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Intergenerational Rocky Mountain High: Riding, Rafting and Climbing in the Tetons

Program Number: 2587RJ
Start and End Dates:
7/7/2013 - 7/12/2013; 7/14/2013 - 7/19/2013;
Duration: 5 nights
Location: The Tetons (Alta), Wyoming
Price starting at: $925.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city
Program Type: Intergenerational; National Parks
Intergenerational 		Activity Level: t (see description)
Meals: 14; 5 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 5 Dinners    
Meal Options: Vegetarian; Gluten Free    

Program intended for grandchildren from 9 - 12 years of age.

Enjoy an action-packed week in spectacular mountainous country offering beautiful panoramas, incredible wildflowers and a variety of wildlife. Whitewater raft through rolling rapids in the Grand Canyon of the Snake River. Challenge yourself on a climbing wall and climb a mountain peak to be rewarded with majestic 360 degree views. Experience the thrill of horseback riding in the scenic Tetons. At the Jackson Hole Rodeo watch the local cowboys; bull riders, bareback riders, and more. Enjoy the scenic grandeur of Grand Teton National Park. Examine nature close-up on the trail; capture and identify butterflies and hunt for fossils. Discover the lifestyles of native animals through "hands-on" investigation of real skins and skulls.




Highlights

• Enjoy whitewater rafting on the rolling rapids in the Grand Canyon of the Snake River.
• Experience the thrill of horseback riding and see real cowboys in action at the Jackson Hole Rodeo.
• Climb a mountain peak to be rewarded with majestic 360 degree views.



Activity Particulars

3-6 hours of physical activity daily including hiking a mountain trail, horseback riding and whitewater rafting. Elevations of 6 -10,000 feet.



A permittee of the Caribou-Targhee National Forest.




Date Specific Information

7-14-2013

16 Mile Overnight Scenic and Whitewater Combination Float a scenic 8-mile stretch of the Snake River and spend one night on the river bank in teepees with comfortable sleeping cots. Enjoy a freshly prepared dinner served by a campfire and wake to a hot breakfast; then get ready for 8 miles of exhilarating whitewater. Program schedule does not permit a rodeo visit, but does include horseback ride, mountain peak hike and a day in Grand Teton National Park. 3 nights Grand Targhee Resort, 1 night camping, 1 night Jackson (last night.)



Coordinated by Targhee Institute at UMW.




The Tetons (Alta)

Residents call this "the quiet side of the Tetons." Not far from Jackson Hole and the bustle of the national parks, the Alta/Grand Targhee area is surrounded by a wilderness of sub-alpine meadows and forest. This stunning mountain scenery is one of America's richest unspoiled natural settings and is home to a wide variety of wildlife.
Accommodations
Resort hotel in the Tetons, heated outdoor pool and hot tub.

Road Scholar Instructors
These instructors are participating on at least one date of this program. Please note that changes may occur.
Cindy Sebesta
Cindy Sebesta is a former backcountry ranger for the U.S. Forest Service in the Tetons. With a bachelor's in biology and a master’s in environmental education from Antioch New England, she has lived and worked in the Teton/Yellowstone region for 30 years. She has a keen interest in photographing wildflowers, observing birds and mammals and studying the unique fossil record of the region. Cindy has led Road Scholar hikes in the area for 20 years and teaches "leave no trace" low-impact hiking.
 
Carole Lowe
Shortly after obtaining her degree from Utah State University in education, Carole Lowe began a life-long career as a mountain guide. She first worked for Outward Bound, Colorado, then owned and operated a backcountry ski outfitter company for several decades. Along the way, Carole worked for Jackson Hole Hikes and served as a backcountry ranger in the Tetons. A wildflower and hiking enthusiast, Carole particularly enjoys sharing her knowledge of the natural history of the Tetons.
 
Meals and Lodgings
   Grand Targhee Resort
  Alta, WY 5 nights
 Grand Targhee Resort
Type: Resort
  Description: Surrounded by sub-alpine forest wilderness, 60 minutes from Jackson, WY and located in the Grand Teton/Yellowstone national park area. Hiking trails and mountainside activities right from your door.
  Contact info: 3300 East Ski Hill Road
Alta, WY 83414 USA
phone: 800-827-4433
web: grandtarghee.com
  Room amenities: Standard motel rooms, phone, satellite television, shower/tub, Wi-fi, coffee maker.
  Facility amenities: Heated outdoor swimming pool and hot tub, spa open by appointment. Retail stores include General Store for sundries and snacks and Outfitting Store for gear and clothing. Outdoor activities may include horseback riding, biking, Frisbee disc golf course, mountain bike rentals and scenic chairlift ride, from June 21-Labor Day, weather dependent. On-site restaurant and bar (limited hours) open to the public. Meals served to Road Scholar group during their stay.
  Smoking allowed: No
  Additional nights prior: Call for price. Call Grand Targhee Resort 1-800-827-4433 for current prices and to book. Mention you are with Road Scholar for possible Road Scholar discounts and to assure your stay in the same room during the program.
  Check in time: 4:00 PM
  Additional nights after: Call for price. Call Grand Targhee Resort 1-800-827-4433 for current prices and to book. Mention you are with Road Scholar for possible Road Scholar discounts and to assure your stay in the same room during the program.
  Check out time: 11:00 AM


Travel Details
  Start of Program:
Check-in after 4 pm. Road Scholar check-in 5:30 pm in Teewinot Conference Room. You will be staying at Grand Targhee Resort that night.
  End of Program:
Program ends 8:30 AM following breakfast. Group airport taxi (by reservation only) leaves 8:30 am. Check out time no later than 11:00 AM. You will be staying at Grand Targhee Resort the night before.
  Required documents:
The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required. Grand Targhee Assumption of Risk, USFS Acknowledgement of Risk, Sands Whitewater Raft Acknowledgement of Risk
  Parking availability:
no fee
Transportation
To Start of Program
  Location:  Alta, WY
  Nearest city or town:  Driggs, ID
  Nearest highway: Hwy 33 in Driggs, ID
  Nearest airport:  Jackson Hole, WY
  From End of Program
  Location: Alta, WY
    (Additional transportation information same as above)
Travel Details
 

Jackson Hole, WY

 

From Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Taxi
Cowboy Cab
phone: 307-413-1000
Advanced Reservations Required

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

call taxi company for current cost
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

1.5 hours, weather dependent 
 

Distance:

 

50 miles
   

All transportation by reservation only. You are responsible for contacting the taxi company in advance. Group times 2:30 pm arrival day; 8:30 am departure day. Your flight should arrive by 2 pm on Sunday and depart no earlier than 12:30 pm on Friday. Call taxi company for Sunday afternoon group taxi pickup at Jackson's in-town hotels. Outside of the above scheduled times individual transportation can be reserved through Cowboy Cab. Payment collected at the airport.
 
Driving Directions
  Driggs, Idaho Turn East at the only stoplight in town and proceed 12 miles until the end of Ski Hill Road.
  Jackson Hole Airport Exit airport, turn R on Hwy 89. Go to Jackson and through town square. Turn R on Broadway (stop light) towards Wilson. Go through Jackson to Hwy. 22/Teton Pass/Wilson. Follow right lane for exit. Drive over Teton Pass, cross border into Idaho and Hwy 22 becomes Hwy 33. Stay on Hwy 33 through Victor and 8 miles to Driggs. Turn right at the stoplight in Driggs. Follow the paved road (Ski Hill Road) 12 miles. Road ends at Grand Targhee.
Elevation Note: Sleeping elevation 8000'. Maximum elevation 10,000' by chairlift (weather permitting.)

Equipment Requirements: Refillable quart water bottle. Backpack to carry field lunches and water. Comfortable hiking boots, vibram soles (good tread.) Walking stick recommended. Water shoes for whitewater raft trip. Jeans and shoes with heels recommended for horseback ride.
The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


Daily Schedule

Day 1: Check-In / Dinner / Orientation
(Sunday, July 7)
   
 Arrive To: Check-in Grand Targhee after 4 pm. Road Scholar registration 5:30 pm in Teewinot Conference Room.
 Dinner: Dinner at resort.
 Evening: Orientation Meeting 7 pm in Teewinot Conference Room. Meet fellow participants and review week's activity schedule.
   
Accommodations: Grand Targhee Resort
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Teton Habitats Class / On-site hike to Lightning Peak / Hands-on Skins and Skulls Class
(Monday, July 8)

Note: LIGHTNING PEAK HIKE: 4.6 miles round-trip through subalpine forests and flower-filled meadows. Elevation gain/loss 500 feet. The group will hike together, at a slow to moderate pace, allowing all participants to feel the exhilaration of climbing a mountain ridge. While hiking, children complete a scavenger hunt, looking for sounds, colors and shapes of nature.
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the resort
 Morning: Teton Habitats Class: discuss the 5 major habitats we visit during the week and plants and wildlife you are likely to see. On-site hike to Lightning Peak through subalpine forests and flower-filled meadows. Enjoy your picnic lunch overlooking the heart of the Teton Mountain Range. See if you can spot hikers and climbers in the mountains immediately in front of you.
 Lunch: Sack lunch on hike
 Afternoon: Hike continued / Movie: The Bear, (1988) known as L'Ours in its original release, a feature film directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud. The screenplay by Gérard Brach was adapted from the novel The Grizzly King by James Oliver Curwood. The movie was nominated for and won numerous international film awards
 Dinner: Dinner at the resort.
 Evening: Hands-on class: Skins and Skulls; Learn about Teton animals through examination of authentic skins and skulls. You become the expert while creating a poster about the critter of your choice.
   
Accommodations: Grand Targhee Resort
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Hands-On Activity / Outdoor Activity / Horseback Ride
(Tuesday, July 9)

Note: HORSEBACK RIDE: 2 hours. Enjoy wildflower meadows and sub-alpine spruce/fir forests on a horseback ride with incredible views. Hikers visit fossil sites to hunt for fossils of resident critters from 350 million years ago.
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at resort.
 Morning: Hands-on Activity; KIDS Finish wildlife posters/ ADULTS Teton History class: discover how the history of the Teton region intertwines the Idaho and Wyoming sides of the range. Taken from a local's perspective, you will enjoy personal anecdotes along with classic history as written by historians./ Exploratory Hike: possible activities include fossil hunt, capturing butterflies, sampling wild edible plants, blindfold walk, looking for tracks and signs of wild critters. / Horseback Ride (1/2 of group).
 Lunch: 12:00 lunch at Resort
 Afternoon: Video: "Catch Me If You Can"; the best sequences of playing animals the videographer has filmed. "Play is important, and for each animal I will show you how their seemingly carefree activity mirrors their adult lives." -Bob Landis, filmmaker. Prefaced by talk about predator/prey relationships.
 Afternoon: Exploratory Hike: possible activities include capturing butterflies, sampling wild edible plants, blindfold walk, looking for tracks and signs of wild critters / Horseback Ride (1/2 of group).
 Dinner: 6 PM dinner at the resort.
 Evening: Skins and Skulls Presentation: You are the expert! Present interesting facts about your chosen animal to the entire group.
   
Accommodations: Grand Targhee Resort
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Field Trip: Grand Teton National Park / Whitewater Raft Trip / Jackson Hole Rodeo
(Wednesday, July 10)

Note: RAFT TRIP: Company provides safety and paddling instruction; splash gear and Coast Guard approved life jacket; wetsuits available for rent (nominal fee). 8 mile float; 2 hours on the water, depending on water levels; Class III rapids; 14-man rafts; paddling is optional.
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the resort
 Morning: Field Trip 9 am departure:Grand Teton National Park
 Lunch: Sack lunch picnic at Grand Teton National Park Visitor Center. Eat a picnic lunch with the grandeur of the Tetons as a panoramic backdrop. Experience wonderful interactive displays in the new Craig Thomas Dicovery Center, opened August 2008. The Discovery Center has exhibits on history, flora, fauna and artworks of the Tetons.
 Afternoon: Whitewater trip on the Snake River; meet raft company at 2:00 pm. Combining spectacular scenery with the excitement of rolling rapids, this whitewater rafting trip has all the ingredients for the perfect river adventure. Sand's Wild Water River Trips take you through 8 miles of whitewater in the Grand Canyon of the Snake River south of the town of Jackson.
 Dinner: Dinner in Jackson. we'll meet at a local restaurant for dinner.
 Evening: Jackson Hole Rodeo, 8 pm. Unlike the larger gatherings in other parts of the state, Jackson maintains it's local, "anyone who has the gumption can do it" attitude that makes it representative of both the community and the original intention of the sport. Noted for fine stock, young cowboys coming up through the ranks and people who just love it, it's a great choice for action-packed fun. Activities include, Barrel Racing, Calf Roping, Bull Riding, Saddle Bronco Riding, Bareback Bronco Riding. Kids get a chance to win prizes in the calf yellow ribbon pull. Return to Targhee.
   
Accommodations: Grand Targhee Resort
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Late Breakfast (phew! it was a long day yesterday!) / Chairlift Ride and Mary's Peak Hike / Climbing Wall / Evening Campfire (weather permitting)
(Thursday, July 11)

Note: MARY'S PEAK HIKE: Ride the chairlift to the summit of Fred’s Mountain. Hike 1.7 miles to the saddle below Mary’s Peak. You can decide if you want to make the 20 minute climb up the last 340' to the summit of Mary’s once you view it from the saddle. Hike 1.7 miles back to the chairlift for ride down the mountain. Total elevation gain/loss 1170 feet.
   
 Breakfast: 8:15 - 9:00 am breakfast at the resort.
 Morning: ADULTS: Teton Geology Class: Why do the Tetons look the way they do? What you see in the mountains today is what we’ll discuss. We'll talk about 4.5 billion years of history in 45 minutes! KIDS: meet for hands-on project. FIELD TRIP: Chairlift Ride and optional Mary's summit hike. Challenge yourself to climb Mary's Peak with wonderful 360 degree summit views of the major Teton peaks. Feel the exhiliration of reaching the top of a mountain peak! As well as spectaular scenery, you have the opportunity to possibly see a pika or mountain goat!
 Lunch: Sack lunch on the hike.
 Afternoon: Field trip continued / Climbing Wall (optional) for children and adults. Challenge yourself to use strength and endurance and reach the top of the wall. Certified outfitter provides ropes, harnesses and belaying.
 Dinner: Dinner at the resort.
 Evening: Closure Meeting / Family Campfire, s'mores and more! Time for us to share the experiences and fun that we had together.
   
Accommodations: Grand Targhee Resort
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Good-byes
(Friday, July 12)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the resort 7:30 - 8:15 am. Group taxi to airport (by reservation only) leaves 8:30 am. Check out by 11 am.
 Morning: Good-byes at breakfast. Program ends to allow you to travel to your next destination.
   
Meals Included: Breakfast

Free Time Opportunities
  
  Alta, WY General Overview
Airplane/Glider scenic flights, guided fly-fishing trips, 4 golf courses, drive-in movie theatre all available in Teton Valley near Driggs, ID 12 miles from the resort. Mountain bike rentals/horseback rides available mid-June through Labor Day at the resort (no ground transportation required.) Aerial Tram, whitewater rafting, covered wagon cookout with musical entertainment available in Jackson Hole, 42 miles from the resort. For additional information, visit www.grandtarghee.com
  chamber of commerce
For additional information, visit www.tetonvalleychamber.com
Important information about your itinerary: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.

Suggested Reading List


Homesteading with the Elk


Author: Bertha Chambers Gillette


Description: Depicts pioneer life of early settlers of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, continuing through the development of the Jackson Hole Elk Refuge in 1912. This is an interesting read for children of all ages.



The White Indian Boy


Author: Elijah Nicholas Wilson


Description: Fascinating tale of a Jackson Hole early settler who spent years with native tribes as an 11-12 year-old boy. Great read with grandchildren.



Wapiti Wilderness


Author: Margaret & Olaus Murie


Description: Family nature book set in the Grand Tetons, where the Muries lived for 37 years and raised their children and where Olaus conducted his famous studies of the elk herd of Jackson Hole. Mardy lived in Moose, Wyoming until her death at age 101 summer 2007.



For Everything There is a Season


Author: Frank C. Craighead, Jr.


Description: Monthly account of seasonal changes in the Grand Teton National Park area; a sequence of natural history events written in narrative prose with beautiful photographs.



Spindrift; Stories of Teton Basin


Author: Anderson, Meyer, Whitfield, eds


Description: Anthology of writings by housewives, writers, farmers, musicians, biologists, artists, skiers and teachers; the people of Teton Basin. The memoirs, poetry, essays and fiction in this volume reflect the kaleidoscope of lives and nature that fill this place.



Arctic Dreams: The Mardy Murie Story


Author: Charles Craighead & Bonnie Kreps


Description: Based on the video documentary “Arctic Dreams”; a biographic photo-essay of a remarkable woman and Jackson Hole notable in the conservation movement.



Common Wildflowers of Grand Teton National Park


Author: Charles Craighead


Description: Wonderful photos by local photographer Henry Holdsworth, a flower guide organized by color. Very user friendly. Includes flowering shrubs and berries.



Creation of the Teton Landscape


Author: J. David Love, J. Reed & K. Pierce


Description: A geologic chronicle of Jackson Hole & the Teton Range.



Plants of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks


Author: Richard J. Shaw


Description: This compact volume includes 213 species of trees, shrubs and wildflowers found in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Perfect for the backpack or glove compartment, beautiful full-color photographs make plant identification easy for even the novice naturalist,





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