Tentative plan for a three-week road trip this summer. It's ambitious, I know, but I just can't handle the thought of not seeing the Pacific Ocean!



Thoughts?

Grand Teton National Park

Located in Wyoming in between Yellowstone National Park and the town of Jackson, WY, Grand Teton National Park is truly stunning. The park is linked to Yellowstone by the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. As you head south out of Yellowstone to drop into the Snake River valley, you are treated to glimpses of the jagged Teton peaks.

The road then turns and begins to follow Jackson Lake, providing views of the Tetons in profile. I don't think any picture can truly do justice to the majesty of these mountains, which tower over Jackson Hole with (Hole being the early settlers' word for valley) with elevations ranging from 11,000 to 13,000 feet.

Another stunning view of the Tetons:

The view of Mt. Moran from the Oxbow Bend overlook, with the mountain reflected in the Snake River.

This is the view from Signal Mountain. If you visit the Tetons (which you should if you're in Yellowstone, even for a day), take the time to drive up Signal Mountain Road. The views of Jackson Hole are stunning.

Another view from a turn-out on Signal Mountain.

This is Jenny Lake, which is amazingly blue up close. You can hike around it or take a boat across, which I will definitely do the next time I'm out there.

Below is the Chapel of the Transfiguration in the Menors Ferry Historic District. The view from inside is amazing as well, but I didn't really get any good snaps.

These last two shots are from Mormon Row, where the early settlers tried to make a go of it. Unfortunately, the land wasn't right for farming, but their buildings remain as a testament to their pioneering spirits. 

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone is one of those places that every American should see at least once. It is a wild place in a remote location, but you can visit in high style with luxury accommodations and air-conditioned bus tours if you want. You can also rough it by back-country camping or staying in a campground. Or you can do what I did, which is a combination. No matter how you do it, though, go! 

There are several ways to get into Yellowstone; having explored them all, my favorite is definitely the Beartooth Scenic Highway, which takes you into the northeast entrance of the park. It's not for the faint-hearted, though. Climbing from the valley floor to a height of over 11,500, this is a serious road. Here's a view of the valley below from about 9,000 feet up.

The climb is vertigo-inducing, but once you get up to the plateau, you cruise along for a while at about 11,000 feet. It's absolutely gorgeous, with stunning vistas in all directions. And who doesn't love a little snow in July?

The Lamar Valley: Once you actually get into Yellowstone, you drive through the beautiful Lamar Valley, one of the best places in the park for wildlife watching. Drive through at dawn or dusk for the best chance at seeing bison, wolves, bears, moose and deer. I was fortunate enough to see a mama moose with her calf.

And of course, several bison. It's neat to see a bison in person, but after the first few, they become sort of routine. Some animals don't, such as moose or wolves, but bison get old. They are still huge, awesome creatures, though.

Weather in Yellowstone, like in any high mountainous area, can be unpredictable and change quickly. A storm rolled through the Lamar Valley, which was a bummer, but this rainbow made it worth suffering through the storm.

Canyon: Another beautiful area of the park is in around the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, called simply "Canyon" in the park. The best view in Yellowstone is from Artists' Point. Not only is the waterfall gorgeous, but the colors in the canyon really change, especially at sunset.

Geothermal Features: Yellowstone actually sits in the collapsed caldera of an ancient supervolcano, which is partly what creates all of the unique geothermal features for which the park is known. In my opinion, they're interesting to see, but they're not really my favorite part of the park. Here are some of the ones I saw:

Fire: Forest fire is common in Yellowstone's pine forests; coniferous trees actually depend on fire to reproduce. In 1988, many areas of the park were burned and still look stark today, especially from far away. But fire replenishes the soil and while it may take longer for trees to grow, gorgeous wild flower displays are common in Yellowstone in the areas that have been recently burned and re-seeded by fire.

Getting Back to Blogging

It's that time of year again, when the school days are winding down and summer's getting started. It's also the time of year when I emerge from a haze of lesson planning, grading papers, and writing IEPs to realize that I haven't updated since last summer.

Over the next month or so, I'll be finishing the recaps from last summer's epic trip, as well as posting about this places I've been since then, including Colonial Williamsburg & Charlottesville, VA. I'm headed to North Carolina next week, preparing to audition for Jeopardy! in mid-June, and am also busy planning a camping trip for the end of this summer. (Alas, summer school is my lot for most of June & July, although I'm glad to have the work).

Stay tuned!