Waiting for our drinks...

Storm coming in...

Mon, 7/21/08

Grand Teton National Park, WY: We’re staying in the Colter Bay area of Jackson Lake which has a lodge, three restaurants, a very well stocked grocery store (unlike Yellowstone), a gas station, Laundromat, and showers. We had breakfast at one of the restaurants this morning. Came back and had a fire into early afternoon. Overcast most of the day but warm. Mike took me to dinner at the Jackson Lodge dining room—very elegant with a great view of the mountains. Had drinks outside on the deck first—even though the sky was really threatening. When it started lightning we headed inside and it started pouring. Took the computer with us but no luck for some reason—even though we had a pretty good signal with our air card. Guess we’ll have to go back into Jackson Hole. A drizzly but warm evening.

Jackson Hole

Jenny Lake

Sat, 7/19/08

Grand Teton National Park, WY: Decided to drive into Jackson/Jackson Hole today. I made a big breakfast early and we headed out around 10:00. A beautiful morning and the mountains are stunning. If I were a mountain, I’d want to look like one of the Tetons. Saw a large herd of elk at one of the turn-outs. We stopped at Jenny Lake which is smaller than Jackson Lake, but a beautiful clear blue color with the mountains rising steeply on one shore. We want to hike the trail around the lake before we leave here. After several more stops we left the park and arrived at Jackson and the Jackson Hole ski area at about 11:30. A cute little ski town, but with none of the history of Aspen or Telluride. We parked and browsed some of the shops. After seeing a map of Teton Village ski area in one of the shops, we decided to drive over there. A much bigger ski hill but no town really—just a bunch of condos and lodges at the base. There is a really nice bike path all the way to Teton Village though with spectacular views of the mountains. Decided to head back and have lunch at Jenny Lake Lodge. Went back into the park at the Moose entrance. A pretty drive through groves of aspens and sparkling streams. By the time we got to Jenny Lake Lodge it was too late for lunch, so we drove on to Signal Mountain Lodge. Another really pretty lodge with a fantastic view of the lake and mountains, but the main dining room was closed for cleaning and the outside deck had a wait of about an hour (sigh). So, on to Jackson Lodge. There we managed to get a table outside overlooking a large meadow with the lake and mountains beyond. Finally we got something to eat! Came back to the campground and put water in the tanks and then sat outside reading and enjoying the afternoon. 80 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. A little red fox walked through our site. Mike followed him and got some good pictures. A fantastic day.

Sun, 7/20/08

Grand Teton National Park, WY: Was really cold last night. When I went to bed it was really warm and I got the fan out and had it on me. Woke up freezing. Cloudy morning and drizzling. But Mike started a fire and we sat around for a while enjoying the warmth. It was cloudy off and on all day but in the 80s eventually.

Grand Tetons with Jackson Lake in Foreground

Fri, 7/18/08

Grand Teton National Park, WY: Left Fishing Bridge in Yellowstone at 10:00 this morning and arrived at Grand Teton at around noon. The road to the south entrance of Yellowstone followed the Lewis River with a pretty water fall and then flowed into a deep gorge. This area was hit pretty hard with the 1988 fire. Some parts have grown back pretty well, but a lot haven’t. Eventually the Lewis River runs into the Snake River. We bid good bye to Yellowstone and entered Grand Teton National Park. I can see why they call these mountains the Grand Tetons—they sure are grand. And the beautiful Jackson Lake sits right at the bottom of them. We’re at the Colter Campground which is a national park campground so we have no hook-ups. After getting set up we drove around a little bit. I’m starting to feel lousy now, but my symptoms aren’t as bad as Mike’s. We did see our first moose on our little drive. They have been very elusive. And I guess bears are a problem here. They had to kill a grizzly on July 8 because she was breaking into tents, etc. Partly cloudy today and it hit 79 today.

Roosevelt Arch - North Entrance

Beartooth Scenic Byway

Thu, 7/17/08

Yellowstone NP, WY: Our last day here. We have to do the laundry. It’s nice having the laundry right here, and it’s a nice one, but it is such a mad house. I was third in line to get a washer. But it all worked out okay. Everyone was helpful and considerate and before you knew it we were finished and out of there. After coming back and putting everything away, we went over to the Lake Hotel for lunch. All in all it’s been a great time here at Yellowstone. If only Mike hadn’t gotten sick. He’s still not feeling really great. Don’t think that will change until we get down to a lower altitude and warmer temperatures. But we’ve had really great weather while we’ve been here. We’ve seen a lot—the highlight being the two mule deer chasing that coyote—only about 5 feet from us. Wish we could have hiked some more, but we’ll be in the Tetons for a while and I guess it is lower there. Still wary of bears though. We leave tomorrow morning and head south into Grand Teton National Park. We have no reservations from here on out. We’ll see how that works out.

Morning Glory Pool

Wed, 7/16/08

Yellowstone NP, WY: Drove back to Old Faithful this morning because we wanted to see the morning glory pool—probably the one most photographed. We parked at the upper lot and started down the trail. Passed some really pretty pools plus a beautiful geyser—the Artemesian, although we didn’t see it go off. We finally came to morning glory. It was pretty disappointing since it has lost some of its color and has algae growing in it…. thanks to ignorant people throwing stuff in the pool. Saw the remains of a couple of bison right there on the trail. Walked back to the parking lot. A really pretty and warm day. Decided to have lunch at the Old Faithful Inn dining room. Had a great lunch and then went upstairs to the upper porch and watched Old Faithful go off again. Then started the drive back. Stopped at a place on Yellowstone Lake that has a sandbar across this little bay and we walked around there for a while. Back to the campground and something cold to drink. Guess we’ll just snack since we’re both too full from lunch.

That's Mike way on top of the bridge over the gorge

Clark's Fork of the Yellowstone

Chief Joseph Scenic Byway

Tue, 7/15/08

Yellowstone NP, WY: I went to bed last night before it was even dark and slept until about 8:30. I drove most of the time yesterday and hadn’t had much sleep the night before. Mike still not doing real great either. So we decided on a kick-back day today. I made smoothies for breakfast and then sat outside in the sun for a while. Mike didn’t go out at all. It clouded up a couple of times but turned out to be a great day. Probably the mid-70s. Sat outside and read most of the day. Got the keyboard out and played for a while. We had left-overs for dinner. Didn’t see any attacking mule deer or coyotes today.