My abiding impression of this park will be of the wonderful way people greeted me with words like “do you see the bald eagle in the tree there?” Or “do you want to see a moose?” Nature lovers, all intent on braving the cold to get a glimpse of the glorious wildlife and bird life. We spoke to one man, about our age, who drives up every year from Southern California to the Grand Teton park in spring and sometimes in autumn as well. He is an amateur photographer, and I can see how it could cast that spell. He urged us to come another time in autumn, to see the contrast. I wish.
We were lucky to see a moose, the only one we have seen, and again only because another visitor pointed out where he had seen it. We had to wait quite a while for it to show itself from behind the bushes, but eventually it did. We saw the American Pelican, which is all white, and a beaver, which came up very close to us, as well as the more common species like elk, pronghorn and bison.
We enjoyed seeing the Snake River wind its way through the valley and the geology there is fascinating. Jock enjoyed the many manifestations of moraine.
Grand Teton park adjoins Yellowstone, and it was a nice drive through very high altitudes and lots of snow, then back down some of the way to arrive at Signal Mountain, within the park itself.
It’s a small lodge with cabin or cottage accommodation and we loved our little cabin overlooking the lake and mountains. Those mountains! Massive snow covered peaks that are part of the Rockies , appearing and disappearing in the clouds.
But bad weather did finally catch up with us and we had cold, cold days with a wind chill factor, rain and some snow.The first day we just rested. It seemed like after all those days getting out and about in Yellowstone in the cold, our bodies were saying, stay warm! Our cabin was lovely and cosy, and with the view, there did not seem much reason to move that first day, except to go down the lodge restaurant and bar! It too had the wonderful view and a fireplace, was very pleasant and casual , with good music playing and a really nice atmosphere. I like meeting the staff and other patrons and doing some people watching, to learn a bit more about how the place ticks. This particular lodge had a lot of locally sourced food and alcohol. Jock really enjoyed the Jenny Lake Lager and I found the local gin to be delicious.
The next day we braved the cold but did that very touristy thing of driving from one spot to another, jumping out for a few photos and to read the signs, then jumping back in the car! We didn’t even do any of the shorter walks , but did stay out when the wind dropped, which it did occasionally. At one stage, we dropped into another lodge hoping for a hot coffee and were rewarded with a stupendous room with the most massive picture windows I have seen , looking at the mountains of course. It was Jackson Lake Lodge, which has historic significance and was so worth calling into. The coffee was quite good and the artwork and architecture well worth a look.
The park is another major hiking destination and had the conditions been better there were a number of shorter trails that we could have walked, including circuits round very picturesque lakes. Mind you, the multitudes of bear warnings were somewhat off putting and many side roads were closed due to bear sightings. We didn’t see one ourselves in Grand Teton but I’ve no doubt the chances were very high if you were on a remote track. Maybe one day……………..
Stunning – and you’ll be coming back to cold too – but not like that!!
CB
HI Celeste. I’ve enjoyed some sun today in Sausalito, and hoping to find Canberra cold but sunny! I guess S & P with you now or very soon? Love to all. Xx
Aren’t they just amazing. We loved talking to people in the parks too, particularly the workers, many of them retirees, who would come to their favourite park every year to work… Often with their mobile homes.
You know, so many of our friends were (are) dismissive of the USA, that we could never properly share our love of its natural beauty. I so love, as a result, reading your joyful posts about these parks.
HI Sue. Your comments are very interesting, and thought provoking, as this trip has been. Travel does challenge our prejudices doesn’t it and I find my views about this country softening and changing. Not that a month long trip is much to go by, but our experiences have certainly got me thinking and feeling differently about Americans.
I might try to articulate some of my thoughts in the blog , but certainly am looking forward to discussing with you when we next meet. So glad you have found the blog helpful in that way. Xx
We went to the USA in 1976 and found all the people we met very warm and friendly! So different to the brash, loud and seemingly self- centred people I remembered from Europe ten years earlier! So many of the ones we met went out of their way to help us 2 young hitchhikers! We were mostly in SF staying with Martin’s parents at Stanford where his Dad was working. USA was not somewhere I had on my bucket list, but Martin had free flights as he was still a dependent student and there was free accommodation! . And I felt I should go meet them as I was the older woman sleeping with their baby boy 🙂 Once we got out of SF I really enjoyed the trip! We spent 3 weeks going south to San Diego, across through Arizona and New Mexico to Texas. We had an amazing day with a Texas marine who picked us up. He was going to go trout fishing but changed his plans for the day to become our friendly guide! He took us to the White Sands National monument before dropping us off at a tiny ski resort called Cloudcroft- which he recommended based on what we told him we hoped to see. We stayed in a tiny log cabin with icicles hanging from the eaves, surrounded by enormous pine trees laden with snow! We were picked up next by a guy going to pick up his dole cheque- in the opposite direction to where we were heading. But he saw us and our sign saying where we were headed and did a “Uey?! He drove us around for 4 days! Including to the Petrified Forest NP, Painted Desert and Grand Canyon! Isn’t nature awesome! I will never forget standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon! Writing this inspired me to re-read our travel diary from that trip! Such an adventure!
HI Kathie. I’m so glad this reminded you of your own travels and inspired you to get the diary out. And good on you for having one and knowing where to find it!
Your trip sounds amazing, so heartwarming to hear how people went out of their way for you. Though not surprising, as I am sure you and Martin would have been a very dashing young couple and made fun and interesting travel companions.
I can certainly imagine another trip to take in more National parks and that awesome nature.xx