Thursday, September 11, 2008

9/11/08 A Trip to the Grand Tetons!

The four us were on the road by a little after nine this morning. We're going to see the Grand Tetons in Wyoming.

First we took a tour through Idaho Falls. If you remember we were here before we went home to Delaware. This is where we were when Bob spent the night in the hospital. We had no idea there was so much to see!

The first picture taking opportunity came when we saw the fountain at a large intersection.

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Our next stop was the park that borders the Idaho Falls. Now we don't where we thought this town got its name from and we had no idea that this park was in our "backyard" at the campground we stayed in during our visit but were we ever surprised when we saw it!

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These geese hang out on this ridge of the falls all day long.

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The scenery in this park was just breathtaking!

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Bob and I in front of the falls.

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COULD this be the real "Mother Goose"?

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On the road again we stopped to take a gander of the Snake River.

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Another picture I'm very pleased with.

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Sign seen at rest stop before we reached Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

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First order of business when we reached Jackson Hole was lunch! Don and Billiee recommended the Cadillac Restaurant and it was excellent!

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Across the street was something I can only describe as the town square. A small park like setting in the middle of town.

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At each corner of the square was an archway that everyone walked through and stopped to get their picture taken. We were no exception.

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Elk Antlers! These arches have been the gateways to Jackson Town Square since 1960. These antlers are from the elk, about 7,500 of them, that winter in the National Elk Refuge. The bulls shed their antlers each spring and the local Boy Scouts collect them and then auction them off in this very square each May.

Don't get caught taking one of these antlers....there's a $750.00 fine if caught!

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A look at downtown Jackson Hole.

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The tops of the Tetons in the clouds.

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We arrive at yet another National Park.

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The park's mountain range is very popular among climbers, hikers and photographers. The Tetons are a prime example of fault-block mountain formation meaning when the earth's crust cracked along a fault millions of years ago, the Tetons rose into the sky. The exposed crystalline rocks give the mountains their dramatic appearance in any season. The Grand Teton rises to 13,770 feet above sea level and 12 other peaks reach above 12,000 feet elevation.

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We loaded back into the truck and drove to Jenny Lake.

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The walkway down to the lake itself was a joy to walk.

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Once again, we were just blown away with how clear the water is. This picture was taken from a bridge and the water is a couple feet of deep....but clear as glass.

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More pictures of the peaks.

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And of course my dead tree picture for this post.

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It was a great day with spectacular scenery and time well spent with friends. Don and Billee, we thank you for the tour of the Tetons.

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