The valley of Jackson Hole Wyoming is part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. It is flanked by the world-famous Grand Tetons on the west and by the less well-known but locally loved and even wilder Gros Ventre Mountains on the east. The town of Jackson sits at the south end of the valley. The Gros Ventres (pronounced Grow-Vahnt) are a magnificent mountain range of soaring sedimentary peaks rising about magnificent mountain stream valleys. And this protected Wilderness Area encompasses some of the best mountain wildlife habitat on Earth!
Our scheduled treks in the Gros Ventres are usually in June, before the hoofed animals have spread out over the high summer ranges due to the still-melting snow-pack. So we usually see a lot of wildlife along our mid-elevation route! On this trek a few years ago, we watched a doe mule deer chase a wolf right past our group as we stood open-mouthed on the trail just a few yards away! We’ve seen hundreds of elk on this guided hiking tour, and most years we also see moose, beaver, marmot and occasionally bighorn sheep, mink, bear (both flavors) and a diverse abundance of bird-life, too!
The trail gradients are generally pretty mellow, especially for a high mountain trip, though in June, there are usually some wet and muddy sections. But it is worth it! The peaks are seriously snow-capped and the valleys are a brilliant spring green, laced with wildflowers and punctuated by colorful red and gray sedimentary rocks. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore one of our great western mountain Wilderness Areas! And, I am proud to say, yours truly is one of the folks responsible for getting the Gros Ventres protected as designated Wilderness back in 1984.
