Grand Tetons

Everyone raves about the Grand Tetons, and we were utterly captivated by them too.  What is it exactly? They are rugged and unique in a way that is hard to describe. Here was our first glimpse:

 They don't enclose you like the rockies; rather, they lie in a line in front of you like a true mountain range, begging some to photograph and others to climb.

We were mostly in the former camp. Climbing these mountains demands more than a hike; it takes ropes and picks and techniques like rappelling. Still, we enjoyed the majestic beauty of this setting by seeking some elevation.

Even the name is mysterious; our Fodor's guidebook asserted that they were named by French fyr trappers who referred to them as "les Trois Teton" (Teton rhymes with Poupon), but the translation they offered was puzzling: Grand Beasts?

It was only later, when I began reading The Abstract Wild, by Jack Turner, a philosopher cum mountain guide, that I realized that Fodor's must have let a typo go by....what a difference an "r" makes

We arrived at Dornan's and got our first taste of Western kamp--Dornan's, a family-run restaurant offered a chuckwagon dinner experience in the shadow of the Tetons, with a tipi thrown in for good measure!

We opted instead for pizza, which got us closer to the mountains: 

Jackson Hole was hopping, even though it's really more famous as a ski resort. can you see why?

When we checked into our hotel, the Elk Lodge, I felt quite at home amongst the bear and moose decor; I could have been browsing in the  Maine Made Shop. They do love their antlers in Jackson Hole: 

But you don't find saloons like this in Maine....

As we travelled north to our campsite on Lizard Creek, we were continually amazed by the breathtaking views and tranquility of the Tetons. Neither my camera nor my photographic skills can do it justice, but here's a taste: