SLC to Grand Teton NP

Got up early & revisited Temple Square for a daylight view.

Another long drive today: 535 kms. Heading north. Weather forecast not good. Rain/snow (?) predicted, cold front on the way. Looks like winter woollies will come out of the suitcase again; no need to wash the shirts & t-shirts yesterday .... ?? (but all dried overnight). 

Long drive on freeways to exit Salt Lake City. Headed north on Interstate-15 then turn east at McCammon into Idaho on Hwy 30; topped up with fuel & changed into winter clothes! Temperature is now 48 deg F (do the calculations - about 9 deg C). We passed lava hot springs and cimbed up to Fish Creek Summit at 6066 feet (1850 m) which opened out onto an amazing valley on the other side: huge farms, very green - under irrigation.

At Soda Springs we turned north again & we passed a large Monsanto factory. Maybe that's why all the fields are so green: all that fertilizer!

The road narrowed but the valley widened: lots of mountains lined with conifers, huge lakes like Blackfoot Reservoir, streams, quaint farm buildings. 

The road & valley narrowed further, climbed, Grey's River paralled the road through to Tincup Canyon where we exited onto Hwy 26 & into Wyoming to Alpine Junction just after which there was white river rafting down Snake River which travels alongside us all the way to Grand Teton.

We eventually reached Jackson Hole.

By now, Julie, after a commendable start getting us out of SLC earlier in the day, had completely "lost it". We were navigating by My Friend 's phone app & my downloaded Google maps.

In Jackson, we loaded up with groceries, some great hot soup for lunch (it was by now about 4 p.m.) & got a Paper Map from the Tourist Info Service. Yay!

Fortunately, not too far to go now. Jackson looked "hip" - a bit like Banff (a welter of boutiques, galleries, and restaurants) but we pressed on as the weather was closing in & the day getting somewhat late. Looks like a fun place though & a big plus is the wonderful sealed bike track going all the way to the national park - all flat & beautiful views. What a great ride this would be.

The mountains as we entered Grand Teton NP were truly awesome: covered still in snow - &, today, a lot of fog! Still, we got glimpses & the sun did try hard to please. We saw a moose - briefly (too shy to emerge from his bush).

Arrived at Signal Mt. Lodge about 5.30 p.m. Sun came out in patches; we walked along the lakeshore. Just finished our dinner (great salads from the supermarket in Jackson) & it is now snowing large flakes!

Our cabin is overlooking the lake & we are looking across to the snow-capped mountains. Grand Teton itself is 13770 feet (= 4197 m!!).