The Grand Tetons might just be my new favorite mountain range! Prior to this year I had never been through Wyoming or Montana. Lee had done a trip out here with buddies back during dental school and immediately fell in love, so for years he has been dying to have us go together. Well, this year we went… and then we went back again and then back AGAIN!
Yup 3 times and if I’m being honest I would go back 3 more this year if I could! I LOVE everything about it. The gorgeous mountain vistas, the endless animal sightings (moose and porcupine and bear – oh my!) and the super rad people that live in the area- it’s all great! There are trails galore and a multitude of activities to do regardless of whether you are super posh and just want to wear stilettos to a fancy farmers market or you want to get gnarly and climb the Grand.
Our first time visiting this year was at the end of our spring road trip (check that out here). We spent our last night on the road in Jackson Hole and got to enjoy some bomb Thai food and local beer watching the sun set behind the Tetons and Moose dine on the bushes in front of our car. It was the perfect teaser to get us both wanting to make plans to come back.
Lucky for us we have friends in Driggs, Idaho which sits along the backside of the Tetons and is about a 13 hour drive from Seattle. That drive time is nothing to sneeze at, but once you’ve made it across the entire country and back in your car, 13 hours doesn’t sound that bad. So in late June we drove out for a long weekend to experience the Tetons for a second time.
This trip we were able to explore the towns a bit more, paddle on Jenny lake, see some grizzlies and fit in a few hikes. We even got a day trip over to Yellowstone in the mix! We enjoyed 4 beautiful star-filled evenings around the bonfire planning out our activities for the following day.
Being that it was spring, a good portion of the mountain was still socked in with feet of snow. We had come prepared with snowshoes and micro spikes which we used for our hike up to Table Mountain, a steep hike up to the most incredible view point.
But there was one hike that we knew we couldn’t manage this early in the season so our gracious hosts suggested the idea of a return trip at the end of summer so we could all do the Up & Over..
Fast forward to late August and Jackson has already had its first snowfall, Lee has a herniated disc in his back and can’t hike, and wildfires are burning rampant across the state of Washington filling the skies with smoke. It was not looking good for our 3 day, 26 hour drive, 3rd trip out to actually happen. We had already cancelled our plans for my first mountaineering experience up Sahale glacier weeks prior due to Lee’s back and therefore spirits were low. Lucky for me I have a wonderful husband who, despite not being able to do any hiking and barely being able to sit in a car comfortably, decided that we both needed a change of scenery and that we were going to the Tetons regardless. WOOOHOOO!
Let me tell you, it was a great decision. The weekend we were gone, Seattle got socked in with wildfire smoke making it dangerous to leave your house. The Tetons had beautiful 70 degree days of weather with blue skies as far as the eye could see. I got to hike my longest day hike to date and we both got the rejuvenated feeling that only a weekend in the mountains and wilderness can provide.
The best part is, since Lee unfortunately wasn’t able to join us for our 26 mile trek from the backside of the Tetons, up to Alaska Basin, down through Cascade Canyon and out the other side via Jenny lake, we now have a “reason” to plan trip number 4! Take that for a positive attitude! Although let’s be honest, I will never need a reason to go to the Grand Tetons, for it is reason in itself.
