Salt Lake City - July 2013

On this trip, Salt Lake City was just a pit stop on my way back to Sacramento, but I should highlight it since I have spent a bit of time here in the past. Two of my college friends moved here after college (non-LDS), and I was able to travel out several times including trips to Park City for Sundance and going to the private clubs and state liquor stores. It was nice to get back to the big city after spending a week in the near wilderness.

Downtown Salt Lake City is much nicer than most people would think. Most of the SLC is non-LDS so there are many bars and entertainment similar to other cities. My hotel was right next to Squatters, a local microbrewery the best 4% alcohol beer you will ever have. Utah state law only allows draught beer to have 4% ABV even the microbrews. You can purchase the higher content stuff in bottles, but what's the fun in that?

After a night of 4% beer and fry sauce from Arctic Circle, I could have used a drink from the Jack Mormon Coffee Company pictured above - which is a great name for a coffee place in the SLC! It was finally time to speed across the salt flats and head back across three states to my home listening to the Giants try and beat the Dodgers, stopping in Sparks at the Scheels sports store. Enjoy the rest of my SLC pictures below.

Grand Teton National Park - July 2013

The average person spends about 52 minutes in Grand Teton National Park. This is how long it takes to drive from Jackson, WY to Yellowstone National Park. I spent much more time here taking a river trip through the park which is an excellent way to see its beauty. Although our river guides prefer mountain skiing hiking the Tetons then skiing back down.

Speaking of which, these two guides were great. I recommend the lunch river tour from the Grand Teton Lodge Company. The potato salad served with a perfectly cooked hamburger lunch is reason enough to recommend, and the staff was very nice as well. They took us on a 2 hour float down the Snake River explaining how the water becomes potato chips, how the Grand Tetons got their name, and pointing out all the animals along the way including two bald eagles.

How can you beat this for a picnic? Again the food was great and the scenery was spectacular. It was a nice end to a busy trip through three national parks to just sit back and float down the river. Another amazing experience on an amazing trip. Plus the weather cooled off dramatically so it was bearable again. A week with temperatures in the 90's without air conditioning is a tough thing for a city boy used to his creature comforts!

I did stop in Jackson, WY on the way to Salt Lake City. It's a cute little resort town with lots of boutiques and restaurants catering to the rich tourist. There are plenty of gift shops and ice cream parlors to wet your appetite on the way in our out of the region. Below are the rest of my pictures from the Grand Teton area.

Yellowstone NP - Lakes & Boiling Mud - July 2013

Happy Independence Day! Yellowstone is open on the 4th of July and has its own natural fireworks (real ones are banned). Yellowstone Lake is a massive lake that feeds the Yellowstone River. After a nice lunch at the lodge, I headed out on a boat tour of the lake. The lodges in the park attempt to provide very good food, but most are just average. They do serve a lot of local food and beer though. Save your money for an occasional splurge, but the cafeteria is just as good as the fancy spots.

Speaking of the lodge, this is the Lake Yellowstone Lodge which is the oldest in the park. The interior is classic lodge style and would be a great place to stay if it wasn't so far from the other features in the park. The view of the lake is spectacular.

On the lake, our ranger explained the invasion of Lake Trout into the lake who are destroying the native Cutthroat Trout. They have large nets underwater to catch the deeper Lake Trout who are killed then put back into the lake to retain the nutrients. The park also encourages anglers to catch as many Lake Trout as possible, and the lodge will even cook up your catch with sides for only $10! The boat also zoomed by some islands including a wrecked ship that was often used as a party central for summer staff who may or may not have burned the ship down.

This is another fun picture. The bison is just relaxing near the Mud Volcano. They are allowed to hike off the boardwalks, although I don't think the rangers want to mess with them. I don't know how they stand the sulfur smell. This area has several thermal features covered in mud which make interesting gurgling and bubbling sounds. There was a somewhat recent explosion of steam and gases in the area that killed off all plant life and changed the surface. The area has recovered, but it shows how fragile and violent the area can be.

One last thermal feature before I leave. The Sulfur Caldron is far below the overlook, but still impressive. The mud pots and springs even cut a fresh sinkhole in the parking lot, so it's easy to see how this section of the park is still changing. Enjoy the rest of my pictures below.

Yellowstone NP - Grand Canyon & Horses - July 2013

This is the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, with a rainbow. The Yellowstone River carved its way through the canyon including several massive waterfalls. I took another ranger-led hike through the area including meadows with incredibly gorgeous wildflowers and a view of the caldera.

Yup, that's fresh bison poop. You have to watch where you step while hiking. The trail led us to a bad lake fed by sulfur springs and through a giant meadow. Along the way, the ranger explained how ravens and wolves evolved to hunt together. Ravens will identify weak members of the herd and signal them to the wolves for attack. The ravens then pick apart the carcass after the kill. Even after decades without wolves in Yellowstone, this relationship was reborn almost instantly when the wolves were reintroduced into the park.

I really like this picture. The flowers are very impressive and the sky and mountains are very nice. I had to often run to catch up with the rest of the group since I was always stopping to take pictures like this. Even so, I think it was worth it!

After lunch it was time for a horseback ride. It was a one hour ride along the canyon and through the forest. Most of the workers in the park are seasonal, including the wranglers. They are either in college or just enjoy working in the outdoors. Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of me on the horse, but it was a great ride worth the sore back and legs later that day.

After another long drive to the most remote part of the park near Roosevelt Lodge, it was time for a cowboy steak dinner cookout. The concessionaire runs horse-drawn stagecoaches to a picnic area in the middle of nowhere for a dinner buffet. They serve steak, beans, cornbread, and peach cobbler - and cowboy coffee cooked over the campfire. Some sing, some cook, most are having a great time. It was VERY dusty and a little too long, but it makes a nice night for the family or those with limited mobility.

Enjoy the rest of my pictures below.