Jackson Hole, WY

June 27, 2015 – Day 25

Idaho Falls, ID – Jackson Hole, WY

129 miles/2 hours

The Lodge at Jackson Hole

The drive from Idaho Falls to Jackson Hole is another ride filled with miles of scenic pleasure. I have to be annoying all of you with my exclamations, but it is so damn beautiful in this part of the country. To get to Jackson Hole we had to drive over a mountain, and our ears were popping.

Our rooms weren’t ready at the hotel, so we continued on to Grand Teton National Park. I wasn’t sure what to expect of the park, because you can see the Grand Tetons from the highway. Based on my research and conversations with friends who’ve been, I knew we needed to see Jenny Lake. I also wanted to do some hiking. I stopped at the visitor center for maps, and picked a trail round Jenny Lake.

As I mentioned previously, the kids aren’t real big on hiking, and Rich decided to torture them. While I was in the Visitor’s Center, he informed his children that we were going to hike to the top of the mountain. To say they were upset, is an understatement. As we drove to Jenny Lake, they kept asking how long it would take, and “did they really have to?” You could hear he panic in their voices.

We lathered up with sunscreen and loaded a backpack full of water. About fifty yards into our hike, Camden and Audrey were complaining of their impending death. Even our first glimpse of the lake (breathtaking) didn’t distract them from whining. Hunter didn’t seem intimidated, but he was quiet, and Barrett was just along for the ride. It was hot, and surprisingly hilly, for a stroll around the lake. Another five minutes in and Audrey was hysterical, losing her sh** hysterical, “I can’t do it!” Rich finally told her the truth and lo and behold, the hike didn’t seem so bad to her – and she mercifully shut her mouth. Camden, despite the fact that he was indeed tired, kept a good attitude. Hunter ignored us, but led the pack. Barrett just followed the crowd, occasionally singing a verse of Rubber Dubbers.

We hiked to Hidden Falls, which Rich declared was the prettiest waterfall he’d ever seen. In fact, he concluded that Grand Tetons was prettier that Yellowstone. It hard not to agree. The navy blue water of Jenny Lake, the dark emerald pines, and the majesty of the Tetons, which still have dollops of snow at the top, cast an intoxicating spell.

We took the water shuttle back across the lake to get to the car – I could not endure anymore complaining from the children. Rich spotted people swimming in the lake and in no time, he and the children had their swim suits on. Not me. The water was way too cold.

After their swim, on our way back to the car, while walking on flat surface (although I suspect he was being silly), Cammy had a fall. He took a header and landed his forehead on a rock. It scared the Hell out of me, and I didn’t react well. I can’t handle my baby getting hurt. He immediately had a goose egg. Lucky for us, a doctor was walking by when it happened - seriously. He checked Cammy out and told us to get him some ice and all would be fine. It was – but it wasn’t pretty.

Mom and dad were stressed out. We got back to our hotel, which is very nice, and decided to order room service for the kids and escape for an hour or so. We left Hunter in charge – and told him to be prepared for anything – especially a fire alarm, and went down to dinner. And our dinner was out-of-this world! Good food and some wine = a chilled out momma!

Cammyism of the Day:

On the boat ride, all the passengers were quiet (exhausted from hiking, I’m sure).It was kind of serene in that setting. Then Cammy started a rather loud, although cute, soliloquy about how he wished he had a giant mansion in the sky and a yacht with wings, so the boat could fly. “That way we could fly fish!” You could hear everyone laughing quietly and trying not to turn around and stare.