Jacqueline’s Jaunts

Today, we started out going north from Fishing Bridge toward Hayden Valley. Our goal was to make it to the Gibbons Fall, south of Norris, and we did. We had rain and off-and-on snow flurries. We did a lot today and are exhausted.  Our first stop was Mud Volcano. We walked the boardwalk all around this area. Just amazing. The colors are so bright. We saw lots of bison prints all around the area. I took a few videos of the active mud pots to show their activity. Dragon’s Mouth Spring was a favorite. Be sure to watch the video below. It was named around 1912. The Mud Volcano area was fun to observe, and I learned about the difference between a Mud Pot and a Fumarole. Mud Pots are muddy springs, and Fumaroles are steam vents. See the photo below. Black Dragon’s Caldron and Cooking Hillside both have an interesting history, too. See the photos and videos below.  As we drove into Hayden Valley, we saw bison everywhere. Sometimes it was only a few together. There was one feeding by t...

Relief of the Tetons showing the names of the mountains.  Today we took the shuttle boat to the other side of Jenny Lake. It was cold going across the lake. It was like going across Lake McClure in our ski boat in the winter. We dressed for it, so it was not too bad. Surprisingly, the boat was full.  It was a half-mile hike to Hidden Falls, then another to Inspiration Falls. Hidden Falls was beautiful, and the rushing sound it made as it wound down from the Tetons was extraordinary. Standing on the bridge that crossed the falls, you could feel the spray. What a crazy, impressive site.  Hidden Falls Hidden Falls Bridge Onto Inspiration Falls. The climb was very manageable thanks to my trainer, Shay. She has really helped me prepare. The trail ends at the base of the falls, and what a pretty sight. We sat there for a bit, enjoying the sound of the water crashing to the bottom. We took selfies and lots of pics.  Inspiration Falls Inspiration Falls Elevation We followed ...