Hiking in Grand Teton NP

We left our campsite in Driggs, ID and headed back to GTNP. Which meant that we have to go back on Teton Pass the way we came. Since it was daylight, we were able to take photos of the route which was very scenic but no less scary. Next to the Welcome to Wyoming sign is the warning about the steep grade. Further on, there were signs telling heavy trucks to turn around. My RV performed beautifully (or its driver has gotten a little more experience driving steep grades). We stopped at the summit to view the exhibits and take photos.

We did not have much time at GTNP, and decided to limit ourselves to visiting Jenny Lake with the intention to hike up to Inspiration Point, a 1.8 mile, 16% slope hike. To save time and effort, we took the boat shuttle across the lake to the trailhead. We were there early, but there was already a modest crowd waiting for the shuttle. The hike was memorable, for the stunning scenery, the mountains, cliffs, rivers and waterfalls (Hidden Falls were beautiful). The trail was also pretty steep in places, at one point it was single file only. We were glad we had our hiking poles for support. I tried not to look down since I suffer from vertigo and have a fear of heights.

After Inspiration Point, Debi and I decided to go a little further. Some hikers who stopped at Inspiration Point from the other direction told us that the Cascade Canyon Trail was worth doing. We decided to go on it for a short distance. More stunning scenery at every turn, such that we kept going and going. Just when we thought we should turn around, a group of hikers coming from the other way told us about a bear sighting less than a mile ahead. So we continued, met more hikers coming back, some saw the bear, others did not. The last group we met said it was "just around the bend". Then another group said there was a moose. We kept going on the trail, finally found that the bear was gone but the moose was still ahead. At long last we glimpsed the moose, it was a majestic animal. Unfortunately a few people in the crowd spooked it and it went off into some trees before we got close enough to take a photo. Disappointed, we turned around and made the long and tiring trek back.

By the time we were back at the boat dock, we had hiked about 8 miles! I was tired! We drove on to Jackson Hole, checked out the town and had dinner at the Million Dollar Cowbar Bar. I think we had burgers and fries but I forgot to take photos.

We decided not to return to the Driggs campsite but drove on to Shelley, ID, our next destination. We still had to go through Teton Pass to get there and it was late evening. Fortunately, we were able to find our way to the county park campground at night. Our pull-through site has electric hook up and access to clean bathrooms and showers (yeah).