Days 1 & 2: Getting there via Billings and the Beartooth Highway
Day 3: visiting the Norris Basin and the Artist Paintpots; hiking the Beaver Ponds Trail
Day 4: Exploring Mammoth Hot Springs; visiting Lamar Valley and hiking to Slough Creek
Day 5: Conquering Mount Washburn; visiting the Mud Volcano; leaving Mammoth for Yellowstone Lake
Day 6: hiking the lower rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Day 7: visiting Old Faithful and the other geysers; leaving Yellowstone Lake for the Grand Tetons
Day 8: hiking to Two Ocean Lake; visiting Signal Mountain
Day 9: hiking to Taggart and Bradley Lake; leaving Colter Bay Village for Grand Targhee
Day 10: running the Grand Tetons trail marathon
Day 11: Leaving Grand Targhee for Bozeman, MT
Day 12: returning to Boston
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Let’s finish (end! over!) this vacation round-up with the Grand Tetons excursion, just past the southern edge of Yellowstone National Park. (Did you know “Grand Tetons” translates to “big breasts” in French? No wonder Mr. P’s parents were excited to go there… not to mention the many French tourists we encountered. I mean, if there was a mountain range called “Big Breasts”… wouldn’t you be curious?)
Big Breasts, indeed!
We hiked. Of course we hiked. Since the trails are less populated than Yellowstone, we made sure to have our trusty bear spray on hand.
Ready with the bear spray
Our cabin was awesome, except there was only one bathroom. Word of advice: never share a bathroom with your elderly in-laws for three days.
Grand Tetons cabin
Little Boy was really getting into the rhythm of the trip: wake up, small breakfast, hike, picnic lunch, hike, relax, dinner. We sure enjoyed the family time!
We did two six-mile hikes over two days.
Then, we ventured briefly into Idaho and then back into Wyoming for the Grand Tetons Trail marathon that Mr. P and I were taking on. Yes, a marathon in the mountains, starting at 9000 feet elevation. What was I thinking? I live at sea level. I felt like I ran the entire thing while being gagged with a towel. Given I’m a flatlander, it’s a wonder that I finished 6th girl out of 15, and 19/37 overall (Mr. P finished 8th overall, rah rah).
The first climb up the mountain
No, I didn't finish the marathon in 1 hour 40 minutes... not quite (that was for another race)
The marathon pretty much killed us for the day. As well as the next day, when we left for Bozeman, MT. Cool town. The populace seemed to pride themselves on being active outdoor enthusiasts with the same fervor that Bostonians prides themselves on being surly sports nuts. During our picnic (the last picnic!), we watched scores of people tubing serenely down the Madison River.
Last Picnic by Madison River
The next day, we drove back to Billings to catch our plane to Boston. Time to return home, to work, and to the start of Kindergarten. I can’t say that Little Boy really enjoyed the vacation, but I know it was formative and maybe something he’ll remember when he’s older? And hopefully, not as a repressed memory during therapy.
