Here Comes the Sun -- A Grand Weekend In the Grand Tetons

Finally, summer has begun and it has been a great start.


Friday was my last day of work. Saturday morning my parents and my family loaded up and headed out to the Jackson Hole, WY area. First on the list was whitewater rafting. Myles had chosen this activity for his birthday celebration ... maybe with a little encouragement from Kim and/or me. If I recall, all it took was mentioning it and he had decided that's what we were doing. We went with Barker-Ewing Whitewater. They had a spring special, and unbeknownst to us, and lucky for us they offered complimentary wet suits upon checking in. I didn't hesitate on that offer because a few years ago when I went with the boys my legs were SO cold when it was over that it made it uncomfortable to walk up the trail to the bus. We were a little warmer this time and we had a blast. Cedar was so happy she was old enough to go this time. She even jumped in with me during a calm section. Currently, you can view the professional (with water marks ... no way around that pun :-)) photos of us going through the big rapid named Lunch Counter from the two companies Floatographs and Snake River Photo. You can't see Cedar because the rapids bumped her on the floor and she hunkered there until it was over. Only the last boat in our group had three people get knocked out into the river. Their pictures here and here were a little more exciting than ours.

Ready for fun in the sun! ... and freezing water.

 We checked in at The Hostel in Teton Village then went down the road and ate fresh, green, savory spring salads and pizza at the Calico restaurant. After dinner we tried to spot some moose on Moose Rd. before bed but we only saw a couple elk, a beaver, and mosquitoes.

The next morning was beautiful with hot air balloons and parasailers. Only Kim saw the hot air balloons because she got up at 7:00 to go for her run. I guess the early bird catches the worm. We ate breakfast downstairs in the common area of the hostel and played games before heading out to the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve in the Grand Teton National Park to hike up to Phelps Lake. This was a short hike and we made it last all day. I think they have the best visitor's center I have been to. We checked out a kids educational backpack filled with plant and animal identifier cards, colored pencils, magnifying glass, bandanna, and several other things. The kids were given an activity book/journal that they filled out to help them get junior ranger badges. We sat and relaxed under the covered deck and inside their library. We sat around the coffee table and read books .... and looked at natural specimens, like poop, collected and presented in nice display boxes. The kids sat at the long table to finish their written activities. Noel, the park interpreter was very zen -- calm, centered, peaceful. He was so nice and helpful with the kids.

The highlight of the hike was seeing a porcupine and jumping in the frigid lake. The kids ate every morsel of their hamburger for dinner at the Mangy Moose in Teton Village.

I'm so glad my parents were able to come out and visit. We had a great time!

darn automatic camera features ... but I was balancing on a skinny log 

heart shaped arnica

Phelps Lake and the Grand Tetons

My mom and dad

Phelps Lake from Huckleberry Point

cautiously trying not to swim out to the rock

taking in the beauty, contemplating an escape

pointing out some litter so Ethan could mark off his good deed for the day

he didn't even try to get the garbage and he looks pretty happy

my face says most of it

Myles' rescue craft being blown away

what doesn't kill you makes you stronger

alive and well

Cedar the water monster

family portrait

beautiful surroundings make you do crazy things :-)

Jr. Ranger Myles and Noel

Jr. Ranger Ethan and Noel

Jr. Ranger Cedar and Noel