Woke a little stiff after yesterday’s marathon but excited to see sunshine – first in days. Friday’s attempt at seeing the Tetons ended early, most of the day spent at Visitor Center(s) viewing park films & museum artifacts.
Today with 10 hours before my flight back to Denver, wanted to fit in a hike – the landscape so beautiful, reminiscent of our Colorado Rockies. And as clouds cleared, snow was visible on the high peaks – first of the season.
Snapped some of my most memorable shots of the trip this morning. WOW!
Decided on Inspiration Point as today’s hike destination. Bought a boat ticket across Jenny Lake to cut 2.5 miles off the hike distance. Jenny Lake, named after a Shoshone guide in 1872, is one of the Park’s largest bodies of water. That said, the trip across couldn’t have lasted more than 15 minutes.
Stopped a few minutes at Hidden Falls – a half mile UP – then continued on the well defined trail to Inspiration Point.
The quick stairmaster-esque hike & elevation was similar to Boulder hiking but the landscape so more lush. It’s been a wet summer this year in the Tetons; waterfalls & rivers running high, tall Pines & multiple varieties of wildflowers peppered the forest’s green floor. Only wish there had been more time.
Visiting America’s National Parks highly recommended.
Day after July’s marathon in Missoula I went whitewater rafting, this month I hiked Grand Teton National Park. Finding creative recovery an active part of marathoning. A-ok to keep re-setting the bar 🙂
“Keep your dream in front of you. Never let it go regardless of how far fetched it might seem.”
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- Grand Teton Nat’l Park
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- first sunshine in days
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- today’s WOW shot!
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- snowfall visible on the high peaks – first of season
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- Jenny Lake — formed by glaciers, 423 feet deep
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- left off the boat dock, then hike UP
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- Hidden Falls
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- Cascade Canyon
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- stairmaster-esque
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- soaking in thin air
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- today’s hike destination
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- goodbye Tetons
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- Jackson Hole WY – small airport, BIG landscape
Left work early Wednesday & boarded a plane to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Not only running a marathon this weekend – my 10th – but also celebrating a birthday. Chose to spend this year in Yellowstone & Grand Tetons National Park 🙂
Short one hour flight from Colorado (vs 8+ hours drive), set up camp at the Flat Creek Inn & hit the road early Thursday – destination Old Faithful, 2 hours away in Yellowstone National Park.
The day’s weather was notably different from Colorado, misty rain & cool sub-60 temps. Unfortunately, Grand Tetons’ iconic peaks were completely obscured by cloud cover (would have to wait ’til Sunday). Another hour further, Old Faithful. Took a quick walkabout the Visitors Center, only 20 minutes ‘til this mighty geyser was scheduled to blow. Secured a premium spot & waited for geyser magic.
A thin white plume seeped from the ground, followed by larger puffs of white gas, then all diminished. The act re-commenced, this time water gurgled within the large gaseous plume. Another brief break & the show known as Old Faithful began. Approximately every 91 minutes, this geyser blows – spewing boiling water from Earth. AMAZING! What a birthday show!
Next stop: Grand Prismatic Spring
Listed #2 on gaperguide.com’s Top 5 Stops in Yellowstone – I was not disappointed. Because of the day’s cool weather, dense sulfuric fog formed from vapors pouring off colourful geysers in Midway Geyser Basin. The misty weather & geyser littered landscape was reminiscent of last year’s Icelandic adventure. SPECTACULAR orange & blues – crazy vivid hues. LOVED it!
Located in the Midway Geyser Basin is the brightly colored Grand Prismatic Spring. It is the largest hot spring in the U.S. and the 3rd largest in the world!
Weather report for the weekend – rain, rain & more rain. Sounded like today might be my best chance to see Yellowstone – so stayed on the road & headed another hour west to Lower Yellowstone Falls.
The lower falls are 308 feet high, almost twice as high as Niagara Falls!
Parked a pull-off early & trail ran Red Rock & North Rim 2 miles to get a closer view of the Falls (& help altitude acclimate for Saturday’s Mesa Falls marathon). STUNNING VIEW of the Falls! The 2 mile return run UP however – now that was challenging 🙂
Didn’t see Yellowstone’s famous buffalo but did up my bear tally to 3 for the summer. A black bear crossed in front of my car – super exciting to see these huge predators when you’re not hiking (remembering last month’s 2 grizzlies in Glacier).
Finished at Mud Volcano before returning to Jackson via Yellowstone Lake & West Thumb.
Full 12 hour day – mountains, geysers, waterfalls & a bear! Happy Happy Birthday to me!
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- first stop in the Park – Happy Birthday to me!
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- erupts every 91 minutes
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- a small escape of vapor
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- …and thar she blows!
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- colourful Midway Geyser Basin
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- don’t touch, that stream is boiling
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- Grand Prismatic Spring
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- Excelsior Geyser
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- stunning vivid blue & 199°F
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- Dragon’s Mouth Spring
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- Mud Volcano
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- Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
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- Lower Yellowstone Falls
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- a mile closer on Red Rock Trail
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- my 3rd bear in 2 months 🙂
Old Faithful
Lower Yellowstone Falls
Mud Volcano
How could I possibly top two days of tenting in Glacier National Park? How ‘bout a heli tour?
Just prior to entering the Park on Thursday, drove past a sign advertising helicopter tours over Glacier. Quick pull-off, U-ey across Hwy 2 & I was on my way back to Glacier Heli Tours. Laid down a deposit – BAM that’s how I vacation.
Saturday morning, packed up the rental (last day of tenting), grabbed breakfast at a truck stop diner, signed waivers & received brief instructions at Glacier Heli Tours, then joined a family from Jersey for the trip of a lifetime.
Lucky for me, not only did I get to take advantage of the 4-6 person rate but also got to sit up front. Pilot asked me not to touch any buttons or open the door while we were in the air. Check, done 🙂
Over the past 2 days, I thought I had seen much of Glacier National Park – West Glacier on Thursday, hiked Grinnell from Many Glaciers trailhead on Friday (east entrance), plus drove the swath across the Park on Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Honestly, I had only scratched the surface of this amazing park.
Soaring over snow-capped peaks & glaciers, multiple waterfalls & tarns (glacial lakes) via helicopter, re-awoke my inner love of high peaks & everything mountain. One WOW moment, followed by another. INSPIRED – just couldn’t stop smiling. Massive mineral plates pushed together, shooting upward from Earth toward the heavens. SPECTACULAR!
Briefly crossed over the Canadian border to Waterton Lakes Nat’l Park.
Welcome to Canada. Incoming Calls/Text are active. Calls: $0.89/min. TXT: Send=$0.5,Receive=$0.05. WiFi may be used where available.
After next month’s Ironman, my immediate plans include the mountains. Hiking, backpacking, trail running, shoeing, ski mountaineering & winter camping – I see high altitude peaks, ice axes & the Arctic North in my 20-15.
Social Media RoundUp
Anish I had an architect friend who once said
Where the eye can see
the mind stretches…
Anish We were talking about people from the hills and I have always believed that they are different from people from the plains…I was born at Almora…could see the Himalayas!
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- Glacier Heli Tours
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- lucky day: co-pilot
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- McDonald Creek
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- 3rd largest Park in lower 48
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- receding glacier
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- Iceberg Lake
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- largest glacier in Park
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- overnight avalanche
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- thawing glacial tarn
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- Where the eye can see, the mind stretches…
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- seeing double, Twin Lakes
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- Would I do it again? In a heartbeat.
