches of the cycling world. Like overgrown mountain bikes, fat bikes are specially designed to accept extra large, four- to five-inch-wide tires, which allow for both flotation and traction on packed snow trails. Trail guru Williams was often hard at work this past winter aboard a snowmobile, towing a 30-inch wide turf roller to groom a new fat-bike specific singletrack trail named Jolly Green Giant. One of a handful of such groomed snow-bike trails in the country, it dishes up a unique and amazingly fun winter experience.

More and more, fat bikes are also being used in summer for riding on dirt and sand, and for taking some of the technicality out of technical singletracks. You don’t yet own a fat bike, and not even sure you want to? Take a test ride on a rental, available at Grand Targhee and also at all three valley bike shops, Habitat and Peaked Sports, both in Driggs, and Fitzgerald’s Bicycles in Victor.

Another place to ride singletrack in summer, and packed 44

magazine

SUMMER 2015

snowmobile trails come winter, is in the Big Hole Range, which stands above the west side of the valley. One the most popular and enjoyable areas for riders to visit is Horseshoe Canyon, where volunteers have partnered with the Teton Basin Ranger District of the U.S. Forest Service to build, improve, and maintain numerous trails. “I am very impressed and appreciative with the willingness of mountain bikers in this valley to volunteer their time and energy to help maintain and build multi-use trails,” says Scott Bossell, trails program manager for the ranger district. “With increased demand on trails, building them to be sustainable is very important for the environment.”

Singletrack trails of increasing quality can also be found at the southern end of the valley; for instance, the Pole Canyon and Mike Harris area trails have recently undergone work to make them more mountainbiker friendly. Winter fat bike riding opportunities are also available in these areas. (For more information on places to ride in the valley, as well as on Teton Pass and in Jackson Hole, go to tetonmtb.com or visit one of the bike shops mentioned above.)

Those looking for paved riding options in the valley can hit the eight-mile rail-trail between Victor and Driggs, which provides an enjoyable experience for all ages and skill levels. Parents bring the kids and their bikes, or hook up the chariot for the toddlers, to ride this smooth, car-free, gently graded pathway. It makes up about a third of the popular 25-mile Cedron-Bates valley loop road ride. The 12-mile climb from downtown Driggs to Grand Targhee Resort should also be on every roadie’s list. With its marvelous views of the Grand Teton and elevation gain of around 2,000 feet, this is a classic ride that’s breathtaking in more than one way.

Another area popular for road riding is the network of farm roads north and east of State Highway 32 between Tetonia and Ashton. A good place to park and access these low-traffic byways is at the old Lamont grain elevator, situated roughly four miles northwest of the Bitch Creek bridge.

You say you’re looking for a “century ride” (100-miler) to work up to? The adventure known as “around the block” is calling your name. Circumnavigating the Snake River Range,

In October 2014 I had the opportunity, along with my wife Jamye and friend Micheal Woodruff, to take a bikepacking excursion on a portion of Adventure Cycling Association’s new Idaho Hot Springs Mountain Bike Route (IHSMBR). Our approximately 220-mile “lollipop loop” started in Ketchum and headed west up to the old mining community of Atlanta, then back to Ketchum. Our trip was a total of seven days, one of them a layover day at a Boise National Forest campground located about a mile from Atlanta (population 19). We were blessed with a week of no rain and temps ranging from just below freezing on a couple of nights to daytime highs reaching into the upper sixties. The fall colors on this trip were as bright and vibrant as I have ever seen. Color therapy at its best!

The first big pass we had to climb out of Ketchum was 8,700-foot Dollarhide SumTHE IDAHO HOT SPRINGS MOUNTAIN BIKE ROUTE

mit. Riding a loaded bike while also towing

ENCOMPASSES A TOTAL OF 745 MILES OF GRAV-

a heavy trailer made climbing this and the

EL ROADS AND SINGLETRACK TRAILS IN THE

other passes on the trip no small feat. But it

WEST-CENTRAL MOUNTAINS. INFO: ADVENTURE

was a challenge I welcomed with every pedal

CYCLING.ORG

stroke. (A lot of riders are going with ultralight setups, which makes the daytime riding easier but the nighttime camping potentially less comfortable. Go to bikepacking.net to view some examples of riders’ kits.)

Atlanta and another small community, Featherville, both offered a few basic services with friendly owners and helpful employees who were appreciative of our patronage.

Featherville just might have the best pizza in Idaho! The natural hot springs we soaked in were some of the finest any of us had experienced; hot, clean, and in beautiful settings.

Dirt-road bike touring is a truly special way to travel and to experience new, offthe-beaten-track places. With very little vehicle traffic to worry about on many of these unpaved back roads, it is easy to get into a relaxed and peaceful place while riding. For me, this type of self-supported riding and camping has become the holy grail of bicycling. After assembling the right clothing and equipment, I feel like I can ride forever, needing only to stop periodically to resupply food and water. Oh, and to take advantage of the occasional laundromat and shower.

We have plans to ride additional portions of the IHSMBR in the future. I can hardly wait!

SUMMER 2015

magazine 45

REGARDLESS OF THE SEASON, TETON VALLEY, AS WELL AS POINTS NORTH AND WEST IN IDAHO, OFFER SOME OF AMERICA’S BEST CYCLING.

the ride takes cyclists up and over both Teton Pass and Pine Creek Pass and through the town of Alpine, Wyoming.

Getting back to the dirt, riders wanting more options should check out the Tetonia to Ashton Rail Trail, a 30-mile packed dirt and gravel trail appropriate for cyclists of nearly all abilities. Gravel roads leading up into the Teton foothills also branch off the rail-trail at various points, providing more opportunities for exploration. The extensive network of unpaved farm roads in the valley proper also offers great riding throughout the year, weather permitting. Riding on dirt and gravel roads such as these has recently evolved into its own sub-genre of cycling, called “gravel grinding” by some. (And which others insist needs a new name—adventure riding?—because of the arduous implications of a “grind.” It can actually be a lot more fun than that.)

“If I can help spread the love for adventure riding, that’s what I want to do. –Jay Petervary Micheal Woodruff, a fourth-generation valley resident and the newly hired bike-rental shop manager at Grand Targhee, notes that in recent years he has seen a growing trend of people getting into bikepacking, or multi-day offpavement touring. His favorite local bikepacking route is the three-day, two-night “Big Hole hot springs loop.” Starting in Teton Valley, the ride more or less encircles the Big Hole Range, following dirt roads for the most part, with a little pavement and singletrack thrown in for good measure.

Nights can be spent at the campgrounds associated with Heise Hot Springs and Green Canyon Hot Springs.

Riders seeking a bikepacking experience can also look to the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR), a 2,700mile route that extends from Banff, Alberta, to the border of Mexico at Antelope Wells, New Mexico. The GDMBR comes within about 40 miles of Driggs, as it follows the AshtonFlagg Road west from Ashton into Wyoming. The route was mapped, following existing roads and trails, in the mid-1990s 46

magazine

SUMMER 2015

by the Montana-based, 48,000-member Adventure Cycling Association. Coincidentally, Michael McCoy, the route’s architect, and professional cyclist Jay Petervary, who holds the record time in the Tour Divide race that follows the route, are both Teton Valley residents. [Full disclosure: McCoy is also the editor of this magazine.] Information on the route may be found at adventurecycling.org.

Ultra-endurance cycling champ Petervary—he has tackled multiple Iditarod races and Tour Divides—is also helping to promote winter fat-bike riding and summer bikepacking in the region by organizing a pair of events in the Island Park area. JayP’s Backyard Fat Pursuit takes place the second weekend in January, while JayP’s Backyard Gravel Pursuit (“bear spray might be required”) is slated to take place September 26 and 27.

Petervary’s impetus for organizing these events? “I am at a point in my life, riding, and career that I just want to share what I feel I have been lucky to experience,” he says. “I am very fortunate with where I live, and where both disciplines of riding snow and riding gravel have taken me—and not just physically, but as a person. I want to help educate others so they too can have great ‘Adventure by Bike’ experiences [that’s the motto of Salsa Cycles, one of Petervary’s sponsors]. Launching these two events provides all of these things, and that sense of giving back is equally as satisfying to me as finishing any adventure I set out to do. If I can help spread the love for adventure riding and help others embrace it, that’s what I want to do.”

We are fortunate to have organizations in the area dedicated to the development and maintenance of trails and paths. It is the mission of the nonprofit TVTAP to promote trails and a pathways-connected community. Last year, organization members and volunteers contributed more than 1,000 work hours to local trails and paths. TVTAP, which has published a guidebook for area rides, is also responsible for the winter grooming of many of the Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, and fat bike trails around the valley. Visit tvtap.org for more info.

Another organization, Mountain Bike the Tetons (MBT), is the area chapter of the 35,000-member IMBA, the largest

and longest-standing mountain bike advocacy organization in the country. The local chapter’s mission is to enhance recreational and economic opportunities for the Teton region through the development of mountain biking resources.

“We are 100 percent dirt-focused,” says MBT executive director Amanda Carey. “Having an IMBA chapter that connects the mountain biking community [here] to a national organization allows us to call upon their experience to help us simplify the advocacy process specific to the needs of this area. MBT wants to help unite the mountain bike communities from both Teton Valley and Jackson Hole.”

MBT goals for the future include the development of youth mountain bike programs and promoting the continued construction of trails for beginners and intermediate riders—an important step in helping to showcase the area as a premier destination for mountain bikers of all abilities.

The benefits of bike riding are wideranging; to name just a few: improved health through exercise, reducing one’s carbon footprint by way of humanpowered transportation, and relationship-building with friends and family through shared experiences. With cycling now a year-round activity in Teton Valley, and with the potential for added revenue to local businesses through equipment sales and tourism, this fun activity is proving itself to be a major player in helping to enhance a thriving mountain culture and community.

“Teton hospitality at its finest for over 20 years”

800-787-9178 or 208-787-2667 • diningincateringinc.com

Every day, every grocery/deli need... we have you covered

Every Day | 7 AM to 9 PM 787-2230 Main & Center in Victor SUMMER 2015

magazine 47

Living Building a hypothetical valley dream home

48

magazine

SUMMER 2015

Small

T

BY KATE HULL PHOTOS AND ILLUSTRATIONS BY MEGHAN HANSON

hree years of calling this valley home have gone by in the blink of an eye; what was supposed to be a summer away from Texas trying something new turned into a whole new life—cattle dog and all.

I’ve lived in Victor, on Ski Hill Road, and in downtown Driggs. Now, my significant other Kenny and I are halfway packed again, trying to find our next coveted Teton Valley rental home.

It’s a different market now than it was in 2012, when I first came to town. Back then, it seemed that rentals, land, and homes for sale were all a dime a dozen. When I officially decided to plant roots in early October of that year, I found a house, signed a lease, and had a move-in date all within one afternoon—and that was during the Teton Valley offseason, when a lot of people were looking for places. But now, on this fourth go-round at renting, availability is tight and prices are high.

We had to ask ourselves: Could we buy? Might we be able to afford a home in Teton Valley? Or, if there is nothing on the market in our price range, could we build, but build small?

I had the unique and very educational opportunity to dive deep into this idea; because I did it under the cloak of a journalistic mission, it took some pressure off and made the monumental task feel approachable. (For any teachers out there, I highly recommend this exercise as a high school project. I feel like I’ve taken a much-needed crash course in Home Buying 101.)

Here’s the truth of it: We’re in our mid- to late-twenties. We work full-time jobs (albeit jobs that change with the seasons). We are committed to staying in the valley.

We love the idea of a very small, efficient home—think 500 to 900 square feet. We know—or knew—very little about buying a first home. And our budget? Put it this way: Somewhere under $200,000, and that’s on a very good day.

So, here goes nothing.

PHOTO: JAMYE CHRISMAN

The Market If you’ve frequented the classifieds or any number of realty websites lately, you’ve probably noticed the same thing we quickly learned: It’s slim pickings out there in the under $200,000 market.

“2011 was the bottom of the market,” said Tayson Rockefeller, a licensed Wyoming and Idaho realtor with Teton Valley Realty. “2012 was recovering and the foreclosures were reducing. We still had a lot of inventory and not as much demand. Income was improving, the job market was improving, but real estate was suffering. But in May 2013, we really started to see a turnaround in the market.”

As opposed to before the bust, however, new construction has not been popping up throughout the valley, Rockefeller explained. The demand to buy is growing, but the supply is missing. The result: increasing home prices.

Teton County saw a substantial

amount of growth in the boom years of the early 2000s. During that first decade of the twenty-first century, nearly three thousand new homes were built and the number of residential lots available in the county tripled from 3,100 to more than 9,200, according to the 2014 edition of the Teton Valley Almanac.

But during the recession, builders quit constructing new homes, the number of foreclosures on the market progressively decreased, and lots remained vacant (more than seven thousand of them, according to county records published in the Almanac).

These factors combined to leave a slim market for first-time homebuyers to pick through.

“Things are artificially high compared to where they should be,” Rockefeller said. “If you look at the trend of how prices increase, we are above that trend because the demand is so high and the supply is so low.”

SUMMER 2015

magazine 49

The new norm, he said, is a firsthome budget of around $300,000, a post-recession high attained just in the past year. There are, of course, options other than single-family houses: townhomes, apartments, and duplexes.

However, we decided to rule those out.

We would like a home on land to call our own.

Thinking Small My dream first home is energy efficient, boasts a roomy kitchen with a substantial island and an open floor plan, and sits on at least an acre of land.

Kenny would like a wood-burning fireplace and big windows, as well as wideopen land. We both would prefer to live minimally, making the most out of 500 to 900 square feet.

We know we could make a small home beautiful and livable, but we didn’t know if we could make it happen affordably.

50

magazine

SUMMER 2015

Option 1: Buy a home.

Plenty of tiny-home construction companies are out there, producing micro cottages, cabins, and modern chalets ideally designed to accommodate a minimalist lifestyle. These range from Frontier Fortress in Dubois, Wyoming, Jackson’s Wheelhaus (“Living Large with Less”), and the notable Tumbleweed Tiny House Company in northern California, to Teton Valley ventures on the horizon like Casey Eason’s Cabin Works.

“People are here for the lifestyle, and don’t want to be a slave to their mortgages,” Eason said, as he outlined the reasoning behind his desire to build small cabins for Teton Valley residents.

“We have been working on transportable, pre-built cabins that have two-bysix walls fully built to county code.”

Eason’s primary business venture until recently was Grow Huts, a local greenhouse and shed business that he sold. Although he has moved out of the valley with his family, he has kept his cabin business going because of the growing need for this new type of housing option in the community, targeting people who desire less living space.

“We’ve got a lot of prospects looking at these 400-square-foot livable homes,” he said.

GINNY ROBBINS’ AND NATHAN RAY’S 700-SQUARE-FOOT PASSIVE SOLAR HOME BOASTS BIG WINDOWS AND AN OPEN FLOOR PLAN UTILIZING EVERY SPACE, IDEAL FOR LIVING SMALL AND COMFORTABLY.

NATURAL DWELLINGS ARCHITECTURE’S MEGHAN HANSON DESIGNED AND BUILT THIS 800-SQUARE-FOOT HOME IN 2005. IT FEATURES INTRICATE DETAILS LIKE VIBRANT SHELVING, A DUAL KITCHEN ISLAND WITH STOVETOP AND SEATING, AND HIDEAWAY DINING AREA.

With help from Meghan Hanson, principal and owner of Natural Dwellings Architecture, Eason drew up plans for a 400-square-foot, turnkey ready home that is pre-built and ready to slide onto a foundation. His Cabin Works homes are constructed in northern Idaho in an Amish community that features relatively low construction costs and high-quality craftsmanship. The plans allow for room to add on, too. A second, similar structure can be added with a connecting entryway if and when the owner is ready to expand.

Tack on to the price of the cabin another $20,000 for septic, well, and excavation, and you have a beautiful, modestly sized home for under $100,000. Of course, you need land to put the home on, adding another substantial cost to the endeavor. Because Eason’s cabins are considered manufactured homes— built in a factory up to local building codes and assembled on-site—it would limit the borrowing options for us. Fewer banks offer loan programs for manufactured homes, and when they do, the loans tend to have higher interest rates and/or require a larger down payment.

“We [usually] require a higher down payment on those types of homes,” said Candyce Runyan, a mortgage loan officer at US Bank in Driggs. “In some instances, manufactured homes are less stable or durable than your typical stick-built home. Therefore, they become a bit of a higher risk for lenders.” She added that the bank will often allow a maximum loan of 60 percent of appraised value for a cash-out refinanced manufactured home, compared to the more typical 80 percent for a traditionally built home—hence the larger down payment required on a manufactured home.

Still, this option makes a lot of sense for buyers with enough savings to purchase one of Eason’s homes outright, and/or for someone looking to start small and potentially add on later.

We, however, would like a bit more room to start with.

Option 2: Build ourselves.

To build a home, you need land. In our planned homebuilding scenario previously outlined, we decided that we would not take out a loan to buy the land; we would purchase the land and own it outright before building. There are construction loan options that include the cost of the land; however, owning the lot first can help when applying for a home loan, making you a more qualified applicant.

The median sales price for Teton Valley lots, according to Sage Realty’s February 2015 market news, is just over $50,000—way down from a high of nearly $200,000 in 2008. For argument’s sake, we will assume that this is our maximum lot budget: around one acre of land, at $50,000, where a smaller square footage home is permitted.

Therein lies our first and biggest roadblock: It’s not the price per acre or the lack of availability, it’s the covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) enforced by the various home owner associations (HOAs).

Of the several thousand vacant residential lots scattered throughout Teton Valley, an overwhelming majority are with subdivisions where CC&Rs dictate the minimum square footage permitted, allowable design elements, and so forth. As far as home size is concerned, most of these start at over 1,000 square feet.

“I frequently speak with people who say they want to build a small house,” Rockefeller said. “They don’t need a lot of space; they just want something that will not cost an arm and a leg. It makes sense. But the inventory [of places where this can be done] is extremely small.”

The obvious next choice would be searching for bare land outside of a subdivision, where fewer restrictions would apply. Rockefeller said a fair estimate in today’s market is that unrestricted land costs nearly twice as much as acreage within a subdivision.

And even with a few parcels on the

market, you still have to factor in county codes—you can’t just plop down any old cabin or motor home on the land and call it good. And related costs, such as those to dig a well, put in a driveway, and bring in electricity, quickly add up.

So, a subdivision it is.

We found one subdivision, Packsaddle Creek Estates—situated west of Highway 33 between Driggs and Tetonia—that just could be the pie-in-the-sky answer to our homebuilding needs. An older subdivision with Teton views and scenic rolling hills, Packsaddle Creek Estates has several half-acre lots available for around $50,000. Although these are only half the size of our desired one acre, Rockefeller said they have the advantage of CC&Rs that set the minimum square footage at 900 square feet.

Since that is still on the bigger side of “going small,” he advised that we meet with the HOA to present our plans and petition for a variance to allow us to go smaller than the stated minimum.

SUMMER 2015

magazine 51

Finding Our Team Natural Dwellings Architecture’s Hanson is known for her keen insight into sustainable, passive solar designs and for making the most out of available spaces. From making a home out of a grain silo to incorporating rooftop gardens that help blend a home into the landscape, Hanson’s designs are a reflection of their surroundings.

I spoke with her last January about smaller-style homes she had completed in the valley, asking her about the potential for our dream home with a $200,000 budget (and now just $150,000 for construction and design, thanks to that hefty theoretical land purchase).

Hanson told me about a house she designed for Ginny Robbins and her husband Nathan Ray on ten acres south of Driggs that fit the criteria: small, well-designed, and mindfully built. At just 700 square feet, the home sits on insulated concrete with insulated panels and high-efficiency windows, resulting in a passive solar design ideal for Teton Valley’s harsh winters and sunny summers. Inside is an open floor plan with an inviting kitchen and bar, one bedroom, a loft, a mudroom, and a spacious bathroom. There’s also a surprising amount of storage room; every nook and cranny is utilized. Impeccable design and vibrant colors enhance an already beautiful space.

“We wanted to build what we could afford,” Ginny told me in her kitchen last winter, after I asked why they decided to build small. We then toured the home and the adjacent farm, where she and Nate raise goats and make artisan cheeses. “When we would look at homes on the market, they all seemed so huge—but that’s just what you assume when you look at houses. You’ll have one like your parents have.”

Ginny and Nate went a different route. Knowing they wanted land and room to grow their goat farm, they decided to build only what they needed for now, although Hanson left the de52

magazine

SUMMER 2015

WITH ENOUGH SAVINGS AND ADEQUATE LAND, CABIN WORKS’ PRE-BUILT 400-SQUARE-FOOT HOMES ARE PERFECT FOR TETON VALLEY RESIDENTS LOOKING FOR SMALL, AFFORDABLE, AND LIVABLE.

sign open for future additions. In addition to Hanson, they enlisted the help of local contractor Mike Hudacsko.

Aside from early mornings, Ginny said, when she tiptoes around the kitchen before Nate is up, she thinks living in a small home is better than she expected. Bonus: The close quarters keep extended stays by visitors at bay.

So, having learned that Hanson’s architectural style is in line with our vision, the next step would be to get a construction loan.

Deep breaths. It’s going to be all right. Applying for a construction loan seemed complicated and daunting. But we found that, with some guidance, it is doable. It’s really just a process.

I sat down with Runyan at US Bank to go over the steps of applying. With land as equity, two years’ job history, and good credit scores, we would more than likely be approved for a loan.

A key step was to ensure that our debt-to-income ratio is below 45 percent, meaning we wouldn’t be paying more than 45 percent of our monthly

income to cover the cost our new house payment. (We didn’t actually go through the entire process, but I left with an understanding of what to expect.) Then, with a locked-in interest rate—and with an interest reserve and contingency money in case the project turns out to be more expensive than expected—we would sign a contract and go through the builder approval process. Our preferred builder in this case would Mike Hudacsko, Ginny and Nate’s recommendation.

US Bank, Runyan said, is a one-stop shop for lending needs. After the construction of the home is completed, our loan would roll over to a one-time close, so we would have just one set of fees and one closing. Sounds simple enough, right? There is a lot of paperwork, and quite a few items to have in order—including detailed building plans, a materials list, and an overview of what you are trying to accomplish with your home construction. But Runyan and her team seem willing and able to answer any and all questions, even endless hypotheticals for a magazine story.

So, would it meet our budget?

The average cost per square foot to build a home in the United States, reports the US Census Bureau, is between $80 and $120. Research has shown, however, that the average per-square-foot cost for a tiny house is higher. According to a 2014 Forbes magazine article, “Builders say the high per-square-foot price tag for tiny homes is due to packing a bunch of expensive, shrunk-down features— water heater, refrigerator, stove, toilet, air conditioner—in a teeny space.” Nevertheless, you’re still constructing a much less expensive home overall.

This writer learned that, unless one actually goes through every detail in the process, it’s not possible to predict exactly what a home would cost.

But we could stay within our budget by building small, of that I am confident.

So, are we ready to make the leap to home ownership? Not just yet. After all, I hear that some rental openings are right around the corner.

TeTon school disTricT 401 (208) 228 5923 • tsd401.org SUMMER 2015

magazine 53

compass points

Out Below

BEAR LAKE IS A MAGICAL PLACE FOR SUMMERLOVERS OF ALL AGES. THE AREA’S FAMOUS RASPBERRIES ARE ICING ON THE PIE, WHETHER PICKED FRESH OFF THE BUSH (BELOW) OR WHIPPED UP INTO A SHAKE (OPPOSITE PAGE).

Bear Lake and Beyond

BY MICHAEL McCOY

A summer song worth singing

Come summer, Nancy and I tend to be stay-in-the-valley types. But the recent acquisition of a pop-up camper has provided the inspiration we needed to get out of town more often, to see some of what our greater region has to offer.

Late last July, after flipping a coin— “Heads we go north, tails we go south”— the back side of the quarter had us taking aim at Utah. To get there, we followed a chain of designated byways: the Teton Scenic Byway, the Pioneer Historic Byway, and the Oregon Trail-Bear Lake 54

magazine

SUMMER 2015

Scenic Byway. The signs were correct. It was a very scenic drive.

The pot awaiting us at the end of this rainbow of roads was not gold, but bright red: Bear Lake raspberries, which, we found, when mixed with ice cream might be better than gold.

We pulled into Garden City, Utah, perched on the southwest shore of Bear Lake, late on Friday afternoon.

The public campgrounds we’d checked out at two different Bear Lake State Parks—one in Idaho and the other in

PHOTOS: STAFF

Utah—looked a little too active, so we climbed up U.S. Highway 89 into the Wasatch-Cache National Forest for some freestyle camping in a quiet grove of pines (after getting stuck in a sheep jam on a narrow mountain road).

In the morning, we dropped back down into Garden City for a late breakfast of raspberry milkshakes and hamburgers. The shakes were not soon to be forgotten. (And the eleven-inch, handdipped corndogs later that morning?

Decadent, and impossible to forget.)

We then drove the big loop around Bear Lake, stopping occasionally to take it all in and look for the fabled Bear Lake Monster. Eighteen miles long north to south and as wide as seven miles, the lake is split into two nearly equal halves by the Idaho/Utah state line. Nicknamed the “Caribbean of the Rockies,” on a hot July day the scene here is like the opposite of a wilderness experience. But it can also induce strong feelings of nostalgia if you hung out at the lake as a kid, whether “the lake” was Gull Lake in Minnesota (as it was for me), Lake Sammamish in Washington (as it was for Nancy), or Lake Chapala in Mexico.

Picture turquoise-blue waters lined by an endless stretch of white-sand beach; groups of families and friends, their claims staked at elbow-to-elbow intervals with portable cabanas. Jack Johnson tunes blasting from speakers in the open doors of a pickup truck, and flocks of flying seagulls squawking overhead. Volleyball games, joggers, soccer matches, cyclists on cruiser bikes, latemorning beer-and-barbecue bashes. Out in the bearable water (70 degrees at the height of summer), kids and adults playing on every known manner of water toy, both motorized and not. It looked, sounded, and smelled like summer.

After those corn dogs in Fish Ha-

ven, Idaho, we headed north through Paris to Ovid, near where the Bear Lake Outlet Canal joins the Bear River.

Before the canal was dug in the early 1900s, Bear Lake was completely isolated; i.e., it had no outlet. The Bear is a circuitous and interesting river.

After rising on the north slope of the Uinta Mountains in northeastern Utah, it crosses state boundaries five times before emptying into the Great Salt Lake. It is the largest waterway in the western hemisphere that does not terminate at an ocean.

In Ovid we picked up Idaho State 36, following it west over the Bear River Range, where we noticed a plethora of huckleberry-pickers. A meandering gravel road took us steeply down to the Bear River’s Oneida Narrows Reservoir and Maple Grove Hot Springs. Thirty-five dollars earned us a rustic campsite and unlimited access to the springs, which range from the warm water of a large pool to smaller and hotter rock-lined pools. Mellow boating is also close at hand, along with fishing for warm-water species like walleye and bass.

In the morning, we drove to Soda Springs, where the northward-flowing Bear River does a one-eighty and begins flowing south. I couldn’t resist a round at the nine-hole Oregon Trail Country Club—because it was my birthday, I like to play golf at least once a year, and I’m a history buff. Where else can a duffer take relief after his ball settles in a 160-year-old rut carved by wagons traveling the Oregon Trail? It was Sunday morning, so most of the locals were in church, I assumed, and we had the pretty course virtually to ourselves. Nice.

Note to self: Do this trip again next July or early August, pack along picking paraphernalia, and stock up on domestic raspberries and wild huckleberries … all in one berry fun weekend.

BREAKING IN THE NEW POP-UP CAMPER AT MAPLE GROVE HOT SPRINGS.

Nuts & Bolts Fish Haven, on the northwest shore of Bear Lake, is 150 miles from Victor. In addition to the public and private campgrounds lining the lake, there’s no shortage of rental cabins, condos, and houses. This is family-reunion country: The listings at vrbo.com go as extreme as a nineteen-bedroom-and-bath lodge that can accommodate a hundred people.

And new for summer 2015: The Conestoga Ranch high-end “glamping” resort; conestogaranch.com. Water toys, including self-powered, wind-powered, and engine-powered, can be rented at a number of enterprises; visit bearlake fun.com. Maple Grove Hot Springs was recently retagged Maple Grove Wellness Springs. Its website is under construction, but you can find them on Facebook.

Learn more about the Bear River Basin at bearriverheritage.com.

SUMMER 2015

magazine 55

compass points

Trail Talk

High-Tech Hide & Seek

Satellite technology meets old-fashioned fun in the great outdoors

BY MEL PARADIS PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMYE CHRISMAN

LOCATING A GEOCACHE IS ONE PART OF THE FUN; DISCOVERING WHAT OTHERS HAVE LEFT BEHIND IS ANOTHER.

56

magazine

SUMMER 2015

Picture an endless sea of brilliant blue sky while soaring so close to the Tetons it feels like you could almost touch them...

W

ho doesn’t enjoy a scavenger hunt?

Geocaching is a modern-day treasure hunt in which participants use GPS (Global Positioning System) coordinates to find a hidden container, known as a cache. And one needn’t go far to join the six million registered geocachers playing the game. Of the 2.5 million caches hidden worldwide (and beyond—there’s even one on the International Space Station), Teton Valley is home to approximately fifty.

While many learn about geocaching through friends and family who play, some accidentally stumble upon a cache and get hooked. “We were out goofing around and found a big peanutbutter jar with camo duct tape on it,” said Lucy Schultz of Alta.

“We weren’t looking for it,” added Lucy’s sister, Ripley. “It was cool.”

“I was reading about [geocaching] in a magazine for things to do with kids,” said Heather Johnson of Driggs.

“I saw there was one in the field behind my house. We waited for the snow to melt and then found it. We were hooked after that.”

Hopping on the trail to finding your first cache is a matter of signing up for a free account on geocaching.com and utilizing a GPS-enabled device. A smart phone is an excellent option for trying out geocaching for the first time. You can download Geocaching Intro, a free app that shows the caches closest to your location.

“I started with the free app, but it only let me see three caches at a time,” said Johnson. “I liked it so much I paid the ten bucks [for the full-featured app]. It is one of the most used apps I have.”

The downside to smart phones is the imprecision of their GPS readings, plus you need to have Internet service to use them. Those with a GPS navigator, such as those made by Garmin or

Destined to be one of the most unforgettable highlights of an already spectacular vacation—a scenic flight above the Tetons promises to be an adventure of a lifetime.

Scenic Flights Airplane Scenic Flights

Your visit to Teton Valley is not complete until you have experienced the surroundings from the air. Teton Aviation offers scenic flights that cater to the customer’s interests.

Glider Scenic Flights

If you are looking for a unique “once in a lifetime” experience, then you need to let us take you on a scenic glider flight. Gliders offer an unparalleled experience of serenity.

Warbirds Café

Follow up your sunset flight with dinner at the Warbirds Café, situated right on the flight line.

Warbirds Café’s bistro-style food and full bar is complemented by stunning views of the Tetons. While you wait for your meal, step out into the Warbird Museum and enjoy their collection of vintage aircraft including the last flying FJ-4B Fury in the world.

800.472.6382 208.354.3100 tetonaviation.com Warbirds Café 208.354.2550 253 Warbird Lane Driggs, ID 83422

Teton Mountain Bike Festival Labor Day Weekend 2015 September 4-7 6

Demo 2016 Bikes in 2015 100’s of miles of single track XC & Super D Race, Clinics, Hosted Rides Lift serviced trails at Grand Targhee Resort

MOUNTA IN BIKE FESTIVAL TETON H efit for:

A Ben

Sept 4 - Sept 7, 2015 TetonBikeFest.Org

osted a

t:

TetonBikeFest.org SUMMER 2015

magazine 57

Targhee Village Golf Course

Magellan, can more accurately utilize GPS coordinates and do so without phone service. The disadvantage of these gadgets is that you must upload your coordinates from the website prior to heading out.

ing. Me and my mom thought, ‘How did it get there?’”

After locating a cache, the geocacher signs the log sheet. If the cache contains items, the player can take something while leaving behind another item

A smart phone is a great way to try out geocaching for the first time.

The Spud Drive-In Theatre

Alta, Wyoming 307-353-8577 58

magazine

SUMMER 2015

If you have all the gadgets and a desire for a more in-depth experience, geocaching.com offers a premium membership, with special caches and advanced features, for $9 per month or $24 a year.

Once you’re signed up, pick out a geocache from the website or app and start your hunt. When geocaching, you need to know what to look for. Caches range in size from small enough to hold a miniature log sheet to large enough to be visible via Google Earth. You never know what they will be.

“We once found [a tiny log sheet] wrapped up inside a screw,” said Garrett Tomb of Alta. “It was super surpris-

of perceived or actual greater value.

Small plastic children’s toys, foreign coins, playing cards, and key chains are items commonly found in caches.

Travel Bugs, another intriguing part of the fun, are small trinkets or knickknacks meant to move from cache to cache. They have tracking numbers written on them that the geocacher enters into a website database to see where the bug has been.

The location of a cache generally falls into one of three categories.

Park-and-grab caches are ones that are close to a road; the best of these point out landmarks that you may have not noticed otherwise. A second style of

Great people.

Great care. family nurse practitioner

Kristen Coburn FNP

physician assistant

Troy Weston PA-C

NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, OR WEST, GETTING OUTSIDE IS ALWAYS BEST.

pediatric nurse practitioner

Heather Bagley PNP

pediatrician

Travis Riddell MD

cache is one that takes you on a hike, typically to a beautiful place. Finally, there are the caches that make you think a little harder.

“Just because a cache isn’t in an awesome location, doesn’t mean it cannot be a great cache,” said Scott Hansen. One of Teton Valley’s most active cache hiders, Hansen’s geocaching name is Aces&8’s. “I have a cache at Lions Park in Driggs called ‘Sidelines,’” he said. “This cache is hidden in plain sight, but because of its camouflage it’s very difficult to find. I get several emails every year from geocachers who tell me the cache must be missing. I always go check and it is always still there.”

From mountain ridgelines to the valley floor, plenty of geocaching adventures await in this area to get neophytes started. Whether your interest lies in getting your kids out of the house (try “Caching with Kids, The Knights of the Round Table”), stretching your legs on the long ride between Driggs and Victor (“TON of French Fries”), or rappelling off a bridge (Psycho Backcountry Cache #3—premium membership required), geocaching has hidden pleasures obtainable by just about anyone willing to search for them.

To learn more, visit geocaching.com.

women’s health • pediatrics • family care chronic disease management • immunizations wellness checks • physicals • men’s health

www.tvhcare.org

(208) 354-6307 • 252 South Main Street, Victor

SUMMER 2015

magazine 59

compass points

Far Flung

Albania by Foot Alpine surprises await in this Balkan nation

60

magazine

SUMMER 2015

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY PARKER DUNN

I ONE OF THE SMALLEST AND POOREST COUNTRIES OF EUROPE, ALBANIA BOASTS A POPULATION OF 2.8 MILLION LIVING IN AN AREA A BIT LARGER THAN THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS. THE AUTHOR ALSO FOUND IT A PLACE OF SERENDIPITY AND SERENITY.

entered Albania in a way that I had never crossed an international border before: on foot.

Having completed my master’s dissertation ahead of schedule in the summer of 2014, I found myself with an extra month before I had to leave London and return to the U.S. I was lucky enough to have already seen much of western Europe, so I decided to travel through parts of the continent less frequented by American tourists. I have always found that experiential travel is the most enjoyable without an itinerary, so I picked out points A and B on the map and let the spirit of the moment dictate where I went in between. I began my journey in Istanbul, Turkey, and soon found myself wandering through the countrysides and mountains of Bulgaria, Macedonia, and now Albania.

Due to the infrastructure, or lack thereof, the bus from Macedonia had dropped me off in a small village, where a police officer directed me to a dusty footpath through the woods. After walking for about ten minutes, I exited the forest and followed the highway for a mile before the border facilities came into view.

With me in the line to exit Macedonia was an old Roma couple (Roma people are widely known as Gypsies in Western culture) pushing their belongings in a handcart; the couple was subjected to a luggage search, but the officer merely glanced at my U.S. passport and waved me through. This trip opened my eyes to the mobility I enjoy as an American, and it is a privilege that I will now never forget.

Not even a hundred meters into Albania, multiple taxi drivers barraged me, each offering different fees to take me to the nearest town. After haggling one of the men down to five euros, I jumped into his beat-up 1980s Toyota Corolla and we sped toward Pogradec. It seems that there is an unofficial cooperation amongst the drivers, for once we arrived in the town center he immediately tried to usher me into

his friend’s car. I had to assert myself strongly to establish that I would not be scammed so easily, and eventually was able to work out where we would be going and how much it would cost, all through the universal language of emphatic hand shaking (very few Albanians speak English). Assuming we were ready to go, I threw my bag in and sat down—but it turned out that standard procedure is to wait until the car is full with passengers going to similar destinations, so more than an hour passed before the van departed.

Once out of town, the road rapidly deteriorated, the pothole-riddled pavement alternating with patches of washboarded dirt, and I had to change “taxis” two more times. As my day’s journey wore on and the sun began to set on the barren desert landscape, I grew anxious and wondered if I was in over my head. Should I just forgo the original goal and head to the capital, Tirana? As dusk began to settle on the surrounding mountains, we finally passed into my intended destination.

The bus was headed straight to the town center, but luckily I recognized one of the landmarks mentioned in the directions to my hostel, and I motioned the driver to pull over beside a medieval-esque stone bridge. From there I was able to find the hostel fairly easily by following a narrow cobblestone street. I breathed a huge sigh of relief as I heard voices speaking English from the courtyard within. In total, my trip from Ohrid, Macedonia, to Berat, a distance of ninety-three miles, took nearly ten hours; Albania definitely runs on island time.

In the hostel the following evening two French girls told me that they were going north to Shkoder, also my next destination, so we elected to travel together. Thankfully there is a normal bus route from Berat to Tirana, so we did not have to go through the same ordeal as I had during my journey over from Macedonia. Throughout the course of the day I got to know Marine and CharSUMMER 2015

magazine 61

HUNGARY SLOVENIA

A WORLD APART CULTURALLY, ALBANIA IS

CROATIA

LESS THAN 50 MILES AWAY FROM THE HIGH HEEL OF THE ‘BOOT’ OF SOUTHERN ITALY.

BOSNIA

Adriadic Sea

SERBIA

MONTENEGRO

KOSOVO

BULGARIA

ITALY MACEDONIA

Strait of Otranto

ALBANIA

GREECE TURKEY Ionian Sea

lotte quite well, and they invited me to join them for an overnight hiking adventure the next day. As it turned out, several other travelers at our hostel were planning the same route, so we linked up with four Germans and an Australian to make the trip.

The following morning I had no idea what to expect; Albania and big mountains? The two didn’t necessarily go together from what I had experienced thus far. A shuttle picked up our sleepy group at 6 a.m., and after two hours on a small country road on which we encountered more sheep than cars, we grinded up a steep pitch alongside a dam, and then followed a tunnel through the mountain to the tail end of Lake Komani.

Having been informed that we would be taking a ferry, I pictured a large, car-carrying vessel like those I had seen in Norway. But this was not the case: Our “ferry” was a crude metal sled covered with a thatch roof, captained by a one-handed man who spoke zero English. On our voyage the motor broke three times, and his hitting various parts with a greasy hammer and cursing in Albanian seemed to remedy each break. However, the three-and-a half-hour journey—through what did remind me of the Norwegian fjords— was stunningly beautiful, as the narrow lake was contained on each side by large granite walls and lush vegetation.

Once in the small town of Valbo62

magazine

SUMMER 2015

na we stayed in a quaint guest house where we spent the afternoon swimming in the creek, drinking beer, and playing card games. A fair amount of laughter resulted from my overt “Americanness,” a stereotype I did not know I fit so aptly. While the rest of the crew opted for the comfy feather beds, I chose to sleep under the stars. Ironically, my night out was the best sleep I had gotten in days, as the babbling creek was a nice reprieve from the snoring that so often curses dorm rooms. I felt completely refreshed to start our hike the following morning.

Our route followed a glacial moraine out of the valley’s main drainage, passing small farms before moving into the higher alpine terrain of the Valbona National Park. Along the way we saw no one with the exception of a lone Englishman who

the trail used to reach the lower saddle between the Grand and Middle Tetons.

And, like the summit of the Grand, the highest point of the hike gave way to breathtaking panoramic views, making it

A fair amount of laughter resulted from my ‘Americanness.’ had hired a local man and his mule as porters. On both sides of the pass there were small coffee huts that used the pristine stream water to make their beverages. These provided welcome breaks from carrying our large packs.

The earlier sections of the trail were fairly mellow, but as we reached the higher elevations the dirt path gave way to scree fields and steep goat paths through the boulders, quite similar to

obvious why this range is called the Albanian Alps: The jagged peaks, with their cirques and hanging valleys, rival anything I’ve seen in France or Switzerland.

During our lunch at the top of the pass, I reflected on the fact that no matter how far I travel from home, I seem to find myself in places that resemble the mountains of my youth.

After that, for me it was on to Montenegro before ending up in Sarajevo,

Craftsman Home

More Photos and Information

For Sale

TetonPeaksBuilders.com | 208 354 3238 | HJHarrigan2@gmail.com

ABOVE: ON THE TRAIL IN VALBONA NATIONAL PARK. OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP: THE AUTHOR (FRONT LEFT IN BLUE SHIRT) WITH HIS NEWFOUND GROUP OF HIKER FRIENDS. OPPOSITE PAGE, BOTTOM: ONE OF THE MOUNTAIN HUTS WHERE LOCALS UTILIZE PRISTINE STREAM WATER TO MAKE COFFEE AND SELL IT AND OTHER DRINKS TO HIKERS.

Bosnia. While I greatly enjoyed my time in each country I visited, Albania stood out because of its sheer rawness. It is a place that has not yet felt the impacts of Western tourism, and offers an experience not to be found in other parts of Europe. This remote corner of the Balkans is a unique place, where the flat deserts give way to world-class mountain ranges. In order to travel through these landscapes one must learn to surrender to Albania: unfulfilled expectations, personal safety, and the use of language are all challenges. However, these uncertainties add a thrill not found in more developed tourist destinations.

This is a trip I would recommend to anyone who wants to gain a unique cultural experience and yet enjoy a natural splendor not unlike that we are spoiled by here in Teton Valley.

WESTERN RUSTIC

RUSTIC • MOUNTAIN MODERN • WESTERN • TRADITIONAL • COMMERCIAL 13 South Main Street • Victor, Idaho 208.787.FEST (3378) • www.festive-living.com Mon-Sat 10am-6pm SUMMER 2015

magazine 63

compass points

Local Flavors

Momo Shack Authentic Asian cuisine hides out in Victor

BY LUKAS BOONE PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMYE CHRISMAN

64

magazine

SUMMER 2015

Your Adventure Starts Here

T

he air of Teton Valley may not be as rarefied as that of the Himalayan region where the proprietors of Everest Momo Shack come from, but it’s high enough. Here you dine in an ambiance of alpine calm, watched over by portraits of the Dalai Lama and other spiritual leaders.

After serving Indian food out of Down On Glen (DOG) in Jackson Hole for six years, Sange and Rita Sherpa moved over the hill to set up shop in Victor in May 2014. Their restaurant occupies the intimate space of the former Sun Dog Café opposite the Victor post office at 57 South Main Street. A son and other family members help the couple out.

We began our meal with an appetizer of papadam—spicy potatoes and green peas wrapped in homemade pastry dough and deep fried—and a plate of chicken momos, or Nepali deep-fried dumplings. The namesake momos also come in free-range bison and veggie varieties. For my main course, I ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala. Grilled boneless chicken slow-simmered in a sauce of tomato, curry, and cream, it was served in a pair of copper bowls, one filled with rice and other with the main ingredients, plus peppers and onions. And after that—well, I knew I would be coming back soon.

Chef Rita learned the art of Indian and Nepali flavors from her grandmother, knowledge she combined with other traditional and newer techniques to create her own style. Her dishes can be served from as mild as a person desires to as spicy as he or she can stand.

Everest Momo Shack’s hours are variable, so call ahead at 208-787-9000 prior to visiting. Dining alfresco at a table out front is a pleasant option in summer. To have a look at the full lunch and dinner menus, which the Sherpas intentionally keep relatively simple— not too many choices—go online to everestmomoshack.com.

Intergalactic sales pro service rentals/demos trail info group rides

20 Sa Lo

Strip Logo: This logo should be used in Santa Cruz Red whenever possible, but may be used in white, grey, and black as well. This is appropriate for both print and web applications.

Open 7 days a week Driggs and Grand Targhee locations Stack Logo: This logo should be used in

This docum

artwork fo

208 354 7669 ridethetetons.com

and wordm

these logo

Cruz Bicyc

or altered i

Square Logo:

This logo should be used in

Santa Cruz Red whenever

Santa Cruz Red whenever

possible, but may be used in

possible, but may be used in

white, grey, and black as

white, grey, and black as

well. This is appropriate for

well. This is appropriate for

both print and web applica-

both print and web applica-

tions.

tions.

Kona. Intense. Rocky Mtn. Devinci. Enve. TLD. Giro. Dakine.

Santa Cruz W

Linn Canyon RanCh A Classic Taste of the West

Trail rides • Pack TriPs sunseT dinner rides wiTh GourmeT dininG PrivaTe ParTies • lodGinG

(208) 787-5466 • 1300 E 6000 S, Victor, iD 83455 linnranch@silverstar.com • www.linncanyonranch.com SUMMER 2015

magazine 65

dining guide

Agave

310 North Main Street Driggs, ID 83422 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!

Barrels & Bins

36 South Main Street Driggs, ID 83422 208-354-2307 Open Daily 9am–7pm

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 now open 9am to 2pm daily. Check in for a sandwich-of-the-day selection, as well for as other various grab-and-go takeout options. [p. 40]

Broulim’s Food and Pharmacy 240 South Main Street Driggs, ID 83422 208-354-2350 Open Mon–Sat 7am–11pm broulims.com/driggs

Order sandwiches to go made from your choice of Columbus meats and cheeses. Breakfast sandwiches and paninis made fresh daily.

There’s a full menu at the Pack Saddle Grill, with burgers and sandwiches, as well as hot baked or rotisserie chicken, take-and-bake pizza, and other meals to go. Check out our thirty-eight-foot-long display of hand-cut specialty cheeses! Freshly prepared salads, our own Sushi Bar, and hot Asian food. Daily specials of smoked meats available. Inquire at the Deli for catering services.

Corner Drug

10 South Main Street Driggs, ID 83422 208-354-2334 Open Mon–Sat 9am–6:30pm driggspharmacy.com Located at the stoplight in historic downtown Driggs, the familyowned and -operated Corner Drug has been a local favorite for satisfying that ice cream craving for more than a hundred years. Try a fresh lime freeze or a huckleberry milkshake. Corner Drug also has your weekend essentials and a full-service pharmacy. Hunting and fishing licenses and tackle available. [p. 29]

66

magazine

SUMMER 2015

Dining In Catering, Inc.

Bill Boney, Owner & Executive Chef 208-787-2667, toll-free 800-787-9178 diningincateringinc.com

Dining In Catering, Inc. is the region’s most experienced outdoor event catering company, receiving rave reviews for great food and service.

Owner and executive chef Bill Boney and his staff have catered the biggest events, weddings, and corporate retreats to take place in Jackson Hole and Teton Valley. Dining In Catering also offers a banquet location in Teton Valley—Wildwood Room, The Gathering Place for Teton Valley’s best events since 2003! [p. 47]

Forage Bistro & Lounge

285 Little Avenue, Suite A Driggs, ID 83422 208-354-2858 Tues–Fri 11am–9pm, Sat and Sun 10am–9pm forageandlounge.com Forage Bistro & Lounge, specializing in seasonal regional cuisine with an emphasis on local ingredients, offers creative, chef-inspired lunch, brunch, and dinner Tuesdays through Sundays. Enjoy halfpriced bottles of wine on Teton Valley’s best patio every Wednesday, as well as Happy Hour food-and-drink specials daily from 3 to 6pm.

Homemade desserts, local grass-fed beef burgers, craft sodas, and more served from our scratch kitchen. Open kitchen with nothing to hide offers diners a unique experience in Teton Valley.

Grand Targhee Resort

Alta, WY 83414 800-TARGHEE (827-4433) grandtarghee.com

Mountainside dining with a menu designed around fresh local ingredients can be found at The Branding Iron Grill. Located at the base of Grand Targhee Resort, it’s the perfect stop after taking in the incredible views of the Tetons. Unwind at the Trap Bar and Grill after a day of activities in the high mountain air. Enjoy a pint of local beer and a plate of famous Wydaho Nachos while relaxing after your day’s adventures.

You’ll always enjoy great food, great drinks, and great times! See you at the ’ghee. [BC]

Linn Canyon Ranch

1300 East 6000 South Victor, ID 83455 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. 65]

McDonald’s®

1110 West Broadway @ Hwy 22 Jackson, WY 83001 307-733-7444 Open daily 5am–12am or later mcwyoming.com/6435 Fast, Affordable, and On Your Way! Whether you’re driving over the pass on your way to Grand Teton National Park or commuting to your job on the “other side,” make McDonald’s® a part of your day. We’re serving your breakfast favorites like the classic Egg McMuffin®, Egg White Delight McMuffin®, and McCafe™ beverages featuring Lattes, Mochas, and Frappes. Premium Salads and new McWraps®, Real Fruit Smoothies, and Fruit and Maple Oatmeal are delicious choices to support your healthy, active lifestyle. [p. 21]

The Storehouse at Teton Springs Lodge & Spa 10 Warm Creek Lane Victor, ID 83455 844-261-4298 or 208-787-7888 concierge@naturalretreats.com tetonspringslodge.com

Located at the Teton Springs Lodge, the Natural Retreats Storehouse is a bistro-style café, offering local products and Starbucks Coffee in a relaxed and intimate venue. Stop by for breakfast to sample some of our fresh home baked goods and then come back in the evening for a specialty cocktail when it transforms into a wine bar. The Storehouse is also the perfect spot to host a private event or function, with the gorgeous backdrop of the majestic Tetons.

Pendl’s Bakery & Café

40 Depot Street Driggs, ID 83422 (1 block northwest of the stoplight) 208-354-5623 Open Tuesday–Sunday pendlspastries.com Looking for a Latte and fresh Apple Strudel? Find them at Pendl’s, where Kitzbuehel Konditor Fred Pendl has passed his baking traditions on to daughter Martha. From Nussknackers to Florentiners, Old World Austrian pastries and confections continue. Delectable Strudels and fruit-filled Danish pastries baked in-house daily, with homemade muffins, quiches, and cranberry granola rounding out your morning. Relax in our beautiful backyard garden, savor a freshly roasted coffee or hand-crafted espresso drink, and start your day right at Pendl’s!

Provisions “Local Kitchen”

95 South Main Street Driggs, ID 83422 208-354-2333 Open at 7am, Breakfast served all day; lunch daily 11am–2pm provisionsdining.com Finding the locals’ favorite restaurant is a surefire way to track down the best meals in any town. At Provisions we regularly serve our neighbors, friends, and families. We know that valley locals deserve a good meal at a reasonable value when they choose to dine out.

Whether you’re a local or a visitor, you can be assured that you’ll be treated like family. Come give us a try for breakfast or lunch, and see for yourself why both locals and visitors call Provisions their favorite “Local Kitchen.” (also on Facebook Twitter, and Instagram)

Seoul Restaurant

528 Valley Center Drive, Suite #4 Driggs, ID 83422 208-354-1234 Open 7 days a week, 11am–10pm seoulrestaurantdriggs.com Come in and try Seoul Restaurant, where authentic Korean food will surely fulfill your appetite. We serve hot pot soups such as Kimchi Jjigae, and Soon Do Boo along with dumpling soup and Jombong soup.

Not in the mood for soup? We also have hearty meat entrees such as Galbi, Bulgogi, Dolsot Bibimbap, Sushi, and much more! Located north of Driggs, Seoul Restaurant will definitely satisfy your appetite on summer days. We also offer takeout. [p. 10]

Teton Thai

18 North Main Street Driggs, ID 83422 208-787-THAI (8424) Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30am–2:30pm; dinner Mon–Sat 5:30–9:30pm tetonthai.com Voted “Best Restaurant, Teton Valley” in the Jackson Hole Weekly, Teton Thai offers something for everyone. Enjoy a variety of exotic dishes, from Crispy Duck Pad Gar Pow to Muslim-style Masaman curry, all made from our family’s recipes first created in Bangkok. Sit at the kitchen counter and watch our chefs prepare your dish while you explore our eclectic beer and wine list. Dine in or take out.

The Brakeman American Grill

27 North Main Street Victor, ID 83455 208-787-2020 Open Sun–Thurs 11:30am– 3:30pm and 5pm–8pm, Fri–Sat 11:30am–3:30pm and 5pm–9pm Freshly ground chuck is where The Brakeman Burger begins. We grind select cuts of beef daily here at The Brakeman and blend it with very special spices. We serve our burgers up on a terrific bun with the freshest lettuce, tomato, and red onion, and pair it with our fresh-cut fries.

Our customers insist we’ve got the best burger they’ve ever tasted!

We’re all about fresh at The Brakeman American Grill: crisp, tasty, and innovative salads, along with veggie burgers and other sandwiches.

Great atmosphere, terrific music. Dine in or take out.

The Royal Wolf

63 Depot Street Driggs, ID 83422 208-354-8365 Open seven days a week; 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, smoke-free, pub-style environment. Complementing our menu is a full bar serving all of 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, Wi-Fi, and billiards. Stop by to meet old friends and make new ones. Snow sagas and fish tales told nightly.

SUMMER 2015

magazine 67

dining guide

Three Peaks Dinner Table

Warbirds Café/Teton Aviation Center

15 South Main Street Driggs, ID 83422 208-354-9463 Open Tues–Sun 9am–10pm Daily happy hours 4pm–6pm threepeaksdinnertable.com Custom-cut steaks, fresh fish, and chops at this great downtown Driggs restaurant close to the stoplight. Boutique wine selection available for takeout or on-site enjoyment. Unique western-influenced menu with game meats, along with gluten-free and vegetarian options. Private in-home or on-site catering and cooking classes available. We feature locally made artwork in our unique, circa 1940s building. Open Tues–Sun 9am–10pm from Memorial through Labor Day and 11am–10pm the rest of the year. Visit our website or call for reservations.

253 Warbird Lane Driggs, ID 83422 208-354-2550 Lunch 7 Days and Dinner Tues–Sat tetonaviation.com/warbirds-cafe Enjoy delicious food seasoned with spectacular views of the Tetons at Warbirds Café. A full bar and thoughtful wine list complement our contemporary bistro fare, which is enhanced by daily specials and occasional live music. Our window-banked dining room parallels the taxiway, where an impressive array of private planes arrive and depart throughout the day. You can turn your meal into an adventure with a scenic airplane or glider ride; or, if you prefer to stay grounded, visit our free display of restored vintage warplanes. [p. 57]

Wildlife Brewing & Pizza

Tony’s Pizza & Pasta

364 North Main Street Driggs, ID 83422 208-354-8829 Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week, 11am–11pm tonyspizzadriggs.com At Tony’s Pizza & Pasta we use 100 percent fresh products for our hand-tossed pizza and Italian entrees, and we bake all of our items in an Italian brick oven. Try our exciting grill items, such as burgers, steak, and salmon. You can choose from our selection of twenty-five beers on tap while you watch your favorite sporting event—including football, basketball, baseball, and hockey—on one of our nine 45-inch flat-screen TVs. Come in and enjoy our vaulted-ceilinged, logcabin ski lodge/Italian restaurant. We deliver to Teton Valley!

145 South Main Street Victor, ID 83455 208-787-2623 Open 4–10pm daily; Lunch Fri–Sun beginning at 12 noon wildlifebrewing.com Teton Valley’s most popular establishment! An award-winning, family-friendly microbrewery with the best pizza in the Rockies. Also offering salads, appetizers, sandwiches, pastas, wraps, buffalo chili, nachos, desserts, a kids’ menu, and yes, even vino! Enjoy a game of shuffleboard, darts, or bubblehockey, and stop by on Wednesday evening for Open Mic Night. Groups and private parties are welcome, and kegs are available on request. Coming this summer: Wildlife Beer will be available in cans (cases and six-packs). Swing in and see why Wildlife Brewing is the locals’ place with big taste! Like us on Facebook. [p. 10]

45 North Main Street Victor, ID 83455 208-787-2221 Open seven days a week

For more than sixty years the Victor Emporium Old Fashioned Soda Fountain has served 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 and after fishing! [p. 25]

Victor Valley Market 5 South Main Street Victor, ID 83455 208-787-2230 Open daily 7am–9pm

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, housemade soups, and so much more! Victor Valley Market has all that you need to make a delicious meal, whether for eating in or taking out. [p. 47]

68

magazine

SUMMER 2015

lodging guide

Victor Emporium

Fin and Feather Inn

9444 South Highway 31 Victor, ID 83422 208-787-1007 finandfeatherinn.com

The Fin and Feather Inn is a small bed and breakfast in Teton Valley situated along the Teton Scenic Byway. We combine luxury and country hospitality, making for a very relaxing and comfortable stay.

Our three rooms feature Grand Teton views, spacious bedrooms, private bathrooms, dual-head showers, a deep soaking bathtub, HD/Direct TV, and free wireless Internet. Come stay at the Fin and Feather Inn and experience the wonderful adventures that Teton Valley has to offer, while staying at a quality bed and breakfast.

lodging guide

Fox Creek Inn

273 E 5500 S Victor, ID 83455 208-604-0831 thefoxcreekinn.com

Located on the Idaho side of the Tetons along Fox Creek, the Inn features four luxurious rooms with no TV but free Wi-Fi. The Inn is 3.5 miles from Victor, 6.5 miles from Driggs, thirty minutes from downtown Jackson, and one hour-plus from Grand Teton National Park. For skiers, it’s thirty minutes to either Grand Targhee or Jackson Hole ski resorts. A full breakfast is served each morning, and guests enjoy a great room, patio, hot tub, fire pit, and star-studded night skies.

Grand Targhee Resort

Alta, WY 800-TARGHEE [827-4433] grandtarghee.com

After a day of mountain biking, horseback riding, or hiking at Grand Targhee Resort, it’s time to relax with the family in one of a variety of western-style mountainside accommodations. All lodging is located just steps from miles of trails for hiking and biking, along with dining and other activity opportunities. For those desiring a more intimate family retreat, consider Grand Targhee Resort’s Vacation Rental lodging accommodations, perfectly situated in Teton Valley. Call today to book your stay. [BC]

Grand Valley Lodging Property Management

PO Box 191, 158 N. First Street Driggs, ID 83422 800-746-5518 mail@grandvalleylodging.com grandvalleylodging.com Grand Valley Lodging is the premier property management company in Teton Valley, operating since 1992. We offer great rates on shortterm rentals that include vacation homes, cabins, and condominiums throughout the valley. We are also the largest long-term (six-monthsplus) property management company in the valley, and can help you optimize income and maintain your property. With our extremely experienced team in the housing rental business, we are happy to discuss the management of your valuable investment in Teton Valley. [pgs. 8, 41]

Linn Canyon Ranch

1300 East 6000 South Victor, ID 83455 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. 65]

Natural Retreats Teton Springs Lodge & Spa 10 Warm Creek Lane Victor, ID 83455 855-231-7956 or 208-787-7888 concierge@naturalretreats.com TetonSpringsLodge.com

US News & World Report’s #1 Hotel in Idaho, this Natural Retreats destination offers 51 elegant guest rooms and suites, as well as luxury mountain log cabins. Nestled on the border of the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, this year-round resort has the best of summer and winter activities available all in a gorgeous setting. The Stillwaters Spa & Salon offers a full range of services and the Headwaters Club & Golf boasts 2 stunning courses. With a range of activities offered, this is the perfect destination for an unforgettable family vacation.

Teton Valley Cabins

34 East Ski Hill Road Driggs, ID 83422 208-354-8153 or 866-687-1522 stay@tetonvalleycabins.com tetonvalleycabins.com Nestled amongst mature cottonwoods, Teton Valley Cabins welcomes you for your special getaway, vacation home base, or family or group reunion. Quaint charm, rustic cabins, and affordable rates await you at Teton Valley Cabins, just one mile from Driggs, with its restaurants and shops. Enjoy our grounds complete with a new Jacuzzi, or explore Teton Valley from here. We are centrally located, with Grand Targhee Resort just up the road, and other recreational opportunities within a few minutes’ drive. Various room types are available. Our rooms are equipped with microwave, fridge, satellite TV, and Wi-Fi. [p. 24]

Teton Valley Lodge

3733 Adams Road Driggs, ID 83422 Toll-free 800-455-1182 info@tetonvalleylodge.com tetonvalleylodge.com During your stay at Teton Valley Lodge, you can expect to fly fish on a different stretch of river every day. With more than twenty-five different sections of river on three blue-ribbon fisheries in Idaho, years of discovery await even the most experienced of fly fishermen. Prolific dry fly hatches on the South Fork of the Snake, Teton River, and Henry’s Fork offer you many opportunities for large trout. Experience Teton Valley and the surrounding area with us—you will never forget it. [IBC]

Teton Valley Realty Management

253 South Main Street Driggs, ID 83422 208-354-3431 mail@tvrmanagement.com vacationrentalstetonvalley.com We hope you will allow us to find that perfect home or condominium to make your vacation a memorable and extra-special one. All of our homes are nicely furnished, meticulously maintained, and fully equipped to accommodate your group at a fraction of what you would pay for a few hotel rooms. All homes come complete with linens, kitchen necessities, cable or satellite TV service, soaps, and paper products; some have high-speed Internet service. Basically, you receive all the conveniences of home, away from home. (p. 6) SUMMER 2015

magazine 69

fallriverelectric.com

LOVELY SETTING IN ALTA, WY 3 Bed, 2 Bath home on 4.64 Acres Minutes from Grand Targhee Ski Resort Private, Quiet, Amazing sunset views OFFERED FOR $599,000

JENN HONNEY DAWES Associate Broker

307.413.1635 jenndawes@jhrea.com www.grahamfaupel.com 80 W. Broadway Jackson, WY 83001

BEAUTIFUL CUSTOM RESORT HOME 5100 Sq Ft Log Home on .75 Acre Lot World Class Golf and Resort Amenities OFFERED FOR $1,595,000

70

magazine

SUMMER 2015

Teton Valley Top Producer | One of Eight Team Members Author of the Teton Valley Report | Thirteen Year Resident Community Foundation Board Member

church directory 53 Depot Street | Driggs, ID 83422 | 208-354-WORD [9673] ccteton.org Visitors welcome. Our motto 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 Bible. Sunday service starts at 10am and typically consists of worship, teaching, and fellowship. Dress is nice casual and the service usually lasts about an hour. Children’s church and a nursery room are provided. Wednesday Bible study starts at 7pm and lasts about an hour; dress is casual. One block north of the stoplight in Driggs, then turn left (west) on Depot Street (opposite Wallace Street and the gas station); the church will be on your right.

Church in the Tetons

Driggs City Center | Driggs, ID 83422 | 208-354-HOPE [4673] churchinthetetons.org We gather for worship in the Driggs City Center at 9:15 on Sunday mornings, and celebrate the Lord’s Supper on the first Sunday of the month.

On the fifth Sunday we go out as the hands and feet of Jesus to serve our neighbors however we may. We are a biblically grounded, Christcentered, mission-focused community that exists to serve Teton Valley and the world to the glory of God. We are often described as authentic, relational, genuine, and honest. Nursery is available for infants and toddlers two and under. Education is provided for kids three and over.

Good Shepherd Catholic Church

245 South Highway 33 | Driggs, ID 83422 | 208-354-8960 uppervalleycatholic.com Starting May 23 and continuing through Labor Day weekend, mass held every Saturday at 4:30pm in English, and 6pm in Spanish. Also, every Wednesday Adoration 2-6pm, Confession 5pm, Benediction 6pm and a bilingual Mass at 6:30pm. Religious education sign ups in September. For more information call 208-624-7459 or email idahocatholic@yahoo.com.

LDS Driggs Idaho Stake

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | Teton Valley Wards Driggs I Driggs II Driggs III Tetonia I Tetonia II Victor I Victor II Victor III

Roy Moulton Wade Treasure Mitch Blake Thomas Richins Jim Douglass Lynn Bagley Val Kunz Stan Marshall

354-8211 354-8806 354-2379 456-2871 456-2362 787-2211 787-2026 787-3678

1pm 11am 9am 9am 11am 1pm 9am 11am

St. Francis of the Tetons Episcopal Church

Ski Hill Road | Alta, WY 83414 | 208-354-8960 stfrancis.episcopalidaho.org Sunday worship includes Sunday School for children at 10am. St. Francis of the Tetons Episcopal Church with Rev. Deb Adams officiating 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. [p. 39]

school directory

Calvary Chapel Teton Valley

Table Rock Christian School

1510 North Highway 33 | Driggs, ID 83422 | 208-354-9674 trcs.us TRCS students say they truly enjoy learning, and often find themselves a year or two ahead in key subjects when compared to those attending many other schools. We work to ensure that our students establish a joy for learning. We teach them how to think, not what to think. We utilize a challenging ‘Traditional Christian Education’ approach, borrowing from time-tested methods including Charlotte Mason, Spalding, McGuffey Readers, and the Bible. Our small, but solidly established school boasts a tutoring-like, peaceful, caring environment. If you have a K–4 student, we would enjoy receiving your inquiry.

Teton School District 401

District Office: 208-228-5923 tsd401.org Teton School District 401 strives to provide a safe and exceptional learning environment, where career and college readiness are the academic cornerstones of a relevant and progressive education. Our daily student focus is having Respect, being Responsible, and Ready. [p. 53]

Teton High School

Grades 9–12 | 208-228-5924 tsd401.org As a four-year high school, THS strives to recognize the uniqueness of the individual in preparing the student 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 option for students who meet the state criteria for enrollment. Students obtain credits through a state-approved independent-study format, with assistance from certified staff.

Teton Middle School

Grades 6–8 | 208-228-5925 tsd401.org Teton Middle School is dedicated to providing a quality education through which students will grow in academic achievement, respect for themselves and others, self-discipline, integrity, honesty, and responsibility.

Teton Valley Bible Church

Teton Elementary Schools

Teton Valley Bible welcomes everyone to join us on Sunday mornings at 10:30. Come ready to give your heart to Christ in worship through singing, the reading of Scripture, expository preaching, and meaningful fellowship. Sunday school for children and adults is at 9:00am. AWANA meets Wednesday nights at 6:20 throughout the school year. [p. 33]

The mission of the elementary schools of Teton School District 401 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.

265 North 2nd East | Driggs, ID 83422 | 208-354-8523 tetonvalleybiblechurch.org

Grades K–3 at Victor 208-228-5929 | Driggs 208-228-5927 | Tetonia 208-228-5930 | Rendezvous Upper Elementary grades 4–5 in Driggs 208-228-5926 tsd401.org

SUMMER 2015

magazine 71

exposure

What’s SUP? A STAND UP PADDLEBOARD IS ONE WAY TO ENJOY THE MELLOW WATERS OF THE UPPER TETON RIVER AND MARVELOUS VIEWS OF THE TETON RANGE. PHOTOGRAPH BY JAMYE CHRISMAN

72

magazine

SUMMER 2015

SUMMER 2014

magazine 5

2

magazine

SUMMER 2014