We thoroughly enjoyed our down town~ Jackson Hole, Urban time. Savannah completed her on line check points and virtual classes while sipping on a caramel Frappuccino. I updated blog, and Jim was on numerous conference calls pacing the wood lined sidewalks of the Jackson Hole, Square! Excellent shopping for picking up my Mom’s bday present, which we promptly got in the mail.. whew! 😉

We had snacks already packed and headed for the Grand Tetons. It’s been years for both Jim and I since we have been here, and as soon as we rounded the last bend, there they were. The majestic, powerful, breath taking Teton mountain range!  We stopped in for a visitor center visit. Savannah attended a Ranger seminar, and gathered her materials to complete the one of many State Park Jr. Ranger badges.

We hiked a 4 mile loop around String Lake, and it was absolutely gorgeous! There was a lot of buzz about the Grizzlies roaming, but we did not encounter any. However, we kept talking entire hike! Literally every direction was just an incredible site. I had to make an effort not to take 1000’s of photos and just truly enjoy the raw beauty of these mountains and lakes.

The Geology of the Teton mountains are fascinating in itself. In a nut shell: “Two of the most powerful forces in nature (Fire and Ice) created these unique boulders. Millions of years ago, lava filled with gas bubbles, erupted, cooled, and crystallized. Later Ice-Age carried rocks South from the Yellowstone Plateau into today’s Grand Teton National Park.”

After hiking we headed back to base camp where I quickly donned the wetsuit and grabbed the inflatable to get my Snake River, bucket list paddle in before dark! Savannah and Jim dropped me about 5 miles up stream. We decided since it was cool and the sun was about to go behind the mountain and I wasn’t sure the level of the stretch, so I let Savannah try and catch dinner instead! Unless I have run the river first, do I feel comfortable letting Savannah go with me… safety first, “Mom thing…” That being said it was a super Epic, FUN, and VERY FAST stretch of moving water. (Averaging 7:50 to 8:30 min miles the entire way, you can see it on my shadow along the banks!) Rapids were smaller than the Colorado stretch, but let me tell you that water was moving! Tons of bumps and the adventure factor was WAY up there, paddling in the wildness alone and personally uncharted waters. I didn’t see any wild life other than the abundant trout running, and a dude playing guitar on one of the banks. I arrived at base camp just before dusk, and pretty stoked to see Savannah fishing and Jim enjoying some quiet time on the banks with a cold one. We later enjoyed a yummy Salmon dinner, reading and hit the hay early for the next day’s adventures!