Munching grass
After my first year of high school, I travelled to Northwest Wyoming with my family. We spent several days in Yellowstone National Park, and then drove south to see the Grand Tetons. This is the second of Wyoming’s two National Parks, not as renowned as the first, but still beautiful.
On the drive we came across a group of cars on the side of the road, and we pulled over ourselves. The folks were looking toward a small river. Although the river, with mountains in the background, was cool, this was not the main event. A moose and its calf stood in the shallow waters, nibbling on tall grass. Wildlife sightings are my favorite moments on trips. In fact, this moment above all else is what I clearly remember about the Grand Tetons.
The town of Jackson is the urban epicenter of the Grand Tetons region. It lies in the valley known as Jackson Hole. Skiers flock to the area in the Winter for the epic powder. In fact, my friend Carl, an avid skier, recommended several things for us to do in Jackson. One was to right the gondola at Teton Village. It was early summer, so all the skiers were gone, and it was just visitors like us looking for a good view.
There’s Jackson Hole, then there’s Jackson
Jackson is a good town to get out and take a walk. Its town square is Western style, with log buildings and a Cowboy Bar. Chances are you’ll find more tourists than cowboys, but that’s nothing to sneeze at. For a more romantic look at the Square, take a horse drawn carriage ride.
Of course, the highlight of Jackson Town Square are the antler arches. At each corner of the central park, there is an arch made completely from elk antlers. Some of the antlers are bought on the antler market, while others are collected on the nearby National Elk Refuge. The arches need to be replaced every 30 to 40 years, and when that is done it is labor intensive. Each antler is placed individually. The end result is great spot for a photo.
To be honest, the arches are one of the few things I remember about the town of Jackson. Looking on Google Maps now, there are a lot of other features. Flat Creek runs near the downtown edge, and there is even a rodeo. I’ve been to one rodeo in my lifetime, on the grounds of Philomath, OR. It would be fun to see one in a real Wild West state like Wyoming. Finally, on a clear day any walk in Jackson will be sure to offer views of the mountains. The ski hills are so close it seems like one could finish their run right underneath the antler arches.
