Friend's condo in Driggs, ID
and Grand Targhee Ski Resort
I forgot how nice it is to make a whole pot of coffee, rather that just a cup at a time. Of course, I don't need more than a cup, and when I do overdo it, I'm a jittery mess by 1:00 p.m. and can't fall asleep until well after midnight. The single cup method is good. But we are headed to the slopes today, so maybe just a little more caffeine will be put to good use. Yes, you read it right. We're going to a ski resort in the middle of July. I dare say we won't have to worry about those hooligan snowboarders, but may need to watch for snakes. We'll be riding the ski lift to the top and then hiking down. I always wondered what was under all that snow on the ski trails; besides lost gloves, hats, goggles, ski poles, and possibly a tooth or two. Now I get to find out.
I took my coffee out on the porch,
and look who I have for a neighbor.
Robins are everywhere.
On our way to the slopes.
Just your normal, local bird looking for lunch.
Note: not a robin.
Here we are. Looks a little different from winter.
On the ski lift at Grand Targhee. The first really big one
that the kids have been on. Sugar Mountain doesn't have one like this.
Anticipation? Fear? Gotta go potty?
Up...
Up...
and away!
Almost there. No photos of the landing.
It's hard enough to dismount the lift empty-handed.
At the peak and what do we see?
The elusive mountain chipmunk.
(Not really that elusive...he was begging.)
And marigolds?
And just like in winter, there is a path back down.
As impressed as I was with all the flowers in the Midwest,
the ones in the mountains are just as beautiful.
Edelweiss?
Oh, so tiny.
Close to the edge.
I believe we are officially "out of bounds".
I would not want to be on skis near this.
Uh oh.
Don't worry, it'll blow over...this tree.
Bird in the middle.
Bee in the middle.
Attempted selfie of the family.
Sorry about the grass stalk, Anna.
Yes, it is raining lightly on us now.
If the light had been brighter, so would the hillside.
Moth in the middle.
Aww. I'm raising a tree-hugger.
Aspens are his favorite.
Yea! A break in the clouds.
Prairie Dog in the middle.
Marmot in the middle of the road.
Move marmot!
And back to the base of the mountain.
If you look closely at the edge of the awning,
on the seam, there's a blue swallow.
His nest is the hole at the upper right.
It's nice of the resort to share their shelters.
