A little delayed in posting this trip – but here we go. Flew into Salt Lake City and picked up a rental car to drive to Jackson Hole and then on to our Cabin at Jackson Lake Lodge. Along the way we spotted our first wildlife that of a mother Moose and her baby crossing a field and jumping a fence – baby ducked through it. Never thought I would see a pickup full of antlers – second surprise of the day. We spent some time walking around Jackson Hole stopping by it’s famous town square. After dinner a late night arrival at the lodge.
On our second day we awoke to 40 degree weather and a very poor view of the Tetons do to western wildfire smoke. We were here to hike and show our grandson the parks highlights – so off to do a 6 mile hike combining the Bradley and Taggart Lake trails. We were able to escape the crowds by hiking to Bradley then looping back and around Taggart – most only hike to Taggart.
To complete our day we first visited Menors Ferry District. Bill Menor built the original ferryboat and cableworks. The ferry is a simple platform set on two pontoons. The district also houses the Chapel of the Transfiguration. The chapel was sited and built to frame a view of the Cathedral Group of peaks in a large window behind the altar. Then on to Mormon Row – homesteaders established 27 homesteads in the area because of relatively fertile soil, shelter from winds by Blacktail Butte and access to the Gros Ventre River. Two well photographed structures remain — Moulton Barn and Chambers Homestead. Heading back to our cabin we passed several herds of Bison and just for fun drove the Signal Mountain Road — The road is a five mile, 1,000 foot climb of switchbacks to an observation area at the top of Signal Mountain. Set far apart from the next highest mountain peak, Signal Mountain provides views of the Tetons’ towering peaks ( not so much in the smog), the flat glacial plains below, Jackson Lake and the Snake River beyond.
Travelling Photographer 