GRAND TETONS BOUND

AUGUST 20, 2016

It was a cold 27 degrees at 7:00 am, but our heater kept the camper comfortable.  After breakfast we began preparation to move camp today which requires a bit of work.  Ron hooked the trailer to the jeep after disconnecting the water and sewer hookups while I readied the inside of the camper.  By 9:30 a.m. we were headed south on the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Highway.  

Visiting Jackson Hole in the 1920’s Rockefeller began buying land to   preserve it. 

  He later donated 32,000 acres to the government helping establish America’s National Park Systems.This is the 100th year of the National Parks. 

Lewis River Canyon was the site of a devastating fire in 1988 when 80 mph winds propelled the flames through the area. 

 After setting up camp at Headwaters RV Park, we took off for an afternoon excursion.  

We could see smoke from a fire just over the ridge.    This road follows the Snake River which was named by Lewis and Clark for the Shoshone or Snake Indians. 

 The 

Teton Mountain Range meets the water’s edge at Jackson Lake.  The highest peak is Grand Teton at 13,770 ft.  The Teton Glacier can be seen at the top.                            

 Like Yellowstone, this area is all about Fire and Ice.  The volcanoes erupted creating the mountains, then the ice glaciers carved out the valleys.  Most of the lakes in the area were formed when the  glaciers deposited boulders that naturally dammed the river.  

The Elk Ranch had the largest concentration of buffalo we have seen thus far.  There were several horse ranges in the area where visitors can take guided trail rides.

 It was odd to see people swimming at the beach in Colter Bay with mountain ranges in the background.  The beach consisted of small to medium sized pebbles—this is not Siesta Beach!  

 

The fire was visible on this side of the ridge on our return to the campground.  The rangers post fire danger notices to keep visitors informed of any serious threat.  We learned later that this is The Berry Fire.  Firefighters are on the ground to monitor, but will allow the fire to play its natural role in the ecosystem unless it poses a threat to the public.  Healthy forest depend on natural fires.

 We have zero phone service at our campsite, so blogging will be limited to Wifi access in Visitors Centers withing the park.