Author Archive

Ready, set, GO! You have one hour to create an original piece of art that is not only beautiful but it also will be auctioned off fifteen minutes after you finish. Could you do it? Some of us, including myself, lack that artistic ability; however, on September 20th during the Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival, thirty artists gathered on a rainy morning and showcased that time is not a factor in the annual Quick Draw.

I grabbed a warm cup of hot coco and began to check out the artists as they prepped their stations and waited anxiously for it all to begin. Each artist can choose their masterpiece idea and medium beforehand; however, they have only one hour to create their artwork. After time is called, they have fifteen minutes to mount and frame their artwork and deliver it to the auction tent. On the auction floor, their artwork is auctioned off to many adorning fans anxiously waiting for their favorite artist’s work from the Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival.

A crowd favorite Amy Ringholz jammed away to her music as she created a unique portrayal of a jackrabbit in a rainbow of brilliant colors. Some artists worked with previous art they had created and others with a photograph. Greg Woodard created his sculpture using a live falcon as a very active model. A majority of the artwork was of regional landscapes and animals native to the mountain west that characterize the western art movement.

The hour seemed to slip away quite fast as I made several circles around the artists watching the evolving canvases and sculptures. My favorite part of the Quick Draw was to pick a few artists at the beginning and watch closely their creative process. The art changed drastically each time I circled around so I was always surprised. Soon time was called and the artists quickly began framing their art for the live auction.

The trick with the art auction is getting good seats; however, you can sneak over to the tent during the Quick Draw and place a jacket to reserve some seats. As soon as everyone settles in, the auction begins. The first auction is a painting titled, ‘Recon’ by the featured artist, Greg Beecham depicting a pack of wolves in the morning light.

The Quick Draw is an excellent way to see a more in-depth creative process during the Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival of all the local artists that are sprinkled throughout galleries in town. In the auction people can buy a painting or sculpture for their house that is not only beautiful but a great conversational piece.

Bottom line: The Quick Draw inspires me to take an art class or two and is an exciting event to take in during the Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival.

As Fall colors and temps peak in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Park, animals begin to migrate to lower elevations, giving spectators prime seats for the show. Signing up for a guided tour with Wildlife Expeditions offers a unique and educational way to enjoy the vast amount of wildlife in the region. Let your guide do the driving and animal spotting as you sit back and enjoy the scenery.

I chose to do a sunset expedition, which runs about four hours and visits Grand Teton National park and outlying national forest areas. Each guide chooses a unique route to take that is based on the latest animal activity and hidden spots visitors might not be aware of.

My small group of three (group size varies but can be anywhere from 2-10 people) was led by two excellent guides, Lynette and Kevin. We drove out of town and stopped at the National Elk Refuge and although the elk have not began to migrate, it was full of trumpter swams, geese, and many different species of ducks. While we were stopped, Lynette went over basic safety rules, welcomed any questions throughout the trip, and told us to yell out if we saw something, even if it ends up being a rock. The guides also supplied binoculars for each person in the group, which are handy for studying details and getting an up-close view from the safety of the van. The van is equipped with sliding windows at every seat and roof hatches, so there are really no bad seats and always good shots for photographers.

Lynette, our guide, decided to head along the Gros Ventre River where wildlife can be abundant and traffic can be minimal. Our first wildlife spotting was a group of amazing pronghorn, which we soon learned how amazing they are from Lynette and Kevin’s extensive knowledge of pronghorns. In each expedition van the guides carry a rubbermaid container full of wildlife goodies and Lynette quickly pulled out a replica of a pronghorn skull, horn and a pelt of fur.

The tour continued and I was blown away from the amount of knowledge I was learning about each animal we saw and interesting facts on Jackson Hole wildlife. We soon came upon a herd of bison and were able to get out of the van to watch them pass near us. The guides set up two scopes, so we could see the animals up-close and really enjoy all the details. The walkie-talkie beeped and it was another guide informing us that there was activity on Moose-Wilson Road. Since every guide takes different routes they are able to call each other about animal sightings, so your tour is full of wildlife.

As we were driving along a dirt road, Lynette all of sudden stopped the van and asked everyone to get out in a very excited voice. We had come upon a very large portion of bear ’scat’ which we were able to examine and it was full of all types of berries. The guides talked about tracking bears and how the skat was very recent so there could be a bear in the area, it was all very exciting. After a few more animal sightings (moose, elk and coyotes) the tour ended and we headed back into town.

In my group was, Ed and Vicki from Salem, North Carolina, who were on a cross-country dream trip enjoying national parks and must-see sights throughout the country.  Ed wanted, after driving for many weeks, to enjoy the scenery and wildlife without having to drive and  get an educated local perspective on the area. Ed agreed Wildlife Expeditions is an “excellent way to see wildlife and have an overview of Jackson Hole with two professionals who truly love what they do.”

Wildlife Expeditions is a branch Teton Science Schools, which is a non-profit organization that educates and excites people about the natural world. The surplus from the rates for a wildlife expedition all help fund the Teton Science Schools, which is an excellent way to support the local community. There are many different expeditions you can take year round in the parks, which vary from a few hours to a few days. For example, in the winter months, they offer the ‘Winter Wolves of Yellowstone Expedition” which is a four day excursion and includes a snowcoach ride and hotel stays in Yellowstone.  September is a great time to do a sunset tour because the season has slowed down and nature is getting ready for winter. Whatever tour you decide to take, a wildlife expedition a great idea when coming to Jackson. Not only do you get to see the majestic national parks, you also gain the education and an unforgettable experience.

The number one problem with Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival Taste of the Tetons event is you never really know where to begin. There are so many booths full of tasty treats, delicious desserts, diverse artistry crafts and not to mention all the people walking around with plates and bowls full of mouth watering ‘tastes.’

After you get your bearings you must first begin with buying your tickets which is the only form of payment at the booths.  Make your way over to the ticket booth, where I recommend starting with twenty tickets per person, at one dollar each, and coming back if you need more tickets. A plate at a booth varies in cost from two to five tickets.

With your tickets in hand, pick a circular direction, and check out some booths. Personally, I like to walk around the whole Taste of the Tetons event once and scope out all the culinary samples available. As I was ’scoping’ I overheard two ladies talking about “the best thing at the event” which was a fried green wyomato sandwich from Cascade Restaurant, which is located in Teton Mountain Lodge in Teton Village. I quickly located the popular booth and waited in the long, but fast moving line for my own taste of the ‘best thing.’ Let me tell you I was not let down, the local green wyomatos (from Big Piney) were perfectly matched with baby arugula, paprika aioli, red onions all on a ciabatta bun.

With an empty plate, I began my search for another treat. Before I saw the next booth, I smelled the sweet barbecue sauce and soon saw the delicious ribs grilling. At the Burkes Chop House booth, chefs were grilling off juicy ribs and topping them with generous portions of a homemade BBQ sauce. Moving around the booths, I spotted the historic The Wort Hotel who was serving up their famous corn chowder and even though the day was hot, the chowder was still excellent.

After tasting so many different cuisines, I needed a break and headed straight for the wine tasting tent. The same tickets work here to sample various wines; however, you must buy a glass for five dollars with all proceeds going to the Rotary Club of Jackson Hole. You can pick, swirl and sip from many different bottles as well as participate in the silent auction, which has anything from purses to elk antler knives.

In addition to the restaurant and wine booths, there are also many local artists showcasing their talents. One booth that jumped out to me was a local jewelry artist Jessica Freed. Her jewelry and belts all had intricate metal work designs that were one of a kind. There is also a live band, The Jackson Hole Cowboy Jubilee jamming away for your listening and dancing pleasure to old favorites such as Johnny Cash.

Taste of the Tetons is part of the Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival which happens in September each year and is an excellent time to visit due to the plethora of events, fall colors changing, and less traffic. This year twenty-two restaurants from Jackson Hole and surrounding areas cooked, grilled, scooped, sauteed, and dressed mouth watering tastes for hungry onlookers. The Fall Arts Festival Taste of the Tetons is truly an exceptional collection of some of  Jackson Hole’s finest indulgences: diverse world-class cuisine, unique artists, and a charming small town vibe all amongst the historic town square.

Riding the Jenny Lake Ferry across Jenny Lake is a relaxing and fun way to see a different side of Grand Teton National Park. Many use the ferry as a stepping stone for hiking to Hidden Falls or into Cascade Canyon; however, the ferry is also great way to get on the water and snap  shots of the Tetons. The ferry staff are all very knowledgeable of the area and are happy to answer any questions.

If you are looking for a longer excursion than fifteen minutes, they do also offer one-hour scenic tours of Jenny Lake. The scenic tour is a great way to learn more about the Tetons and to enjoy the beauty of Jenny Lake. Canoes and kayaks are also available for rent, if you are looking for a bit more adventure on the lake.

The ferry runs every fifteen minutes throughout the day and costs nine dollars round trip. You can catch the ferry by parking at the South Jenny Lake Visitor Center and following the signs to the ferry.