If You Give a Moose a Muffin

We got off to our earliest start of the week, how ironical. Not surprisingly, we enjoyed another stellar morning with expectations of higns in the 60’s. We have come to expect warming temperatures as we leave the area – part of our contribution to support tourism. While we have been willing to share the road with our hooved friends, this morning we were caught up in the middle of an Eastbound parade of bison on the highway. My guess is today was the anniversary of Buffalo Bill’s passing, (they did look happier than in the past). The cool still air also presented some singular views as we passed through geyser basin, backlit by the morning sun.

Heading south through Rockefeller Parkway and into Grand Teton National Park, we are again amazed at the depth of snow that remains this late in the spring. Most of the drive has been through Lodgepole pine forest, with the occasional lake or meadow. After an hour of restricted views, snow taller than the car and dense forest, we finally reached the north end of Lake Jackson and the Tetons exploded into view. Rising about five to six thousand feet from the lake edge, the rugged, steep mountains, covered in snow contrast sharply with the smooth lake and flat plains at their base.

Lake Jackson is the headwaters of the Snake River, which works its way south then west to the Pacific Ocean. The mountains and river valley were shaped by intense glaciation, scouring and depositing, during the last Ice Age. Jenny Lake is one of the results of this activity, and as the day was warm (relatively) and sunny, we felt a hike was in order. A simple up and back trail skirted the west side of the lake, rising quickly several hundred feet along the base of the mountain. Snow covered about two-thirds of the trial making it slow going and tiresome. On our return leg, we spotted a moose moving through the forest, not more than twenty yards ahead of us. Tracking an animal that is neither dainty nor light-footed, we c carefully poked our heads around trees to catch fleeting glimpses, but the moose quickly vanished in the forest.

Our last stop in the park was the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center. Opened within the last year, the center is an impressive architectural work that draws the visitor to the mountains immediately to the north.

Then it was off to find the Alpine Vista hotel (small print), known now as part of the Snow King Resort (large print). We finished the day with bison burgers and microbrew at Sidewinders. Tomorrow we drive home, ending the Great Western Adventure.