WET WEEK

We were able to get a short hike completed last week during one of our days off before the rains came.  This photo was taken during the hike.  The big hill to the left is the hill the arriving planes fly around before making the approach into the Jackson Hole Airport.   Trivia fact:  This is the only commercial aviation airport located within the boundaries of a national park.

While we saw no wildlife on this short hike, we did see a lot of lupine flowers.

We also explored both sides of the Snake River at Menors Ferry.  Back in the 1850's the two Menors brothers built a pulley system to utilize for their ferry so settlers, ranchers, and others could cross the Snake River, as their were no bridges back then.  Here are some photos of the area.  Once the river crests in late June, the National Park Service will offer rides on this replica version of the ferry.  The original ferry is preserved under a shed and is about 35 ft. long and about 8 ft. wide.

Just down-river from the ferry is the river bank where a lot of the float trips let off their passengers.  If you look closely, you can see a van with a flat trailer backed up to the river to load the raft that is being unloaded on the far shore.  We plan to take a float trip on a day off this summer.

Now to Grand Teton National Park history.  In 1923, a group of prominent Jackson Hole residents offered to the Federal Government some land to add to Yellowstone National Park.  The meeting was held in this cabin on July 26th of that year.

This plaque commemorates these events.

A few years later John D. Rockefeller, Jr. finally persuaded the federal government to establish what is now known as Grand Teton National Park.  Rockefeller bought land in secret from farmers and ranchers similar to the way Walt Disney bought orange groves in the Orlando area to establish Disney World in the 1970's.  Rockefeller then donated the land to the federal government after much persuasion - a letter on display from Rockefeller relates his intent to sell the property of the federal government did not accept the land donation.  How our country would not embrace this beautiful place as national land set aside for sharing with all is mind-boggling.  However, the government reacted a few months later by accepting the donation and first staffing the park with 5 employees.  More park development history below.

The newest trails in the park are located in an area known as the Rockefeller Preserve.  It is the last donation to the park, occurring in 2007.  These are the closest hiking trails to the town of Jackson Hole.

Our second day off last week was confined indoors due to the rain.  It has rained for 5 days straight.  There have been several days where we have sold over 125 cups of coffee and hot cocoa.  Needless to say, smoothie sales are next to nil. 

On our rainy way to work one day, we took the following pictures of a giant rainbow with the Teton peaks as a backdrop. 

On our way home from work another day, we saw a moose and her newborn calf during this brief respite from the rainy weather. 

This afternoon, the rain finally let up and the sun came out.  We are hoping to go hiking on our days off this week.