wyoming | biking the tetons

Driving through Jackson Hole, it's impossible not to notice the cyclists riding on the bike path at the base of the Teton Range. There are recreational cyclists, but there are also teams fully kitted out in head-to-toe spandex who appear to be training for something...a triathlon? The Tour de France? Regardless of athletic ability, this trail looked awesome (paved, perfectly flat, and with an incredible view of the mountains) and we wanted a piece of it.

I'll admit I was a bit nervous because it had been YEARS since I had ridden a bike. But the phrase "it's like riding a bike" really is true and spending a day biking along the base of the Tetons was one of the best things we did on our trip. We had such a great time that as soon as we got home from vacation we set out to buy our own bikes. (A process that involved 18 trips to local bike shops, but that is a story for another time. Suffice it to say we were bitten by the biking bug...and we're very indecisive!)

We grabbed some breakfast bagels and rented bikes from Dornan's in Moose. We estimated we rode about 20 miles and it felt great - like we were flying. (Not sure if this is true, but I figure the air is thinner at higher altitudes allowing for less resistance and higher speeds?) And the view was obviously top notch. The path is 56 miles so you could complete a century if you rode down and back. (Life goal? I decided during this trip that my new life plan was to move to WY, get into cycling and ride every morning, and then set up an easel in a sagebrush field and paint while looking at the Tetons every afternoon. Now who wants to give me a billion dollars so I can live in Jackson?)

Unfortunately, I don't have many pictures from this day because while I've been known to haul my DSLR up and down a mountain, I draw the line when it comes to hauling camera equipment by bike. Some things are just meant to be experienced in person rather than recorded. I have a handful of pics taken from a crappy point-and-shoot, but nothing that does the beauty of the experience any justice:



We stopped for a break and a snack of Bobo's Bars along the shore of Jenny Lake:



After our ride, and dropping our bikes off, we sat on the deck at Dornan's and drank a beer while looking at the mountains before heading back to the campground to rest our sore butts, wade in the Snake, and enjoy a fire and a picnic dinner. It was our last night at the campground, so we drank as many beers as we could and wandered the campground to chat with other campers (a couple from Montana who was traveling with their two little dogs, Ike and Mamie) and gave the leftover beers to a retired Danish couple ("Ja! We like beer!") taking an RV holiday throughout the U.S. (Another life goal!)

(Sweaty)

I keep describing every experience we had on this trip as "the best" or "our favorite", but the truth is, everything is incredible in the Tetons. With all the hiking, biking, rafting, eating, beautiful scenery, and wildlife, it's impossible to have a bad time. Two thumbs up!