Jenny Lake Hike

Now that I've completed my blog posts about our Europe trip, I can start on some of our other adventures from this summer.  I'm about a month behind in my posts.


We spent a week at our timeshare in Jackson Hole last month.  On one of those days we decided to hike around Jenny Lake in the Grand Teton National Park.


As I now know, it would have been good to read the trail description before just heading out.  We knew it was about 7.7 miles around the lake which should have been no big deal.


We chose to travel around the lake in a clockwise direction.  Big mistake!  Now I know that traveling in a counter clockwise direction is mostly flat, whereas the direction we chose was anything by flat.


The trail used to follow the shoreline, but they are reforesting that trail and the new trail goes up, up, up--about 728 foot elevation gain.  That normally wouldn't be problem, but when you hike with Irv you sleep in and don't get started until the middle of the day when it's the hottest.  This area was having unprecedented heat that week so it was about 90 degrees when we hit the trail (I like to be on the trail by 7:00 a.m. when it's cool.)


We had plenty of water with us, but the trail was mostly un-forested because of a fire years ago so we were in the direct sun most of the time.  Since I've become a native Coloradan anything above 70 degrees is hot.  My body did not respond well to the heat and the climb so there were lots of breaks.  Plus once you've had a pulmonary embolism, breathing isn't quite so easy at that elevation either.  (I know, lots of excuses.)


Here's my artsy shot of the day--moss on the trees.


The never-ending trail.


Finally, we crossed the stream.  We were getting close to the boat dock.


Signs of life.


Of course Irv just trudges along patiently waiting for his wife.

We only made it halfway around and then we decided to take the boat back.  Oh well, four miles is better than zero miles.

I felt like such a failure after this hike.  I was in the best condition of my life when I left Yellowstone last year.  A summer of not hiking everyday has certainly taken its toll.  Oh well, at least I'm out there giving it a try and what could be a more beautiful setting that at the base of the Tetons.

Happy hiking!

Comments

polcat24 said…
Yep, it was pretty hot and miserable. But any time I get to spend with Ellen is good time.
October 16, 2019 at 2:14 PM
Yogi♪♪♪ said…
Jenny Lake is a big big lake!! 728 feet in the sun is no picnic.
October 16, 2019 at 8:45 PM
Susie of Arabia said…
Wow what a gorgeous place!
October 31, 2019 at 5:41 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Skywatch Friday: A little close for comfort

Image
We had a fire out here on the eastern plains of Colorado last week.  I kept getting reports on the fire's location on my cell phone while I was at work.  Then a warning popped up that let me know it was time to hit the road and go home to prepare to evacuate the critters. When we initially got home it was still a decent distance away. Within 30 minutes it had come up over the ridge and flames were visible. The winds were gusting 45 to 50 mph.  It was a fast moving fire that burned 5,000 acres in only four hours.  Then the most amazing thing happened--the winds died down and the firefighters got in under control by 8:15 that night.  Thank you, Lord! Have you ever had to stand in your house and wonder what you should take out with you?  There were only two things I could think of...1) my critters and 2) my passport so I could still go to Europe next month.  Irv and I agreed that we need to get things organized so we can just grab a box...
Read more

Skywatch Friday: Upper and Lower Falls

Image
Yesterday I got to visit the recently completed Uncle Tom's Overlook along the Yellowstone River in Yellowstone National Park. This is the first really good look I've ever had at the Upper Falls of the Yellowstone River. These falls are almost as good as the Lower Falls. After leaving the Upper Falls you go downstream for a mile or so to.... ...Artist's Point which has the very best view of the Lower Falls (in my opinion).  In this location the view is perfect, so perfect that it look like a painting. This is just one of the features of this Park that make it my heart and soul.   Linking with Skywatch Friday
Read more

Skywatch Friday: Wild Horses!

Image
 The Salt River wild horses have been eluding us since we arrived in Arizona several weeks ago so today we went in search of them again. This time we started at the Coon Bluff Recreation Area.  First we went one way down the river, but soon had to turn back because we didn't bring any rock climbing gear. Then we turned around and went the other direction. The water in the river was crystal clear, but no sign of fish or horses. There are times when I really miss my dad especially when I want to know what kind of tree I'm looking at.  This one has something that resembles Spanish moss hanging down.  What is it? This riparian area that surrounds the river has all kinds of wildlife.  Today we saw theses white egrets. This gray heron was also hanging out in the distance. We met a guy carrying all kinds of photographic equipment and he said we needed to go about a quarter of a mile further down the river to find a spot where the horses cross every afternoon around 5:0...
Read more