The landscape changed dramatically on the ride from Dubois, Wyoming to the Grand Teton area. The open, red‑rock country around Dubois gradually turned into the steep, rugged terrain leading into the Tetons.
The Teton Range is one of the youngest mountain ranges in North America, beginning to form just 8 million years ago. By comparison, the Rocky Mountains started forming around 80 million years ago.
The Teton Range was formed along the Teton Fault, which uplifted the mountains while the valley floor dropped. Later, glaciers carved the rugged peaks, canyons, and lakes seen today. Unlike most mountain ranges that rise gradually through foothills, the Tetons erupt straight from the valley floor, creating one of the most abrupt and dramatic mountain fronts in North America.
Not far from the Teton Range is the town of Jackson, Wyoming, often referred to as Jackson Hole. The name comes from the deep valley the town sits in, surrounded on all sides by steep mountains, including the Tetons.
The Snake River winds through Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park at the base of the Teton Range. It’s one of the major rivers of the American West, stretching just over 1,000 miles. The river starts in the southeastern corner of Yellowstone and eventually joins the Columbia River in Washington, where its waters continue to the Pacific Ocean.
We had quite the adventure in Jackson. Uncle Matt surprised the boys with a white‑water rafting trip on the Snake River for their birthdays.
It was fun afternoon on the water. Thank you, Uncle Matt, for the birthday gift!
Sidenote: the boys seemed to fit in well here. They matched the rafting guide with their bucket hats and sunglasses!
It was a s’more type of night!
While we were in Grand Teton National Park, we stayed at Signal Mountain Campground. The boys could ride their bikes to the stretch of Jackson Lake located in the campground, where they spent time fishing, swimming, and collecting rocks.
The water felt quite glacial like here, but most of us made it in the water to swim.
Trying to warm up after a swim!
They never miss an opportunity to fish.
Using rocks from the beach, Asbury created his own version of the Grand Tetons.
Hollywood made an appearance for us. He’s the well‑known elk of Signal Mountain Campground. The rangers told us at check‑in that we’d likely come across him during our stay.
Another night, another s’more!
Next stop: Yellowstone National Park.