Friday July 8
On Friday July 8th we head to the Grand Teton National Park with Ed and Cheryl. This is our third day of touring and we allow the girls to bring the DVD player in the van with them for the first time (they are not allowed to watch it during the parks) since it is an 80 mile ride just to get there, through Yellowstone. They decide to sit in back together and watch their movie. We stop in West Yellowstone for pre-made sandwiches and then head through Yellowstone down to West Thumb and out Yellowstone via the south entrance. We hadn’t been out of Yellowstone much when we spot a beautiful water fall on the side of the road. We stop and take a few pictures at Lewis Falls. It is strange to enter a park but not have to stop at the entrance gate (we had already showed our pass at Yellowstone and the only way into this park this way is through Yellowstone so there is no fee). We stop at the first visitor’s center and get the scoop on the park from the park ranger and the girls get their passports stamped.
We proceed down to Jackson Lake. We stop at the visitor’s center and I inquire about picnic areas nearby. There are tables just down the road with a view so we head there. It is the most beautiful spot I have ever had a picnic! By now we are looking at the Grand Tetons and there is a lake in front of it that has a turquoise hue to it. In front of the lake is an area of yellow wildflowers. We hear thunder in the distance and can see it raining near the mountains but the rain holds off and we enjoy a nice picnic.
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| Elk in Yellowstone! |
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| Jenny Lake |
After lunch we drive up Signal Mountain and get a great view of the Teton peaks from the summit. We continue down to Jenny Lake Loop Rd. This is a much smaller lake but just gorgeous views of the mountain and the glaciers on Grand Teton and Moran Mountain. We continue south to the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center, passing over the Snake River several times. The river is very flooded and we do not see any boat activity on it at all. I later learn that an older man was killed while on a float trip while we were there. At times, the road is right beside the river and it would not take much more rain before the road would be impassable. I overheard a ranger saying they got 68-70 feet of snow over the winter and that is the reason that there is so much snow on the mountain in July. I think the scenery is much more picturesque with the snow on the mountains and the wildflowers in blossom. There are lupine everywhere in the park; mostly purple and pink. The new discovery center is made out of huge lodge pole pine trees and absolutely gorgeous. The lodge pole pine is preferred for its straight trunk and lack of branches so it can be used for building and furniture.
We spot what looks like deer in a field but it turns out to be pronghorn instead (our first sighting of these animals). The pronghorn are in a field quite a distance from us but still we can make out their features. Even more exciting is our return trip through Yellowstone where we watch two elk cross the road right in front of us. They are so big and their horns are still velvety. Hard to imagine carrying all that weight on your head like the elk do. What a great way to end the day. But wait, it has rained in Yellowstone and we spot the occasional puddle. This and the lower temperatures add steam to a lot of geothermal areas that we have already driven by but now look spectacular with the steam rising from them. We stop at one such spot and can’t believe the constant geyser going on there; Sprouting Geyser. 
We return to West Yellowstone around 9pm and stop for the 3rd night at the Wolf Pack Pub. We have had good luck with them for dinner before and we are all too tired to think of something else to do. Scott tries the Dragon’s Breath and Moose Drool beers. Yet again we hit construction on the road returning from West Yellowstone to the KOA campground and have to wait for a pilot car to escort us the six miles out of town. By the time we arrive home, we all crash.
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