The Quest for the West

Day 2 – Grand Teton National Park

Normally this morning would start with a hearty breakfast and an eight-mile bike ride through old riverbeds and breathtaking landscapes in the Grand Teton National Park. But due to inclement weather (a very cold drenching rain overnight) the bike ride was shortened to 6 miles on paved roads for our group. With our camera ready, we were on our way! The Grand Tetons peeked through the cloud cover on occasion and we were able to get a few shots for our scrapbook, but we kept our fingers crossed for at least one good clear shot before we had to leave. We were rewarded for our effort when we came upon a herd of over sixty bison. Fall is a wonderful time of year for this adventure (weather aside) because the deciduous trees are turning their autumn colors and are in stark contrast to the green of the pines that dot the hills. Simply beautiful!

After lunch, guests can choose either a gentle float trip along the base of the Grand Tetons (float trip not available on next year’s itinerary) or a whitewater adventure over class II and III rapids! Unfortunately, the raft trips had to be canceled due to the heavy rain. Instead we had a choice to either spend the afternoon shopping or we could visit the National Museum of Wildlife Art. We chose the museum and were glad we did - the paintings, sculptures, weavings and other assorted mediums were interesting and educational.

Day 3 – Yellowstone Journey

Following a leisurely breakfast, our Quest for the West continues. We said goodbye to Jackson and boarded our motor coach bound for Yellowstone. But Yellowstone would have to wait until after our boat ride across Jenny Lake and the hike in the Grand Teton National Park.

Upon arrival we ferried across the lake. As we start our hike we encounter a gradual climb that takes us by spectacular views of streams, rapids, waterfalls, and let’s not forget the beautiful colors of the fall foliage. The high altitudes and thin air are new to everyone in our group so we stop often for rests and photo ops on our way to the top of the mountain. For those hearty enough to hike the last leg (very steep, rocky switchbacks) the reward is a panoramic view of Jenny Lake from the top of Inspiration Point. Breathtaking!

By this time it’s spitting snow and we still have much to see, so back down the mountain we go (which by the way was much easier than going up!), ferry across the lake and board our motor coach. Normally at this point our guides, Jennae and Chris, would present us with a picnic lunch but weather has dictated a change in plans. Instead of a picnic we opt to eat in the nice warm bus while we move toward Yellowstone.

Beautiful, spectacular, breathtaking…these words all seem inadequate when trying to describe the views and vistas along our route. There are just no words that do justice to the Tetons and the wildlife that we saw on this afternoon drive. The moose, elk, and mule deer we spot along the road seem oblivious to the towering mountains that surround us. After all, this is just home to them, but to us it’s like nothing we’ve ever seen before! We have a few photo op stops and on to Yellowstone West Thumb Basin for a tour of the paint pots and mud pots. Next stop, Yellowstone Snow Lodge, our home for the next two nights, but we have no time to dawdle - Old Faithful is scheduled to erupt in just a few minutes. I’m sure everyone has seen Old Faithful on TV but it’s so much better in person. You hear and feel the rumble before and during the eruption and our cold temps increased the steam surrounding the water flow. Just fabulous!

No rest for the weary, our day wasn’t over yet. The Snow Lodge and Adventures by Disney had arranged a private dinner just for our group. Our dining room has a great view with a wall completely full of windows, so when the snow finally arrived we were dining in the warmth while we watched it snow outside. Wonderful & relaxing!

Day 4 – Trail Blazers

Another chilly Wyoming morning and another day of adventure! We start our day with a morning viewing of Old Faithful. Stan, a park tour guide, was to travel with us today and enlighten us with interesting park details, trivia, and stories of the area. The geyser basin walkways loop around the Old Faithful area and provide great viewing for a combination of paint pots and geysers. Although Old Faithful is the most frequent erupting and well-known geyser, it’s not necessarily the most majestic geyser. The highlight of the morning tour was the eruption of Castle Geyser. This geyser only erupts about every 12 hours but its well worth the wait. Once the eruption started it lasted well over a half hour and was as picturesque as anything we’ve seen to date!