trails – Page 2 – NATIVE LENS

Across Jenny Lake to Cascade Canyon

June 27, 2017July 15, 2017Tagged backpacking, boat, boat dock, boat launch, hiking, jenny lake, majestic mountains, mountain lake, mountaineering, mountains, national park, nature photography, photography, shuttle, snow, trails, water fall, wildlife, wyomingLeave a comment

By Marc Bowen

About three weeks ago I hiked the Taggart Lake-Bradley Lake Loop trail in Grand Teton National Park. If you would like to read about that hike please read my blog post at Hike into Taggart and Bradley Lakes . Today I talked my daughter Nicole into taking a day off from her busy schedule and driving to a trailhead just a mile up the road from where my last hike began.

Jenny Lake Trailhead

Glacially carved Jenny Lake is the second largest lake in the park covering about 1191 acres. It’s also one of the deepest at 423 feet. It’s named after a Shoshone woman named Jenny who married a trapper by the name of Richard “Beaver Dick” Leigh. They were both part of the Hayden Expedition to the area in 1872. Richard worked as a guide and Jenny assisted with camp logistics. Nearby Leigh Lake is named after Richard Leigh. Sadly in 1876 Jenny and their six children died of smallpox.

JennyLakeOverlookhdr — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Jenny Lake in early morning before sunrise (photo taken 1 year ago Aug. 2016)

We parked in the Jenny Lake boat launch area, put on our packs and gear and headed down to the east boat dock. Our destination today would be Cascade Canyon.

Cascade Canyon Trailhead

Cascade Canyon is located on the west side of Jenny Lake and we had two options for getting there. We could hike 2.5 miles around the south end of the lake on the Jenny Lake Loop Trail or take a shuttle boat across the lake to Cascade Canyon Trailhead.

Boatlaunch — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Jenny Lake shuttle boat launch

Many hikers take the shuttle especially if they are hiking all the way up the canyon to the Forks. The shuttle boat cuts-off 2.4 miles of walking each way and makes what would be about a 15-mile hike a 10-mile hike instead.

JennyLakeShuttleNicole2 — Photo by: Marc Bowen

The shuttle costs $15 round trip and boats launch every 10-15 minutes from 7am to 7pm daily all summer long. Lake cruises are also available.

The 12-minute ride across the lake was nice with absolutely stunning views of the Tetons!

WestBoatDockJennyLake — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Jenny Lake west shore boat dock, GTNP

The Jenny Lake west shore boat dock sets at the base of Cascade Canyon and the mountains tower over this area.

JennyLakeShuttleNicole — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Nicole shooting scenery on the Jenny Lake shuttle

MarcCameraGTNP — Photo by: Nicole Klingler – Marc on the Jenny Lake shuttle

WestBoatDockJennyLake2 — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Jenny Lake west shore boat dock, GTNP

There is a lot to do and see when you leave the west boat dock. Hidden Falls is a half-mile away and Inspiration Point is a mile away. We found out that there is actually an upper Inspiration Point and a lower Inspiration Point. If hiking to the upper point you take the Cascade Canyon Trail and the lower point is just off the trail to Hidden Falls.

CascadeCanyonNicole — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Nicole on Cascade Canyon Trail, GTNP

We headed up Cascade Canyon Trail on our way to the upper Inspiration Point. This trail is beautiful and the first 1/4 – 1/2 mile was pretty steep and winds through pristine conifer forest and patches of huckleberries.

MarcCascadeCanyonTrail1 — Photo by: Nicole Klingler – Marc hiking Cascade Canyon Trail, GTNP

About one mile from the boat dock is the side trail to Inspiration Point. We were so busy taking pictures that we walked right past this left fork without seeing it and continued on and up the canyon.

MarcCascadeCanyonTrail4 — Photo by: Nicole Klingler – Marc in Cascade Canyon, GTNP

Cascade Canyon, Grand Teton National Park

This trail takes you 5 miles up the canyon to north and south forks in the trail. At the forks a left takes you down the south fork of Cascade Canyon and a right takes you in the direction of Lake Solitude.

CascadeCanyonNicole3 — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Nicole on Cascade Canyon Trail, GTNP

There were breathtaking views of Mount Owen (12,928 ft) and Mount Teewinot (12,325 ft) as they towered high over the canyon floor.

CascadeCanyonNicole2CROP — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Nicole in Cascade Canyon, GTNP

At this point the canyon starts widening as the trail follows the stream at a gentle grade up the canyon.

CascadeCanyonCreek2 — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Cascade Canyon Creek, GTNP

Just beyond this point there is some flat water and a lot of willows, perfect habitat for moose. We actually saw a big bull moose just off the trail a short distance farther up from here. He was magnificent, shoulder deep in the brush, dark brown with antlers covered in dark brown velvet. I took a few shots at him with my camera but the resulting images were not satisfactory.

We talked to some hikers coming down the canyon and they warned us of a female black bear with cubs just off the trail about a mile farther up. By now we knew we had missed the trail to Inspiration Point and decided this was probably as good a time as any to turn around and head back down the canyon.

Inspiration Point (upper)

Roughly a mile back down the trail we found the side trail to Inspiration Point that we had missed. A few minutes later we were there. Quite a view of the lake and valley from up there. In the above photo shuttles can be seen running between the east and west boat docks.

InspirationPointPano — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Inspiration Point

When Nicole and I got to this point there were quite a few people out enjoying the view. I used my iPhone to get this pano and thought it was a good representation of the view we had from there.

Hidden Falls, Grand Teton National Park

From Inspiration Point we hiked back down towards the boat dock with the intention of heading over to Hidden Falls. The skies up until this point had been cloudy off and on but now we started feeling a few drops of rain which wasn’t a concern at first. But as we started getting closer to the dock and the side trail to Hidden Falls, a heavy rain began to fall. We could hear thunder echoing down the canyon walls and see flashes of light a short distance up the canyon from us. Lightning! I love watching storms from my front porch but having lightning in the area while hiking is a real concern. There really isn’t a ‘safe’ place to be. As the storm continued the rain turned to hail and we saw dozens of people moving fast toward the boat dock. I knew the boats weren’t going anywhere until the storm ended. People were gathered under trees, umbrellas, coats or what ever they could hold over there heads. Every time lightning flashed I wondered where it was going to hit next. Nicole and I moved into the brush under thick, dense pine trees put rain gear on and waited it out and as the rain began to subside we headed up the trail to Hidden Falls.

HiddenFallsNicole — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Nicole at Hidden Falls, GTNP

Hidden Falls drops about 200 feet down a series of ‘stairs’. We could hear the roar of the falls long before we could see it. There was so much water coming down the falls while we were there that it was creating a thick cloak of mist.

After we left the falls we took a side trail to what is now called ‘lower’ Inspiration Point. The storm had completely passed to the east and in the photo below you can see the dark clouds of the thunderstorm across Jenny Lake.

After a quick hike back to the boat dock we waited for the next boat, boarded and crossed the lake again. Then back to the parking lot, we loaded our gear into the car and headed back home.

Despite the lightning, rain and hail it was a great day for a hike! I really like Cascade Canyon. Definitely one of the most scenic I’ve hiked so far. I’m sure I will be back. But next time I’m there I want to hike all the way up the canyon then north to Lake Solitude, one of the most beautiful lakes in the park.

Till next time…

Get out and hike!

Hike into Taggart and Bradley Lakes

June 5, 2017July 14, 2017Tagged backpacking, camping, hiking, landscape photography, mountaineering, national park, nature photography, photography, snow, trails, wyoming2 Comments

By Marc Bowen

Taggart Lake-Bradley Lake Loop hike

Location – Grand Teton National Park
Taggart Lake Trailhead elevation – 6625 feet
Hike length (in and out) – 5.5 miles
Total Elevation Gain – 585 feet
Highest Elevation – 7190 feet
Trail Difficulty Rating – 6.67 (moderate)

*The above info courtesy of TetonHikingTrails.com

Last year toward the end of July my wife Renae, daughter Nicole and I hiked the Taggart Lake – Beaver Creek Loop which is a pleasant loop hike of about 4 miles. It’s 3.2 miles if you just hike into Taggart Lake and then back out the same way (click on the link for more info on last year’s hike). One week later some friends and I hiked into near by Bradley Lake on the Bradley Lake Loop Trail which is just under 5 miles in and out.

This time I decided to hike to Taggart Lake and go part way around on the Beaver Creek Loop then double back and take the Bradley Lake Loop along the east shore of Taggart Lake and then over the glacial moraine into Bradley Lake.

TaggartLakeTrail1 — Photo by: Marc Bowen

Early Monday morning I drove the 58 miles from my home to the trailhead parked my car in the parking lot, put my gear on and headed up the trail. The aspens don’t have all their leaves yet but are still quite beautiful.

TaggartCreekBridge — Photo by: Marc Bowen

Taggart Creek is not too far up the trail and I seldom cross the bridge without stopping to capture the beauty of this stream. It’s a good thing there is a bridge because fording the stream would have been difficult with all the water coming down this year.

TaggartCreekFallsJune2017 — Photo by: Marc Bowen

The light of the morning sun was gorgeous, filtering through the trees and across the tops of the mountains.

Just around the bend from the bridge over Taggart Creek were wildflowers that were looking fresh and happy. It had rained the night before and all the colors were crisp and bright. Just through the trees in the back ground I could see some mountain peaks glowing with morning sunlight.

TaggartLakeTrail2 — Photo by: Marc Bowen

From there the trail climbs over a low ridge and on toward the majestic Teton mountain range. One of my favorite things about hiking in this area are the magnificent views from just about anywhere on the trail. Hard to beat!

TaggartLake1 — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Taggart Lake, elev. 6902 ft, average depth 80 ft, size 110 acres

If you get here early the lake is usually ultra-calm and will produce some awesome reflections.

TaggartLake2 — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Taggart Lake

I arrived at the trailhead this morning about 6:30am and was the first car in the parking lot. So I had the trail and this lake all to myself for about the first hour. There was a lot of moose sign around so I half expected to see one at sometime or another. While photographing the lake I heard some heavy pounding on the trail behind me and turned expecting a moose but saw a woman out for a morning trail run. Trail runners are becoming a pretty common sight on the mountain trails.

As I headed north along the northeast shore of Taggart Lake the trail began to wind and ascend through pines, Douglas Fir and meadows full of daisies.

TaggarttoBradleyTrail — Photo by: Marc Bowen

The trail continues to climb several hundred feet up a moraine (ridge) that separates the two lakes from each other.

On the other side of this moraine and down the slope is Bradley Lake and on these north slopes the trail is still covered by snow in many places sometimes making it difficult to follow.

BradleyLakePano — Photo by: Marc Bowen (iPhone pano) – Bradley Lake, elev. 7027 ft, size 215 acres

After leaving Bradley Lake I continued the loop trail back to the trailhead and the formerly empty parking lot was now full of cars, trucks and tour buses which is typical any day of the week during the summer.

It was so nice getting back out and hiking again especially in the Tetons. They still remain my favorite hiking destination!

Palisades Creek Trail To Upper Palisades Lake

May 23, 2017June 18, 2017Tagged backcountry camping, backpacking, camping, eastern idaho, hiking, horseback riding, landscape photography, moose, mountain biking, mountain lake, mule deer, nature photography, photography, snow, trails, wildlife1 Comment

By: Marc Bowen

Two weeks ago I hiked Palisades Creek Trail into Lower Palisades Lake. To read more about that hike please click the link Late Spring Hike To Lower Palisades Lake. That post has a lot of photos I shot along the four miles of trail between the trailhead and lower lake.

This morning I arrived at the Palisades Creek trailhead at about 7:30 am and then hiked at a steady pace stopping only once during the first four miles to lower my pack to the ground, grab a snack and a photo.

UpperPalisadesCreek — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Palisades Creek

Last time I hiked this stretch it took me almost four hours to reach the lower lake because I stopped many times along the way to shoot the scenery and glass the cliffs for mountain goats. This time it took me two hours less because I took just this one shot of the creek from one of the five bridges along the way. Two weeks ago the water was brown with runoff but now it has cleared up quite a bit. Still a little water on the trail in some places but much less then last time.

LowerPalisades2wkstweek — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Lower Palisades Lake (today)

The photo above shows what the lower lake looks like today. The photo below shows what the same lake looked like two weeks ago. Big difference in two weeks. Much greener now. More leaves on the trees/brush and the lake water is green instead of brown. Also there is less snow on the mountain.

LowerPalisadesLake — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Lower Palisades Lake (2 weeks ago)

The trail continues along the waters edge at the left side of the lake and then on up the canyon about another three miles to Upper Palisades Lake.

BridgeAboveLowerPalisades — Photo by: Marc Bowen

This (above) is the bridge that crosses the lower lake outlet.

LowerPalisadesabovelake — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Lower Palisades Lake

(above photo) Looking back across Lower Palisades Lake towards the canyon and the trail that leads back down the four miles to the trailhead.

About one hour of hiking past the lower lake I took a break in this nice shady area. There are a few campsites near by and a hitching post for horses.

Also in this area is this forest service cabin (above photo) which hasn’t been used in awhile other then by the local wildlife. Door was unlocked and ajar but wouldn’t open very far because the floor has buckled.

UpperPalisadesLakeBasin — Photo by: Marc Bowen

The trail climbs up a ridge overlooking Palisades Creek and I could look across to the ridge on the other side and just over that ridge in an upper valley (see above photo) is where Upper Palisades Lake is located.

To get there the trail descends back down into the canyon and crosses over another bridge there.

Pretty nice bridge for back country stream crossing. Makes me wonder how the people at the forest service got it there.

About one hundred yards past the bridge I spotted a cow moose grazing the grass from the bottom of the marsh. I watched her for awhile and thought about getting closer but when she wasn’t looking at me she was looking at something in the willows to my left and I suspect she had a calf or two hidden in there somewhere. If my suspicions were correct and I had moved in for a closer shot she would have been on me in no time. Not wanting a mama moose mad at me I moved on up the trail.

Not far up the trail I looked up to see a young mule deer watching me from a bend in the trail. This little guy gave me just enough time to snap a shot and then disappeared.

(above photo) View from the top of the trail looking back down the canyon I just climbed out of.

UpperPalisadesLake2 — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Upper Palisades Lake

Upper Palisades Lake sits at an elevation of just over 6700 feet and is about two miles long. The water is a blue-green color (more green then blue) and is quite striking where the water covers the sand around the submerged portions of the island.

UpperLakeCampground — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Upper Palisades Lake camp site

There are several decent campsites around this end of the lake. I hiked part way up the trail on the left side of the lake, rested, ate my lunch and then headed back. I saw several mountain bikers ride into this lake while I was there and am extremely impressed that anybody could make it this far on a bike.

I had originally planned to hike past the upper lake and into Waterfall Canyon where a 90 foot waterfall is probably gushing water this time of the year. But that would have added another five miles of hiking for a grand total of nineteen miles. I didn’t feel I had it in me and wasn’t sure I had enough daylight left either. So I headed back happy I had made the effort to see this beautiful lake but already a little tired and honestly not looking forward to the seven mile hike back. It took me about four hours to reach the parking area and although exhausted and hurting, I am already looking forward to my next hike.

Late Spring Hike To Lower Palisades Lake

May 9, 2017June 18, 2017Tagged backcountry camping, backpacking, camping, day hike, hiking, horseback riding, landscape photography, mountain biking, mountain goats, mountain lake, mule deer, nature photography, photography, snow, trails, wildlife2 Comments

By: Marc Bowen

I had been itching to do this hike ever since I heard the trail was clear of snow. Then another snowstorm and a week of ‘iffy’ weather caused me to postpone one more week.

Getting There

From Rigby I drove to Swan Valley then to Irwin. Just past Irwin I took a left on Old Irwin Rd/Palisades Creek Road. Then 2 miles in on a dirt road to the campground. Just past the campground is the trailhead for Palisades Creek Trail. I saw five head of deer along the edge of the trees as I pulled into the trailhead parking lot. They saw me and scattered so I wasn’t able to get a photo of them.

PalisadesCreekBridge1 — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Palisades Creek trail head

The trailhead parking area sits at an elevation of 5500 feet and has a restroom and info board with map of the area.

Beginning the hike

At the trailhead I crossed the first of many bridges along the way. It is a pleasant 4 mile hike from here to Lower Palisades Lake with only about a 500 foot elevation gain. Because of this you can make good time and if you push it you can make it to the lake in two hours. It took me a lot longer as I stopped often to capture images of the beauty around me.

PalisadesCreekSignIn — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Trail registration box

Less than 1/4 mile up the trail the US Forest Service has a sign-in area and asks for hikers to register on their way in and again on their way out. I wish all trailheads had one of these. Just another way to make a hiking experience a little safer.

PalisadesCreekSunflare — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Palisades Creek

The trail follows Palisades creek pretty much all the way into the lower lake. It had rained during the night and everything was fresh and clean looking. The Trees and bushes were getting there leaves and grass was growing, the colors vivid!

PalisadesCreekfalls — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Palisades Creek

This is a very scenic and fast moving stream, swollen and muddy now due to snow melt.

PalisadesCreekfloodingtrail1 — Photo by: Marc Bowen

Because the water level was so high there were 3-4 areas where the stream overflowed its banks and sent water down the trail creating a new stream for short distances. This is one of the reasons I use trekking poles. They help me keep my balance as I try to keep my feet dry and also are great for gauging the depth of water in case I need to cross.

PalisadesCreekBridge2 — Photo by: Marc Bowen

There are about 5 bridges between the trail head and the lower lake as the trail crosses back and forth across the stream. These are bridges built not only for human traffic but also horses. This trail is popular for horseback riding and also mountain biking.

PalisadesCreekTrailhighside — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Palisades Creek Trail

Palisades Creek Trail changes elevation quite a few times from down level with the stream to a few 100 feet above the stream with some grand views.

PalisadesCreekBridge2b — Photo by: Marc Bowen

Many parts of this canyon are lined with cliffs and sweet looking rock formations. If you take time to stop and check the cliff ledges above you, you might see some mountain goats. I had been told that there were quite a few in this area but didn’t see one until about a mile or two up the canyon.

Mountain Goats love to eat along the cliff edges and watch hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers from their lofty perches. Many hikers I’m sure walk right by them without seeing them.

This goat watched me the whole time I watched it.

PalisadesCreekTrail3 — Photo by: Marc Bowen

The trail pulls away from the creek at times and meanders through some beautiful groves of trees and vegetation.

PalisadesCreekTrail — Photo by: Marc Bowen

SwitchbacksToLowerLake — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Palisades Creek Trail

Not long after I walked across the fifth bridge of the hike I started up a rocky incline which would be the first of five switchbacks before reaching the lake.

LowerLakeCampground — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Lower Palisades Lake campground

Just before I reached the lower lake there was a nice campground off to the right of the trail with several campsites and an outhouse off in the trees behind the area.

Lower Palisades Lake sits at about 6100 feet elevation. I read that it was created by a huge rockslide blocking the stream ages ago. The lake was muddy brown from runoff but still picturesque. I ate my lunch and visited with a couple of hikers who arrived shortly after I did. They were some of the first people I had seen since early morning. (I ran into three hikers when I first started my hike. They were finishing their hike and had spent the night at the upper lake the night before.)

After lunch I headed back to the trailhead. I ran into several hikers and mountain bikers on the way back and saw some more mountain goats. It started to rain when I was about 30 minutes from the car. I keep a rain poncho and waterproof jacket in my pack but decided to relax under a big tree with lots of cover until the rain stopped which was long enough to reflect on this beautiful hike and plan my next one. I decided I would hike this same trail next time but keep going until I reach the upper lake and maybe go a little farther up into Waterfall Canyon. Already looking forward to it! Happy hiking!!

Hiking The Volcano – N Menan Butte

April 21, 2017April 30, 2017Tagged backpacking, birding, buttes, crater, desert, hiking, landscape photography, nature photography, photography, rock formations, snow, trails, volcano1 Comment

By: Marc Bowen

Extinct Volcanoes

There are two cratered buttes not far from Rexburg Idaho called North and South Menan Buttes. About 38 years ago while attending Ricks college I climbed down into one of them. I wasn’t hiking though. It was a stupid response to a dare from a college friend to see if I would drive my Jeep CJ5 down into the bottom and back up the other side. We escaped injury on that trip (although the Jeep required some minor repairs). I was young, dumb (that particular day anyway), somewhat naive and not too concerned with safety issues or environmental impact concerns…So recently I have been planning on hiking the North Menan Butte but the weather has been bad. Finally the weather broke enough for me to go (although I did get snowed on 3 different times during the hike).

MenanButtes_ali_2010268 (2) — Photo courtesy of earthobservatory.nasa.gov

These two ancient volcanoes are two of the worlds largest volcanic tuff cones, slightly larger then better-known tuff cone, Diamond Head on the island of Oahu. The North Menan Butte (the larger of the two buttes) is publicly owned and is designated a National Natural Landmark and a Research Natural Area by Congress. The N Menan Butte Trail is a 4.2 mile out and back trail that ascends the west slope to the rim (an elevation gain of 1,158 ft) and then circles completely around the crater and back down the west slope.

MenanButteNorth — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Looking north at North Menan Butte from South Menan Butte

Getting There

There are several ways to get there. From Rexburg it’s about 11 miles to the trail head. You can go west on hwy 33 then left on East Butte Rd then west on Twin Butte Rd until you reach the trail head parking area. Or north from Menan on N 3600 E/Twin Butte Road until you get to the parking area.

MenanButteNorthTrailhead — Photo by: Marc Bowen – N Menan Butte parking lot

Hiking The Butte Trail

The above photo was actually captured at the end of the hike but as you will see in the next photo there was a dusting of snow on the butte earlier in the morning when I started my hike.

MenanButteNorthtrail1 — Photo by: Marc Bowen – N Menan Butte Trail

The first section of trail is well maintained, well marked and a nice steady climb. It was a little chilly at first but it wasn’t long until I could remove my outer layer of clothing.

WatchandListensign — Photo by: Marc Bowen

At various places along the trail there are interpretive signs with interesting facts about the area. This sign talks about the wildlife in the area and the different habitats needed to survive. Behind the sign and across the highway I could see the Deer Parks Wildlife Mitigation Unit. It is a 2,500 acre wildlife management area that is great for bird watchers as there are about 38 different species in the area.

MenanBsnowonfences — Photo by: Marc Bowen – N Menan Butte trail

At this point in the trail I started seeing spots of white snow on the fence railings from the most recent snow storm. When taking a break to catch my breath I always turn around to enjoy the views. My camera is attached to my right shoulder strap of my pack using a CapturePro clip so it is always ready for use.

MenanBCaveSteeptrail — Photo by: Marc Bowen – N Menan Butte trail

Farther up the trail gets very rocky and hard too see if not for pole fences and a chain fence to guide you in the right direction. This portion of the trail is pretty steep, had me breathing hard and my legs were starting to feel the grind. All along the west slope I could see small caves, and a lot of lichen covered rock.

MenanButteTrailofchains1 — Photo by: Marc Bowen

I use trekking poles so I didn’t need to grab hold of the chain on the way up. I can see where they could help a hiker with no stick or poles.

The Crater Rim Trail

NMenanButteNorthTrail — Photo by: Marc Bowen – west rim heading north on butte trail

As you reach the rim of the crater you can go right (counter-clockwise) around the crater or left (clockwise). I chose left but would recommend going right for anyone hiking this trail for the first time. I will explain why later in this post.

TheSnakeRiverPlainsignCROP — Photo by: Marc Bowen

This interpretive sign is the second sign I saw as I hiked the trail north on the west rim. The sign faces west towards the Lost River Range of mountains. That mountain range has seven peaks over 12,000 feet high including Mt Borah the state’s tallest. The sign explains how the Snake River Plain below was formed and how large it is. It extends from eastern Oregon to Yellowstone National Park.

NMenanButteTrailheadfromButte3 — Photo by: Marc Bowen

From the west rim I could see the parking area for N Menan Butte and three other buttes on the horizon. East Butte, Middle Butte and Big Southern Butte. Those buttes are collapsed volcanoes (no craters). Just beyond them is Craters of the Moon National Monument.

Faultymountainssign — Photo by: Marc Bowen

The next interpretive sign I came to faces north west towards the Lemhi Range and explains how that range was formed.

InsideNMenanButteoffNorthTrail — Photo by: Marc Bowen – N Menan Butte crater (looking south east)

At this point on the trail as I turned to my right and looked south east down and across the 200 foot deep crater and the east rim I could see the Snake River winding it’s way through the valley.

InsideSouthsideNMenanButte — Photo by: Marc Bowen – N Menan Butte crater (looking south west)

The above photo I captured while standing in the same spot as the previous photo but looking at the south rim of the crater and the part of the trail I just came up.

MenanBrockformation1 — Photo by: Marc Bowen

NmEnanButteRockForms — Photo by: Marc Bowen

It was great to see all the different rock formations in the area. Ever since I was a kid I have been kind of a “rock hound” and have an interest in geology. I actually took a geology class at Ricks College in Rexburg not too many miles from here.

NMenanButteNorthToDunes — Photo by: Marc Bowen

While looking out over the plains I loved seeing the numerous storms moving through the area. Looking north the St Anthony Sand Dunes can be seen in the distance.

StAnthonySandDunessign2 — Photo by: Marc Bowen

The St Anthony Sand Dunes are the largest set of dunes in Idaho and cover 175 square miles. They are 35 miles long and 5 miles wide and the dunes range from 50 to 400 feet tall… While on this part of the trail I noticed the wind picking up and the temperature dropping and as I looked out over the plain I could see a storm headed my direction so I prepared for snow. By the time the storm hit I had on my warm outer coat, stocking hat pulled down over my ears and gloves on and was actually quite comfortable and the brief storm was beautiful.

NmenanButteMicrowaveTowers — Photo by: Marc Bowen – N Menan Butte communication towers

By the time the storm had passed I had reached an area where the trail connects with an access road. The sun came out, the wind quit blowing and it warmed up enough where I needed to remove my outer layer again. This is the north summit of the butte and it has a communications installation. It is disappointing to have this nature area marred by technology but understandable given its the highest point in the area.

Just past the communications towers the maintained road ends and turns into the remnants of a 4 wheel drive track. There is another interpretive sign facing west towards the crater and has information about the raptors in the area.

HenrysForkRexburg — Photo by: Marc Bowen

Looking north east from this area the Henry’s Fork of the Snake can be seen below. In the distance I could see the Rexburg Temple and on very clear days the Tetons can be seen 50 miles away…This butte I am standing on also has another name. The locals call it “R Mountain” because of the big white ‘R’ painted on the north east slope that can be seen for miles.

Some interesting facts from this sign were that these rivers support one of the most extensive cottonwood gallery forests remaining in the western United States and from here is an excellent view of where the Henry’s Fork and South Fork come together to form the Snake River. I could also see more snow storms moving through the area. I got hit with another storm just down the trail from here.

IndianPaintbrushCROP — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Indian paintbrush

This is the only flowering plant I saw in the area so probably still a little early for wildflowers.

East rim looking west. This sign was put up in memory of Coach Lee Terry who coached cross-country for 20 years at Madison High School. He trained on these trails and always taught by example the importance of keeping natural areas like this clean, pristine and free of trash and human debris…While on this hike I saw half a dozen people running the trails. Several days ago was the Spitfire Ultra Race, an annual 12k/25k race on N Menan Butte.

Looking from the south rim towards The South Menan Butte… Earlier in this post I recommended hiking the crater in a counter-clockwise direction instead of clockwise. At this point in my hike I had a difficult time distinguishing the main trail from other faint trails in the area and as the trail began climbing up the south rim from the lower east rim I couldn’t see very far ahead of me because of the steepness of the trail.

The trail I thought was the the correct trail took me into the bottom of what is called the Wind Bowl. It is also a dead end. So I back tracked and it took me awhile to find a faint track up some steep rocky areas to get to where I needed to be. By hiking this trail from the other direction (going right instead of left or counter-clockwise instead of clockwise when you reach the rim of the crater coming from the trail head) I think it would be easier to see the trail. You can usually see a lot farther ahead of you hiking downhill then uphill.

The interpretive sign that talks about the Wind Bowl explains how the bowl was formed.

Looking down into the Wind Bowl I could see S Menan Butte and the town of Rigby in the distance.

Looking south west and standing in front of the Glass Mountains sign I learned about the composition of the rock underneath my feet and how these buttes were formed.

MenanButteTrailofchains4 — Photo by: Marc Bowen

Heading back down is always a little quicker then coming up and a time for me to reflect on what I have seen, learned and experienced.

Almost there…

This was a nice spring hike. Not too difficult but a nice progression to more difficult hikes down the road. My daughter and I plan to take my grandsons on this hike sometime in the next week. That will be great fun!

Cress Creek Nature Trail

March 2, 2017March 19, 2017Tagged first hike, hiking, hiking prep, interpretive trails, landscape photography, nature trails, photography, snake river, snow, trails, volcano2 Comments

By: Marc Bowen

This past winter where I live was a rough one. The worst in over 25 years. So there wasn’t many opportunities to drive into the mountains because of treacherous roads and deeper then usual snow. It was a difficult task just getting out of the driveway most mornings. I was able to exercise inside regularly and stay in decent shape throughout the winter so I would be somewhat prepared for the spring/summer/fall hiking seasons. But nothing prepares you better then actually getting out on the trail with a backpack full of all your gear.

HIKING CRESS CREEK TRAIL

There are foothills a short distance from my home and the south slopes are some of the first places the snow begins to melt. In those hills above the south fork of the Snake River there is the Cress Creek Loop Trail. The trail gets its name from the watercress that grows in the nearby creek and is a favorite food for the moose in the area. I finally got out and up the trail the beginning of March this year. There was still snow on most areas of the trail but only a few inches. The temperature was about 34 degrees Fahrenheit and the sky was mostly cloudy but no wind. I dressed in layers but the outer layer came off about half way up the trail. The first half mile of Cress Creek Trail is paved and is wheelchair accessible. This is a self-guided interpretive trail with 18 interpretive signs with info about the geology and ecology of the area. The trail is not difficult and is a 1.3 mile loop with 285 feet of elevation gain winding through bunch grass, sage brush and groves of Rocky Mountain and Utah Juniper.

UtahJuniperCrop — Utah Juniper – Photo by: Marc Bowen

From the trail you can see the South Fork of the Snake River, farmland, mountains and volcanoes.

CressCreekWesternViewcrop2 — Looking west towards the Menan Buttes – Photo by: Marc Bowen

The air was fresh with the smell of juniper and sage as I stood on the trail looking west. I could see the Menan Buttes in the distance which are two of the worlds largest volcanic tuff cones and behind them the Lost River Range of mountains.

This hike was the perfect chance to try out my new waterproof Keen mid boots. They were very comfortable and light weight and don’t seem to need much in the way of ‘breaking in’.

And I tried out my CapturePRO camera clip. When hiking its difficult to get all the photos I like unless my camera is hanging from my neck (which annoys me) So I usually carry it on my hip in a zipped, padded case. This is more comfortable but still not very handy and the case will sometimes catch on rocks or foliage. The CapturePRO camera clip is attached to the shoulder strap of my backpack. My camera locks into place safely and releases quickly whenever I need it.

On this hike I only made one loop of the trail. In the next week or two I will be back and make two loops (2.6 miles) instead of one and then increase to three and four loops of the trail a week or two after that. By then I may be able to get in to some other trail systems at higher elevations.

It was so nice to get out and hike for the first time this year! Even just a short hike like this does wonders for the soul. So…get out and hike!

Upper & Lower Mesa Falls

September 20, 2016February 10, 2017Tagged birding, camping, day hike, eastern idaho, henry's fork, hiking, landscape photography, lower mesa falls, Mesa Falls, mesa falls scenic by way, nature hike, nature photography, photography, snake river, state park, trailhead, trails, upper mesa falls, water fallLeave a comment

By: Marc Bowen

A couple of weeks ago I drove up to Mesa Falls, about a 45 minute drive from where I live. This area is located just north of Ashton Idaho on the Mesa Falls Scenic By Way. What a beautiful drive, most of it along the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River. After you pass the Bear Gulch area one of the first turnouts you come to is the Lower Mesa Falls parking lot. If you walk over to the viewing area you can see the lower falls down in the canyon. Personally I have not shot a photo of the lower falls from this viewing area because I haven’t found an angle that I like. You really need a long lens to get a decent shot from this vantage point. Less then a mile up the road is the turn off to Upper Mesa Falls. This is a fee area and there is a visitor center there that is worth checking out.

HIKING MESA FALLS NATURE TRAIL

As I parked my car in the parking lot I put my backpack on with the intention of hiking the Mesa Falls Nature Trail. The trail head is at the south end of the parking lot and is an easy 2.2 mile in and out hike that takes you to a plateau just above the lower falls. My plan was to hike this trail, get some shots of Lower Mesa Falls and then shoot the upper falls. It’s a pretty hike through fairly thick forest. I saw and heard plenty of birds during this first part of the hike. About half way down the trail I decided to leave the trail and hike over to the edge of the canyon for some photos but also to see if there was a way down into the canyon. I wanted, if possible, to find a way down and then hike up river to get a shot of the upper falls from a different vantage point.

There are steep cliffs pretty much all along the canyon below the upper falls. I searched at great length for a way down and found a few places where I MIGHT have been able to descend safely but I probably wouldn’t have been able to climb back out so I gave up.

At that point I discovered that I had lost my water bottle somewhere so I searched for a while but didn’t find it. I decided not to hike the rest of the way down to the lower falls and back without water. So I hiked back to the upper falls to get a few shots.

uppermesa1 — Upper Mesa Falls – Photo by: Marc Bowen

Upper Mesa Falls is about 114 feet high and 200 feet wide. You can hear the roar of the falls from the parking lot. There is a half mile of boardwalk and viewing platforms between the falls and the visitor center. After exploring some of the paths and enjoying the view from some of the platforms I headed home, did some research and and found out that there is indeed a way down into the canyon.

DESCENDING INTO THE CANYON

So… today’s trip to the falls was for the purpose of getting some shots from down in the canyon. I arrived just before sunrise before anyone else was there, loaded my camera gear, water and snacks into my backpack and headed down to the southern most viewing platform. I then carefully climbed over the guard rail onto a rocky outcropping and then down a very steep mostly unused trail.

In the above photo (upper right corner) you can see the stairs down to one of several viewing platforms. To the right of the platform is where the trail begins. I doubt very much that the park staff want visitors climbing over the rail. That’s why I went early before the visitor center opened or any other visitors arrived. I didn’t want anybody else following me over the rail and down the steep dangerous trail. If you are not a photographer I would not recommend doing this. Its just not worth it considering there are better views of the falls from above.

mesafallslowview1colorfx — Photo by: Marc Bowen

ON THE RIVER BELOW THE FALLS

It took me about 20 minutes to reach the river. One thing not real noticeable until you see the falls from this perspective is that Upper Mesa Falls is actually a series of two falls with a smaller water fall just below the big one.

mesafallslowview2 — Photo by: Marc Bowen

The hike back out with 25-30 lbs on my back was definitely more challenging then the hike down. After climbing back out and over the rail, the bench in the viewing area was a welcome sight and sorely needed until I got my breathing under control and some water down me. No regrets though. Another little adventure checked off my list. I still want to finish the Mesa Falls Nature Trail hike and explore the Lower Mesa Falls area and will do so in the near future.

Menor’s Ferry & Chapel Of The Transfiguration

September 7, 2016February 10, 2017Tagged day hike, family hikes, grand teton national park, historical, homestead, Jackson Hole history, landscape photography, national park, photography, trails, wyomingLeave a comment

By: Marc Bowen

In September I drove to Grand Teton National Park to do some hiking but the area I planned to hike was closed for maintenance. So I drove over to check out the historical Menor’s Ferry area.This area is in the unincorporated community of Moose Wyoming. To get there I drove through the south entrance to the park and took the first right into a parking lot in front of The Chapel of the Transfiguration. It was a beautiful morning and the sun was just coming up. I decided that I would get a few shots of the chapel with the morning light on the mountains behind it.

CHAPEL OF THE TRANSFIGURATION, MOOSE IDAHO

The Chapel was built in 1925 and provided religious services for dude ranchers and tourists who didn’t want to ride the 12 miles into Jackson. Services are still held here every Sunday during the summer time. It is also very popular for weddings.

chapelinside — Chapel of the Transfiguration – Photo By: Marc Bowen

The Chapel can seat about 60 people and this amazingly beautiful view behind the altar is quite inspirational!

MENOR’S FERRY, MOOSE IDAHO

There is a paved path around the parking area that also loops through the trees along the nearby Snake River. Along this path are restrooms and a number of old historical buildings, cabins and such built in the late 1800’s.

menorferrycrossing — Menor’s Ferry – Photo By: Marc Bowen

Bill Menor made a homestead claim on the west side of the river in about 1890. Using a cable system he built a ferry with docks and a wooden pontoon boat.

For homesteaders and ranchers living on the east side of the river this was the only place in Jackson Hole to cross over (and stay dry) into what is now Grand Teton National Park. Besides the ferry there was a store and blacksmith shop and all this became the center of the Moose area.

Another interesting fact I found out was that the Moose area was the setting for a motion picture in 1955 called ‘The Far Horizons’ about the Lewis and Clark expedition. It starred Fred MacMurray, Charleton Heston and Donna Reed.

This is a beautiful place with lots to see. The park visitor center is located here and is one of the nicest visitor centers I’ve been to…

Well, I may not have been able to do the hike I wanted but I still enjoyed my day and was able to see a few new places and ponder what it must have been like for those first homesteaders to live in this place. I can’t imagine how hard life would have been here. But to be able to see the beauty of the Tetons every day would have been ‘balm to the soul’ for sure!

Hiking the Leigh Lake Trail to Bear Paw & Trapper Lakes

August 30, 2016February 10, 2017Tagged backcountry camping, backpacking, bear, bear country, canoeing, day hike, family hikes, glacial lake, grand teton national park, hiking, hiking tips, horseback riding, jenny lake, kayaking, landscape photography, leigh lake, mountain lake, mountaineering, mt moran, mule deer, national park, nature hike, nature photography, nature trails, paddle boarding, photography, portage, string lake, tetons, trailhead, trailride, trails, wyoming1 Comment

By: Marc Bowen

About three weeks after hiking into Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes I decided to hike the Leigh Lake trail. ( In the photo above is Leigh Lake ).

I have gotten into the habit of arising early enough to be at the trail head by daylight but didn’t think about the fact that by late summer the sun is rising a little later each morning. So when I arrived at the Leigh Lake trail head in Grand Teton National Park it was still very dark. I didn’t want to just sit there in my car waiting so I decided to drive to the Jenny Lake overlook and take some long exposure shots of Jenny Lake while still dark. There is a chain of three lakes in this area of the park that are all connected by inlets and outlets. Jenny lake is the southern most lake then String Lake in the middle and Leigh Lake to the north. You can actually float your canoe or kayak from one lake to another with some short portages.

THE JENNY LAKE OVERLOOK

I arrived at the overlook about a 10 minute drive away. Early mornings are great in the mountains. No sounds of civilization but not as quiet as one might think. The wind in the trees and sounds of the forest waking up all make their own sweet music. The fresh air and subtle smells of pine, damp earth and wildflowers help revive the soul and awaken the senses. Ha ha now I sound like a free spirit talking all sappy like that. But I do feel that I am recharged mentally, emotionally and spiritually after these trips. Now…early mornings in the dark, alone and hearing rustling noises in the underbrush on occasion can make me a little jumpy at times. Using a flashlight to aid in setting up my camera on a tripod and pointing the lens towards the lake and mountains that I can’t see but know are there tends to ruin any night vision. And any time I hear a noise behind me I’m twisting around flashing my light over the surrounding area hoping nothing is sneaking up on me. Need to bring my headlamp next time. Below is one of the images I captured of Jenny Lake while looking towards the west before sunrise.

THE TRAIL HEAD AT STRING LAKE

Afterward I drove back to the Leigh Lake trail head which heads north from the String Lake parking area. From the parking lot you also have access to the String Lake beach. String Lake looks more like a wide channel connecting Jenny Lake and Leigh Lake and sits just below the steep slopes of Mount St. John and Rockchuck Peak. It is a shallow lake with a sandy bottom and water temperature that is quite pleasant. This has been a popular swimming area since the early 1900s when guests of nearby dude ranches and early homesteaders enjoyed the lake’s clear waters.

stringlakebeach — String Lake – Photo by: Marc Bowen

Now not only do people come here to swim but also to paddle-board. They will also launch their canoes and kayaks from here and paddle north less then a mile to Leigh Lake.

ACCESSING THE STRING LAKE LOOP TRAIL

From the parking lot is the trail head for the Valley Trail, also known as the String Lake Loop Trail. Trail head elevation is about 6800 ft. As I began my hike from here I followed the part of the trail that goes along the east edge of String Lake and stopped along the way to capture the beauty around me. The view of the mountains are spectacular from many parts of this trail. Mount Teewinot is 12,325 ft high, Mount St. John 11,430 ft and Rockchuck Peak is 11,144 ft high. Mount Moran (12,605 ft) can be seen in the distance (photo below) bathed in early morning light.

stringlakemtmoran — String Lake – Photo by: Marc Bowen

The trail is well maintained and an easy hike through this stretch.

leighlaketrail — String Lake Loop – Photo by: Marc Bowen

One reason I like to start my hike early is to beat the crowds. I didn’t see anyone at all on the trail until about 2 hours into my hike.

I saw many different kinds of waterfowl on the lake and a Bald Eagle in the trees along the west edge of String Lake (see image below).

stringlake2 — String Lake – Photo by: Marc Bowen

The lake really narrows down through here and gets to a point where it’s too shallow for kayaks and canoes. Then they must be carried a short distance to the Leigh Lake portage area.

stringlakeportagearea — String Lake portage area – Photo by: Marc Bowen

The trail splits here going left across a long foot bridge and up into Paintbrush Canyon (a hike I will take at a later date) and right to the Leigh Lake portage area (see below).

leighlakeportagearea — Leigh Lake portage area – Photo by: Marc Bowen

NEARLY BROKE MY CAMERA

All morning I kept one eye on my surroundings and the other on the trail checking for any fresh bear sign and making as much noise as one person can make to avoid meeting a bear on the trail. This area is well known for it’s bear sightings. As I came to the steps going down to the portage area I decided to go down and set up my camera and tripod on the beach. Just as I secured my camera to the tripod I heard a crash in the brush behind me and heart pounding I whirled around to see that a grouse had dropped down from a tree into the brush which was a relief. But in my brief panic I accidentally knocked over my camera and tripod into the sand and gravel! As I knelt over my equipment I thought for sure I would find something broken but other than a few scratches everything seemed to work fine.

View (above) from the beach of Boulder Island and Mount Moran in the background. There are about four Islands on the lake and I hear that they are fun to explore by canoe or kayak.

leighlaketrail2 — Leigh Lake trail – Photo by: Marc Bowen

After I left the portage area I followed the trail around the south end of the lake and over a low ridge. The early morning sunlight was beautiful as it filtered through the trees. Being late August some of the plants in the area were already starting to show some fall color.

HIKING THE LENGTH OF LEIGH LAKE

Leigh Lake is the third largest lake in the Tetons. 2.8 miles long, 2.4 miles wide and 250 feet deep which makes it one of the deepest in the park. It is named after Richard “Beaver Dick” Leigh, a trapper and guide who led expeditions into the area in the 1870’s. Nearby Jenny Lake is named after Beaver Dick’s wife, a Shoshone Indian. As I hiked the trail along the the east edge of the lake I noticed a variety of coves and bays with different views of the mountains.

leighlake2 — Leigh Lake – Photo by: Marc Bowen

Some beaches were open and filled with boulders and easily accessible.

leighlake3 — Leigh Lake – Photo by: Marc Bowen

Some were harder to get to and strewn with deadfall and thick brush. In the photo above you can see in the distance a small rocky island with a tree standing in the middle.

leighlake8 — Leigh Lake – Photo by: Marc Bowen

There are also a few beaches with soft white sand that are great places to rest and enjoy the view.

Most mornings there is very little wind so the mountain reflections are awesome!

leighlake7 — Leigh Lake – Photo by: Marc Bowen

About half way along the edge of the lake there is a good sized sand and gravel beach.

leighlakesandybeach — Leigh Lake beach – Photo by: Marc Bowen

Just inside the tree line are three campsites with fantastic views of the Tetons. I noticed that the park service installs “bear boxes” in these areas. These are metal boxes or lockers that campers are required to put their food in, are easily opened by humans but bears can’t get in them. I also noticed steel poles that looked like flag poles near the campsites. These poles have a pulley system and several hooks at the top to hoist and raise your food out of reach of bears. Because of frequent visits from black bear and grizzly bear to these campsites campers must be extremely careful about food storage.

leighlake5 — Leigh Lake – Photo by: Marc Bowen

These beaches on the lake are very popular for canoe and kayak camping and the fly fishing here can be an awesome experience. Leigh Lake holds many Cutthroat, Brook trout and Mackinaw. I have not fished this lake myself but intend to at some point in the future.

The Leigh Lake trail is about a 7 mile in and out hike. Which is a nice hike. I didn’t find the walk to be very difficult, there were some up and down but overall not a lot of elevation change. Most people hike to the north end of the lake and then turn around and head back. There are two more lakes to see to the north of Leigh Lake. By adding about two more miles on my hike I was able to see Bear Paw Lake and Trapper Lake.

BEAR PAW LAKE

As I left Leigh Lake I continued following the trail as it rounded the north end of the lake I walked through an old burn and then through some open meadows as the trail headed directly toward the base of Mount Moran. The first lake I came to was Bear Paw Lake.

It’s a lot smaller then Leigh Lake but is more secluded as not many people choose to hike this far in. In the above photo you can see the lower slopes of Mount Moran at the head of the lake. As I’ve mentioned before this is bear country. When hiking alone I tend to talk out loud to myself while banging my trekking poles together ever so often. I also like to play music (instrumental not rock) at full volume from my iphone. I get some odd looks from people at times but have had a few folks comment that they liked the way I chose to let the animals know I’m on the trail. As I followed the trail around the lake with my music playing I startled a deer that came crashing out of the brush ahead of me. It didn’t hear me until I was right on top of it because of the noise made from a stream plunging down the slope into the lake. I was thankful it hadn’t been a bear.

bearpawlakecamp — Bear Paw Lake campsite – Photo by: Marc Bowen

There are several secluded camp sites around the lake. I rested while I ate my lunch at the above camp site and as I left the site to get back onto the trail another deer (or maybe the same) stood in the trail ahead of me calm and not afraid. I waited for it to move off before I proceeded up the trail towards Trapper Lake.

TRAPPER LAKE

Trapper Lake sets further up the slopes of Mount Moran and gets it’s water from Skillet Glacier.

I was a little bit disappointed with Bear Paw and Trapper Lakes and I shouldn’t have been. On their own they are pretty little lakes. But when I compare them to Jenny, String and Leigh Lakes they don’t even come close in my opinion. I had debated whether or not to hike the extra miles to these lakes but had decided I would never have a better chance to see what they look like. I don’t regret the decision. I just was not ‘wowed’ by them.

HEADING BACK DOWN THE TRAIL

On my way back down the trail I talked to a couple who had forgotten their bear spray and asked me with some trepidation if I had seen any bear. They heard my music playing long before I reached them. I told them I hadn’t seen a bear at all during the five hours I was on the trail and if they made plenty of noise going up the canyon they should be okay.

I also ran into about a dozen people on horseback heading up the trail to Bear Paw and Trapper Lakes. As I hiked back along the shores of Leigh Lake and String Lake I encountered many hikers of all ages and nationalities working their way up the trail. Even one guy with and inflatable kayak (deflated) on his back. He was headed all the way to the north end of Leigh Lake to put in and paddle the length of the lake then portage to String Lake and paddle it’s length back to the parking area. I thought I might try that sometime. I have an inflatable kayak but I’m not sure I could hike that far with it on my back. I think I would rather paddle both ways.

By the time I reached the trail head and String Lake beach area it was getting warm, about 80 degrees. The parking lot was full and there were a lot of people enjoying the water, swimming, canoeing, kayaking and paddle boarding. You won’t find a more beautiful area to hike and/or play in the water…I look forward to visiting the area again but next time I will bring my wife, kayak and fishing pole!

Hiking To Amphitheater & Surprise Lakes

August 16, 2016February 10, 2017Tagged Amphitheater Lake, backcountry camping, backpacking, black bear, glacial lake, grand teton national park, hiking, hiking blog, hiking in the tetons, hiking tips, landscape photography, mountain lake, mountaineering, mule deer, national park, nature hike, nature photography, outdoor blog, photography, Surprise Lake, tetons, The Grand, trailhead, trails, trekking poles, wyomingLeave a comment

By: Marc Bowen

One of my favorite hikes in the Tetons this year and the most difficult (for me anyway) was hiking the Amphitheater Lake trail out of Lupine Meadows. The hike is about 10 miles round trip with a 3000 ft elevation gain. Both Amphitheater Lake and Surprise Lake sit close together, one above the other at about 9600 feet. If you don’t plan on spending the night on the mountain you will want to make an early start up the trail.

On this trip I traveled alone and was very careful about my preparation. I had my backpack with high protein and high carb snacks, plenty of water, camera gear, bear spray, map, compass, binoculars, survival gear, first aid kit, trekking poles and cell phone with portable charger. I also made sure my family new exactly where I would be and what time I would return. I have found that in most areas of the Tetons I have some cell phone access. So it is great that I can give some updates as to my progress to family members who might otherwise worry about me.

LUPINE MEADOWS TRAIL HEAD

I arrived at the Lupine Meadows trail head just before sunrise. To get there I drove from Jackson to Moose Junction then through the Park’s south entrance past the Taggart and Bradley Lakes trail head. Then I took a left at the Lupine Meadows turnoff (midway between Taggart Lake and Jenny Lake parking lots). From there its about 1.5 miles of dirt road to the trail head parking area. Just before I reached the Lupine Meadows turn off while it was still dark I saw some movement ahead of me on the road, slowed and stopped as a large herd of elk crossed the highway. This is not an uncommon sight as many mornings I am on the road before daylight and I am always on the lookout for wildlife. Such a beautiful sight watching these large animals at close range silhouetted against the lightening sky. After they crossed the road I moved on, briefly took my eyes off the road to glance at my phone screen’s map (I have my phone mounted on the dashboard) and saw in my peripheral vision a large porcupine in my headlights. I wasn’t driving very fast so was able to stop in time but everything in the passenger seat ended up on the floor. Shortly after moving down the road again my eyes starting watering and I began gasping and sneezing and noticed a strange peppery taste in my mouth so pulling over I rolled my windows down and opened the door. I then got out walked around to the passenger side door opening it and checked the items that had fallen on the floor from the seat. That’s when I figured out what happened. Among the items that had hit the floor when I slammed my brakes was my bear spray which had briefly discharged when it hit the floor! I kept the windows down while I drove the rest of the way to the trail head. Lupine Meadows sits right at the base of the mountains and it is a beautiful place filled with lush grass and wildflowers.

STARTING MY HIKE UP THE AMPHITHEATER LAKE TRAIL

When I could see well enough to begin my hike I donned my gear and headed up the trail. This trail can be busy in the morning. It’s the only trail in the park that heads directly up the face of the Tetons. I saw early morning trail runners and saw several people with climbing gear on their backs. Mountain climbers use the trail to reach Garnet Canyon and then climb the Grand Teton and other nearby peaks.

The first quarter mile of trail was the easiest, traveling along the length of the meadows with the sights and sounds of Sandhill Cranes and other birds in the marshy area of the meadows. Then the trail turned towards the mountains and a steady climb to the 1.7 mile mark where the trail forks south towards Bradley and Taggart Lakes or straight up the mountain toward the Garnet Canyon junction. From this point the trail begins switch-backing across the mountain’s face gaining altitude at every turn. By the time I reached this first fork I was already feeling some fatigue and set a goal to at least reach the next fork to Garnet Canyon which would be the 3 mile mark. I find that on difficult hikes I do better if I cover the distance in stages. Setting a goal to reach the end of the first stage, stop, drink water, let my heart rate return to normal, check my surroundings for photo opportunities then move to the next stage and do the same. This works great especially on really long sweeping switchbacks. As the trail crosses the mountain’s open slopes there are some beautiful views of the peaks above and the valley below.

bradleytaggart — Bradley and Taggart Lakes – Photo by: Marc Bowen

Bradley and Taggart Lakes can easily be seen from many parts of the trail. I saw deer many times while hiking. Some on the slopes, some at the edge of the trail near springs and I even had a couple of mule deer fawns walk down the trail to within a few feet of me stop and check me out showing no fear. I also saw a female Ruffed Grouse on a log beside me paying me little attention as her babies walked around and between my legs as I stood there. So cool!

By the time I had reached the 3 mile point at the Garnet Canyon Junction I was tired and winded as I contemplated the sign that read 1.7 miles to Surprise Lake. At this point the switchbacks are still quite long and sweeping and seemingly endless but I knew I could make it the rest of the way if I took my time. At the end of the next switchback I could look north and see portions of Jenny Lake and Jackson Lake.

jennyjacksonlakes — Photo by: Marc Bowen

In the photo above you can see the slight haze in the distance. There were several fires burning in Wyoming that made the distances hazy but not bad enough to affect the air quality. Really not noticeable at all while hiking up the mountain.

The last 1.5 miles of switchbacks are steep and less sweeping and my progress slowed way down as I struggled up the last steep climb and into the Surprise Lake area. It took me almost 5 hours to hike the 5 miles into this area. That was disappointing to me because I felt like I was in better physical condition then that. There were times coming up the trail with my heart pounding in my ears that I physically could not go another step until I had rested, watered and got my breathing and heart rate under control. Then I would look up the trail a ways to the end of the switchback and tell myself “I can make it that far”and then do it all over again with the knowledge that “I’m almost there!” So instead of being disappointed at how long it took me to get there I congratulated myself for not giving up and turning back and for pushing through even though it was very difficult for me.

ARRIVING AT SURPRISE LAKE

The Surprise Lake area has been popular since the 1920s when groups on horseback rode in here to camp while on their way to visit the Teton Glacier, just to the north. The first lake you come to is Surprise Lake just off through the trees to the left of the trail. Not sure the reason for it’s name but the first thing you see are the trees. Majestic Whitebark pines grow around the lake. Through the trees is your first glimpse of this pretty subalpine lake.

What’s interesting is that Amphitheater Lake is about .25 miles up the trail, another 100 feet in elevation and is considered an alpine lake. Both lakes straddle the border between alpine and subalpine environments and sit in cirques carved by glaciers. Elevation at Surprise Lake (below) is 9580 feet.

AMPHITHEATER LAKE

After spending time taking photos and looking around Surprise Lake I put my gear back in my pack and headed up the trail to Amphitheater Lake climbed over the ridge and spread before me was one of the prettiest lakes I’ve ever seen. Surrounded by high peaks, Disappointment Peak directly in the background and Grand Teton behind that, Amphitheater Lake sits a little higher up then Surprise Lake at an elevation of 9698 feet.

amphitheater2 — Amphitheater Lake – Photo by Marc Bowen

amphitheaterbackpackcameratripod — Amphitheater Lake ( my gear ) – Photo by: Marc Bowen

I spent about an hour and a half at this lake just drinking in the spectacular views, taking the occasional photo as the light changed and glassing the cliffs for mountain goats. I felt I could have stayed there forever. As I ate my lunch sitting in the grass leaning against my backpack I had chipmunks in my lap eating crumbs from my fingers while listening to friendly folks chatting about the area and the scenery. One couple who just arrived said they had just seen a bear cub a couple hundred yards back on the trail. Of course my first thought was “Uh oh where’s it’s mom?”

On my way back down the trail I ran into others who had seen the cub near the trail. A couple hundred yards further down as I rounded a bend I looked over the edge and saw down below the trail a good sized black bear. She or he was tearing apart a log for the purpose I assume of getting at the little critters living inside. I didn’t linger but continued at a steady pace down the trail and out of sight. I ran into quite a few people coming up the trail and I warned them about the bear advising them to “be bear aware” and make plenty of noise. It was interesting the different responses I got. Some were worried because they didn’t have bear spray. Others unconsciously put their hand on their belt to make sure their bear spray was there and a few were very excited and said they hoped they would get to see the bear!

Obviously the hike down was much quicker and easier in some ways then the hike up. But hiking down hill is hard on the joints, especially my knees and hips. I always take trekking poles with me. They are great for helping me keep my balance stepping over obstacles and climbing steep areas of trail. I also bang them together at times to make more noise going up the trail. But where they benefit me the most is going down hill. It took me two and a half hours on the return trip and if it wasn’t for my poles taking the pressure off my hip and knee joints I don’t think I would have made it back to the trail head without emergency assistance.

So…to summarize this adventure of mine. I do look at this trip as an adventure and a great outdoor experience. Yes it was tough on me at times. But I found out just how far I can push myself physically. I was able to go home and recover just fine. It took a few days to get over being stiff and sore. But looking at the photos I captured, remembering the wildlife I saw and the awesome majesty of the mountains, spectacular lakes and sweeping views of the valley makes it all worth it and it will be remembered as one of my favorite hikes. I can’t wait for the next adventure!