Grand Tetons – August 19-22, 2018

We left Twin Falls on Sunday after church and headed to our next stop in Jackson, Wyoming where we will be staying three nights.  The smoky haze continues to block the mountain views which make this part of the country so picturesque.  Now the sky is simply a gray haze down to the horizon with the peaks of the mountains vaguely apparent behind an opaque screen.  At least there are no health warnings here like we hear they are issuing in Seattle.

We arrived just in time to get the needed information from the Visitor Center that will set the agenda for the next two days.  So much to see and only two days to see it all.

Jackson Hole is the name given to the area by the settlers because when you came over the Tetons it looked like a big hole and they ultimately named it after a famous trapper in the area named Jackson.  Jackson is actually the name of the city (town), not Jackson Hole.  The Tetons were named by a French explorer who named it for it’s three points.

Here are two pictures of the Tetons; one on the first day with overcast weather and smoke and the second on the next day with minimal clouds.

Most of the first day we heard one or the other of us say “that would be a beautiful picture if it wasn’t for the smoke and clouds”.

Later in the day, we decided to drive up to Yellowstone because there were usually more animals at dusk and we were right.  The bison were in full force on the side of the road with one youngster fascinated by a white car so it stood in the middle of the road just staring at the car.  As a result, the car could not get around it or move in any direction so traffic was backed up for at least one mile and about 25 minutes.  The price you pay to get an up close and personal look at a bison.

Mother Bison with her calf

Bison cross road at their leisure

This was the calf which held up traffic, finally got a picture after he moved off the road, notice the line of traffic

This bull Bison came right past the car

Day two, in addition to better pictures, we saw a herd of  deer pretty close to the road and got some good pictures.

We also saw some interesting birds.  Can you believe they have pelicans and Blue  Heron in Wyoming!

American White Pelican

We then went to visit the National Fish Hatchery dedicated to replenishing the Snake River Cutthroat Trout.

This is where the fish stay until they are big enough to be released into the Snake River, happens in the fall 

Pond by the hatchery  

We finished the day with a western covered wagon ride to a pavilion in the forest for a cowboy dinner and show.

On the way to the Bar-T-5 ranch for dinner and show.  8 wagons

Outlaws holding up the wagon train, we were able to shoot them with our cameras

Dinner show

During the show Buckskin came into camp shooting and hollering telling us someone stole his horse, all part of the show 

Tomorrow morning we leave for Casper, Wyoming as a stop over spot to Grand Rapids, South Dakota for another look at Mount Rushmore and whatever else the area has to offer.