MichelleI found a very good area to camp just off the main highway that skirts GTNP. It is a free camping area designated by the forest service. I even had cell signal. AND there is a view of the Tetons from the camping area… if it’s not smokey or cloudy! I was last in this area when I was about 24 so it is good to refresh my memory on just how awe inspiring these mountains are. There are no foothills so the mountains jut right up from the valley floor and look like giant sentinels watching over the valley! The valley is a combination of sagebrush and grassland with occasional stands of pine or aspen trees. The Snake River flows through the valley as well and there are streams that create marshy areas good for birds, ducks and moose. On the opposite side of the valley there are hills covered with pines and sagebrush.
It was quite smokey the day I arrived and it was difficult to see the mountains. A young couple I spoke to said it isn’t as bad in the early morning or if you’re closer to the mountains. So the next day I hoped for the best and started the day early. That was a great choice since there were less people at the overlooks and the light was perfect for some glorious pics of the mountains, rivers, and lakes. I followed the scenic byway that goes from the North to South Entrances and drove several small roads that go off to the sides, many going to trailheads that offer unique views of the mountains. By 10am the amount of people in the park was staggering. At 11am the parking at Jenny Lake Lodge and the visitor center there was completely full, and cars were parked for about a mile down both sides of the scenic byway. I decided to leave that for another day. It was incredible how each overlook offered a newer and closer perspective of the Tetons, and I have over 100 pictures to prove it! I did see some bison, deer (blacktail?), a fox, sandhill cranes and the rump of a black bear wandering through the woods. The highlight of this day was Oxbow Bend early in the morning with the river flowing in front of the mountains.
Ever been in the mountains during a thunder/lightning storm? It is not Washington lightning that’s for sure. The camping area is on a bluff overlooking the valley and mountains. As the evening’s storm rolled in just before sunset, you could see multiple lightning bolts coming straight down into the valley. It was like watching fireworks with the expectation that the next one might be better than the last! Once the storm moved overhead it was deafening. Poor Misty didn’t know where to hide and finally made her way under the bedcovers.
I knew from the forecast that the next day would be stormy and rainy so I went into the town of Jackson Hole, WY. I visited the National Museum of Wildlife Art which was spectacular. Another awesome museum with over 5000 pieces of wildlife art from the 1800’s to modern day. There was an outdoor sculpture exhibit as well. This museum was on a hill overlooking the huge National Elk Refuge. This is where elk come to stay in the winter, and they are fed hay. No elk there in the summer though. Jackson Hole has grown into a very upscale, very busy town. The full-time population is about 9600 but you would never think that when walking through town with hoards of others. The main highway cuts right through town and creates a never-ending rush hour. Jackson is adorable though with it’s western theme. Tons of restaurants to choose from and shopping galore. The main feature in Jackson is the town square which is grassy with tall, towering trees shading the whole square. On each corner of the park there is a large arch entryway made up of intertwined Elk Antlers (made from antlers that were shed). These arches are quite unique and a hotspot for selfies. As predicted, it stormed and rained on and off all day. By day’s end the clouds were so low that the mountains were invisible!
I did have one more day where the morning was beautiful so I decided to see Jenny Lake and a few other spots I missed previously. Just as I was pulling out of the Nat’l park toll booth, a Fox ran straight across in front of me! Good thing I was going slow! An exciting way to start the day for sure. I did see a lot more Pronghorn and some deer this day… I guess they needed to get out after all that rain. By midday the wind had changed direction and the smoke blew in heavy, and this was the last of my 5 allowed nights at the campsite. As we left the campsite the next morning, the smoke was gone and the skies clear. The Tetons came out to bid us farewell!
