Cache Creek Trail, Jackson, WY

Cache Creek Trail, Jackson Hole, WY (Mar. 6, 2016)

Tanya (my mom), Scarlett, and Hunter (my kids) near the Cache Creek Trailhead.

“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out going to the mountains is going home; that wilderness is a necessity...” John Muir. Sometimes even if it is only for a few hours I’ve got to get outside and do something. It’s a whole great big world and I love exploring it. Cache Creek Trail is a wonderful little spot to get outside, go for a walk, let the dog and the kids run, and just enjoy the outdoors.

Cache Creek Trail is more known for mountain biking as an entertaining ride that heads up Cache Creek; striking views of the Gros Ventre Range and Snake River Valley. In the winter a trail groomer sets tracks for cross country skiers and many snowshoe bound walkers. It’s a beautiful little spot so close to town you can’t help but occasionally stop by for a stroll.

Scarlett decked out in spring hiking gear and ready to go.

It was Sunday afternoon and we all desperately wanted to get outside and do something. Normally when a plan has not previously been put into place and last minute decisions are being made on a location to travel towards, Jackson Hole ends up on the short list. This day was no different as we decided that a family hike was in order and Cache Creek Trail was the perfect spot to get it done.

Erin with Drake, this dog is next level naughty but he loves Erin.

It was relatively warm (43 degrees) and strongly thinking about raining. The trail itself was still covered in about 10 inches of packed snow. The parking area was rapidly turning into a rutted mess, our Chevy HHR would not have approved but the Dodge truck didn’t seem to care. A quick potty stop, Erin hates pit toilets so I have to check for trolls before she will go, and some trail mix later and we were on our way.

Scarlett looking for fish with Teal in a little pool on the creek.

I brought my dogs this time which is always an interesting dynamic. My dog, Teal, is generally well behaved and doesn’t particularly care to get in other dogs business. Erin’s dog, Drake, is pictured next to naughty in the dictionary… Erin kept him on a leash for this one due to the large quantity of other dogs and hikers on the trail.

Scarlett was a total granola on this hike. She was excited and ready to go and had the outfit totally down. Remembering that I’m kind of… well, cheap and that gear for kids is expensive, it is that much more cool to me that Scarlett is well outfitted using mostly second hand stuff. She was wearing Keen hiking boots, Columbia rain pants, an REI Gortex coated fleece jacket, nylon gloves, a beanie, and a little daypack with water and treats. I’m probably invested something like $25-$30 for that setup. Not too bad.

Me and Alice, aka the Beebs, aka the dweeber, aka naughtier then Drake!

Hunter… well he wanted to do his own thing so he ended up in jeans and a camo hoodie. He did upgrade to North Face pack boots and a Gortex jacket after realizing that he might end up cold in all cotton and tennis shoes. I guess everybody’s got to learn, cotton KILLS!

The trail wasn’t too crowded and the kids decided to follow the grownups on a paralleling trail near the creek. It was quiet entertaining to watch Hunter and Scarlett stumble, trip, slide and fall in the deep snow near the creek.

After hiking about one mile up the trail we came to a spot where the kids found a sledding hill. No sleds, no problem! They just launched themselves off the side of the hill onto their bellies and slid down like penguins.

It was a pretty fun afternoon in a beautiful place. The dogs got a walk, the kids got to play, and everything was going great. Where.

-Adventure on!