Traversing the Tetons

We left Yellowstone National Park to the South directly into Grand Teton National Park.

We crisscrossed the Continental Divide as we made our way through Wyoming. We found ourselves in the snowcapped mountains that had been looming in the distance for days. As we eased over the pass at 10,000 ft elevation we saw snow below us in the valley. There wasn't a lot, just some patches between the trees. Of course we stopped to investigate. 

See the snowball?

Walking down into the valley, we found a crystal clear creek fed by the snowmelt.

As the foliage gave way to soggy ground where the snow had been sitting all season, our shoes were heavy with mud. Looking down at our tracks, we could see we were not the only ones who had walked here. Pronghorn or antelope, rabbit and large bear tracks that must have been grizzly because of the long nail/ claw length had also visited the melting snow and creek. 

I watched the kids making snowballs, but an uneasy feeling crept over me. We realized this was a perfect place for a bear to get a fresh drink or rabbit. We made our way back to the Warrior. 

A few miles down we saw a lone moose with huge antlers grazing along the same creek. 

We traversed down the mountains through some rain

and saw a few gorgeous rainbows before sunset.

Evening pressed on and the rain gave way, leaving wet streets and a landscape washed clean.

We planned to camp and gas up in a small Wyoming town in the foothills of the Teton Mountains, but had to press on after discovering the whole town was out of power. We continued down the road finding the next few towns the same way. Driving through Wyoming through these little towns without street lights or power made us feel connected to the western pioneers who had blazed these trails years before. With a gas tank on empty, we saw some lights in the distance and were able to fuel up. 

It was getting late and I was getting tired, so Sarah took the wheel. She noticed road construction signs ahead- rough road. We continued a bit further and sure enough it was rough road! The next sign we saw said bump- and boy was it bumpy!! The next sign said pavement ends! Really?!? 

Although only a two lane highway, this road is used by lots of tractor trailers. We progressed  into the darkness with no headlights anywhere in sight. Sure enough, the pavement just ended! The wet clay was sticking to our tires and slopping against the RV as we went along this way for about 4 miles. Eventually we hit pavement again, and soon boondocked at a small rest stop that was nicer than many city parks. We found a spot with a nice shade tree and fresh cut grass.
It was quiet as could be and we all slept well. 

~Sky