There are so many reasons that I am drawn to the West. Wide open spaces, rugged and jaw-dropping landscapes, unspoiled natural beauty, and incredible history – just to name a few.
Grand Teton National Park has all of these things and more. With such a large area to cover, roughly 485 square miles, I start with a drive around the park boundaries.
Built entirely of logs, the Chapel of the Sacred Heart was erected in 1937 on the shores of Jackson Lake. The church still holds masses every weekend throughout the summer.
The T. A. Moulton Barn is the most photographed barn in America. The barn is all that remains of the homestead built by Thomas Alma Moulton and his sons between about 1912 and 1945.
In the same area as the Moulton Barn, also known as Antelope Flats, Mormon Row is a line of buildings and complexes built by homesteaders who started coming to the area around 1890. I can only imagine the challenges these homesteaders had to deal with living in this beautiful but often very harsh environment.
Random Wildlife
A small black bear (not the best pic)
Up until this point I’ve experienced much of the park from the relative comfort of my vehicle. If you’ve been following this blog at all you know that’s not really how I prefer to experience things.
I’d much rather work up a sweat and get a little dirty. There’s no better way to do that than with a long hard hike –
what a surprise!
Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes
Distance: 8.9 miles
Time: 4.5 hours
Trail Type: Out & Back
Difficulty: Hard
Total Climbing: 2,942 ft
Max Elevation: 9,698 ft
I wanted to stay and climb to the top of the peaks that surround Amphitheater Lake for some incredible 360 degree views. I wasn’t sure how long that would take and I’m burning daylight. It’s getting late in the day and I don’t really want to be hiking in the dark – so I head back down.
Bear Encounter
I waited around for about 15 minutes trying to get a decent picture of this guy. He was eating berries in the bushes about 30 yards down the mountain. I was about to give up and continue my hike when he started climbing up towards me. He came within about 10 feet.
He ate some more berries in a nearby bush and then meandered on his way up the mountain. It’s always a highlight when I see wildlife, and this bear encounter definitely put this hike over the top.
What I love the most about the West – it hasn’t changed. What my eyes see today is almost exactly what the Native Americans, pioneers, and settlers saw when they first came here. It creates a clear window into the past and evokes a real sense of awe and respect for those that came before us.
With an abbreviated stay here in
Jackson Hole, I wanted to maximize my time in Grand Teton National Park. Mission accomplished!
