Teton National Park

I spent two weeks in Jackson Wyoming at the end of August. I camped near Slide Lake, Jackson Lake, and in the Gros Ventre. The visibility was limited for the first several days due to smoke from the forest fires in Washington. Luckily, the sky cleared up and the scenery was as grand as ever. The wildlife was more spectacular than on my previous visits to Jackson, with several sightings of bear, moose, elk, antelope, and a huge herd of bison.
Pictures From The Trip:
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Yosemite and Mono Lake

Trip to Yosemite:
I spent a few days in Yosemite and a side trip to Mono Lake.
Pictures Of The Week:

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Awosting Falls

I hiked to Awosting Falls in Minnewaska State Park today just to get outside for exercise and fresh air. It is the middle of March, but the winter cold and wind is still with us. I was a little reluctant to spend hours in the cold, but I am really glad that I did. Awosting Falls is one of my favorite places. I used to photograph there often, but have not in the last several years. It was very pleasant to go back, and it turned out to be more comfortable than I expected, as the ravine blocked most of the wind.
There was still at least one foot of packed snow on the trails and more in the woods. The Peters Kill stream was flowing fast, with about half its width snow-free. Hiking close to it was not a safe option, because one could unexpectedly break through the snow and end up in the icy water. The 65-foot waterfall was spectacular. Its ice cone rose about half way up the fall, and the cliff behind the fall was completely covered with ice.
Here are a couple shots from the outing.

Frozen Awosting Falls in winter and the rocky bottom of snow-lined Peters Kill stream. (John Aylward)

Frozen Awosting Falls in winter and the rocky bottom of snow-lined Peters Kill stream. (John Aylward)

Frozen Awosting Falls in winter and the rocky bottom of snow-lined Peters Kill stream. (John Aylward)

Frozen Awosting Falls in winter and the rocky bottom of snow-lined Peters Kill stream. (John Aylward)

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Day 7: Dubois to Moran Junction WY

Today’s Highlights:
Today there was no doubt that it was going to be cold and rainy. So unlike the previous variable days, everyone bundled up. Still, I was only prepared for fall-like weather, not winter weather. The clothes I had were only marginally safe for the 40-45 degree cold. Today’s ride could have been one of the most scenic also, but the weather again robbed us of some magnificent views, especially of the Teton Range after cresting the continental divide from east to west.

Our ride was only 55 miles today. The first 30 miles climbed from 7000 feet to 9500 feet. The highest point was Togwotee Pass. Shortly after that we crossed over the continental divide. Reaching the summit was certainly the highlight of the day. Riders stopped a moment to celebrate and take photos, and briefly forgot about the cold. The next 25 miles was mostly downhill, and mostly steep downhill. It could have been great fun, but going 30 mph when it is 40 degrees is just plain freezing.

I finished in Moran Junction at 12:30, had a quick lunch, and then boarded a bus back to Teton Village.

For the entire week, the staff did an amazing job on every aspect of the event – route prep, meals, road support, etc. They took us through some beautiful landscapes and chose some challenging terrain. If it were not for the unusually cold and wet weather, it would have been an epic trip. For me, it was a challenge.

Tonight, I was reunited with most of my family. I had dinner with two of my brothers, their wives, my older sister, four nephews, three nieces, and Maggie. They even surprised me with a birthday present and cake, which was very special since I spent my birthday on the road and camping out. Spending time with them was the best part of my trip to Wyoming.

Pictures Of The Day: Click any thumbnail to see the photos in full screen mode.


Statistics: Zoom and pan the map to explore the route.

Time:
8/23/2014, 6:03:3
Duration:
05:22:19
Ascent/Descent:
3876 ft 3541 ft
Distance:
54.69 M
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