Day 4 – Wednesday
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Day 3 – Tuesday
There is 7 feet of snow over here at Bradley Taggart!
Lunch break!
Day 2 – Monday
Sawyer leans down to smell the urine – is it fox or coyote?
Marshall helps orient the group by finding where we are on the map.
There was a winter storm warning today. The Tetons disappeared in a cloud of white.
Going down hills on cross country skis takes practice! What a supportive group.
Go Christina!
Exploring the ecological communities of this area. In this picture we’re making our way to the riparian area from the sagebrush community. It’s hard to know there are sagebrush plants around because they are buried under 5 ft of snow!
Jover and Sawyer wearing big smiles – the whole day long!
Doing the penguin walk up-hill.
Hunter took off his ski, stepped into the snow and this is what happened!
This crew is doing an experiment. Hot tea was poured into a small container. Their task – using only the outdoors (snow, a bush etc.) design a place to put the container so it will lose the least amount of heat in 10 minutes. This group placed their container in the air space at the base of a shrub for their 10 minutes. They’re waiting for their results now.
Resource time – using watercolor to illustrate the views!
Visiting the Murie museum on campus. what a special place!
Jessica taking on the grizzly bear role as her group worked on their species account. Teams of students created species accounts just as Olaus Murie did.
More pictures to come from this day! Stay tuned!
2017 Trip — Day 1, Sunday
We arrived!
The Tetons are just fine for the four Principia faculty – Kristin, Lynne, Ross, Charley (L to R).
Trying out cross country skis! This group was impressive!
Gretchen and Emily are skiing experts.
Chuy is a natural on his skis!
This was the caterpillar ski game in action.
Cicely and Hannah were amazing on the skis.
After dinner dish duty – thanks Jessica, Hawthorn and Emily!
Our first evening program focused on “Mindful Communication”
We played a few team building games to help us practice our communication skills.
Day 9 — Monday
Pre-dawn ski to Coyote Rock.
The last climb up to the top of Coyote Rock.
Josh layers up against the icy wind.
The small group who braved the morning cold to ski up Coyote Rock: Elsa, Josh, Tyler, Dylan, Kristin, Ben and LP.
Skiing back down is the fun part.
Day 7 — Saturday (Extended Stay)
A few more days in Jackson Hole…
Unloading and heading back to Spur Ridge for our extended stay. Looks like we won’t be getting out until Monday evening.?!
Déjà vu.
Now that’s an icicle!
A few brave students head into the fresh, deep powder, breaking a new trail all the way.
The small band of skiers arrive on the Upper Meadow.
Decision time: do we keep going to summit Coyote Rock or head back down? We headed back down. What took us 40 minutes to climb took about 10 minutes to cruise back down.
Tyler cruised successfully down the aspen grove to the Upper Meadow.
Coming back down was way too fun.
One last gentle climb, then another downhill.
The Tetons peaked through the clouds before sunset.
Day 6 — Friday
Bighorn Sheep at Miller’s Butte.
Sleigh ride through the Elk Refuge.
Sparring elk.
Students learn about issues for and against the Elk Refuge from Meredith.
Students thank the horses.
Day 5 — Thursday
Can you find the Ruffed Grouse?
Hoar frost on the trees.
Hoar frost on the skis.
Skiing out to the sage flats.
A little down hill skiing.
As usual, Brendan takes a different route…
…which doesn’t work out so well.
With ease, Mrs. Scott conquers the slope.
Crossing Ditch Creek.
Feel free to ask these skiers for pro tips.
Preparing for presentations.
The Chickadee group’s infographics are looking good with Mitch’s artistic skill.
Lights, camera, action …and the presentations begin.
Day 4 — Wednesday
Learning how to dig a snow pit for gathering snow science data.
The face of the snow pit gets brushed off by Josh.
First data to collect is the depth of the snow.
After locating the different layers, Josh measures the thickness of each one.
Annika scribes the data for her group.
MaryGrace removes wedges of snow to be weighed.
The snow gets weighed by Elsa and Shay.
Josh examines the snow crystals to determine their shape.
Off to another location to dig another snow pit and collect more data.
Day in the life of a snow pit. Click on the text to see the time-lapse video.
The group hikes to a third location to dig one last snow pit.
Dining Lodge at night.
One-hour exposure of the Southeastern sky.
Day 3 — Tuesday
A group shot on the terminal moraine.
The students spread out along the banks to make observations and free write.
We arrive at the frozen banks of Lake Taggert.
A quick, informal presentation to each other.
In groups of three, the students head off to make observations, come up with questions and draw hypothesis.
The students pause on the narrow bridge before moving on.
The surface of the snow has cool crystalline formations that Mary Grace is taking a closer look at.
Holding the little serotinous cone, Chris takes his turn with it before passing it on.
Ben tells the students about a Lodge Pole Pine adaptation to resist fires — serotinous cones.
Learning about the Lake Bradley/Taggert area.
Taylor talks with the students about science and the scientific method.
Students share back what they think science is and what it isn’t.
Attempt at star trails with the rising moon brightening the sky.