The Spiky Tetons

Having moved a little south from Yellowstone we are straight into the Grand Tetons National Park. We try a couple of campsites but no luck so using the iOverlander app we take a bit of a ‘drive thru’ to a little out of the National Park via the Moran entrance, to a boondocking site with great views looking down to Buffalo Fork river and up to the Tetons outlined in the sunset!

There are like minded people around us, probably three sets, and all keeping themselves to themselves. We do talk with a young couple from France who have over landed through S. America and now have a Dodge SUV with an internal conversion kit which allows them to sleep flat in it. They are trying some Astro photography as there are reasonably dark skies here.

There is also a motorcyclist, Phil, who is having a road trip and we talk to him and he camps close by for a tiny bit of security.

The following day we are up a bit later and over bacon butties we help Phil plan a bit of a driving route up through Yellowstone - feel like locals having spent 5 days there. And of course there are the spiky Tetons looking stunning in the daylight.

Teton National Park is long and thin with the mountain range running down one edge, acting as a barrier to movement. So we head to Jenny Lake from which the mountains rear up almost vertically. We take the very busy 20 minute boat shuttle across and set off up a trail to the Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point which are both stunning but a steep climb.

We hear there’s moose in Cascade canyon so carry on walking - we catch a glimpse of her bottom and calf as she moves into the woods, so close but so far! However in compensation we do see several pikas, our favourite alpine animal, harvesting greenery and creating their haystacks ready for the winter snows. Also spotted are 2 massive caterpillars about 2 inches long - Alex might be into entemology!?

We return to our boondocking spot for a favourite meal of steaks and potatoes. And then motorcyclist Phil turns up late after a mammoth ride and we chat till quite late,

So we have a relaxed start to the following day with a lie in as Alex is still a little under weather and needs mummy snugggles! We decide for a relaxed day with nothing too strenuous.

We say goodbye to Phil and as we head back into the park we stop to have a little fish on the Snake river with the stunning backdrop of the Teton’s in the distance. Whilst we have no success fishing we do watch one of natures expert fishers, an Osprey, catch a fish and carry it away right in front of us. But it’s success doesn’t rub off on us.

We head on to String lake planning to kayak and have a mess in the water. Parking nearby is impossible so we end up with a 1.5 mile walk across scrubland along a bridle path. Alex sees a little brown snake and we christen the bridle path ‘cricket walk’ due to the number of large crickets which fly and jump up with almost every step we make.

Emma had a really good proper swim in String Lake, which is fab as this lake isn’t 5 degrees like the ones in Yellowstone - brrr! Alex enjoys just playing in the water and chasing little fish and capturing them in a plastic bag - makes up for lack of fishing success yesterday.

Then it’s time to move ever onwards, with a little detour to see an original Mormon area with iconic barns, often photographed with the Tetons towering behind them.

We are heading towards the Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho, a very long drive!

Guy