The Very Grand Tetons

We made a decision to utilize one of the National Park Campgrounds in the Tetons.

This means that there will be no comforts of home like air conditioning, television, microwave.  We've never been very good "dry" campers since I own up to wanting all the comforts of home when we are on the road.  Our house batteries are new so there was no reason not to try them out.  Because we are "old" we have the privilege of having Golden Age Passes to the national park system.  It gets us into the parks for free and cuts camping charges in half.  So, for $10.25 a night we moved into the Gros Ventre campground.  And a nice park it is!

The site is on the River so our choice was a view of the Tetons or shade.  We chose the shade. 

Smart move...  This is what the area looks like:

 Driving the access road to the park, we passed a herd of buffalo.  Turns out this is a very

active animal area.  This herd is made up of a few hundred "buffs."

We also found a group of people with cameras and binoculors watching intently beside the road and stopped to find out what they were watching.  There was a moose dining in the brush.

Ed must have taken 30 photos until the moose let us get a look at his face.  They are very elusive.

Ed describes moose as an animal designed by a committee...

There was storm brewing over the Tetons in the late afternoon allowing us to capture this picture.

It managed to brew up a little brief wind and a few drizzles and then the sun came out again.

The next day we headed for parts unfamiliar to us.  The Craig Thomas Visitors Center at Moose Junction (no relation to our moose) has recently opened.  (there's also a newish 17 mile bike path from Jenny Lake to Jackson.)

There are wonderful exhibits inside and a wall of windows on the back facing...

...the Grand Tetons.

Reminds me why I love to come here.

We continued on to Jenny Lake. 

 What makes the Tetons so amazing is the way they rise out of the water without benefit of foothills.

I think if I look up "majestic" in the dictionary, #2 will be "example, Jenny Lake."

We know the north end of Jackson Lake and Colter Bay having stayed in the RV park our last trip here.

This is the south end of Jenny Lake at Signal Mountain Lodge.  It's a small charming lodge with guest cabins.  Less tumult that Colter Bay.

We made the obligatory visit to Jackson Lake Lodge to climb the stairs and be in awe of the view.

We had planned to do some biking along the new trail while we were here, but our visit was complete with a couple afternoon naps...and no biking  I think the pace of this trip is starting to wear on both of us. 

We're both exhilarated and tired.  I am going to sleep for a month when we return...

Leaving the Grand Tetons, we took a little sidetrip to visit the

Museum of the Mountain Men

in Pinedale, WY. 

It's all about the history of the fur trade which lasted from about 1820 to 1840 and

the men who were the trappers.

This is the hat that opened the west.  The well-to-do in London favored hats made of felt.  The finest was made from beaver fur.  The style spread through Europe and to the United States.  Beaver was trapped almost to extinction in Europe so the riches of the West created a new industry. 
The demand for beaver pelts lasted for two decades, until the gentry discovered silk.

The museum is full of wonderful displays of clothing, rifles, stories, and art and highlights the Indian tribes the trappers interacted with.

They have a buffalo hide "tipi" on exhibit - one of only a few remaining.

They consider it a national treasure.

Pinedale was the center of the fur trade.  Outside of the Visitors Center is this statue - the image of the Mountain Man.  It's an image that was created by artists like Frederick Remmington and in literature of the time.  The mountain man as a grizzly being.  They are always depicted with beards.  Not true.  Clean shaven was the style of the day.

The annual Rendezvous - 16 were held, 6 were in Pinedale, 10 were in Wyoming. 

The trappers met, the Indians attended, goods were sold and traded, games were played,

and liquor was drunk!

It was certainly a worthwhile stop!

We're on our way to Salt Lake City to visit with Susan and Larry Fisher and do a little sightseeing.

We're counting down our return home. 

Ed got a call today saying his car has arrived.  The Abarth is ready to come home.

Haven't decided on the path home yet...