Day 11 - String Lake

We wanted to go back to String Lake to complete the circuit hike around the lake. So, today we had breakfast at the Pioneer Grill at Jackson Lake Lodge again, and then headed over to String Lake. We started on the western end of the trail and followed it around the south side of String Lake and along the western side northward. After about 1.9 miles we reached the fork that took us the remaining 1.8 miles around The north end of String and back to the trail head.

This is one of the most scenic hikes in the Park. Views of String and Leigh Lakes as well as amazing closeups of the Tetons are accessible around the lake. Here are some of the highlights.














We got back to the Twinkie and took Bailey for a walk along the lake (or as close as the Park Service allows dogs), then came back and began breaking up camp so we could get out early tomorrow morning.

We were chatting with a couple next door in a 34 foot motorhome and ended up having a couple bottles of wine and hot dogs for dinner with them. They were from Santa Clara, California.

We'll get up early tomorrow and try to be on the road by 7:00 so we can get through Jackson before any stores are open and traffic picks up. Plan to head south through Jackson on 191 to I-80 and then east to our stop in Ogallala.


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Day 10 - Return to Jackson

Slept in this morning. After I got dressed and took Bailey for a walk, I ran down to catch the last glimpse of sunrise against the Tetons.


After the photos, I had to take a propane tank to be filled. It does get a bit chilly at night, so the propane goes more quickly.

We left the Twinkie around 10:30 for Jackson. Along the road into Jackson, there are a lot of scenic opportunities. It was a bit hazy from the ongoing fire southwest of Jackson, but we got some nice shots across the Snake River.






We got to Jackson around 11:30 and headed to Albertson's for some groceries. Bought gas and took the Sequoia through the car wash. Then we headed over to Mountain High Pizza Pie for lunch. It's still the best pizza ever!


We sat out on the deck and had our pizza. Temps were around 65, so it was pleasant. After lunch we drove up to Teton Village to check out the tram ride. It's pretty much a high end tourist trap. We didn't even do the tram ride as it was $29 per person! The drive out to Teton Village turned out to be fortuitous because we decided to take the alternate route back to the Park going through Moose and up a narrow road toward Jenny Lake. Along the way we saw a moose beside the road.

When we got back to the Twinkie, Bailey was waiting for a walk, then we had a snack and rode our bikes up to the store and got an ice cream cone. We had a little thunder shower, but it seems all storms are short and pass with little rain. It will probably be completely dry by morning.

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Day 9 - Check out some other lodges in the park

Today's plan was to take our time, get up and enjoy breakfast, then drive down to Signal Mountain Lodge and Jenny Lake Lodge to see how they compared to Jackson Lake Lodge. At Signal Mountain Lodge, they had a really nice shop with local products. Signal Mountain Lodge is also a demonstration site for sustainable and eco-friendly products. They get much of their power from wind farm electricity.






Signal Mountain Lodge has a very nice bar, grill, and restaurant. We were there at 11:30 so we decided to have lunch at the grill. We had the Nachos Mountain -- delicious! Brought some back with us and Bailey enjoyed some of the chicken and ground beef. We've decided that the Grand Tetons concessionaire does such a good job we'd come back here and stay again. This time we'd eat out more!






After lunch, we drove down to Jenny Lake Lodge. On the way, we stopped along a scenic drive for some photos of the Tetons across Jenny Lake.





Jenny Lake Lodge area is very small -- the smallest of the lodges in the Park we think.

Headed back to the Twinkie and Chris vacuumed the floors and sofas, then we sat outside in the screened tent with Bailey, talking to the neighbors.

Weather today started out in the low 40s, partly cloudy. It cleared off later in the morning, although there was a brief light shower while we were driving to Signal Mountain even though the sun was out. We could see the cloud moving over the Grand Teton as it approached us and dropped a little rain. That went away quickly, and we had clear to partly cloudy skies and temps around 72 for the afternoon. Finally had a little thundershower right after sunset. Captured some interesting shots just before the rain.

Day 8 - Laundry Day

Nothing planned for this morning other than laundry. It's pretty crowded in the laundromat. Looks like we will be here for a couple hours. After, we will try a short hike before we go to dinner in the Mural Room at Jackson Lake Lodge.

Decided to do the String Lake trail. String Lake is a narrow (obviously) lake just north of Jenny Lake and connected to Leigh Lake further north. The circuit hike we were taking goes around the lake. There are some good views of Mt. Moran and it's glacier. Here are some photos from the hike.










After the hike, we went back to the Twinkie and took Bailey for a long walk. Then we headed out to Jackson Lake Lodge to have a drink at the bar overlooking the Tetons before dinner. Dinner in the Mural Room was excellent. Took some nice treats back to Bailey who was eagerly awaiting our return.

Oh, and the weather was excellent! High was around 75 with clear skies. The low this morning was around freezing according to the weather reports in the Tetons, but the thermometer we have outside only registered 45.

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Location:Colter Bay Village Rd,,United States

Day 7 - Jenny Lake and Cascade Canyon

This morning was a bit warmer that the last. The temperature was around 45. I got up and took Bailey out for a walk around 6:30. Then I went back to the Twinkie and got my tripod and camera for some photos of the sunrise


over Jackson Lake. Didn't get much color on the mountains this morning. I'll try again tomorrow. It's hit or miss with this kind of photography. Just have to be at the right place at the right time.
Drove over to Jenny Lake boat dock around 9:00 to catch the ride over to the start of the Cascade Canyon trail.
Got some photos along the way







It's 4.5 miles from the trail head to the fork at the end of the canyon. By the time we started the hike, it was 10:00, so we decided to walk until 12:00 and then turn around to be back by 2:00 so we could catch the boat to the Visitor's Center and get our Park Passport stamped.
The Cascade Canyon hike is a fantastic hike. Pretty tough first mile up to Inspiration Point, but well worth it.




You don't want to stop there, though. Continue on for another mile and you come to some cool Alpine meadows and great views of the glaciers on the side of the Grand Teton.






Most visitors stop at Inspiration Point. We went about another two miles. Never made it to the fork at the end of the canyon, but we were pretty close and got some nice views. Decided to take the horse trail back to the boat dock for a different view. It descended much more quickly. Although we had to dodge road apples, it was a quicker return trip and we made it back to the boat by 1:30.
We were back to the Twinkie before 2:30. By the way, here are some photos of our campsite. We really are close to the lake. You can see it just to the right through the trees in the second photo.






We're grilling filet mignon wrapped in bacon with baked potato and salad for dinner. .... If you're in the area, stop by and join us! ;-)

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Day 6 - Visit Jackson, Wyoming

We got up early this morning with the idea that we'd head out before sunrise on the road to Jackson and catch some good photos of the Tetons. Well, by the time we actually got out, it was well past sunrise and closer to 8:00, so we decided to drive on down to Jackson Lodge and eat breakfast in the Pioneer Grill. This is the same grill that Ann Sue ate in with her parents and Craig when she was young and they were on vacation.

The young man working our section was from California. He had graduated last year from Pepperdine with a degree in International Business. He spent the past year working in China teaching English outside of Shang Hi. He is working at Jackson Lodge because he loves the mountains. This is the Pioneer Grill



After breakfast, we drove down Hwy 191 to Jackson to do some shopping and see if there were any good Mexican Restaurants in Jackson. We seem to have started a tradition of seeking out a Mexican restaurant at every place we go camping for more than one night.

On the way, we took a few pics of the Tetons. Here is one in the morning light.



Went by the Albertsons for some groceries, then parked in the free public
lot and walked around the downtown. Ann Sue made some purchases, and we got a tip about a Mexican restaurant to try. El Abuelito was OK, but not the great food we were searching for. Oh well, when we go back to Jackson next week, we will hit the Mountain High Pizza place we ate in last year. Hope they are still as good as we remember!

Jackson is a really nice town. Everything is neat, clean, and well-planned. Lots of good stores and restaurants. Not too crowded, either.

Bailey got some treats from the chicken enchilada. She was fine in the Twinkie while we were gone. She got a nice long walk, and then we sat outside in the screened tent relaxing. Took another bike ride and then Ann Sue baked some cinnamon muffins.

The temperature this morning was 32 degrees, but by the time we got to Jackson, it was close to 60. Got up to 75 today. No rain, clear skies. All in all, a very nice day.

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Location:Jackson, Wyoming

Day 5 - Colter Bay - Recover from the trip

Didn't go anywhere today. Decided to sleep in and recover from the four day drive out here. We got up and did some work on the Twinkie. I replaced the halogen lights in the cabinets with new LED lights to save electricity and reduce the heat generated. We set up the screened tent room outside so that we can sit out without being eaten by mosquitoes. They seem to come out after 2:00 or 3:00 in the afternoon.

Rode our bikes around the Colter Bay visitor areas and stopped by the Laundromat where there is free WiFi to check email, etc.

Around 4:00 we rode our bikes up to the Ranch House restaurant and bar and had dinner of fish and chips. I tried a local brew that was quite good. Here's a pic of Ann Sue at the bar.


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Location:Colter Bay Campground Rd,,United States