http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Grand-Teton-National-Park/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from North America , United States , Wyoming , Grand Teton National Park en-us Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:07:38 UTC Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:07:38 UTC The views around here are fantastic especially in good lighting conditions. Those Grand Tetons are awesome. The drive to Jackson is Classic Wyoming just beautiful. Way back when we traversed Wyoming from Evanston to Rawlings on Interstate 80 we had to agree with our Salt Lake City receptionist's questioning of why we should visit the state and she was born in the state. It can be desolat http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Grand-Teton-National-Park/blog-342542.html Leaving Idaho Falls IdahoWe asked the hotel staff as we left this morning if they had any insights for touring Grand Tetons or Yellowstone National Parks. One had just been there the weekend before and excitedly gave us the places we should be sure to see. In addition she questioned how we were getting there. She recommended we reroute to a different highway in order to see the Tetons from th http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Grand-Teton-National-Park/blog-333980.html Laura is back to writing the blog posts today Greg is just typing them up. Jackson WYToday we took a morning to relax. The hotel booked a scenic float through the park for us later in the evening when the wildlife is out. Our first stop was Teton Mountaineering to resolve the air mattress problem. Greg was very impressed by all the gear that they carried... no low quality items. They had http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Grand-Teton-National-Park/blog-328357.html This blog entry is being written by Greg because Laura is too tired after I took her on a death march up Mt. Washburn . Mt. WashburnMt. Washburn is one of the higher peaks in Yellowstone and is 10243 feet high. The climb is about 1500 feet of vertical with a 5 mile roundtrip hike from the Chittenden parking area. The trail follows the service road up to the fire lookout station which is manned http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Grand-Teton-National-Park/blog-328348.html more pics ... http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Grand-Teton-National-Park/blog-313325.html New entry with additional pics http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Grand-Teton-National-Park/blog-313320.html So we left Ogden UT almost five days ago and when we did we also said so long to Starbucks I could write an entire entry on our coffee escapades but letrsquos suffice it to say that we have been dying for good coffee until today Saturday August 9th. Gas station coffee just isnrsquot cutting it for us coffee snobsAnyway we left Ogden and headed north on our way to the Grand Tetons. We mad http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Grand-Teton-National-Park/blog-310328.html Hello to everyone whose taken the time to track The SadowskiSherffiusSalinas' Back To Nature VacationThe Sherffius' and Salinas' separated from The Sadowski's on Day 4. The Sadowski's were so amazed by Yellowstone and all it had to offer that they headed back up north from the Ranch to view Old Faithful. While the Sherffius' Salinas' headed down south to The Grand Tetons. SherffiusSa http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Grand-Teton-National-Park/blog-307307.html Wow talk about mountains the Tetons are huge thats what she said.We were amazed how tall and impressive the mountain chain was. We went to Jenny Lake we couldnt't stop pronouncing it like Forest Gump took a boat across the lake to hike up to see hidden falls and inspiration point. Amy made a point of not telling the girls what to do or not to do and if they died it was their own fault t http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Grand-Teton-National-Park/blog-306018.html On July 8 2008 we left Red Rock RV Park at Island Park Idaho and arrived at The Grand Teton National Park Gros Ventre Campground pronounced Grow Vaunt. We were dry camping here as this national park had no facilities other than a dump station for your black and gray water and a spigot with fresh water so you could fill your fresh water tank. For most Rvers wanting to fill their water ta http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Grand-Teton-National-Park/blog-304824.html Tuesday 715Went on a hike up the Fourth of July Creek and onwards to 4th of July Lake. It was a mostly uphill climb 550ft over 2.5 miles. We arrived at an alpine lake. Nearby was a group of back country campers. Along the shores of the lake there was a hatch coming off. Some kind of fork tailed mayfly. They were crawling all over us which was a pleasent break from the mosquitos of which we have http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Grand-Teton-National-Park/blog-304787.html We crossed the border into Idaho and headed straight to the visitors centre for some info.We met a couple outside who were heading the same way and they had vacationed in the area before.They gave us the heads up on all the different things we could do and the Grand Tetons was one of them.So thank you Eleanor DickOnce we'd found a hotel in Idaho Falls to settle into for a few days we were r http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Grand-Teton-National-Park/blog-301683.html Friday July 11 2008Driggs WY to Rawlins WYToday we start our trek home. Before leaving Teton Valley we stop at the Wildlife Art Museum. While I am parking Donna spots an eagle and a hawk in the distance. The hawk lighter and quicker than the eagle climbs above the eagle and dives into it repeatedly. The eagle fights off the hawk until the pair is far out of sight. She is very disappoi http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Grand-Teton-National-Park/blog-300336.html One of my favorite aspects of the interview process for this job was the following quote from my soontobeboss. He was describing to me what I should bring for my three month term here and said the followingldquoSo in terms of what to bring. . .you can bring your kayak but just so you know pretty much everyone brings a kayak. If you didnrsquot want to bring yours you can always just bo http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Grand-Teton-National-Park/blog-300309.html Most of the people who work in Grand Teton are very friendly and fun to hang out with. As you may expect there is a lot of socializing that goes on here and many informal gettogethers for people to spend time together outside of work and get to know their coworkers and employees in other departments. During the first weekend here Molly and I were a bit cut off from this social life of Grand T http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Grand-Teton-National-Park/blog-300307.html My roommate Molly and I started to cook together and make extra for lunches and future dinners. We work late on different nights so usually whoever is home will make dinner so that the other one can eat right when they get home sometimes we donrsquot get back til 9pm so it is nice to have dinner waiting. Molly has adopted cooking and baking as her new hobby so she has embarked on a few d http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Grand-Teton-National-Park/blog-300305.html This morning I slept in considerably after my long day and late night the day before. I had planned to go hiking with my friend Andrew but by the time I was awake ate a leisurely breakfast and got all of my things together it was about 3pm. Luckily the days here are long and since Summer Solstice is coming up it doesnrsquot get dark here til nearly 10. So we decided that we could still http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Grand-Teton-National-Park/blog-300300.html Wednesday July 9 2008 Driggs IDGrant Teton National ParkThursday July 10 2008 Driggs IDGrand Teton National ParkYellowstone National Park South Entrance and West ThumbWe crossed Teton Pass at more than 9000 foot elevation and twisted and turned our way down to Wilson WY. Wilson is a very small town at the base of the Grand Tetons and just south of the famous Jackson Hole and Teton Villag http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Grand-Teton-National-Park/blog-300296.html One of my goals for my time out here in Grand Teton is to become a bit more ldquooutdoorsy.rdquo I do like hiking and being outdoors but I donrsquot really camp and have never been backpacking. So I am hoping to change that and become a little more outdoor savvy while I am here. Part of my effort to become a bit more outdoor savvy is taking a class offered by Exum Mountain Guides that t http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Grand-Teton-National-Park/blog-300275.html So most Fridays the Thirteenth are frightening but mine was pretty fabulous. I was scheduled to have an allday ldquoprep dayrdquo today which basically means that you can do whatever you need to do to prepare for your programs. We have a variety of programs that we do as rangers so it is very timeintensive to work on them. On my prep day I decided to work on my Inspiration Point hike http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Grand-Teton-National-Park/blog-300259.html Grand Teton national park was our stay for 4 nights and as this was bear country we opted not to use our own tent for this and used a purpose built bigger tent with 4 bunk beds and a real door. It was a bit of a shock when we first saw it but it was comfy and there was a wood burner in it if it got too cold. It did get a little nippy at night but overall was a good deal. Generally anything in Gra http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Grand-Teton-National-Park/blog-299159.html So I have been working at the Visitor Center at Jenny Lake for a while and knew the main highlights of the park to tell visitors about. However a few of these highlights I had not been to myself. This made it difficult to really tell visitors about the places even though I knew the basics about where and what they were I didnrsquot have too much additional information to offer visitors. http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Grand-Teton-National-Park/blog-297775.html Rawlins WY Rock Springs WY Jackson WY Grand Teton NP WY Flagg Ranch CampgroundAmy gets everyone up bright an early around 6am so that we can get an early start. Today we have about 300 miles to drive to our next campground. The day starts with bowls of cereal in the RV as we wait for the campground office to open at 7am. This is so that we can use their showers which can only be http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Grand-Teton-National-Park/blog-295892.html Part of the great opportunity of working at Grand Teton National Park is that I actually get to live in the park. I never thought I would ever be able to live in a national park and have an amazing view of the Tetons every time I drove to my house. Well that is my life here I live in the south end of Grand Teton National Park near the small ldquotownrdquo of Moose I use quotations becau http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Grand-Teton-National-Park/blog-294251.html We got out early in hopes of seeing some wildlife here in the park. We stopped first at the Willow Flats Overlook hoping to see moose or bears. Unfortunately all the trails were closed due to bear activity but we saw no sign of them. We took the Teton Park Road over the Jackson Lake Dam where the Snake River and Jackson Lake both had a beautiful green color. The North Jenny Lake Road was b http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Grand-Teton-National-Park/blog-292171.html Wed 25 June 2008 Along both sides of Hwy 191 north from Rock Springs is all wide open sage prairie a vast open area ranging from flat to gently rolling. Here and there are ranches or farms with long sprinkler arms watering great green circular hay fields. About 40 miles north of Rock Springs we started to see snowy mountains far to the NE. After the town of Pinedale we began to see greene http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Grand-Teton-National-Park/blog-292166.html On the last day of training we had what we called ldquoDistrict Dayrdquo where all of the Interp interpretation staff split up into their respective districts to go over sitespecific information. There are four districtsvisitor centers in Grand Teton Moose Jenny Lake Colter Bay and the new Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve. I am stationed at Jenny Lake which I personally think is t http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Grand-Teton-National-Park/blog-291371.html So my first two weeks at Grand Teton National Park mainly consisted of two things training and rain. Lots and lots of rain and lots and lots of training. Oftentimes these two things occurred at once. My first day of training was Monday May 19th. This training day was for all seasonal employees both returning and new people. Seasonal employees are general those of us who come to work fo http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Grand-Teton-National-Park/blog-291368.html A week before we left for our vacation I found out that route 212 the Beartooth Pass was closed due to an avalance. So while we were in Santa Fe we decided to go to the Grand Teton National Park from Cheyenne. I have to say not bad for a second choice. Southern and Western Wyoming are really quite nice. Anyone have a ranch for sale around thereAs for what we did in Grand Teton we looked a http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Grand-Teton-National-Park/blog-288646.html