The Inn At Jackson Hole, The Grand Tetons

Finally, after twenty-five years of talking about it, we made it to Jackson Hole, WY. An affordable place for vacationers, but a little steep for buyers. As the local realtors say, the billionaires have pushed the millionaires out. We have a nice efficiency with a fireplace, but it's unlikely that we'll have the opportunity to light up as the weather is too mild.

This morning we visited Sands Whitewater Rafting and were greeted by a young UNC graduate from Charlotte. She's working in Jackson for a second summer. Is that not great summer employment? She was helpful in selecting the equipment for our white water venture tomorrow, but we did have to make an emergency call to Julia to get info about a 'dry bag' in which to stash the camera during rough waters. Tomorrow we leave during the late morning for a six hour trip on the Snake River. The first half will be a float trip during which we will have a casual trip in calm waters, allowing for seeing and photographing the wild life of the Teton Valley. We'll stop off at a landing site, have lunch and don our wet suits. Then on to the great adventure in the rapids of the Snake River. Probably no more that a category 2. This is a bold step for Pat. It remains to be seen whether she will paddle or hold on to me or the guide.

After we booked the white water trip we departed Jackson for a trip through the Grand Tetons. Our travel took us throughout the valley on roads and trails. We saw pronghorns and bison at a close enough distance to photograph and a herd of elk that we could only see through glasses. Tomorrow on the river we will be much closer to the grazing pastures and water holes of the valley's wild animals. Hopefully we will get up close and personal to the herds. If we have a good guide, we may also see moose, bear and eagles.

Near the end of today's road trip we visited an old cabin occupied by a nineteenth century family. It's amazing the hardships that an individual or a family will endure to enjoy freedom as we know it and to have a plot of land to call their own.