Grand Tetons and Adventures!

Driving north of Rawlins, Wyoming, we began to see smoke drifting
southeast from fires in Shoshoni National Forest dear Dubois.

We welcomed August with a trip to Jackson, Wyoming!

Ken and I realized that we hadn't been to this delightful Wyoming tourist destination in a number of years, so when we were invited to join a group of friends in Jackson this summer we all accepted with gusto!!

As a Wyoming native, I used to make this trek to the Grand Tetons fairly regularly, so while this was a familiar journey across Wyoming it was also startlingly new.  Much of Wyoming seems timeless (and it is!), but much had changed since my last visit.

Once we left the rolling plains of Laramie and arrived in Rawlins, where we stopped for lunch, we could already discern the normally clear blue skies beginning to gray slightly from smoke that we erroneously thought were from the Cliff Creek Fire, about 30 miles southeast of Jackson. 

A helicopter carrying flame retardant flies toward the
Lava Mountain Fire near Dubois.

 As we left the Red Desert Basin heading north toward Dubois, we were surprised to see the levels of smoke increase, to the point where it was making visibility difficult and causing us to cough, even though all the car windows were closed.

This was a new lightning-caused fire, the Lava Mountain Fire, which we didn't know was burning when we decided on our route.

North of Dubois and the fire, the skies cleared almost immediately and it was a beautiful drive toward Moran Junction.

North of Dubois, the skies cleared for our journey toward Jackson.

  We all realized when we planned this trip that we would be in the heart of TOURIST SEASON, but I had forgotten how congested the road is into Jackson.  With only two lanes, it is heavily used with folks coming from Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.

Still, even though it was stop-and-go progress, it was breathtaking to once again see the beautiful Grand Tetons on one side of the car and the lush National Elk Refuge on the other.

Hello Grand Tetons!

 After a wonderful evening with our friends, we decided to reserve passage for a float trip down the Snake River the next afternoon.

It was an ideal day to be on the water--sunny, warm and with clear blue skies to see and appreciate the Grand Tetons!

Life vests and sunscreen--essential for an afternoon
on the beautiful Snake River.

We met our raft company not far from the Visitor's  Center in Grand Teton National Park (which we had enjoyed earlier) and rode upstream several miles to the launching site.

The best part about a float trip is that every seat is a GREAT seat in which to enjoy the Snake River.

It also helps to have a gregarious and strong rafting guide with a degree in environmental biology! Our group posed lots of questions about the river, the fish, the birds (including a Bald Eagle), the flora, the fauna and what it's like to live in Jackson. 

A gregarious and strong river guide is an asset--especially one
with a degree in environmental biology and a sense of humor!

Although there must be a zillion rafts on the Snake River, it felt like we had the water to ourselves--and, the big endless views as well.  

The Grand Tetons

About midway in our trip we turned a bend and there it was--the view of the Grand Tetons made even more famous by Ansel Adams, who photographed it from that very place on the Snake River!  Wow!

Imagine a perfect afternoon on the Snake River with the expanse of the Grand Tetons to the west
and you have our float trip experience.

Getting ready for the ride.

The next day the four women decided to book an hour's horseback ride in order to get that "real" Wyoming experience of seeing the world from the back of a horse.

Off into the adventure we go!

It was apparent even before we reached the riding stables that we had had the perfect ideal day yesterday in which to photograph the Grand Tetons.  Today, the wind had changed and smoky haze made it almost impossible to see the mountains at all!

It's difficult to see the mountains around Jackson with the smoky haze.

National Elk Refuge

As the horses came to the top of the dusty trail, the view below of the National Elk Refuge was stunning--even through the smoky haze of the two active forest fires.

An elk horn entrance to Jackson's city square provides an ideal space for two musicians.

Smoky greets visitors in Jackson.

Friends on vacation make for jovial traveling companions and we did our share of shopping; visited the National Museum of Wildlife Art (a most enjoyable and impressive collection to see); rode a gondola high above Teton Village for drinks and to hear a folk singer who played songs we all knew; took a day trip to Idaho to visit Driggs and Victor; and LOVED our concert at the Grand Teton Music Festival; dined at delicious places and spent evenings laughing and talking until late.

 As we returned from our day in Idaho, we stopped at the Big Kahuna observation deck to see WHITEWATER RAFTING, which we had talked about undertaking on our next trip to Jackson.

As we watched the rafts bob and bounce, we were reminded that it was a wise move to begin our adventure with a FLOAT TRIP.  

Never underestimate the power of the Snake River!