June 3 - Grand Teton National Park

June 3  Grand Teton  National Park

Well, it was in the 30’s again last night.  The only way I could get Chick out of bed was to turn on the main heater in the trailer. In less than 3 minutes it was toasty.

After breakfast we headed again into the park via the back road.  We had passed a turnoff yesterday that we decided to investigate. It is the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve, the newest addition to GTNP and one we were totally unaware of.

VISITOR CENTER AT ROCKEFELLER PRESERVE

INTERIOR VISITOR CENTER ROCKEFELLER PRESERVE

Between 1927 and 1949 John D. Rockefeller Jr., - long an advocate of the beauty and sanctity of nature-, purchased ranches in the Jackson Hole area with the goal of donating the land to the National Park Service. In 1949 he gave 33,000 acres to the GTNP.   He retained over 3100 acres around Phelps Lake as a family retreat.  It was passed down to his son, Laurance S. Rockefeller  who has now given all of it to the park.  The Rockefellers spent six years removing all the houses, outbuildings, roads from the former ranch and returning it to a natural condition.  They have given an endowment to maintain the property forever wild.

We took a 5 mile loop hike from the entrance to Phelps Lake, a mountain lake at the base of beautiful mountain peaks.  We took pictures from where the original house had stood and it is magnificent.  This is a wonderful find and everyone should have an opportunity to enjoy this restorative walk.

ON TRAIL TO PHELPS LAKE

VIEW FROM ORIGINAL HOMESITE OVERLOOKING PHELPS LAKE

SHORELINE OF PHELPS LAKE

OUTFLOW FROM PHELPS LAKE

When we finished the hike we barely had enough time to hot-foot it to the Jenny Lake Lodge to have the luncheon we were too late to have yesterday.   This Lodge and Cabins are too expensive to stay in but the dining area is beautiful and the food was delightful.  Chick had a charcuterie board of smoked meats, cheeses, and pickled vegetables.  I had a frittata of duck confit and corn with whipped boursin.  After that we probably won’t need any supper!

JENNY LAKE LODGE DINING ROOM

JENNY LAKE LODGE DINING ROOM INTERIOR

JENNY LAKE LODGE VISITOR LOUNGE

Our next adventure was an attempt to find an old dirt road we used to go down to the Snake River on so Chick could fish.  The road we used to use was closed so we tried another one a little further down the road.  We went for 30 + minutes and finally had to turn back.  It was really for 4-wheel drive vehicles, and it finally got too rough for us. 

DIRT ROAD BEGINNING

DIRT ROAD DETERIORATES

TOO MUCH FOR US

HEADING BACK 

So we next took a paved road to the top of Signal Mountain and had a magnificent view of the whole valley of Jackson Hole.  Clearly the Snake River is much fuller than we have ever seen it.  Jenny Lake, Jackson Lake are all full and overflowing. 

VIEW FROM ATOP SIGNAL MTN OF SNAKE RIVER

VIEW OF JACKSON HOLE FROM ATOP SIGNAL MOUNTAIN (SNAKE RIVER)

Taking the long way home we stopped briefly at Cattlemen’s Bridge river access for Chick to harass some fish.  We always stop by here to see the river and to let me take some pictures while Chick fishes.

CHICK FISHING SNAKE RIVER AT CATTLEMEN'S BRIDGE

AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN

DUCK ON THE RIVER

We just got home. It is starting to rain.  Chick is heading out to get gas and ice and then we will be in for the night. Tomorrow we head north to Yellowstone.

STORM CLOUDS GATHER