We left Craters in the morning of the 25th headed to Grand Tetons, even though we were a day early for our reservations at Colter Bay RV Park. so we stayed at Gros Ventre campground, which has no facilities.
Since we had a leak in the bathroom faucet, we decided to try to have it fixed at Idaho Falls, ID. Bish's RV Super Center treated us well. They cleared their schedule to work us in. Turns out the factory had crushed the cone washers and cross threaded the faucet. New washers and faucet later and we were on our way, all on Jayco's dime. Big shout out to Bish's.
We went via a big southern loop on US-26 in order to avoid going over the Teton Pass. I wanted no part of that. If i had a big 1 ton diesel with exhaust brakes, maybe, but not with my truck. Besides, neither Mary nor I are too found of high mountain passes.
We came up through Jackson, Wyoming. Hated the place. Nothing but a tourist trap, and wall to wall people. Couldn't wait to pass through that toen.
We spent our first night at Gros Ventre Campground , pronounced "Grovant". The next 3 nights were up the valley some at Colter Bay RV Park, which had full hookups, but wi fi mostly in name only.
What follows are some pictures taken in the NP. Of special note is Jenny Lake. That place becomes a zoo with people after 9 am. We got there early and were on the second boat across the lake by 8.
A dead volcano on the route to Grand Teton National Park from Craters National Monument. Otherwise the land is flat.
The Snake River is down below to our right. It flows north and eventually joins the Columbia River and dumps into the Pacific Ocean. We're on the west side of the Continental Divide.
The dammed Snake River.
This is our campsite at Gros Ventre CG the first night.
I was trying to get a good shot of the mountains when they first got sunlight. Didn't work as well as I had hoped. The tallest peak is Grand Teton. The other one is Mount Moran.
The scar in the mountain was a huge rock slide that occured in the early 1920's. It caused a huge natural dam to form on the Gros Ventre River. In the 50's the dam broke, and a settlement called Kelly was wiped out.
There is a cow moose in the center of the picture. This is the Gros Ventre River.
Line up of the mountains. On the left with the orange pole in the foreground, is South Teton (12,514 ft), next is the Middle Teton (12,804 ft). In the middle is Grand Teton (13,770 ft). Then we have Mt Owen (12,928 ft) and Mt Morand (12,605 ft).
There used to be a thriving mormon outpost here. They used irrigation ditches to water their crops.
This is the remains of a irrigation ditch water control
Mary and yours truly by the moose outside one of the visitor centers in the park.
In front of the mountains. An interesting fact about the Tetons is they start at the edge of the valley. There are no foothills in front and there are no smaller mountains in front. Go to the edge of the valley and touch the base of the mountains.
We went to Jenny Lake early in the morning in order to beat the maddening crowds.
Jenny Lake. Unfortunately the lake wasn't perfectly smooth in order to get a smooth as glass reflection.
River otters made an appearance.
Looking up towards the fall, which isn't in view yet. Peak of MT Owen is in view.
The top of Hidden Falls, so called because it can't be seen at lake level. It was worth the climb.
From here we climbed a little further to Lower Inspiration Point.
View from the top.
Proof we were there. It was a .9 mile climb up, and then we had to come back down. Just had to make sure you had sure footing when you took a step, so you didn't take a tumble.
Going back to the other side of Jenny Lake.
We now explored other parts of the park.
This is the Episcopal Church built in 1920. It was 20 miles to the closest church, and the 1920's that was a long distance.
Interior of the church.
This is the opening in back of the alter. How can a minister compete with this. With that to look at, not sure I'd even hear him.
t.
This is the Maud Noble Cabin. Owned by a wealthy woman from Chigo who moved west seeking adventure. It was here that the meeting took place that began the idea of making the Tetons a national park. Then John D Rockefeller Jr got interested and bought 33,000 acres and the donated it to the federal government
This is an abandoned beaver dam, pond and hut. Makes a great picture.
This ends another chapter of our trip across America.
Until next time.
No comments:
Post a Comment