Perspiration, then Inspiration

Last night's sunset was spectacular over Jackson Lake as the thin, whispy clouds provided a screen for the sun to show its colors. The new visitor center has a fabulous new film on the park done by Discovery Channel, in which the narrator calls the Teton mountain skyline "serrated," and this photo shows the aptness of that description.



Unfortunately, today's sky was socked in with 100% cloud cover, and when we began our hike, the temperature was a brisk 48 degrees, which is fine for 7+ mile day hike up a mountain. Here the Grand Teton is partially obscured by a low cloud.


The 2 mile traverse around the edge of Jenny Lake to Cascade Canyon is a magnificent hike through a lovely Lodgepole pine forest and often with views across Jenny Lake. The only 2 species of deciduous trees in Grand Teton National Park are Quaking Aspen and Cottonwood.



First we reached the lower cascades of the creek, though I had to bushwack down the hillside to get this photo. After the calm of the hike along the lake, the thunder of these cascades raucously announce your arrival at the creek.



Next you approach a side trail to Hidden Falls where the creek crashes a hundred or more feet with thunderous result.



Then begins the arduous uphill trek, including this lengthy section hewn out of the rock cliff as seen here. As a volunteer trail builder, I can't imagine the man hours and labor required to construct this section of the trail.



But the view is to die for. Here is the panorama greeting you at famed "Inspiration Point" as you overlook all of Jenny Lake and the Gros Ventre Mountains beyond. The sign in the foreground advertises 7200 feet in altitude.



After the hike, it was time for an early supper. The grill at Signal Mountain Resort only has a dozen or so tables and 6 bar stools, all of which were taken, so we drove over to the lush Jackson Lake Lodge and ate in their grill, and subsequently availed ourselves of their Wi-Fi to check email and upload this post. Ah -- how camping has improved over the decades, with wireless available at so many places!