Today is the day we set aside for a hike. After studying our Day Hikes in Grand Teton National Park book, we decided on the 5.8 trek that would take us around Jenny Lake, up to the 200 foot Hidden Falls, then finally to Inspiration Point (elev 7200 ft), which is a rock outcropping 400 feet above Jenny Lake.
Here is where I lack the means to communicate the intense drama of the scenery that we have experienced. To say that the views were magnificent is a gross understatement.
On our next trip here, we hope to make it past Inspiration Point to Cascade Canyon, which we hear is amazing. It will require a boat trip across the lake, then a 9.8 mile roundtrip hike. We just didn't have the time this trip.
After dragging our exhausted selves back to the cabin, we refreshed with showers, and found ourselves half starving. Our hunger was handsomely rewarded at The Gun Barrel restaurant in Jackson, where we dined on elk chops, venison sausage, and bison prime rib. Simply incredible. (post edit - This was BY FAR the best meal of the trip - B.B.)
Some items of note...
- The vastness of Grand Teton and Yellowstone makes the placement of guard rails logistically and financially impracticle for all but the most heavily visited roadside features. The result is a staggering number of trails and vantage points where there is nothing between you and a plunge of hundreds or thousands of feet. One or two misplaced steps can easily send you to your death, which tends to heighten your sense of awareness to new levels
- Along the trail, Tammy spotted a local animal called a pika, which tends to live at the moderate elevations. It looks sort of like a small rabbit, but with rounded ears and no tail. It's most unusual talent is the sound that it makes, which sounds like a much larger animal (much like the bleating of a baby goat). See a photo here... http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://raysweb.net/wildlife/images/pika_new.jpg&imgrefurl=http://raysweb.net/wildlife/pages/06.html&h=254&w=382&sz=44&tbnid=G1NW_QlvhCQJ::&tbnh=82&tbnw=123&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpika&hl=en&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=2&ct=image&cd=1
- Tiny ground squirrels at the higher elevations will beg for food, and practically sit in your lap if they think you will feed them
- The most awe inspiring view we have yet seen has been from our facing southwest from the final 50 yard switchback to Inspiration Point....soaring peaks...massive rockslides...words can't express
The hot tub jets have worked wonders this evening. Good night.
NOTE - Click on the above photo for a larger view!
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