Hiking in the Grand Tetons

When we came in Winter everything was covered in clouds and snow. We didn't mind the snow but with all the clouds we couldn't see anything. Also a lot of roads were closed so we couldn't drive very far. Back then we got a hiking map and information at the park visitor centre We planned a 4 day hike. Since Germany wouldn't be in the final we could do 4 days, not that easy to plan hiking trips during a world cup. We were quite surprised when the ranger told us that we would need ice axes since 50% of the trail was still covered in snow. Anyway, we packed our packs for 4 days in the wilderness. Before we started our hike we stopped at family Mills, parents of a friend of us from Vancouver. They cooked us dinner and we could store our bikes there since we would leave our car for 3 days at the trailhead. We had a lot of interesting conversations with them about economics, environment, energy, history, politics and all sorts of things. It is quite interesting to talk to another generation from another continent, especially the German - US relations after the war. This is actually the amazing part of the traveling for one year, you have time and you are able to meet people which you wouldn't meet if you are on a two week vacation where you stop only one day at every location. Family Mills, THANKS A LOT FOR EVERYTHING, it was great to visit you and to get to know you.
I wish I would have talked more about this time to my grandparents but I guess I was too young and now is too late. Well, perhaps when I come back I can talk to my parents a bit more about that time. Now the hiking pictures.

What a view!

First we had to walk along the lake for a bit.

Pretty soon we went up into the alpine.

View back to the lake where we started.

After hiking for four hours we got to Holy Lake and the paintbrush camping area where we would spend our first night.

The mountains around us, all covered in snow.

Since we still had a bit of daylight left I read a book. Mum, you should mark that day in your calendar :-).

We went to bed and had a good rest. The next morning I got up early and saw the sunrise on the mountains.

The lake in the morning sun.

We started to hike around 10 am, the snow wasn't too soft which was good.

We had to get up another 400 meters over the Paintbrush Pass.

The last little bit ...

On top of the pass, there wasn't any snow anymore.

But therefore there was a marmot.

The hike down to Solitude Lake was nice, Big Grand Teton with 13000' or so in the back ground.

There was still ice on the lake.

Amazing how round the bottom of the valley is.

Getting closer to the lake, it looks more like spring than summer.

We had a short rest at the lake and continued. Clouds moved in and we could hear thunder, good that we were down from the pass.

And we saw a moose.

After a half an hour rain shower it stopped to rain but the weather didn't improve much. Kerstin is filtering water.

Before we had breakfast we talked to a guy and he said there would be a lot of snow. He also mentioned that two people turned around yesterday. We weren't sure if we should continue or just go out since there was an exit from the campground we stayed at. After thinking a while about it we decided to continue but this shouldn't matter 20 min. later anyway. We packed our stuff and had breakfast. Almost done with it I felt some pain on my tooth. First I thought some food (apple skin) got stuck between tooth and gum but after trying to wedge it out with my plastic spoon I could feel and taste some sandy ceramic material. With the tongue I could feel a sharp edge. It felt like the tooth had a crack through it? I asked Kerstin to have a look at it and she kind of agreed with her specialist dentist knowledge after our spring tooth experience. Anyway, we decided to hike out. After a while the crack became bigger and I am sure now that the tooth is spilt in two pieces. Luckily there is no nerve in anymore, otherwise I probably would have crawled up the wall or a tree. This was the second trip to be shortened because of tooth problems within 3 months, great :-).

Saying goodbye to the Tetons.

Also bad weather moved in so it was probably good that we turned around.

One day we will be back, for sure.

On the way out we saw another big bull moose. He looked at us but felt sorry for us to hike out so he didn't attack us.

After we got out of the trail we drove from Jackson to Jackson Hole and saw the typical scenery which is on so many magazines, green farmland in the front and the big snow covered Tetons in the back.

Later on we went back to the Mills Family to report from our trip and to pick up our bikes. We stayed another night with them and could catch up on our e-mails and other stuff. Oh, and Germany came 3rd in the World Cup with one of the youngest teams, great job. Now we are off to Yellowstone and a dentist, lets see what he is going to say. Also thanks again Mills, it was great meeting you and with the internet nowadays we should stay in contact.

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