Day 4 - Grand Teton: Jackson Lake
Highlights: Fishing and our own private beach on Jackson Lake
Even without using the wood stove in our tent cabin, last night's sleep wasn't horribly cold, i.e., I wasn't cold enough that I couldn't fall asleep. The only problem was Phoebe and I were pretty cramped sharing one sleeping bag. Snug as a bug is not necessarily a nice, warm, fuzzy feeling. We'll have to fine tune tonight's sleeping arrangement, otherwise I'm going to be a grouchy mamma.
But for this morning, we're going to have a relaxing time fishing and hiking around Jackson Lake. We can even walk down to the lake from our tent cabins.
First up, fishing. Pete buys some live worms at the Marina tackle shop. Phoebe helps by pulling out one worm at a time. Pete helps with getting the worm on the hook, but eventually the older kids are even handling that. Hours go by with the kids casting and reeling in or just plain playing in the water.
Pierce catches the only fish; it's a tiny one and he catches it with his hands!
Doesn't matter, fishing and playing only come to a stop to feed some growling tummies and then it's back to play.
We finally convince the kids, amidst some groaning, we should go on a short hike around the peninsula. The 2-mile hike turns into a 4-hour exploration of our own little piece of Grand Teton NP, complete with skipping stones, turning a log into a boat, plunging into the cold waters, warming up on the stones and finally, napping.
After the hike, we rally the kids and visit the Colter Bay Indian Arts Museum which is just yards away from where we fished in the morning.
Back at our tent cabins, we fire up the camp stove and boil some water for an easy Trader Joe's ramen dinner. We're going back and forth whether we should call it a day or actually get in the car, something we've managed to avoid all day, and drive over to the Jackson Lake Lodge. Somehow we all get another second wind (or maybe it's the thought of ice cream?).
The Lodge is a rather modern structure, built in the 1950s and financed by John D. Rockefeller, Jr, who in fact purchased and donated 32,000 acres towards the creation of the park back in the 1920s. According to our guide book, some architects denounce the Lodge as "the ugliest building in Western Wyoming", but I don't think it's that bad. The setting is spectacular on a bluff overlooking Jackson Lake and Willow Flats. There's elk and deer and a beaver pond with busy beavers indeed! Plus, there's the whole Teton range before us!
The fifteen minutes in the car was worth it.
Day's mileage: 8 miles (Luuuv it!)
View Larger Map
Even without using the wood stove in our tent cabin, last night's sleep wasn't horribly cold, i.e., I wasn't cold enough that I couldn't fall asleep. The only problem was Phoebe and I were pretty cramped sharing one sleeping bag. Snug as a bug is not necessarily a nice, warm, fuzzy feeling. We'll have to fine tune tonight's sleeping arrangement, otherwise I'm going to be a grouchy mamma.
But for this morning, we're going to have a relaxing time fishing and hiking around Jackson Lake. We can even walk down to the lake from our tent cabins.
First up, fishing. Pete buys some live worms at the Marina tackle shop. Phoebe helps by pulling out one worm at a time. Pete helps with getting the worm on the hook, but eventually the older kids are even handling that. Hours go by with the kids casting and reeling in or just plain playing in the water.
Pierce catches the only fish; it's a tiny one and he catches it with his hands!
Doesn't matter, fishing and playing only come to a stop to feed some growling tummies and then it's back to play.We finally convince the kids, amidst some groaning, we should go on a short hike around the peninsula. The 2-mile hike turns into a 4-hour exploration of our own little piece of Grand Teton NP, complete with skipping stones, turning a log into a boat, plunging into the cold waters, warming up on the stones and finally, napping.
After the hike, we rally the kids and visit the Colter Bay Indian Arts Museum which is just yards away from where we fished in the morning.Back at our tent cabins, we fire up the camp stove and boil some water for an easy Trader Joe's ramen dinner. We're going back and forth whether we should call it a day or actually get in the car, something we've managed to avoid all day, and drive over to the Jackson Lake Lodge. Somehow we all get another second wind (or maybe it's the thought of ice cream?).
The Lodge is a rather modern structure, built in the 1950s and financed by John D. Rockefeller, Jr, who in fact purchased and donated 32,000 acres towards the creation of the park back in the 1920s. According to our guide book, some architects denounce the Lodge as "the ugliest building in Western Wyoming", but I don't think it's that bad. The setting is spectacular on a bluff overlooking Jackson Lake and Willow Flats. There's elk and deer and a beaver pond with busy beavers indeed! Plus, there's the whole Teton range before us!
The fifteen minutes in the car was worth it.Day's mileage: 8 miles (Luuuv it!)
View Larger Map
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