Tetons II

After a long day, the Jeep and I needed a break. Seven hours of top-down sun has me back at Jackson Hole Roasters updating the blog in the shade.

The Grand Tetons is a large plain (Antelope Flats) bounded by the Tetons on the west and the Snake River on the east. There are several lakes with Jackson being the largest. This park has a dirt road running up the middle of the south half of the park. I asked about it this morning at the visitor center and the ranger highly suggested the drive. He also stated that it was for 4 wheel drive vehicles only, so it became a bit more of an adventure. I spent about 3 hours driving that road today and it was all 1st and 2nd gear. I saw a total of 7 other vehicles on the entire drive. I never needed 4 wheel drive. The Jeep has been solid. Everything I have asked it to do it has done willingly. I am about 2,000 miles into this and I knock on wood that it will remain as stable for the rest of this trip.

I didn't see much wildlife on the off-road trip, but I did catch up with this fellow. I am almost certain it is a Sage Grouse. I have never seen one before, but that would be my guess. It was MUCH larger than the grouse I have hunted in Minnesota. I saw a couple of very large bison sitting about 200 yards apart without another bison in sight. I think they were waiting for the cows to come home.

Much of the dirt (rock) road ran along the Snake River, pictured left. I can't hear the name Snake River without thinking about Evel Knievel. He, along with Johnny Cash and Steve McGarret (of Hawaii Five-O), made up the "Three Coolest Guys on the Planet" when I was a kid. As I looked at the river today, wandering harmlessly through the plains, I could almost hear it say " Evel who?", and then softly chuckle, as though the river new it knocked one of my heroes of his pedestal. I briefly wept and moved on.

There are several different groups of people out here. Nearly everyone belongs to one of these:

• Mom and dad in the family truckster with their 2.5 kids
• Mom and dad with the big rented (or owned) RV - it's easy to spot the rental drivers.
• The previously mentioned older couples in their Corvettes.
• Older couples in their Honda CRV.
• Older couples in their RV.
• Groups of motorcyclists - made up of the Harley and Honda sub-species. They don't inter-breed.
• Lots of tourists. Asians seem to be in groups, Eurpeans seem to be families or groups of a few young men (what's up with that?).

Song of the day:

• Sam Cooke - Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha
  

Things I learned today:

• It is comical watching a 3 year-old throw a tantrum in a different language. I have no idea what he was upset about, but he really meant it.
• I am not nearly wealthy enough or pretty enough to ever live in Jackson.
• If I want to see some of the moose hanging out near the campground I need to get there before 9:00 p.m.
• To shave or not? Well, I left the shaving cream at home. I had to clean it up a bit. I'm looking for fan input. Shave? Don't shave? Clean it up a bit? I may not honor fan preferences, but I will consider.
• I owe National Geographic a bit of an apology. I saw about 20 Pronghorn together today.
• Iced mocha - never had one before, but not too bad.
• I think I am about half-way through this journey - still don't know what I am looking for.

I'll close with one last photo of the Tetons. I am heading back to Yellowstone tomorrow for at least one more night. I need to get to the Mammoth Hot Springs area. I think I will be in Glacier by the end of the week. I don't know how long I will be there. I am assuming from there I begin my journey home, but I haven't mapped any of that out yet.

Tom