June 14, 2008

There's just something about Jackson Hole that really appeals to me. I've only been there three times now (like 5 days total) but I think I could pack up and move there today if asked. (When I get like this Maggie then shows me the average temperature/snowfall from October to April and I step back from the ledge a bit).

An electic outpost on the edge of the remaining frontier, Jackson is all about millionaires and cowboy boots and skiing. Your first view off the plane is the Grand Teton range. You walk through an arch made of elk antlers just to get inside the airport. The town is small but seems to be just the right size between miniscule and metropolis. There aren't many people but all the facilities are there. Something like only 3% of the land has been made available to be developed, yet it doesn't feel crowded. Amongst the ski lodges and t-shirt shops, there exists a vibe that I've never gotten anywhere else. We got a chance to spend a few days soaking up the fantastic summer weather and the (sometimes very) nearby nature.

Since Yellowstone is practically synonymous with Wyoming, we decided to make it the main focus of our trip. The park is massive and even driving the hundred-mile plus road through the park, we saw only a glimpse of what it had to offer. We spent the first day meandering up, stopping at the obligatory sites and screeching to a halt anytime anyone saw something other than elk or bison. Nature doesn't always seem to get the back that us tourists are under a time crunch. Luckily, we had also taken Monday off so we really didn't need to mow down too many elk on our drive back.

Besides the wildlife, the other big draw of Yellowstone is all of the geysers. Effectively a giant volcano, the grounds of Yellowstone are perpetually spitting, steaming, and smelling. Shoddy boardwalks are the only thing between you and a third-degree burn or worse. Old Faithful is the most famous of all and the crowds reflect that. There are countless other less active yet just as interesting pools to peer into. We learned more about microbes than I ever thought was possible but I still don't understand why they'd want to live in such conditions.

Overall, it was the great American road trip, just without all the driving. I took the trip with my family when I was younger and I've no doubt that I'll be back to the area in the future. If I have an extra $3 million lying around, maybe we can even buy a place. I would settle for a ski vacation if they'd just flatten out the mountains a little bit more.

p.s. If you ever make it to Montana, try the Graham Slam ice cream. Words don't do it justice.