Road Trip: At home in the Tetons

“In every walk with Nature one receives far more then he seeks.” John Muir

We are settled, this is our home for 3 days in Grand Teton National Park. We are in the wilderness, with about 10,000 other people. But it is beautiful.

We are staying at Colter Bay, very crowded, but very nice. We decided to drive a ways for a hike that wasn't one of the main ones so we could get into nature on a real hiking trail, not a path. What we found one that was beautiful! We are amazed at how lush it is here. There are streams and rivers with sage brush and lush vegetation every where we look. 

Sadly, the mosquitos come with all this water. We are fighting them so bad! I have so many places that are so swollen because of my bites, 1/2 my face is swollen! C gets them as frequently as I do, but he doesn’t swell up which makes it just look like he has chicken pox. Craig and L have a few bites here and there.

I think L is really enjoying having daddy around so much!

I love how they love to stop and look at everything. On little C's junior ranger paper he had to answer what was his favorite part of the hike and he answered, "To look at everything."

On our hike we made it to the Phelps Lake over look. So serene.

These wood entrances are everywhere in WY. There is a ton of open land and ranches. It seems like everyone has one of these at the entrance of their property. Also, these fences are the only fences we see.

After our hike, we needed to get Craig’s bike fixed (the petal fell off on the way back from the campfire talk the night before.) So, we drove into Jackson Hole resort. It was so cute! 

I love how everything is so rustic, just look at these houses! I am definitely falling in love with this town and Wyoming.

This picture is for you, Ann G.

On our way back to camp, we had our first Buffalo crossing. These huge animals just hop right over the fence! 

The babies were adorable, one just stopped just off the road to nurse from it’s mom. Then, the last buffalo to cross stopped to stare at the car next to it for a while. It stared, took 2 steps then stared some more, took another step, then stopped and stared some more. I’m glad I wasn’t in that car!

After dinner we took an evening bike ride down to Jackson Lake. What a perfect time to be out on the lake, I would have loved to have some paddle boards at that moment. The view with the Teton’s in the background is just amazing.

We went over to the foot path and crossed over to a little island. C and L stopped to play with the rocks.

Once we got onto the little island, the mosquitos were horrible again. Biting through clothes, so we walked along the rocky shore which was pretty but hot and I didn’t want to take off my long sleeves because I didn’t have spray on my arms. 

We got to a point where we had to go back into the forest and we got attached by those darn bugs again! C started wondering and asking why good do mosquitos do. The only answer we had was part of the food chain. Aren’t there other bugs that can do the same without biting humans, like gnats? I would much rather gnats then mosquitos.

It's funny, so many people asked if Craig and I would be on each other's nerves by the end of the trip, but as the days go on and we get more and more of nature we are more relaxed then we are at home. The kids know they need to help and are taking initiative with dishes, setting the table and they are even starting, yes, starting to pick up after themselves without me reminding them.

“Everybody needs beauty...places to play in and pray in where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to the body and soul alike.”  John Muir