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
Landed minutes before midnight, signed for my rental, then nabbed a few hours sleep before heading north.
Missoula, site of my 9th marathon on Sunday, was chosen because of its relatively close proximity to Glacier National Park – a bucket list destination for 10+ years. Instantly fell in love.
Montana’s landscape is reminiscent of Colorado – but with far less people.
Stopped for an early lunch outside Flathead Lake, one hour further the Park.
Day One goal – drive to the Continental Divide at Logan Pass via Going-to-the-Sun Road (half-way across the Park), then back to West Glacier before 9pm to secure accommodations – tenting 2 days just outside the Park.
Purchased an annual Park pass. Plan to hike Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Wind Cave (SD) & RMNP before the snow flies later this year. Living B-I-G again after Ironman — life is good.
Stopped at Lake McDonald – in awe how mountains seemingly spire straight up from its depth. Put my feet in the water – cold, despite the day’s high temp (almost 90 degrees).
(On the drive return, I’d stop & swim in these chilly waters. Perfect, after a day on the road.)
Next stop Avalanche Falls, fast moving water fueled by McDonald Creek. Tourist stop – but understandably so.
The road now climbed – my car hugging rock cliffs or maneuvering hairpin turns over exposed terrain mounted hundreds of feet above river-forged canyons. Impromptu waterfalls created by melting snow bathed dust off the car. AMAZING day!
Rugged glacier fields perched high on Montana’s high peaks – that’s why we visit. Irreversible; these glaciers are receding exponentially, 2030 extinction targeted as our Earth bakes under Man’s watch 🙁
Parked with scores of travelers at Logan Pass & watched kids play in snow behind the Visitors Center.
While folks strained to view 3 bighorn sheep dance on a rock terrace high above, I near walked into a large ram just off Highline Trail. Unnerved & slow-moving from a willow thicket, he crossed directly in front [of me]. So fast, so unexpected — I captured its image on my iPhone (camera tucked tight in my backpack – that won’t happen again).
Checked into Glacier Under Canvas & located my tent – my home for the next 2 days. Scored hummus, chips & bottled water at a local fish & tackle – dinner, check done. Quick shower, now snug in my sleeping bag, couldn’t sleep – too excited.
Glacier hiking tomorrow.
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- Glacier Country colour
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- chilly Lake McDonald
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- McDonald Creek
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- Avalanche Falls
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- SPECTACULAR!
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- stunning scenery
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- Glacier’s Red Bus Tours – small against the MASSIVE landscape
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- Going-to-the-Sun Road cuts East-West across Glacier
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- snow melt fuels this fast running Waterfall
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- snow on the Divide at Logan Pass
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- Bighorn Sheep
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- Home, Sweet Home
Avalanche Falls
