While on our vacation, I thought it might be a nice idea to keep in touch with our friends and family with photos and thoughts using the blogging platform. So this is the first entry. From June 26th-July 4th this year, Mel, Pete and I spent a wonderful week in Wyoming at Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. Mel, the family "minimize-the-budget, maximize-the-experience" travel agent, arranged our vacation using Travelocity and direct booking through the parks.
6/26: Our flight, leaving Saturday morning on June 26th was to Jackson Hole, WY by way of Dallas-Ft. Worth. Our flight was delayed and upon landing, we had to take a shuttle to the city of Jackson to get our car. For those of you considering trips involving car rentals, consider also the location of the car rental office; not knowing, we took the least expensive option, but it entailed a shuttle ten miles out of our way both ways. In hindsight, it might have been better to pay a little more for the on-site car rental. In shuttling to Jackson, we could see the beautiful Snow King ski mountain. The town itself reminded me of the old Clint Eastwood flick Any Which Way You Can. In any event, we started our way to Grand Teton National Park for the first leg of our journey. I can't begin to describe just how beautiful this part of Wyoming is. The open spaces, sage brush, buttes, the fresh air... We tried to get a little sight-seeing done with the remaining hours of the day. Passing Oxbow Bend, we couldn't help but notice the number of cars parked at the turnout. It truly is a beautiful sight with the Tetons in the background. We progressed to Colter Bay, where our cabin would be. It was a long trip and we were a bit hungry, but by the time we got in it was too late for any of the restaurants, however the cafeteria was still open. We grabbed a little food, located our cabin and went to bed. It would be an early start and a long day following.
6/27: We had a rafting trip in the morning: a leisurely float down the Snake River with our guide Pete pointing out certain sights and animal life- bald eagles, bank swallows, Canada geese along the way. We found out that the Tetons (French for "nipples") were named by some French trappers who must have been in serious need of female company. Oddly, there are three peaks which goes to show how seriously deprived they were. Glaciers and certain highlights were pointed out to us and some local lore was related. All-in-all it was a very enjoyable experience. We stopped at the gift shop where Mel bought a beaded leather belt and I bought a Stetson. We stopped for lunch at the Pioneer Grill. That afternoon Mel, Peter and I took a hike around Emma Mathilda Lake. It was a lovely (but exhausting, at least for me) hike, almost 12 miles. You might not realize it, but I'm not in the same great shape I was as a kid. The extent of my daily workout is pushing-off on my swivel chair across the room at work. At one point, no longer feeling my legs, I stepped off a log and fell flat on my face into some mud and very long grass. I felt (at the time) that I had fallen into a mattress. Evidently, it was a little worse as I wound up with bruised ribs the next day! Near the end of the journey, Pete, hiking ahead, spied an elk herd. He managed to get a picture of just a couple because when they sensed he was there, they moved away quite quickly. Anyway, we had all just about dragged ourselves to the finish, very much looking forward to dinner in the Mural Room at Jackson Lake Lodge. It is a gorgeous view to Mount Moran from the Mural Room, it is very aptly named. Dinner and service at Grand Teton Lodges was always top-notch. After a lovely meal and dessert, we retired back to our cabin for a well deserved night's rest.
6/28: Mel lined up a trail ride and we had to get going early again. Good naturedly, I took to calling Mel, mam-Mel, "mile-a-minute" Mel; I often feel, after a vacation that I need to get back to work, so I can relax. We took breakfast at the Ranch House and quick-quick on to the trail ride. Trail rides are always a lot of fun. There's no pressure to handle the horses; they're robo-horses. Additional views and animal life were pointed out along the trail, of particular interest was a lake where there was a significant population of pelicans. A bite to eat after our trail ride and then that afternoon, we took a hike to Hermitage Point. The Hermitage Point Trail is considered an easy 5 mile trail, with level to moderate grades, but my legs were still "rubbery" from the previous day. I would lag at least a tenth of a mile behind them throughout the trip. When I finally reached Hermitage Point, Pete and Mel were already there. Pete took a dip into the cold waters of Jackson Lake, snow is still melting there and Mel was soaking her feet in the water. Close to the shoreline of the lake however, the water is pretty shallow and somewhat warmer than the middle. Around us was the ominous buzzing of mosquitoes, literally so loud that you could hear the hum. Sufficiently refreshed, we thought it best to beat a hasty retreat and continued on our hike. Pete and Mel, ahead of me again spotted a young elk buck grazing in the brush. This time, I did see him. He was pretty much oblivious to us, tending to his business. It's always exciting to see wildlife! I seemed to find my legs again and we all marched determinedly, to the end of our hike. Unfortunately, in trying to find the quickest route back to camp, I took a trail that I later realized was closed and we got "turned around some." We kept on as what was left of the trail seemed to move in the appropriate direction and finally we saw someone hiking on the "real" trail so we moved accordingly. We finally made it back and we decided to have supper in the Mural Room again. The food was just as delicious as the previous night. After that, being quite worn-out, we retired to our cabin.
6/26: Our flight, leaving Saturday morning on June 26th was to Jackson Hole, WY by way of Dallas-Ft. Worth. Our flight was delayed and upon landing, we had to take a shuttle to the city of Jackson to get our car. For those of you considering trips involving car rentals, consider also the location of the car rental office; not knowing, we took the least expensive option, but it entailed a shuttle ten miles out of our way both ways. In hindsight, it might have been better to pay a little more for the on-site car rental. In shuttling to Jackson, we could see the beautiful Snow King ski mountain. The town itself reminded me of the old Clint Eastwood flick Any Which Way You Can. In any event, we started our way to Grand Teton National Park for the first leg of our journey. I can't begin to describe just how beautiful this part of Wyoming is. The open spaces, sage brush, buttes, the fresh air... We tried to get a little sight-seeing done with the remaining hours of the day. Passing Oxbow Bend, we couldn't help but notice the number of cars parked at the turnout. It truly is a beautiful sight with the Tetons in the background. We progressed to Colter Bay, where our cabin would be. It was a long trip and we were a bit hungry, but by the time we got in it was too late for any of the restaurants, however the cafeteria was still open. We grabbed a little food, located our cabin and went to bed. It would be an early start and a long day following.
6/27: We had a rafting trip in the morning: a leisurely float down the Snake River with our guide Pete pointing out certain sights and animal life- bald eagles, bank swallows, Canada geese along the way. We found out that the Tetons (French for "nipples") were named by some French trappers who must have been in serious need of female company. Oddly, there are three peaks which goes to show how seriously deprived they were. Glaciers and certain highlights were pointed out to us and some local lore was related. All-in-all it was a very enjoyable experience. We stopped at the gift shop where Mel bought a beaded leather belt and I bought a Stetson. We stopped for lunch at the Pioneer Grill. That afternoon Mel, Peter and I took a hike around Emma Mathilda Lake. It was a lovely (but exhausting, at least for me) hike, almost 12 miles. You might not realize it, but I'm not in the same great shape I was as a kid. The extent of my daily workout is pushing-off on my swivel chair across the room at work. At one point, no longer feeling my legs, I stepped off a log and fell flat on my face into some mud and very long grass. I felt (at the time) that I had fallen into a mattress. Evidently, it was a little worse as I wound up with bruised ribs the next day! Near the end of the journey, Pete, hiking ahead, spied an elk herd. He managed to get a picture of just a couple because when they sensed he was there, they moved away quite quickly. Anyway, we had all just about dragged ourselves to the finish, very much looking forward to dinner in the Mural Room at Jackson Lake Lodge. It is a gorgeous view to Mount Moran from the Mural Room, it is very aptly named. Dinner and service at Grand Teton Lodges was always top-notch. After a lovely meal and dessert, we retired back to our cabin for a well deserved night's rest.
6/28: Mel lined up a trail ride and we had to get going early again. Good naturedly, I took to calling Mel, mam-Mel, "mile-a-minute" Mel; I often feel, after a vacation that I need to get back to work, so I can relax. We took breakfast at the Ranch House and quick-quick on to the trail ride. Trail rides are always a lot of fun. There's no pressure to handle the horses; they're robo-horses. Additional views and animal life were pointed out along the trail, of particular interest was a lake where there was a significant population of pelicans. A bite to eat after our trail ride and then that afternoon, we took a hike to Hermitage Point. The Hermitage Point Trail is considered an easy 5 mile trail, with level to moderate grades, but my legs were still "rubbery" from the previous day. I would lag at least a tenth of a mile behind them throughout the trip. When I finally reached Hermitage Point, Pete and Mel were already there. Pete took a dip into the cold waters of Jackson Lake, snow is still melting there and Mel was soaking her feet in the water. Close to the shoreline of the lake however, the water is pretty shallow and somewhat warmer than the middle. Around us was the ominous buzzing of mosquitoes, literally so loud that you could hear the hum. Sufficiently refreshed, we thought it best to beat a hasty retreat and continued on our hike. Pete and Mel, ahead of me again spotted a young elk buck grazing in the brush. This time, I did see him. He was pretty much oblivious to us, tending to his business. It's always exciting to see wildlife! I seemed to find my legs again and we all marched determinedly, to the end of our hike. Unfortunately, in trying to find the quickest route back to camp, I took a trail that I later realized was closed and we got "turned around some." We kept on as what was left of the trail seemed to move in the appropriate direction and finally we saw someone hiking on the "real" trail so we moved accordingly. We finally made it back and we decided to have supper in the Mural Room again. The food was just as delicious as the previous night. After that, being quite worn-out, we retired to our cabin.
