Day 3 - 7/26/12 - Jackson hole and Grand Tetons exploration day

7/26/12

No travel today, just sightseeing

Redtail sightings - Honestly we have no idea, when there is the potential to see things like Black Bears, Redtails fall pretty low on the list

When Scott and I planned this trip to Pittsburgh we knew that we wanted to take advantage of the amazing and interesting areas we would be passing through. We actually tweaked our route to match where we wanted to visit rather than the most direct path. No schedules, no time frame, we just chose to make this an adventure and we knew this was a once and a lifetime opportunity (though we hope not!)

I had never had the opportunity to see the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone so we made sure to take our time in these areas. Scott had been to the area but it had been years and I think as you mature you appreciate things on a different level. We know that Katelyn is entirely too young to appreciate or actually remember any of this, but we don't want to be parents that choose not do things because they have children (as long as it’s appropriate) Actually we realized very quickly, once into the parks, that if you have the right equipment babies are very portable and as everyone knows there is no shortage of baby equipment available!

Wyoming Humor.

Antlers arches at the town square

Today we are going into Jackson Whole and The Teton National park.  We traveled north still along the Snake River, it’s really pretty country and just as you head out of the canyon and into Jackson Hole you can see the very peak of the Grand Teton. Jackson is a great mountain town, but of course with no shortage of your tourist trap shopping centers, I will openly admit I one of those who gets trapped. It is well maintained and they certainly cash in on their mountain town notoriety, even the Kmart looks like a log cabin. We head into town and hit the Chamber of Commerce, well actually I head into the Chamber of Commerce and Scott keeps walking because he pays no attention to what I say.  Not unusual, I am sure he feels the same way. The woman there was incredibly helpful and told us about more off the beaten path spots to hit. She recommended a restaurant in town that would be good to take our little Peanut (Katelyn has about 10 nicknames; the most commonly used in my blog would be Peanut). We make our way into town, passing the town square which is home to the famous antler arches of Jackson Hole. We also pass more mountain themed gifts shops than I could count, each one cried out to me but I held my ground and resisted (for the time being.) Katelyn enjoyed a fabulous lunch at the Sweetwater restaurant as did Scott and I; it was really a great recommendation. If you happened to be traveling through the Jackson Hole area it’s worth a stop, the restaurant is actually an old cabin and is a historical landmark with the Teton Historical Society. You can’t beat good food and good history.

Cheerios at Sweetwater

A piece at the
 National Museum of Wildlife Art

After lunch we decide to head into the Grand Teton National park. Jackson Hole provides a small peek of the Tetons, but you really have no idea what is to come. Before you access the entrance to the park there is the National Museum of Wildlife Art. Some of you may know that my Grandfather was a zoologist. He was a very important part of my life and sadly I lost him when I was 15. My Grandfather had a passion for wildlife and he left that impression upon me. With that, I could not pass up a chance to see a museum dedicated to wildlife art. The museum was very well put together and had some stunning pieces. They also had a great little children’s portion and though Katelyn was too young to really enjoy it she was just happy to be out and about.

Katelyn exploring the different pelts, just to the left was preserved poo.

The Tetons

Katelyn's maiden voyage

Peak of the Tetons on the way to Jenny Lake

Once we leave the museum we head north into the Moose entrance of the park, at this point you really get the full magnitude of the Tetons and they really are breathtaking. Per the Chamber of Commerce lady (sadly I can’t remember her name) we hit an area called Jenny Lake. You can take a short boat ride across the lake and then hike up to some falls. We have the baby backpack and figured we would check it out. Ms. Katelyn takes her very first official boat ride! As usual Katelyn makes friends with everyone on the boat and is the star of the show, I figured if this dingy goes down that could benefit me. We start hiking to the falls, along with everyone and their brother, many of whom who would have trouble hiking the steps up into an Applebee’s so it was slow going in parts. We all made it safely up to the falls and it was well worth the trip. Katelyn seemed to enjoy the hike although I think she spent most of her time chewing on various parts of the backpack, scenery can be lost on her. As we were heading back down we saw several families watching as their children enjoyed drinking water straight from the stream, I am sure they will enjoy that week of diarrhea as well.  The boat shuttles us back to shore and again Katelyn makes friends with the family sitting in front of us. One of them thought Katelyn was about 4 months old; she is presently 9.5 months old… Not sure if that means I have a scrawny kid? I think they were from Iceland and aren’t those giant power lifters from there, they just breed em’ big I guess.

The Falls (they have an actual name but clearly I am bad with names)

Hike to the falls

After leaving the lake we decided to drive the loop around the park, this is the wildlife spotting time. It almost seemed harder to actually spot things when you were really looking for them. I think my eyes would play tricks on me. I would think I saw a black bear, Oh, nope, that’s a Starbucks.
We do finally spot some Bison and then more Bison and then lots more Bison; they have such a distinct shape that once you've seen them it’s much easier to spot them again. Soon after we saw a herd of Antelope right on the side of the road, they were about to cross in front of us and I have an incredible picture taking opportunity right from the truck! BUT those stupid child locks are on to keep Oliver from flinging himself on to the highway; I desperately pound on the window control but it’s too late.  They cross right in front of us so I toss Scott the camera and I have posted the photo outcome.

If you look very closely you will see some white dots in the distance, that is the rear end of an Antelope.

There is a less known loop off the main road that the no name lady from the chamber also recommended. We decided to take that and we were so glad we did. As we head down the road we see a ton more Bison and as we come around a bend we see several cars stopped on the side of the road. Looking out to our left and there was a Mama and Baby Moose!! Those are the scientific names and they were squealed at the top of my lungs when we saw them. It was so exciting to see, I grab the camera and we head down to take some pictures.  I have a nice little camera, that takes nice little pictures, but I am sure people giggled when I was able to put it in my pocket and these folks showed up with their tripods and 7 foot lenses. I did feel better than the people taking pictures with their cell phones. Either way it was incredible to see. We were told there were 2 Bull moose just up the road, we went up that way but were never able to see them. 

Mama and Baby Moose, how do you not squeal when you say that???

It’s time to head back, as the hounds have been locked up in the trailer for longer than they wanted.  The dog rules are pretty strict at the parks and our two buffoons are certainly not behaved enough to risk it.  Not to worry they have AC and I even try to leave the radio on for them but the only thing I could find this morning was Rush Limbaugh and I won’t even do that to my dogs.