We are staying in the Colter Bay Tent Cabins in the Grand Tetons National Park. Our neighbors are uncharacteristically loud! We made breakfast of bacon and eggs before rushing to make the 9:30 ferry across Jenny Lake.
Here's our tent cabin...
I buy 3 tickets for roundtrip fares and one ticket one way. The young woman at the counter takes a wild guess that it's me that's going to hike back. I guess I had that look...
The waters are crystal clear and I talk with the boat captain on the 15 minute crossing. We get our bearings and begin the climb up the trail stopping to marvel at the mountains. I take many pictures.
The view from above the landing on the opposite side of Jenny Lake...
On our way up...
We talk to a nice French couple and take their picture next to Hidden Falls. They tell us about some deer in the woods for us to see. We take some more pictures of another couple at the falls and they tell us about a grizzly bear that's got a buried carcass close enough to the road that we can view him as he returns each evening to feed. Taking pcitures of other people and showing a little kindness gets big dividends!
Hidden Falls....
We continued on the swithbacks and through the narrow trail sections to Inspiration Point (7,200 ft) where we rested and ate snacks in the shade). The views of Jenny Lake and the Tetons are stupendous!
The narrow trail...
We made it!
On the way down, we see pack horses at the waterfall and the girls stop to admire and pet the horses. We make it down to the bottom fo the trail and the ferry docks and KAthi and the girls take the boat back to the car where they make a dash back to Jackson for some supplies (sweat pants to keep warm in the morning!).
I head back up the trail to find the trail upper of two parallel trails that will guide me around Jenny Lake and back to the parking lot. I had to hike all the way back up to the falls and really hunt for the unmarked or mostly hidden horse trail entrance. Once on the trail and up a ways, there was a sign pointing to the "corral" so, even though I considered the trail pretty narrow, I figured I was on the right track. The trail seems to end at a horse corral (not an enclosure, but more of a hitching post), but if you look around you can pick up the trail at the far end and the trail is well worn and easy to follow.
On the "corral" trail...
These higher elevation views of the south rim of Jenny Lake are beautiful! I was hiking alone and kept alert thinking of bears. Never saw, smelled or saw footprints or other signs of bears. Loved the scenery and the solitude!
Views from the trail...
Did a quick side trip down one of the spur trails around the Moose Lakes, but didn't want to take it too far or get too off track so that I didn't make my rendezvous point with KAthi and the girls.
Made it back tot he Ranger station, and got a well-deserved ice cream! We drove back to camp along Rt. 89 to see the grizzly bear we had been told about. Sure enough there were a bunch of people and the rangers had set up a spotting scope so everyone could get a good view. The bear had finished eating when we got there and was just lying on his back feeling fat and happy! We drove by Oxbow Bend and saw otters and beavers slapping their tails ont he water to protest the kayakers coming too close! Dana spotted a coyote walking along the bank a coupel 100 yeards down the road. We were also treated to a moose mother and calf in the woods not 50 feet from the road. Oxbow Bend is awesome for wildlife!
Otters:
Momma Moose....
Moose calf...
We made it back to camp for a late dinner and bed.
