Teton Mountain Range & Yellowstone

We are staying at an RV park in Victor ID just west of the Teton Mountains. When we were looking for a location that was at a lower altitude but close to the park. On the map it looked like a short drive on Rt. 22 to Jackson. After we made our arrangements, I was looking for a route to our next stop, which will be Lander Wyoming. It was going to be a short hop, under 200 miles. Then, I thought I’d better check my Mountain Directory. It is a publication that lists, mountain passes with information on the grade, turns and truck runoff areas. Turns out Rt.22 traverses the Teton Pass, it has weight and length restrictions due to a grade in the east and west direction of 10%. When were checking in I asked the people at the RV park about it and they were unanimous in their response “DO NOT TRY TO TAKE YOU MOTOR HOME OVER THE PASS!!!”. Sooooo, I will be back tracking and taking the long way around the mountain which adds about 85 miles to the trip. We drove the pass for the two days we were here and it gave the car (and Jackie) a pretty good workout. There were several times when were climbing that we could smell the hot brake aroma of cars coming down the grade.

There’s an expression about biting off more than you can chew. We don’t heed that advice often. What was going to be a couple of easy days seeing the Tetons and Jackson Hole turned out to be something else when we agreed that since Yellowstone was so close we might as well see it too. The slow touring turned out to be a power trip. But, it was worth it.

The picture album is at:  http://jackbarbic.shutterfly.com/4556

On our first trip over Teton Pass just east of the summit we saw this sign. A stop at the visitor’s center is always worth while. It is an excellent source for maps and route, but more importantly you get tips about the area that you can’t always get of the printed material.

                                      

A short drive north of Jackson brings you to the Tetons. What a sight! Once again the pictures fail to give the visual impact you get when you seen them with your own eyes. We made several stops at the viewing turnouts along Rt. 26. And took way too many picture of essentially the same mountains. Hear are a couple of panorama shots.

The Tetons are between 6 and 9 million years old. The peaks are sharp because they are relatively young mountain and that the glaciers were not deep enough to cover the peaks. Not that they were puny as the depth is estimated to be 3000 feet. The Snake River runs through the valley. We came to a sign that gave the names of the individual mountains in the Teton Range

After we entered Teton Park, we stopped at the Oxbow Bend Turnout. There was little breeze and the river was calm enough to see the mountains reflection. We went on to Yellowstone after that. The next day we returned to drive the loop through Grand Teton National Park that is the next junction after Oxbow Bend. We stopped at the Jackson Lake Dam.

                            

The view from the lakeside of the dam.

So, on to Yellowstone. When you are in Yellowstone you are actually in a caldera that is still feeling the effects of the hot magma that underlies the area.

We entered the park at the south entrance and drove for several mile in a pine forest . There is evidence of past forest fires, remains of the burnt trees can be seen along with the new growth. In Glacier Park a ranger told us that dead trees are allowed to disintegrate and become part of the soil.

                                     

There are areas that can be dangerous if you do not heed the warning signs. The ground is being heated from below and water, steam, mud, etc are at temperatures that cause major damage to people.

                                    

The Upper and especially Lower Falls are a must to see, but the canyon below the Lower Falls, known as the “Grand Canyon of Yellowstone” is spectacular and is another one of those “Oh Wow“ when you first see it. The canyon is about 900 feet deep and a half mile wide. Water flowing over the falls comes from Yellowstone Lake via the Yellowstone River The river is approximately 692 long and is a tributary of the Missouri River. At the Upper and Lower Falls there are stairs that will allow a viewer to see what the falls look like from a lower, however, it’s tough on geezers with less than good knees.

           

The Buffalo were out and about. I was able to get a picture of one crossing the river and part of a herd that decided to cross the road. They don’t look both ways before crossing, they walk, traffic stops.

                            

There are many signs warning people not to approach the wild animals but you know, if you can just get a little closer to get that special picture……………..

                      

We saw many trees with the bark missing on the  lower trunk. This looks like it is caused by the bison rubbing against the tree.

So late in the day we started back to the campground and another drive over the Teton Pass. There have been so many places that we would want to have stayed longer. But we left home way back on May 21 and as I write this, we have been gone a day over three months. Our getting home date keeps getting pushed back. Looks like we will return home around the end of September but, when you are on “RV Time” schedules tend to slip.