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| Gros Ventre Campground 6:45 AM |
As we drive from Riverton to our next campsite in the Grand Tetons we made a few stops along the way. In Dubois, WY we stopped at a general store where several people rode the Giant Jackalope. After we had lunch and postcards were sent, we continued on to the Gross Ventre Campground.
Our first day at the campsite we drove to the site of the 1925 Gros Ventre landslide. There we learned about the ideal landslide conditions, and the possible trigger for that slide. Then we hiked a hill across the street where we were able to see everything around the slide including Kelly, WY and the Tetons. After cooling off after an almost vertical hike we made our way back down, stopping to take a picture of a relatively fresh skull.
Then we made a stop at our campsite for lunch before we went to the Moose Visitor Center. There we bought some souvenirs and learned about the creation and ecology of the Tetons. We were also able to see the hiking trails that we wanted to take while in the park.
At the signs of an approaching storm we went to Jackson Hole, WY to look around and shop. At our six o'clock re-group time our professors surprised us with the news that we would be eating in Jackson. After some looking around we ended up at Snake River Brewing, where I had Bison Chili.
The next few days at the Tetons we took advantage of the well worn hiking trails, and beautiful weather. Our first hike was around Phelps Lake and up the Death Canyon trail. Due to winter snowfall and subsequent avalanches, we were not able to while the entire trail, and we had to do some trail blazing, and trail finding, but eight hours later we found our way back to the van, and were ready for dinner and bed.
The next day we met with Ann Mattison, a Ranger at Jenny Lake, who talked to us about the geology and ecology of the formation of the lake. After she left for lunch we continued on to Hidden Falls. Again due to earlier avalanches we had to carefully make our way along the edge of a narrow trail. The slightly perilous effort was worth it when we did reach the falls. When we arrived at our campsite after showering we were surprised by the arrival of two fellow students who had been riding their bikes for three weeks beginning in Colorado, and ending in the Tetons.
Our last day at the Tetons we took a shorter hike up Granite Canyon. Know our laundry was being done in a few hours we did our own version of a polar plunge into the near by river. Although it was initially refreshing, after about three seconds of standing without moving, we had to move and/or get out. After several photos were taken we continued back to the van.
Once again our professors surprised us before we went to do our laundry. What we thought was a restroom stop turned into a trip to the top of Rendezvous Mountain (elevation 10,400 ft). At the top we all bought waffles which varied from brown sugar and butter, to bacon and peanut butter. Once we had our fill of the summit and it's outstanding, panoramic view, we made our back down in the direction of clean laundry and a late dinner of quesadillas.
Although we loved the campsite and the park, it was time to move on ,so the next morning we broke camp, packed the trailer and headed to Yellowstone.
“Getting to the top is optional. Getting down is mandatory"-Ed Viesturs.
