Tuesday, May 15, 2012

A Hikin' We Will Go......

Having spent most of yesterday sitting on our rears and floating down the Snake River (as awesome as it was,) we decided to choose a more active approach today.

First we drove to Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park and took a ferry to the other side which is at the base of one of the Tetons.  There followed our six-mile hike up Cascade Canyon to see Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point.  Most of the trail was very rocky and some was snow-covered.

We eventually arrived at the cutoff to the Hidden Falls which required crossing 100 feet of deep snow.  But it was worth it, as you will see below.  The smell of fresh pine was everywhere - -just like Christmas!

I have to question how hidden these falls can be when they are mentioned in all the guide books and there is an arrow pointing to them on the trail.  Oh well, we continued up the mountain to see Inspiration Point.  I moved on ahead to check it out and came to an overlook which looked out over Jenny Lake and the valley.   There were about 4 or 5 other hikers sitting on rocks, so I asked them if this was Inspiration Point, and they said no and pointed to a promentory of rock at least 1000 feet further up the snowy mountain.  They looked about as enthusiastic as I was to continue the climb.

So I told them that we should all declare that this spot was indeed the real Inspiration Point and they all agreed.  At that time, Joan caught up and I told her what had happened, and she also agreed.

We then descended on our way to the boat.  I don't know about anyone else, but I find it much harder to go down rocky ground than to ascend.  So Joan beat me to the boat and was already on board when I came limping along.  After thinking it over, Joan asked the captain to hold the boat for me.

Arriving back to the Eastern bank of Jenny Lake, it was only early afternoon, so we decided to drive a few miles to Leigh Lake where there was another trail we could take.  We were surprised to see a whole family at the lake sunning themselves and enjoying the water in rafts.  We touched the water and found it very cold.......to each his own. 
















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