New Blood

Joyce and I had a very short 38 mile trip the next day, July 7, to Gros Ventre Campsite in the Grand Tetons National Park. The solid grey, iconic peaks of the Grand Tetons at over 13,500 feet dotted with Glaciers are stunning after the more green and rolling mountains elsewhere. We set up camp and Joyce was sure to get our National Parks Passport book stamped with Grand Tetons Stamp as we have been collecting the stamps from across the west. The camp is a short walk to the Gros Ventre (Big Belly) River and just 20 minutes from the Jackson Airport (JAC) which delivered my brother Paul that afternoon, and allowed Joyce to escape back to the Tucson furnace the next day.

Enjoying Joyce's curry with my brother Paul
Gros Ventre Grand Tetons National Park

Paul and I were both able to work remotely and to enjoy 5 mile hikes in the evening around Jenny Lake.  Time zones played a role, as Paul whose company is East Coast began meetings at 5:30 AM MST While I worked until 6 PM.  During breaks, one of us would make coffee, cook breakfast or lunch, or perhaps go on a bike ride.  Tourists would stop alongside the road when wildlife was spotted and we saw Elk, Deer, and of course the ever present ground squirrels.  We did not meet a bear.  As it grew darker we were ever gladder of that, though some stumps and large rocks made us wary!  We missed the last boat ride across Jenny lake and did not get to see Hidden Falls either time as we ran out of light.  I guess, for us they really were hidden!  But we did see some lesser falls that were powerful and inspiring. Where the river ran more slowly, is was wide and soothing. 

We did see a number of birds including water birds like Common Merganser (similar to a Mallard), White Pelicans, Swainson's Thrush, Dusky Flycatcher, Yellow Warbler, Great Blue Herons, and Osprey. Paul rode a bike to the iconic and most photographed Barn.  He added his to the multitude of snaps. 

Thursday is off for me so after Paul's meeting we packed up  and headed 70 miles north to Yellowstone National Park.  These parks do have a lot of tourists.  I'm glad so that there is more support for them, but it does erode some of the feelings of getting 'back to nature'.  It was fun to introduce Paul to some of the lessons of RV travel and, being an Eagle Scout also, he was really helpful!  After setting up at Lewis Lake Campground, Yellowstone National Park, we headed up to one of the geyser fields where spouts "Old Faithful" approximately every 90 minutes.  We first had to get the kayak inspected in order to use it on the lake and the ranger there did an incredibly thorough search for evidence of invasive Quagga or Zebra Mussels (which can be smaller than the head of  a pin)!  this meant we wouldn't make the 3:30 (+/- 40 minutes) 'show' at Old Faithful and had in mind to get there for 5.  

Our timing was perfect!  Traffic slowed us and we were to arrive just after 5.  Hustling over there was a gathered crowd indicating we were not too late and just as we stepped up there she blew!  I'll spare you the video since no doubt you've seen such!

What was remarkable was the extent of the numerous geyser fields, situated right on the continental divide due to the mountain building by the chamber of magma there near (2.4 miles from) the earth's surface which heats the water forming pools, holes, geysers (where the heated water is forced through a narrowed opening causing the spraying like when you put your thumb over the hose.

I will share a picture of Morning Glory Hole with it's beautiful tinting by various algae that live within a narrow temperature range.  The cooler temperatures are near the surface and the flower like arrangement of color along with the clarity and the sedimentation of the minerals which, as a song says, is "God’s reminder that creation is a good idea". 

Morning Glory Hole, Yellowstone