Thursday, November 9, 2017

Enjoying the Tetons--Fall Break 2017

I should admit that since Roland and I are retired, there really isn't a fall break from it. However, we shared this trip with Brian, Norma and Sierra on their fall break. We're so glad they invited us to join them!

I truly love our National Parks, and while I've been to the Tetons in the summer, never in October. It was wonderful to see it in October.

Teddy Roosevelt said in 1904:  "Surely our people do not understand even yet the rich heritage that is theirs. There can be nothing in the world more beautiful than the Yosemite, its groves of giant sequoias and redwoods, the canon of the Colorado, the canon of the Yellowstone, the three Tetons: and the representatives of the people should see to it that they are preserved for the people forever, with their majestic beauty all unmarred."

Here's what we explored!
Here you can see our first sighting of wild life. Just look at those antlers!

It was cold, but fun and so beautiful.

Leigh Lake

Leigh Lake--horizontally. : )

These pictures begin our second hike for the day.  This is String Lake. We hiked all the way around it in the snow and in the wind, and had a lot fun!

Looking for fish in the stream

We headed over to Jenny Lake. Now you can see that the sky is turning gray and getting ready to snow--which is always better than rain!

Sierra and Norma beside Jenny Lake. A beach vacation!
 I think they're contemplating getting their feet wet at the beach.

Jenny Lake

Jenny Lake--strikingly beautiful--and a bit cold.

We had planned to go to Hidden Falls from Jenny Lake, but the trail was being worked on so we opted for the trail to Inspiration Point.  We made it to the top, but the view didn't allow us to see far, but its quite inspiring.

Brian and Roland lookin' out over Inspiration Point.

Takin' time to be inspired up here.

Norma and Brian enjoying a moment together.

On our way down! See the flakes--snowflakes, I mean!

A moose! We saw him on our drive home.

The next day Roland, Norma and Brian had a fishing expedition. We all joked about how much fish they would catch, but none had their hopes too high. It was a cold, windy day and while they set out to go fishing, Sierra and I headed over to the Visitors Center. We found a pretty pinecone 24k gold dipped necklace in the gift shop and I bought my lifetime senior pass for all national parks. We also saw a cool display of Indian Art along with historical information about the park. Then we headed over to Jackson Hole. We enjoyed hot chocolate and chili at a quaint little restaurant and then headed over to a thrift shop right across the street. Sierra found a cool jacket and I found a pitcher. Maybe I'll work on adding to my collection--I lost several of my pitchers in the move--but that's another story. Regardless, I really liked the pitcher and the price was right.

This is some of the scenery we got to enjoy on our way to Jackson Hole. We stopped on our way out of the park to take this picture. These mountains just come straight up out the plains!

It was so cold, and Sierra and I feared that it was much too cold for the fish to bite and felt sorry for those who went fishing. While it was very cold, you can see that it didn't stop the fish from biting! All three of them caught their limit--that's eighteen fish!! And they are big uns---all measuring at least 18 inches.

Norma is looking real pleased.
Pure delight!
And then they had to carry all those fish out--it was quite a hike for them with all that fish. Roland had injured his wrist, so Brian and Norma carried out the approximately 30 pounds of fish.


Hiking around Ocean Lake, we saw footprints made by bears. This the footprint of a black bear. Pretty big--but not near as big as a grizzly bear's.

And look at this coyote running along side of our vehicle!

We had a great time and got a chance to use our long johns, winter coats, raincoats, hats and mittens. We also had chance to enjoy hot chocolate and trout. Plus, we got to enjoy viewing wildlife--moose, foxes, elk, deer and coyotes. And its surely an adventure to see the park dressed in snow instead of grass and wild flowers.