The Mountains are Calling

The Tetons on Lake Jackson

Last month we finally realized the family vacation that was in the planning stage since last fall. It was over WAY too quickly!! It seemed as if it would never get here and then, poof, it's over. As with most things, like children growing up and leaving home, getting older, and life, in general, it seems as if that special event will never come but when it does it is over in the blink of an eye. Puts me in mind of that Abba song, Slipping Through My Fingers. Even makes me a little teary at times. Enough of that! 
This is about our first family trip since those children of mine have grown up, gotten married, and started their own families. Big thank you to my son-in-law who came up with the idea for this trip. Back in 2007 he and my daughter took my husband and myself for a week to The Tetons and Yellowstone. In 2009 my husband and I took my parents to The Tetons and Yellowstone. It was my Dad's last trip before he passed away in 2013. In all of his travels, he had never been there and it was the one place he had always wanted to see. So when the idea of this family trip came up the first thought was to share this magical place with the rest of the family. That would be my two sons, their wives and two grandsons plus my daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter. You've already heard about the grandchildren in my previous posts. 

We arrived on Friday, July 15 and met our daughter, her husband, and granddaughter who also arrived early on Friday. We rented a house for the following week near Jackson, WY. Check in for the house was at 4 PM on Saturday so we had Friday night and Saturday morning to spend time with them in Jackson, buy groceries, and get ready for the rest of the family to arrive. My youngest son and daughter-in-law drove up from Colorado where they live. My oldest son, daughter-in-law, and two sons flew in on Saturday afternoon. Again, thanks to son-in-law for finding the house and planning the trip! Couldn't have done this without you!

Emma and Pawpaw Greg

An entire week devoted to My Favorite Things! Those being, family, travel, photography and viewing wildlife. Speaking of wildlife, Friday night after dinner we took a drive and had our first sighting. A doe and her fawns near the side of the road.

 One tip I had read about photographing wildlife was to stay in the car and take the shot from there. When you get out of the car they are more often spooked and run away before you even get your camera ready. They have become more accustomed to passing cars than people approaching on foot. In addition, warnings about approaching on foot are not to be taken lightly. More about that later. 

Sunday morning fishing for the guys and afternoon reserved for hiking. We (Husband and I) took off on our own for some exploring we had not done on the previous trips. The rest of the family hiked some of the trails in the Tetons. We drove to Two Oceans Lake in Grand Teton National Park, taking several photos of the wildflowers in bloom on the way. Add that to the list of favorites!

I have been researching western wildflowers and believe this is a False Sunflower.

Red Clover

My first two visits in 2007 and 2009 were Labor Day week. I only saw one Indian Paintbrush in 2007, none in 2009. This trip in July it was everywhere! The roadsides were covered in it! I believe this variety is Wyoming Paintbrush. Loved all of the wildflowers in bloom this time!  

Indian Paintbrush

Fireweed

This lovely Fireweed is a plant that I can now identify at a glance! Apparently, it will colonize abundantly after a fire thus the name Fireweed. It is considered the harbinger of autumn and blooms from bottom to top. I'll post another photo when I get to Friday. After all, it's only Sunday! 





Driving back to our "home away from home" we took a drive along the Buffalo Fork River where we spotted an Osprey in a huge nest. She was squawking at us and apparently not happy with us being there. But then again it could have been the two guys who got out of their car on the same side of the road as the nest. Remember that photo tip I mentioned? 












We stopped in the Buffalo Valley Cafe on the recommendation of the volunteer at the GTNP Visitor's Center. We were told they have the best milkshakes....and they do! 

Loved the old gas pump out front and couldn't resist taking a photo. One of these days I will have to post the photos of another trip we took driving a section of the historic Route 66 through New Mexico. That was back in 2012. 




What would The Tetons and Yellowstone be without the Bison? It is the one wildlife experience you can't miss even if you tried. They are everywhere! They also happen to be one of the animals that come with a warning to stay at least 25 yards (75 feet) away. This is true for all wildlife except bears. You should stay at least 100 yards (300 feet) away from bears and watch out for a mother bear with cubs. They can be overly aggressive if they feel their cubs are threatened. I am amazed by tourists who think they can approach any wildlife in the park within a few feet as if they were at Disneyland taking a photo with Mickey Mouse. What are they thinking?!!

Monday we all drove to Yellowstone for a day of sightseeing. First stop at Lewis Falls. The boys had a blast climbing over the log jam in the river. Photo op for the whole family. Next stop was Old Faithful which never disappoints! Just like the trip in 2009 with my parents, it is so much fun to share a favorite place with other family members. Even more so when grandchildren come along!

Emma has taken Logan's place as the rock thrower. Until recently if Logan was near water and there were rocks....funny I didn't see him throwing rocks on this trip. Too many other things to occupy him, I guess. 

Old Faithful Geyser

A picnic lunch under the trees. Loved this weather! Cool and low humidity. Even when the temperature went up it was still comfortable due to that ever low humidity. We used a bunch of lip balm, however. Seemed like my lips were so dry that I was putting it on several times a day! So glad I remembered to take it!

My boys and their dad!

More to come!