Grand Teton National Park/Jackson Hole WY

It's been far too long since my last post! Readers are "begging" for an update on my experiences and a new entry!! So - let's see what shows up!

The Moab and Canyonlands and Arches National Parks in the southeastern Utah area is one of my favorites. Easy/moderate hiking and biking, a day with Ara and Spirit (see previous post), and Jeeping in the Island In the Sky area of Canyonlands with RV caravanning friends, the Skinnels and their dog, BJ, kept me "off the streets" and a very "happy camper" during the first part of May.

This photo is of the Shafer Trail which switchbacks abruptly up over 1,000 feet from the lower mesa overlooking the Colorado River to the rim of Island in the Sky region of Canyonlands.

This photo of Corona Arch in Canyonlands at the end of an hour's hike.

In mid-May, moved up to Salt Lake City (my last permanent residence area and where I lived for 20-years), spending a busy month there and in Park City and Oakley making new and enjoying old friends, persevering through the semi-annual doctor and dentist visits and coach maintenance, and stocking up for the summer's portable living.

Lots of hiking and biking in Park City area, as well as biking along the Jordan River Parkway in the Salt Lake City valley. Over the past 3-months or so, have lost 20 pounds and blood pressure is way down -- I feel much spryer!

While I am familiar with and comfortable in the greater Salt Lake City area and can't have a better place to roost (friends - Turnquist's RV Resort), I prefer being in less congested, noisy and environmentally challenged areas. Am a fortunate guy to have the choice and a comfortable portable home to make it practical!

So, late last week, onward north to Jackson Hole WY/Grand Teton National Park area where, at about 6,500 ft. altitude in the Hole, spring is still very present with summer looming (low 40's in the early morning, and mid-to-high 70's during the day). This winter saw abundant snow and spring was wet and colder than normal. The Snake and Gros Ventre Rivers are in spring runoff flood stage.

Next photo is of my portable home and view of the Grand Tetons from my campsite in Gros Ventre National Park Campground. Pretty AWESOME!!

River-runners (and the businesses which provide the thrills) are in seventh-heaven. Here you see a raft going through the "Lunch Counter" rapids on the Snake River, which is at flood-stage.

Here are happy and wet recent river-runners, hiking up to waiting busses to take them home.

Here you see me trying out a demo kayak in Lower Slide Lake on the Gros Ventre River - "only $2,000 and it's yours," said the salesman. By the way - I did not run the rapids!!

Wild flowers are everywhere and the Jackson Hole and surrounding region's landscape is totally green. The Grand Teton and the Gros Ventre Ranges provide snow-capped backdrops.

Even the free-ranging Bison are content - resting in the wildflowers and soaking up nature's grandure in this vast and - for them - protected region.

Everywhere near the Tetons, in the town of Jackson, and up towards and into Yellowstone are increasing numbers of bicyclists, motorcyclists, tourists (Americans and foreigners) in cars, in rented RVs or their own RVs and others arriving by air at the seasonally very busy airport.

The Gros Ventre National Park campground 12 miles northeast of Jackson where I am esconced is not busy - yet. It is huge - 350 sites - quiet and serene adjacent to the cresting Gros Ventre River.

Hiking, biking, Jeeping, wild-life viewing, attending concerts, the Bar J Wranglers and hot-air balloon events, and preparing for and enjoying visits by friends here in this magnificient region likely will keep me out of mischief until July 21 when I'll return to Salt Lake City, put coach in storage and fly back to New England to visit my two sons and their families, as well as old and treasured friends until after Labor Day.