Bear Aware

August 20, 2020 by Amy Welborn

That’s what they call it.

So, yes, Greetings from Grand Teton National Park.

Today:

Rise at 7, go right out for a hike. The intention was to do the entire Hermitage Point trail, but we got a bit bored with it and turned back. As it turned out, the major attraction of the trail – the view of the mountains when you reach Hermitage Point – was moot today. Because you really can’t see the mountains, even though they are right there. Why? Wildfires in California and Idaho, apparently.

I will say that later this evening, as we were driving to and then back from Jackson, although we’d always love to see mountains in clear, sharp relief, the sight of the haze covered mountains was haunting and ghostly. Photographs (at least ours) can’t capture it, but it was as if it were a backdrop or a pastel painting. Ghostly.

Anyway, we got back about 11:30, took a couple of hour break, and then went canoeing on Lake Jackson with stops at a couple of islands. It was mostly pleasant, but the last half hour or so was pretty difficult because the wind really picked up. So it turned out to be both leg and arm day for us.

Back about 4, a bit of a break, then in the car. We drove down to the Jenny Lake entrance to the park – we are intending to do hikes around there tomorrow and I wanted to check it out. It’s a very popular spot and everything I’ve read indicated that you’re wise to get there early and beat the crowds. I wanted to get the lay of the land and see how to best go about that. Done.

Then we continued on down to Jackson, since we were halfway there, and had dinner down there. Our room doesn’t have a fridge or microwave, and while there is food here at the place we’re staying, it’s takeout. Which is fine, and is what we’ll do for the next couple of days, but since we were almost there, why not?

I will say that I had contemplated making Jackson our base for this part of the trip and after this evening….thank goodness that got 86’d. What a touristy madhouse. I can only imagine what it’s like during ski season. We popped by a grocery store and then found decent dinner, then back here.

Wildlife sightings?

Bears: One mama and her cubs on the trail this morning. That was a little startling – as in, she was right on the trial and stood up to study us right as we saw her. (yes, we have bear spray).

As we were coming from our shortened (but still really long) hike, we noticed several rangers in the woodsy field near the lake and by the marina. They were herding three cubs away from there back towards where apparently they should be. I have no idea where the mom was.

While were walking around and figuring out Jenny Lake, there was a bear creekside munching on greens. He/she got into the creek and started to swim across, but apparently there were humans on that other side watching her, including a ranger, who threw a stick in the water to deter the bear from coming any further.

My favorite was on the drive this afternoon, there was a solitary black bear just…sitting under a tree by the side of the road. Just chilling.

Bald eagle.

A couple of deer. Mule deer, I think.

No moose yet, although I am hoping!

Photos all below in bunches, since it’s quicker. Except Mama Bear, who gets her own space. Plenty of it.

Early day tomorrow.