Grand Teton NP: Amazing First View!

(2019 Grand Teton Ep 12)

We headed west from Riverton (map point 8) anticipating our arrival at Grand Teton National Park.  The road snaked upward between Absaroka mountain ranges and we approached Togwotee Pass at 9659 foot elevation.  We crested the continental divide and pulled into a parking area.

It was our first view of the magnificent Tetons, some 30 miles to the west.  Our travels had taken us more than 3000 miles over 11 days and the drive was worth it!

The Teton Range runs north-south for nearly 40 miles, with 10 peaks over 12000 feet.  The tallest peak is Grand Teton at 13775 feet.  What makes the range so spectacular is the view of the mountains from the relatively flat valley below – the range towers more than a mile above the valley in some areas!

Our plans were to camp three nights at Gros Ventre Campground in Grand Teton National Park (map point 9).  From our campsite, we could see the tips of some of the Tetons.

As in Alaska and Yellowstone, the weather can vary considerably each day – our first afternoon was cloudy and pleasant.  It rained the next morning and began to clear in the afternoon.  The third day started out nearly freezing and crystal clear.  Because we were dry camping, we ran our generator the third morning to warm our camper and to charge the battery.

We made a trip into Jackson, a tourist town 15 miles to the south, to get gas and have dinner.  In the center of town there is a large park with massive elkhorn arches at each corner entrance.  We presume the antlers were collected at the National Elk Refuge not far out of town.

We didn’t see elk herds in the refuge (wrong season), but did see various other animals in the park.

We dodged rain the next morning with stops at two visitor centers and a brief walk along the edge of Jenny Lake.  After lunch in our truck as it drizzled,  we drove a steep road to the top of Signal Mountain as the weather began to clear.  We enjoyed the views of the Jackson Hole Valley, the Tetons and the large lakes at the foot of the Teton mountain range.

The next morning was clear.  We took photos of the Tetons from the Snake River Overlook and from Mormon Row with several iconic barns in the foreground.

Later we hiked to Hidden Falls, following a three mile trail above Jenny Lake to a nice 200 foot waterfall.  Little did we know something unexpected would change our plans as we hiked back to our starting point.  More on that in the next blog update.