Monday, July 13, 2015

194.365 Grand Tetons National Park, Jenny Lake, Inspiration Point, Old Faithful Inn


A beautiful bright blue sky and the gorgeous mountains make your spirits soar.  People are so friendly  and helpful and nice making an already amazing vacation even better.  This atmosphere can only make you at peace with our amazing country that we live in.  
After breakfast and checking out of the cabin we travelled to Grand Teton National Park and had to stop for a photo op with the sign.

Some of the oldest rocks in North America are found in the core of this mountain range (2.7 billion years old).  
We read and heard that Jenny Lake was a must and were not disappointed.  We got a round trip ticket on the ferry boat to cross the lake to hike.  You can hike around the lake as well.  "Jenny" is the Shoshone wife of guide, Beaver Dick Leigh.  She died of smallpox in 1876.  


The brief boat ride was cool and invigorating.  We started up the steep trail to Inspiration Point.

Our poor sea level lungs struggled a bit on the uphill climb.  We took frequent breaks and were super proud of the girls for completing more of a difficult trail!


Huckleberry bushes were everywhere and occasionally we would find a ripe one.  They are a tart blueberry and you will find many products with huckleberries in Wyoming and Montana from ice cream, honey to jam and chapstick.



It was a trail filled with many views of the Tetons.  I felt like the scenery from the trail was almost better then the point.  



We made it!  


We had a bag full of candy and treats that was the reward at the top.  We took a rest and enjoyed the view.




Jenny Lake



When you go up...the downhill part of the trail is the best.





After promises of taking another vacation to the Grand Tetons in the future we ventured north to Yellowstone National Park around 4 pm.
We arrived at Old Faithful Inn for a break and as we pulled in a geyser was erupting in front of our car.  Great timing.
We got drinks on the second floor of the Old Faithful Inn and sat on their deck to wait for the next Old Faithful eruption.  I got a huckleberry martini, Isabelle got a drink called the "Wyoming Sunset" which was so tasty and Allie and Juliette got a "Shirley Temple".  
It was a great view!  
We then went back to the car to drive to West Yellowstone to our hotel.  
What fun to get a glimpse of animals in their natural environment!

Bison would frequently provide a good roadblock and slow traffic.  

That evening we checked in and Jamie got some take out from a local restaurant.  The girls had fun swimming in the hotel and played "dolphin trainer" in the pool.  We already have had such a great start to our vacation.

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