Category: Cross Country

I LOVE this park! It has everything I love: trails, forests, waterfalls, animals, rivers. I am SO coming back here for MANY more hikes and explorations!
This morning, I took a road trip around the park, visiting various scenic views and old homesteads.
In the afternoon, I went on a float on the Snake River. It was so much fun – even with a thunderstorm for part of the time. The views: spectacular! The people: fun! The water: refreshing!
I LOVE Grand Teton National Park!
View through the doorway of Cunningham cabin.

 

Snake River

 

Mormon Row Historic District.

 

Homestead with Tetons in the background.

 

Miss Addie relaxing.

 

A herd of bison along the road. Today, I also saw a bald eagle!

 

If you are ever in the Tetons, I strongly suggest going on a float!

 

Cooling off on the raft.

 

Storm’s abrewing.

 

LOVE!

There’s nothing like a big hike to offset a day of driving! I woke up early (for me!) so I could arrive at Jenny Lake by 8am – and find a parking spot.
Today’s hike: 10.5 miles around Jenny Lake to Hidden Falls and, after a big climb up switchbacks, Inspiration Point. (Hm…several parks I’ve visited have Inspiration Points – not very inspired naming!)
For much of the hike around the lake, there were very few people. Once I got to Hidden Falls, there they were! One option is to take the ferry/shuttle across the lake from the Jenny Lake Visitors Center to Hidden Falls – an option many people take.
The afternoon consisted of napping, reading, laundry, and vacuuming.
All in all, a refreshing day!
Jenny Lake

 

Jenny Lake

 

Great trail!

 

String Lake flowing into Jenny Lake

 

Anyone know the name of these flowers? They were all over the burn scar area – Alder Fire (1999) on Jenny Lake trail.

 

Hidden Falls

 

Inspiration Point

 

Laundry day

The drive through Montana and Idaho proved uneventful – flat scenery. And then! The Tetons came into view – WOWZA! Camping for three nights in the park itself – very nice. Tomorrow I’ll explore the park; tonight is relaxation time. 🙂

The view for many miles today.

 

First Teton sighting.

 

View of Jackson Hole from the top of Teton Pass, five miles downhill from here with a 10% grade. Addie did great with downshifting.

 

Wowza!

 

Twins! Both 2010 Chevy Roadtrek 190 Versatiles!

 

Sunset over Jackson Lake.
My “off” (non-travel supposedly relaxing) day started with goats joining me at my campsite. Bud, the largest, thinks he’s a dog and loves being petted. A 3.5 mile hike from the campground, through a marsh, into a forest, and over grassy hills astonished my senses. I enjoyed seeing flitting butterflies and buzzing bugs while listening to birds calling and leaves rustling.
Following lunch, Addie and I headed into town. Not only were there an old library, compliments of Phoebe Hearst, and an Art Deco theater, but there also were a car show at one park and an art festival at another park, both with live music.
Upon returning to camp, Addie rested while I showered in the campground’s claw foot shower. Ah… 🙂
Woke up to the camp goats. The goats and horses are all rescues.

 

Not sure if the chickens and turkeys are rescued!

 

A horse, a donkey, and a pony walk into a bar…

 

Can you see the butterflies flitting and bugs buzzing in the marsh?

 

Car show in the downtown park…

 

Phoebe Hearst, wife a California Senator George Hearst who invested in the Anaconda copper mine, donated the library to improve the culture of the town.

 

Washoe Theater – I peeked in and the employees welcomed me to see the theater including turning the lights on so I could see the majesty of this historical landmark.

 

Relaxing in Addie’s shade.

What a day of contrasts! From Glacier I traveled to Flathead Lake for several miles. Beautiful and BIG lake! (“Flathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake in the western US (by surface area) outside of Alaska.”)
After Flathead as I approached Missoula, I noticed the sky looking hazy, the smell smoky, and my eyes itchy. Yep, surrounded by fires.
Missoula, the second largest city in Montana and home of the University of Montana, has a darling downtown and, according to Wikipedia, a thriving brew pub industry. Lunch? Fish tacos and a beer at Tamarack Brewery.
While walking off my beer, I discovered the Elks Lodge 383, a beautiful old building containing both the lodge and apartments.
The final leg of today’s journey was almost a Plan B. Google’s directions to the Hipcamp I’m staying at led me astray. Fortunately, I was able to reach the owner who talked me to the correct place, an old western town. Karen, the proprietor, bought the property in 2019 and rents spaces in the refurbished buildings as a B&B. When she realized how many people are having trouble finding camping sites, she opened up some of her 52 acres to dispersed camping via Hipcamp.
That’s a long post for today! Addie and I are enjoying our adventure!
Flathead Lake

 

Smoky skies!

 

Surrounded by wildfires 🙁

 

Fish tacos and an award-winning beer 🙂

 

Seen while walking around Missoula

 

Missoula

 

Elks Lodge (no RV facilities though!)

 

 

Right now in Anaconda there’s a thunderstorm warning…

 

My Hipcamp for the next two nights!

Today was a Plan C day!

Plan A, driving to the east side and exploring Two Medicine Lake, was scuttled due to a hostage/fatality incident closing HWY 2, the route to the east side (

https://www.usnews.com/…/great-falls-police-report…

). 

Plan B was interrupted by a grizzly bear. I took the shuttle to Jackson Glacier Outlook and planned to hike from there to St. Mary Falls. About 1.5 miles in, after I saw Deadwood Falls and a hanging bridge, four people hurried toward me from the direction I was heading. They had seen a grizzly on the trail about .25 miles down and only .25 miles from my destination. The grizzly started walking toward them, so they turned the other direction. I decided that even with my bear spray attached to my waist belt and ready for me to use, the wise decision was to turn around. 
Plan C: I hopped on the shuttle and hiked to Baring Falls and St. Mary Falls. Only minor glitch: the last shuttle out left at 4:50 pm, so I hightailed it out of there at a fast pace for the final 2.3 miles (under 17 mins/mile). 
Jackson Glacier, expected to fully melt by 2030.

 

The trail from Jackson Glacier Outlook

 

 

Clear water – Deadwood Falls

 

Hanging bridge

 

St. Mary Lake

 

Baring Falls

 

The pool of water under St. Mary Falls

 

St. Mary Falls

What a phenomenal day! Before I talk about the extraordinary beauty of this national park, I want to first praise the customer management systems they have in place. Everything from entering at the gate to getting hiking ideas from someone at the visitors’ center to the efficient shuttle system was smooth and effortless.
Now the beauty… I did two gorgeous hikes today, the first about six miles to Avalanche Lake. During this hike, I enjoyed the fun and reflective conversation with a recent grad from Indiana University who is traveling solo as she figures out what’s next for herself combining environmental justice and theater. Following that hike, I headed up to Logan’s Pass for the three mile round trip to Hidden Lake Overlook. The highlight was the herd of mountain goats eating grass and flowers right next to us on the trail!
Culling my pics from *71* to 10 created a challenge!
Stream from Avalanche Lake

 

Mini-waterfall near Avalanche Lake

 

Avalanche Lake with the mountains reflected in the water. 🙂

 

This butterfly hung out for quite awhile on my boot – practiced yoga breathing to remain still.

 

Another view of Avalanche Lake

 

Hidden Lake Trail

 

More views of Logan’s Pass from Hidden Lake trail.

 

Views from Hidden Lake trail

 

Hidden Lake!

 

One of many from the mountain goat herd feeding next to the trail!

Such a cool day! Left Spokane in the morning and walked around Coeur d’Alene for a bit. In Montana, visited Kootenai Falls and Hanging Bridge. The falls reminded me of Iceland and the hanging bridge of Costa Rica. 🙂 Now just outside Glacier – although I have a National Park Pass and a shuttle ticket for tomorrow (and another shuttle ticket for Thursday), I’m quite curious to see how the process will go, especially in comparison to Zion and given it’s summer…

Bridge over the train on trail to waterfall.

 

Waterfall

 

Waterfall

 

Guess who?!

 

On the hanging bridge

 

The hanging bridge!

 

Coeur d’Alene

 

The lake in Coeur d’Alene

 

The river trail in Spokane links with this trail in Coeur d’Alene

Following my WONDERFUL visit with Lynne and Ken, I left Bainbridge this morning in the ferry to Seattle. The ferry adventure was smooth and uneventful – yay! Headed to Spokane where I did the necessities – Trader Joe’s, Safeway, and Costco Gas – on my way to the KOA in Spokane. Hey, at 9 pm I get to see Harry and the Hendersons (or whatever the title is!) on an outside screen! Walked 5.5 miles along the Spokane Riverwalk Trail. Now grilling salmon for dinner. 🙂
Evening update: Showers were free even though I thought I’d need to use my quarters – hot and clean, too. Kids on the lawn watching the movie – sweet. Neighbors are friendly…Gary and Darlene, from Alabama, exploring national parks (left Glacier today and heading to Rainier tomorrow). Retired police officer…handed me religious brochures along with Glacier hike recommendations. Conversations with people outside of my “pod”: one of the reasons to travel!
Spokane Riverwalk Trail, part of the 63 mile Centennial Trail. https://spokanecentennialtrail.org

 

Spokane River. What you can’t see are the 97° temps!

 

Spokane River

 

Spokane River

 

I’m not in California anymore! I wonder who/why rubbed out the last word…

 

I love having dual SIM cards on my new phone and that I can do front facing portrait mode selfies, but I haven’t figured out how to take portrait mode flower pics. Suggestions?

 

 

Lovely day today! Hiked with Lynne and two of her Bainbridge besties, Renee and Marilyn. The forests and beaches on this island, even though there has been no rain for a record-breaking six weeks, are beautiful. In the afternoon, Ken’s daughter Sheryl and Sheryl’s husband Drew came over from Seattle for a belated Father’s Day celebration – and Amy and her cousin Naomi dropped by for a visit. Busy, active, and social day!

 

 

 

Hiked about (Fitbit on the fritz) eight miles total to and from the Heceta Head Lighthouse. The trail took me through a lush coastal forest and fern-covered meadow before ascending to view the lighthouse from above. After that terrific sight, walked down to the lighthouse itself, the keepers’ house, and the beach. Built in 1894, three keepers kept the oil flames aglow until electricity arrived in 1934 and reduced the need for keepers.
The latter part of the day consisted of splitting logs – first time I’ve used an axe! – and the usual RV chores – cooking, cleaning, refilling fresh water tanks, and dumping black and gray tanks.
Relaxed in the evening with my campfire and grilled salmon and salad.  🙂
Hard at work with trip planning! Progressive lenses are sometimes not enough!

 

 

Tree-shrooms!

 

Anyone know what type of tree this is?

 

Wherever the wind blows!

 

 

I spy…

 

Still lighting the way!

 

And I didn’t hurt myself!

Had a wonderful dinner and evening last night with Kate and Chuck! So good to catch up after too many years. I know I’ll see them next year as they’re storing Addie parts for me – the awning and side door trim pieces! Thanks so much, Chuck, for taking care of my Addie for me! She looks – almost – as good as new!
After an early rise so I could miss the 8am-12noon road construction closure of HWY 101, I headed up the coast to Washburne State Park in Florence, OR. What a treat! Not only is it beautiful and quiet, the camp hosts are lovely and I’m surrounded by trees with only a short walk to the beach. Perfect!
I put last summer’s RV trip dinner cooking skills to work – I bought oysters at a local fish market and grilled them. So cool when they “pop” letting me know they’re ready to eat. Thanks for the oyster grilling lessons, Joel!

 

 

 

 

Morning errands, including buying a folding step stool and a single serving coffee French press, followed by a beautiful hike in the Arcata Community Forest. Enjoyed playing with my “natural windows” photos! Afternoon beer at a local brewery. Chuck, Kate’s talented husband, cleaned up Addie and plugged her holes with boat-grade silicon. She’s feeling much better! Fun to hear people at the pub share their stories of vehicle scapes and bruises!

Hiking in the forest with Kate and BJ, age 9. Velo, age 11, was better off resting his joints at home today. Kate and Chuck have raised eight dogs for Guide Dogs of America. Four became guide dogs; BJ and Velo chose to stay with Kate and Chuck.