Postcard Vacation

It started with a postcard...on a fifth grader's locker...of the Grand Teton National Park.

As soon as I saw it, I knew that was where I wanted to go...so I did. This year's road trip (3rd year running) with my friend was this past week and a half out west to the Tetons, Glacier, and Banff (with a few stops in between).

There are a ton of photos - nearly every time I turned around I was amazed even more by nature's beauty. (God is so good.) So I'll split them up into several posts. Let's start with the Tetons (where we camped for two days after staying in Wall, SD for a night):

This was our view driving into the park to our campsite.

Naturally we got out to snap a few photos.

We visited our campsite's visitor center after we pitched the tent.

It was so peaceful out back!

We found a good spot by the lake to sit and watch the sunset.

Apparently it's hard to see the person in the photo when the sunset is behind you...

Camping chairs for the win!

It was cloudy/overcast every day.

But the views were still breathtaking.

And it sure was cold!

On our first day we took a guided hike with a ranger and group of visitors.

  

Later that afternoon, we hiked the Phelps Lake trail. We actually ended up seeing a black bear, but with the help of a ranger (I like to think it was divine intervention), we made it past the bear and finished the trail before sunset. What a day!

Sunrise over the lake  - chilly but worth it to stand on the dock!

And then, of course, coffee! We found some every day, no worries.

On our final morning we hiked to Hidden Falls.

We stopped a few times to take in the view (and snap some photos).

At the top it was easy to see why it's such a popular trail... (We even ran into the ranger who helped us the previous evening!)

I think it's safe to say we were the most active in the Tetons, even though it rained/was misty and overcast every day. The park did not disappoint. And we were just getting started...next it was off to Glacier (via a drive through Yellowstone, a side trip to Idaho (new state!), and a stay in real beds in Helena (what a good decision to break up the camping on the hard ground...)), but that's all for another day.