The Yellowstone Trek - Day 4

The last day in the parks, and we finally take our token picture with the Yellowstone sign. Only because it was 8am and no one else was there hogging it!

This was a meadow we drove through first thing every day, and the morning clouds were just so neat on the horizon. Thunderstorms were heading our way, we made it just in time.. One day I want to return, and just sit by a river and soak in all the quietness that we don't have in LA.

On our pass through the south loop the first time, we skipped by this turnoff. Today we stopped and I jumped out to take a look. Wow - right off the road is all this beauty, and we drove right by it the day before. What else is out there that we missed?

We continued on, on to Grand Tetons National Park. (You know, the green one on the map, just south of Yellowstone.) Have always wanted to visit this park, too, and now I really just want to go back!

We had packed up the maps in the car earlier that morning, but I mean, how hard is it to get there? Just follow the signs! Well, I took the road that went due south instead of the road that veered to the southwest. Spectacular sights on the road, but not the close up ones I was thinking of. We drove all the way to the southern end before catching the road that goes up by the Snake River. Doh!

After trekking our way back north (shh, dont tell anyone we were backtracking), we stopped at Jenny Lake, right at the base of the mountains. Kevin was conked out in the car, but the other two boys got out to mug for the camera.

Spectacular clouds and bright blue sky against these mountains - I took a TON of pictures! The boys climbed over the wall here and down the embankment to the shore of the lake. I was too tired to complain at this point, and figured they needed to get their legs stretched. I did get tsked tsked at by a passing German tourist, though. Oh well.

We continued our trek for the day, down to Jackson Hole... past cool cabins, the Elk Refuge, and into the town of Jackson. Yet another place I want to return to! We stopped for gas, ice cream, and a short walk through the town center. Lots of neat shops that reminded me a little bit of Big Bear.

A gorgeous sunny day, and I can only imagine how it would all be with everything covered in tons of snow and twinkling lights in the winter.

The drive on to Green River, WY, took us out of the mountains, and down across prarie - through very aptly named "Big Sky Country".