May 21, 2003
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Jenny Lake Campground

Drove north from Green River through the Utah towns of Price and Helper (lots of closed shops and for rent signs in the later), over a pass into Duchesne (“rhymes with blue train,” Lonely Planet helpfully explains) and through Vernal.

North of Vernal we found ourselves travelling through layers of sandstone and other striking colorful rocks–accompanied by signs labeling the stones by geologic era. Very cool: we could see as we made our way through the Cretacious and Jurassic back to the Precambrian. “Home of fossilized squid,” one sign offered helpfully. “Crocodile teeth found here,” said another.

On through Flaming Gorge Recreation Area (not quite as flaming now that a dam has filled much of it with water), and across the border into Wyoming. The rock layers moved forward through time once more, from Precambrian through Cenzoic in rapid order. Them, with surprising abruptness, we were again beyond the rocks and into windswept sagebrush plains, snow-streaked mountains in the distance.

Saw an antelope, moving almost fast enough to give the illusion of trying to pace the car for a bit. A moose, loping unconcerned through the sagebrush. A doe and two young crossing the road ahead of us. What might have been an eagle overhead.

Drove down into a river valley, surrounded by some of those mountains, towering very high indeed now, while the land around us grew greener. Through Jackson and past the elk horn arches I remembered from my first Wyoming trip, though the town had clearly grown and little else was familiar.

And on into Grand Teton National Park. We are at last happily ensconced in Jenny Lake Campground, surrounded by trees and birdsong and little else. It’s cold–my fingers are going numb as I type this–but lovely.

Camp food: pine nuts, summer sausage, and couscous in tomato soup.