Teton National Park

String Lake

On our short drive to Colter Bay Campground, we just missed seeing a Grizzly Bear. People were taking pictures as we approached, but it disappeared into the underbrush. After setting up camp, we headed south to Signal Mountain. For a change, the skies were partly cloudy, rather than overcast. We had contemplated just heading home, since the mountain scenery isn't much with low overcast skies. From Signal Mountain we could see the vast expanse of the flats from here east. But looking west, the Tetons just spring up from the flats and lakes that lie at their edge. We had lunch at String Lake and I took a hike around the lake. I wasn't too worried about bears, since I seldom walked more than two minutes without encountering other hikers, but I learned that they closed the trail later that day for bears. The trees on the far side were bent over, it was obvious that there must have been a significant avalanche or wind blow here since some of the trees were still green. As we drove by Jenny Lake, the temperatures dropped with the wind coming off the lake. 

Moose encounter at Menor Ferry

We headed to Menor Ferry and the weather warmed up. We arrived just in time for a ranger talk on the history of the area. Menor established his homestead here in 1894 looking for the best spot for a ferry crossing over the Snake River. It is 20 miles on either side until you can cross the river. He built himself a one room log cabin, expanded it to two rooms the following year, and added a grocery store a few years later. He lived here until 1917. The idea to establish Teton as a national park was started in the cabin of the next owner, a woman named Maude Nobel. She eventually sold her land to John D. Rockefeller who bought over 32000 acres which combined with the Federal land became the beginning of this park. As we were touring, a moose which had been sitting behind the carriage barn, decided to get up and walk to the river. He neatly split our group in two as we tried to avoid him. Almost as exciting as last time we were here and saw a mother bear with two cubs.  It was a nice pleasant day, tomorrow we’ll head for home. 

Wedding at the Teton Chapel