So we made it about 45 minutes on the road yesterday. We also decided to go out to eat for only the second time. Then the third. Right now I'm sitting in the business center of the Rustic Inn in Jackson, Wy about to go wake Kate and Ash up so we can get nasty with this huge breakfast buffet they have here. When one gives up roughing it for a bit it is best to just willingly succomb to gluttony.
So we left Bozeman/Livingston with the Winks and Sebrens and headed into the Beartooth wilderness. This place quite special and also amazingly desolate. It borders Yellowstone on the park's east side so almost no one bothers to come here. Except bears. This is where two people were munched by Grizzlies last year (one 1 week before we came and one 1 week after we left) and in the same roaming grounds where the guy was killed in Yellowstone a couple weeks ago. All nine of us were extremely cautious making plenty of noise while hiking, changing clothes before bed and carrying five cans of bear spray. Anyway there were no incidents and we got to enjoy the beauty with the comfort of safty in numbers. Starting a hike at 9,600 affords one views that usually must be attained by lots of work, sweat and hiking treats. All of us were able to do a hike that led offtrail to four alpine lakes where we saw not a single other person. The kids played, walked and laughed in a way that they could not on our way to Sacajwea Peak a few days before-while still making it over 10,000 feet. At the top of this mountain range there is a plateau that almost makes one forget about the elevation. There are these huge relitively flat areas that look like rolling fields usually not found above 3 or 4 thousand feet. Because of the super late thaw the wildflowers were just beginning to bud and the short colorful life of this place just emerging before the snow and ice reclaims it 2 months from now. Our campsite was situated between a river and a creek so the kids had planty to do and the parents plenty to keep an eye on. Rivers are actually our primary concern when it comes to safty. Sooooo many more people are hurt or killed in water each year than by wildlife that it's crazy people even worry about the critters. I'm sure some of you saw the news about the 3 hikers that fell over Vernal falls in Yosemite (where we hiked the week before) and died while just trying to pose for a picture. They fell 312 feet over the falls from a spot we stood six days prior. So we are super careful about water. This disclaimer before adding that our third day in ther Beartooth's found us on a hike that led to this "natural waterpark" in a river where the kids played for hours. There were a couple of rock waterslides that swooped the kids into shallow pools and gave us all an opportunity to splash around (and bath) in the frigid water. Sadly, back at the trailhead we parted ways with everyone as they headed back home and we headed into Yellowstone.
We keep trying to like Yellowstone but it just isn't happening. I mean, we like it, but it is really pretty low on our list of favorite parks. Three visits in three years has left us feeling like we should like it more but we are usually ready to get to the Tetons. We did get to see lots of buffalo and elk while also seeing some of the geothermal features but we scooted through to the Tetons fairly quickly.
I can't say enough about the Tetons. LOVE this place. We stayed at two new campgrounds, both of which were phenominal. Again, late snowmelt still had higher elevation hikes closed down so we hiked 9 miles into paintbrush canyon and turned around before we reached the snow this time. I feel happy just talking about this park. The sunrise here casts this breathtaking orange light on the mountains that seriously brings a little tear to the eye. The wilflowers are in full "spring" bloom and water is gushing from everywhere as the mountains rid themselves of the snowpack. We also got to see a ranger program on the Teton wolves which Ash was thrilled about (she's part horse part wolf). After Kate and Ash made me stop taking pictures we packed off with the intention of making it to Rocky Mountain NP 8 hours away. Like I said, we made it 45 minutes.
We decided to go through Jackson to find a horse ride for Ashlin when I remembered that my friend Haley now lives in Jackson so we got in touch with her to inquire about rides. Turns out she was the right person to ask and she ended up meeting us for a pony ride and lunch. Then we found out there is a rodeo in town. Ash was about to explode while we decided if we were going to stay for the night. Obviously we did. The Demmings (sp? sorry Haley) had plans to go to a bluegrass show so they didn't make it to the rodeo but we cowboyed up and took off for the bull riding. Ashlin was jittering with excitment and could barley contain herself the whole time. There is a slight feeling of guilt about some of the events in a rodeo but we gave in and had a blast.
Well Ash and Kate just came in on their way to belly up to the bar so I'm out. Hope all is well and we'll be in touch soon.
Peace. D-
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