The West Trip (Cont'd)

[RUSSELL5000]

Day 35

The day brought the two things I need for a perfect day: blue sky and a trail I have never been on.

My older son and I hike up past Phelps Lake to Death Canyon. Amazing Teton land.

Cool, clear water.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Day 36

The day was overcast. We thought we would try and get away from people by going up a trail in t the adjoining Teton wilderness. We were alone alright, but the trail ran along the bottom of Pilgrim Creek, requiring us to take our boots off and cross the stream. My boys thought was ok, but hard on my feet. Also, we came to a point where we were jus threading our way through willow thickets - you could not see more than three feet.

So we relocated and went around Two Ocean Lake and Emma Matilda Lake. Easy terrain, and periodic meadows of wildflowers, although I don't know if you can see them in this picture.

Also, great views of the Teton range. That is Emma Matilda Lake at the bottom, not Jackson Lake. Picture dark because overcast - I don't know anything about taking pictures.

 

[kcv67]

That's great you found a moose it is one of my wife's favorite animals to spot too.
Wolves have different breeds just like dogs. The size, temperament instincts all very just like dogs.
So when people and politics get involved some things just do not turn out right.

Casey

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Day 37

The day was overcast and drizzling. My younger son had said that he was a little disappointed in the number of bison he had seen. I did not want to make the long, slow drive through Yellowstone, but off we went. My wife said they had seen large herds in the Hayden Valley and Lamar Valley. Off we went; a couple of lone bulls in the Hayden Valley. We drove on - luckily missing major animal traffic stops - to the Lamar Valley. We stopped in a turnout and watched this herd while we ate lunch. The pictures are left to right up and down the valley. All the dark spots are bison. My younger son tried counting them - I told him to get an accurate count you needed to count the legs and divide by four. He does not appreciate my humor. You could her the grunting sounds. The young ones would spar and periodically one would paw up the ground and then have a big rolling dust bath, raising a cloud. We watched for about an hour and one-half.

The pictures don't do justice - it was a good sized herd.

We the drove out the northeast entrance. Some amazing looking land there as well. Just not enough time to see everything.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Day 38

The day was overcast and cool. My older son and I took a hike up to Surprise and Ampitheater Lakes. This trail gains a lot of elevation - you quickly go from sagebrush flat to alpine tundra. We hiked up and through low hanging clouds, so not much to see on the way up. The two little lakes are in a bowl; the typical amazing Teton scenery.

We ate lunch by the little lake. The clouds cleared on the way down. Some people came back up the trail as we were going down and said there was a bear by the trail. My son and I pulled our spray and we went forward as a group of six. There was a small black bear about thirty feet off the trail. The brush was real thick and as tall as he was on all fours. He looked like a cub that was out on its own this year. He was feeding on something in the brush. He was not interested in us at all.

In the evening we took an animal spotting drive at dusk. My younger son wants to see more elk and moose. We saw the herd of bison that appear to have taken up residence south of the Jackson Lake entrance. We also saw a good amount of antelope scattered out on a sagebrush flat - around fifty to sixty individuals. This is the largest number of antelope I have seen. We watched around a half dozen elk cows and calves cross the road - we stopped with our flashers on - they made it across fine, but makes me nervous. Deer strikes keep the body shops busy in northwest PA.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Day 39

This day we went to Teton Village. Not so much my thing, but my wife wanted to go. We rode the tramway to the top. Quite an impressive construction. The one we rode is actually the second tramway - the first was built in the 1960s, was removed, and has been replaced. Kind of nice to walk around the top of the mountain without spending hours of puffing up a trail to get there.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Day 40

My wife wanted to return to hike around about Two Ocean Lake. Not the spectacular mountain terrain as in the west side of the park, but very nice. I bet it would be good to kayak and fish on.

In the evening we took a float trip down the Snake River. Saw 13 beaver, 8 bald eagles, two trumpeter swans, four pelicans, and countless ducks. Very nice float with wonderful views of the Tetons.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Day 41

The truck had accumulated a little over 5,000 miles and the trip back is coming up so we left the truck at the dealership in Jackson for an oil change while we took a white water raft trip.

Of all the things that we have done - or my wife and son have done - this is the first I would say to skip
We do a white water raft trip every year for the last five years or so as a family. The Snake River canyon is impressive. However, our trips back east on the Youghighenny in PA or the New in WV offered better white water, were much longer (about six hours versus a little less than two hours), included lunch, and were the same price. The canyons in Ohiopyle State Park in PA and the New River Gorge in WV are pretty impressive as well. So, one thing I would suggest skipping and saving your money for something else. We had a good time nonetheless.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Day 42

A cold, rainy day. Went up to Yellowstone and around to east entrance. Did some small hikes and walked around the West Thumb geyser basin. Awesome country near the east entrance. That road is really impressive.
.

 

[kcv67]

I hope you have time to go over dead indian pass to Cody or the bear tooth pass into Redlodge those are also great drives.

 

[TLane]

Well, it's a little to late to tell you about it but in case anyone else reads this - when you hike up to Amphitheater lake, take the trail around the North side of the lake and just past the lake there is a spectacular view of the adjacent canyon. Steep drop off from where you stand. You can also go thru the primitive campground on the north side of lake and see the view from there as well. I'd been up that hike several times before I discovered this, and it's really something to see.

I'm extremely jealous of your trip, recognize almost every picture you've taken. We don't leave until the end of August and only have one week in the Tetons. So many mountains, so many trails, so little vacation...

 

[Bill Stockard]

Well, it's a little to late to tell you about it but in case anyone else reads this - when you hike up to Amphitheater lake, take the trail around the North side of the lake and just past the lake there is a spectacular view of the adjacent canyon. Steep drop off from where you stand. You can also go thru the primitive campground on the north side of lake and see the view from there as well. I'd been up that hike several times before I discovered this, and it's really something to see.

I'm extremely jealous of your trip, recognize almost every picture you've taken. We don't leave until the end of August and only have one week in the Tetons. So many mountains, so many trails, so little vacation...

We've made that trip to Teton NP several times with only a one week vacation. We'd leave home (McKinney, TX at that time) at 4 am on Saturday morning and arrive at Coulter Bay RV Park before dark on Sunday evening towing a 31' Airstream travel trailer with a Chevy Suburban. We'd leave the Tetons on the following Friday afternoon, be back home by Sunday evening, and at work Monday morning. Just keep the right foot down and the left door shut! My wife and I were younger when we made those trips.

Bill

 

[TLane]

Yep, we used to leave the Dallas/Fort Worth area Friday night after work and arrive Saturday night, even when the speed limit was 55. Took turns driving thru the night. But like you said, were younger then. Now we spend 2 1/2 days getting there, and feel like that's pushing it. Retirement's only 7 years away, and we want to move North, maybe around Laramie, Wy. Then it will be one easy day to the Tetons...

 

[GAmes]

The Snake River canyon is impressive. However, our trips back east on the Youghighenny in PA or the New in WV offered better white water..........

You are a victim of mother nature. The region had very little snowfall last winter, so none of the rivers are at their potential. My grandson and I just went on a white water trip at Glacier Natl. Park a couple days ago. In a week or two, the season will be over there. Add to that half the park was closed due to a wildfire. Thanks for posting about Wind Cave Park. We spent a couple days in that area on the way north.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

kcv67 (Casey - forgive me if I get wrong),

We did not go all the way to Red Lodge - time! - but we went way up. Yes, amazing land. We also only went as far as the east entrance. As TLane so correctly put it, so much country so little time.

GAmes,

Yes, we learned later that snowfall last winter was significantly below average. Everything is nice and green because summer rain has been above average. However, the bulk of the moisture for the year is snow, so dry. Luck of the draw I guess. I'm glad you enjoyed Wind Cave - my older son really liked it.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Day 43

Had to move from Colter Bay - said we could only stay 14 days. Went up to Flagg Ranch. I think Flagg Ranch is an OK campground, but it is so hard to be fair when I had grown used to walking less than 50 yards for a fantastic view of the Tetons over Jackson Lake.

Got the move done in the morning. Ate lunch in the campground and then drove west on the forest service road to the Glade Creek trail head. Hiked for two or three hours and then drove west some more to Grassy Lake. You could readily see that the lake was way below the average pool level - below average snowfall last winter. I waded in the lake some - way to cold for me to swim, although my two boys dove in a couple of times.

Saw a Honda CRV come down a little connector road to the lake - rough road. Heard the little SUV bottom out a couple of times. Then turned and tried to climb over some large rocks - the poor little thing just banged hard on top of one large rock especially. Two women in car - probably in their fifties. They took some stuff out and were looking at the driver side rear wheel and looking worried. I walked over and asked if they needed a hand - the tire was leaking air. I suggested they get back up to the forest service road because a jack would just sink into the loose gravel and sand by the lake. Up they went with a few more shots to the undercarriage. My older son and I changed the tire - was just about flat by then. They were planning to camp by the lake. We wished them well. ??? Lots of different folks in the world.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Tlane,

I did not mention, but my older son and I did take that trail on up at Amphitheatre Lake. We were eating our lunch and my son spotted it. So, off we went after lunch.

I would like to do the hiking when I retire. I am going to have to get serious about my conditioning - the life of the office worker has not helped!!

When my wife and I were there roughly 20 years ago we went around Jenny Lake, up Cascade Canyon, past Lake Solitude, over the pass, down Paintbrush Canyon and back to the parking lot at Jenny Lake. That is roughly 23 or 24 miles and quite a bit of grade. I asked my wife if we were going to do it again and she said no way. But I was relieved - I don't think I would have made it.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Day 44

Walked around the Flagg Ranch area in the morning and then drove into Jackson. Met up.with TDR member Richard Cox who showed us some of the highlights of Jackson. I am glad I saw some of Jackson, but would not go back lots of expensive shops.

Richard had suggested we do the Bar J dinner. I would never have gone if not for Richard - he understands how they do things and graciously went early and waited in line so we obtained good seats. If I had been on my own I would have taken one look at the huge long line of people waiting and then gone somewhere else.

The supper was good, very filling (even my older son got enough - a rare event!!!), and quite reasonably priced. The show was thoroughly enjoyable. I would definitely recommend a visit. I thank Richard for pointing us in the right direction.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Picture of the Glade Creek area at the north up by Yellowstone.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Day 45

This was a travel day - my younger son and I flew out of Jackson back to northwestern Pennsylvania, my step-father to northern New Mexico. Our connecting flight was delayed for two hours - they had to change the tires on the right landing gear. Those tires are huge, and not that simple to raise an airplane.

My wife and younger son began the trip back, going from Flagg Ranch down US 189/191 south to connect with I-80 heading east for an overnight stop at Rawlins, WY. I had a text message to call right away after our plane landed. One of the TPMS sensors had failed on a tire on the truck and the EVIC showed zero psi. They pulled off and got out the tire gauge and checked all four tires - all fine. So, OK. I told them to go old school and simply check and set the truck tire pressure each morning and we'd worry about sensors when they get back.