Sunday, May 25, 2014
We had to set an alarm to make sure we got up by 6am today.
I didn’t hear it go off but Clay was up and woke me at 6am. It was already
light outside. We could see it around the curtains. We were anxious to see what
it looked like out there this morning since we have a 2-3 hour float trip and
it poured yesterday and last night. We opened the curtains and we couldn’t see
more than several feet from the cabin. We were inside a cloud! It was cold too, maybe lower 40 to upper 30s F. We ate some
breakfast in the cabin, got bundled up with layers and set off.
The Snake River was very high and in places over its bank
from the heavy rain yesterday. It was flowing rapidly and Peter was surprised
in places where it was deep and had been meadows not long ago. He told us to
listen for the crackle and popping noises and explained that was the rocks on
the river bottom being tumbled along by the strong current. We saw a lot of
birds, mostly Canada Geese who are year round residents. But, we did see a bald
eagle, a pair of sand cranes (sorry, no photo again!) and a pair of white
pelicans.
It was looking like we wouldn’t see any moose which Peter had us on
the lookout for, but right before we put out, at Moose Junction, there was a female lying in the
willows beside the river. I don’t think Clay got a photo because she was hard
to see lying down in heavy foliage and backlit by the morning sun. The ears
gave her away. Peter had told us about a big bull moose they named Hollywood
who had taken up residence under the bridge by the Visitor’s Center at Moose
Junction a summer or so ago. He was sure we would see him. Well, after the raft
and the van were loaded we drove across the bridge and I saw something brown
coming down the river in the brown current. As it got closer to the opposite
shore, it got larger and larger and finally enough was showing that I realized
it was not a log but a swimming moose! A big one. I called it out and pointed
and Peter was very excited that Hollywood was back. He asked me where he came
from and I told him I guessed from the other shore because I thought he was a
log in the river when only part of his head was visible. Peter looked across
the trajectory the moose must have traveled swimming across the current and we
agreed he had to have just left from the parking lot we had just come from too.
Crazy! He was massive with small antlers right now. We drove back later and
walked out on the bridge looking for him since Peter said he was such a camera
ham but we didn’t find him.
As we were nearing Signal Mountain Lodge again from Moran
Junction, we saw a small black bear on a green hill not far from the road. When
we got back to SML about 10:30am the cloud over Jackson Lake was still there
but had retreated about half way across towards the Tetons. Peter showed us on a map a bunch of places to
drive and look for animals this afternoon.
Now we just had to get a map of our
own. Since the entry booths have been closed when we came through we haven’t
gotten the usual slick brochure and newspaper. After going back down to Moose
and the visitor’s center to get a good map, we drove everywhere Peter told us
and we saw a lot of animals today. Our best sighting was down the short side of
a paved road that Peter had not recommended but I told Clay to try first just
to see. We found our own private small bison herd. They were moving, large,
medium and small and they crossed the road right in front of us. It was
incredible! (I think we have no photos, because the bison were on my side of
the car when we spotted them, so I was going to take the photos. As they
started across, Clay told me to video them, but only gave me half the
instructions for how to do it. So, evidently I just watched it through the
camera’s view screen and didn’t video or photograph anything. I feel sick about
it because this was one of the highlights of our trip.)
We made our way all the way down to Jackson Hole or Jackson
the town. Clay remembered seeing an Albertson’s there but we didn’t find it. We
filled the gas tank and shopped at Jackson Whole Grocer. We bought supplies for
a couple of days of breakfasts and lunches. We stopped and parked next to
Jackson Town Square and walked around it. I had tried to get Clay to buy a pint
of Moo’s huckleberry ice cream for our dessert tonight at Jackson Whole Grocer.
We had a cooler full of ice in the car and it would be fine until we could put
it in the freezer at the cabin, but he said no. So, as we made our circuit of
the square we found Moo’s scoop shop and Clay said we could have some now. I
got huckleberry and it was delicious. Clay got something with chocolate and it
was ok but nothing special. We both really loved the huckleberry.
On the way
back to the cabin, we walked down a closed road where Peter told us to look for
moose and bears, but only found Canada geese and 1 coyote.
When we drove out
Pacific Creek Road which he said was full of bears, we only found elk. But amazingly, we
got to see a calf nursing and then reluctantly cross a stream. The
last animal we saw before getting back home was a moose. It didn’t rain all day
and the day turned out sunny and warm. We saw a lot of beautiful scenery and a
lot of animals. It was a good day.
We came home to watch the sunset finally give a few minutes
of a little color and then some stars came out as it got cold again and we ate
food we had stocked in our little kitchen. It was all good. We did have a
little snafu when we realized that the frozen pizza we bought needed to be
cooked in an oven and we didn’t have one. Clay cooked it in a Dutch oven on the
stove top and then finished it on a plate in the microwave. It must have been
good because he ate the whole thing. I finished off most of the rest of my
burrito from last night. I still didn’t eat it all. That was one crazy massive
burrito! It was good though. I had popcorn out on the back deck as I watched
the stars come out while Clay walked to the Lodge Registration building for
Internet access to check email. It doesn't get better than this!
We plan to wake up when we wake up tomorrow, but would like
to set off early to have a better chance to see more animals. Grand Teton and
Yellowstone National Park (our final park destination) are adjoining, so we
expect a scenic drive with lots of wildlife. Fingers crossed for good weather.
People we have spoken to here that came down from Yellowstone say there is
still a lot of snow on the ground and more bears here than there. Since we only
saw one here we hope that changes. There is plenty of snow still on the ground
here. Signal Mountain Road is still closed due to the snow packed on it. They
are still doing some plowing as we saw today, but a lot of it they must just
wait for it to melt. The other reason we heard for the road closure was that
there were mother bears and cubs up there. Maybe, there were a lot of folks
showing off their bear and cub photos. We got skunked on that one though. Well,
that is it for today.
Photos
Photos
