Kariann HaskellOur goal whenever we go to the Tetons is to get a camping spot at Jenny Lake. So off we go at 5AM to make it to the campgrounds around the time people are leaving.
Our luck didn’t hold out and we didn’t achieve a spot at Jenny Lake. The campground was already full. Sometimes, the Gods aren’t on your side.
Forging forward, we make our way to Colter Bay Campground, and found a sad site with little privacy. Still, set up and made camp, sharing a beer and our mistrials with the friendly squirrels.
The evening consisted of us going out on our Voyager Raft and exploring String Lake for wildlife, thanks to the woman at the Tetons office who helped register our boat.
Beavers circled us for a good portion of our paddle, slapping their tails and diving around us.
After that, we headed back to camp to rest for the next morning’s sunrise. We planned on being on the lake at sunrise.
4AM came very quickly after a cold night’s sleep. Shivering, we headed out to String Lake once again. Elk wandered lazily in the soft violet morning light. Boat in hand, we staggered down to the lakeside, and launched out into the icy basin.
It’s hard to describe the mornings like this, where we’re floating along without paddling, watching the water grow still and lap silently against the sides.
After rounding a small corner, I saw there was something in the water. As we approach, we see a magnificent elk standing out in the water, having his morning cold brew of lake h2o. We also suddenly realized our proximity to him and backed off a bit so I could continue to take images. He didn’t stay long, and retreated back into the forest to be majestic elsewhere. But a surreally beautiful moment regardless.
The entire morning was spent out on the water, watching different landscapes unfold with the changing light. Smoke clung to the sunrise, creating strange patterns in the clouds and a crimson-gold edge on all it touched. To our delight, we also got to see plenty of lake fog and more wildlife.
Hours pass and we pack up our car, camp, and boat to head back to Salt Lake. One last stop was an abandoned building somewhere by Bear Lake, Utah.
2018
2018 we headed to reclaim our rightful camping spot at Jenny Lake but were met with the same opposition as before, FULL. Defeated, we headed over to Jackson Hole Roasters – Restaurant & Coffeehouse to meet up with two of our favorite people, Sarah and Bradley.
After a coffee wake up and some planning, we decide to get a hotel room for the night at Flat Creek Inn. A quick rendezvous at Colter Bay Marina to rent some equipment and we were off on the water, realizing how much goddamn faster it is to be in a kayak and not a rowboat. Jackson Lake was beautiful but a bit windier than we fancied this day. One of our oars also cracked since Ronny is so jacked and tears apart simple plastics when met with water.
Sarah and Bradley went to hike onwards elsewhere, and Ronny and I went boating on our favorite stretch, String Lake, and explore a new lake, Leigh Lake.
Our campsite was at Signal Mountain Campground. After some delicious dinner, we met up with our friends to share some drinks and some fun. A trail led us off the road and down towards the water. The trees thinned out to show a small overlook to Jackson Lake, and Mount Moran across the way. From here, the night was spent laughing and enjoying the company of our friends in such a beautiful landscape. A little too much whiskey may have been had, and the next morning we headed home wounded and hungover.
