As I’ve mentioned previously, after the debacle of 2020 (in which I grew a beard while in the military, swam with otters, and basically just played dress-up for several months) I’m making the most of my available time off. Rather than a single huge road trip around the country for EDC Las Vegas, 2022 has seen a different philosophy–more trips, to more places, for shorter periods.
Early June was therefore set aside as a week in Yellowstone. I was so excited. My Arthur Morgan fantasy was in overdrive; there’s a chuckwagon dinner in the wilderness you can ride to on horseback! Hiking some of the nation’s oldest National Park trails, epic views, wildlife everywhere….I was stoked.
The car was loaded, and the adventure began with an overnight planned at my friend Travis’ house in Ohio. We’ve known each other for over twenty years, having originally met on a car forum back in the heyday of the sport-compact car. NOPI, Import Tuner magazine, all that late 90s/early 00s excellence.
As with any proper Great American Road Trip™, “pit stops” are mandatory. Not the usual fuel/bathroom/snack breaks, but a side stop for sightseeing….and boy did Ohio deliver!! Signore e signori, I give you Mansfield Reformatory. Better known as Shawshank Prison.
After this leg-stretching touristy break was over, it was off to Travis’ house. His location and digs are immensely enviable, especially coming from the corporate-builder cut-rate townhouse/HOA crap-storm that is Maryland. While the original plan had a caravan heading west, including Travis and family, sadly some last-minute changes meant they couldn’t come along. But the party was still fantastic, and he and his lady are always welcome at Casa Della Testa Di Cavallo. Plug that into Google translate y’all.
Up and at ’em the next day, and probably the longest single-day’s drive of the trip, Cleveland to Omaha. Fairly uneventful….missed Chicago thankfully (you’re not likely to see a Chicago entry on this blog…I’ll leave it at that). Got to Omaha, where I spent the first five years of my military career, and immediately off to La Mesa for some tacos and giant margaritas. If you know you know. Overnight with Rocky included some play, scritches, and snugs. He’s a good boy.
Sunday was another quite uneventful day along I-80, westbound to the overnight at Rocky Mountain National Park. When you have an annual pass you might as well see more than one right? But before RMNP, it was definitely overdue to see the one and only Anna and Adam! (AnnaDAndAdam on youtube–go show them some love!!) A great couple who share a huge passion for adventures, road trips, camping, and all things non-stagnant. And they’re also really great friends and hosts!! Ms. Betsy greeted in the usual fashion, and it was off to Golden, Colorado for some absolutely fantastic Thai food at Golden Thai. Wishing it could have been a longer stay, but after dinner it was yonder into the north to get the tent pitched and mattress inflated. What a fantastic panorama Rocky Mountain National Park provided.
Up and at ’em early, the car was packed and, after a lovely eggy snausage bagel next to a mountain pond overloaded with ducks, the journey continued. Until it almost didn’t.
You see, just west of Laramie Wyoming, there was a gantry over the interstate with an absolutely devastating message. The day in question was Monday, June 13 2022. Some of you already know what’s coming but for those who may have forgotten, that was the day they shut Yellowstone due to immense flooding and horrendous damage/loss in the park. “Yellowstone closed, make alternate plans.” *gulp*
In the midst of a mild coronary (due to being one of those weirdos who plans things like this months and months in advance, not thinking a backup for camping at Yellowstone would be needed after securing reservations) I initially searched for hotel rooms in West Yellowstone Montana and, upon realizing the park wouldn’t be open at all for at least several days, Jackson Wyoming. Let me tell you a little something about Jackson Wyoming. It is *REALLY* un-cheap to stay there. WOW. Like the motel 6 was almost $300 a night. But you know what else is really close to Jackson Wyoming? Grand Teton National Park. Gros Venture (pronounced “grow vont”) campground is about 15 minutes north of town. And it has a whole entire national park attached to it. Conveniently, they had campsites open! So this epic Yellowstone adventure that couldn’t be, became a Grand Teton adventure instead.
Monday afternoon/evening was a nice simple “get checked into the campground, set up the campsite, and explore Jackson a bit” kind of time. Elk Ragu at the Snake River Brewing Co, a couple sips at the Million Dollar Cowboy Saloon, and a quick wander around the center of town. It wasn’t a particularly long day, but it wasn’t one of the less stressful ones of recent memory that’s for sure. The food and beverage sure helped though. Jackson’s not a cheap place to live by any stretch, but it’s a pretty fun little town.
Tuesday was also pretty laid back; a very late wake-up followed by a drive through the park to Jenny Lake, stopping for photos along the way of course. Dinner was delicious snausages acquired from a butcher shop in Laramie on the way up, and a dram of Blue Run’s 13.5-year flavor-bomb from a good friend in Nebraska. She knows who she be!
Wednesday was hiking day. And it was a good one. Pushed up to the Jenny Lake trailhead to hike to Inspiration Point. There’s a “shortcut” you can take in the form of a boat/ferry across the lake, or you can hike around it. The boat trip takes about 15 minutes, and the hike is about 1.5-2 hours each way. The line for the boat, however, was about 2.5 hours’ wait….so it was “get your steps in” time. The trail didn’t disappoint in the slightest! It was slightly hilly, but nothing horrible, had loads of great views all around Jenny Lake, and upon reaching the other side, while stopped for a recharge next to a raging torrent of a “creek” a marmot tried to steal my lunch (a phrase I’m not sure anyone’s ever said before). Mountain House hit the spot, and before too long the view of Inspiration Point could be enjoyed to the fullest. Nevermind that we didn’t actually get all the way up to Inspiration Point, there was a really fantastic view from a few hundred feet below it and that was good enough for me.
Back down and around the lake, with about 6 miles in all told, and I was ready for a beer by the campfire, and a nice long nap.
Thursday morning brought a breakfast centered around cast-iron steak and mimosas. Because why not. After cleanup, the day’s adventure was planned for Colter Bay on Jackson Lake. Nothing too massive or serious, just a nice fun wander along some of the trails in the area for the first part of the day, then lunch (sorta) at Dornan’s in Moose (basically the little outpost at the southern entrance to GTNP, nice rooftop bar/dining area), and then pop back to Jackson for a final evening’s fun before departing on Friday.
Friday was an early morning, camp broken down quickly, and on the road in no time. All the way back to Omaha for a quick turn-and-burn that night, stopping to see my dad on Saturday and overnighting with Jim and Louise in Illinois, and back home Sunday.
If anything, I learned from this trip that nature can and WILL try to stop you in your tracks from time to time, or at least make you second-guess yourself. Thanks to the National Park Service for not being full-up at Gros Ventre, and allowing this idiot the chance to stop and see some sights I otherwise wouldn’t have. It’s okay to be worried/have a little “oh shit” moment if plans have to change….but if you just shrug it off, accept you can’t necessarily alter what’s happened, and keep an open mind to trying something on the fly, you just might have an even more memorable adventure than you planned on.
Until next weekend!!
Another awesome adventure with the prof. I feel as if I were there with y’all. Great pics. Awesome scenery of gods country. Love it 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼