A Grand Day in the Tetons

Hello, readers! I've been away from the blog (and more) for a week as I've been on vacation in Yellowstone National Park. This was my second trip there, but the park remains stunning -- a sentiment shared by my husband, who has been there several times. On this trip, we were joined by a friend who had never been, so I got the added fun of seeing someone see Yellowstone for the first time. But before any of that: the long drive to stay our first night in Jackson, Wyoming -- and then our first excursion, a day in the nearby Grand Tetons National Park.

We had driven through/by the Grand Tetons years ago on my first Yellowstone trip, but the plan this time was to actually go there and spend a day hopping around some of its more notable sights. The weather wasn't fully cooperative. All day long, low clouds hung over all but the "first row" of the picturesque mountains, a sort of eerie beauty of its own, but not the full majestic vista you hope to see when you visit the Grand Tetons. But despite that and the steady rain, one stop in particular was still a delight: Jenny Lake.

A well-known destination in the heart of the park, Jenny Lake offers a 7+ mile hike around its perimeter. Alternatively, you can take a boat ride across to some key destinations on the far side (then either hike 2.5-ish miles back, or return on the boat). We opted for the one-way trip, which drops you off at the base of two short hikes. The first is to Hidden Falls, an appropriately named bit of majesty tucked away in a dense forest. The second is to an overlook of the lake dubbed Inspiration Point -- and obvious jokes aside, the place really does instill a sense of serenity even if a soft, steady rain is falling on you.

We managed one more notable point in the park: the summit of Signal Mountain. Though far from the tallest peak in the park, it is quite isolated from the rest, affording a beautiful view once you drive (not hike) to the top. The rain was intensifying, though; while we'd been willing to hike in a tree-covered drizzle before, standing open in the increasing storm didn't hold our attention for long.

And unfortunately, that was about all we were able to do. The drive back to Jackson took us right by a number of beautiful lookouts in the park -- some made famous by Ansel Adams photography, some easily located in a quick internet search. All were completely obscured by what was now approaching "downpour," and even the first row of the Tetons had vanished from view. Perhaps some other day, I'll have my own worthy picture from Oxbow Bend, the Snake River Overlook, or Schwabacher Landing. (We tried again the next morning during our drive north into Yellowstone, but the rain persisted.)

Still, the late afternoon and evening were not a loss. Jackson is, famously, a destination ski town. That made for plenty of options for food and drinks. We had wood-fired pizza from Yeah Buddy, and great cocktails at FIGS to cap off the day. (And this was after some brewery stops the night before, when we'd first arrived in Jackson.) We did cement on this second night, though, that "awkward encounters" were to be a running theme of the trip.

On this night, we watched the awkward encounter as some stranger just sat down with a couple at the table next to us, despite being told "no," and proceeded to chat them up for... a ride? A threesome? We never found out before we left, but we watched the stone-faced expressions on the couple gradually soften to the point where it no longer seemed like anyone should step in (even had I been inclined to do so).

It takes two events at least to begin a pattern, so it's worth noting that the most awkward encounter of the trip had actually come the night before. Suffice it to say that public bathrooms have locks for a reason -- and it's tough to gracefully close out with your server after they have failed to use one of those locks. (More awkward still when somehow, you run into the same person coming off your hotel elevator -- at a totally different location a half mile away -- 90 minutes later!)

In the days ahead, I'll bring tales of Yellowstone, mixed with catch-up on the unfolding new season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and whatever else jumps in.