Peaks and Valleys, Whispers, Roars and Ripples

August 25 - 29, 2019
Victor, Idaho

Our last evening in Ennis, Montana

We've been here separately many years ago. We've wanted to visit together since we started traveling. We were going to miss it again, until I did the reroute.

So now we're finally here for a few days - the Grand Tetons!!

In addition to near perfect weather all summer, we've also been blessed with calm driving days. Sunday's drive back into Idaho changes that - we have sustained 25 mph winds the whole way. Not too bad, but hitting us from the side on narrow country roads, it adds a little excitement :-)

The Teton Valley RV Resort in Victor, Idaho, is a medium size park that stretches the title a bit. After our last beautiful stop, it's a let down. Our pull-through gravel site has green space that is 90% weeds with a dilapidated picnic table. The sites are between two curbs so parking the Jeep means having to drop the front end into a hole. It's very strange. We'll find another place next visit.

The national park is only 30 miles away, but that 10% Teton Pass in between is quite the drive! We have friends who have done it in their RV, but not something I'm excited about ever doing.

Of course the rewards of getting to the other side are well worth it.

Stunning against perfect blue skies.

Beauty finding a beautiful background.

Our first look at the glaciers.

Mount Moran over Jackson Lake

On previous routes we entered Yellowstone from the east, west and north. We want to see the corner we've missed, and this is our best opportunity. Ends up being 140 miles round trip on Hwy 191 from Jackson, but it's hard to beat the natural beauty of our surroundings.

South Entrance

The last Monday before Labor Day.

It's a lot of forest, less diversity than the other areas of the park. Still, it's a lovely drive. We're glad we did it. 

Back in Grand Tetons National Park we take the park road through Jackson. It's dark when we get home in Victor, what a great day!

Lewis Falls

Snake River

Lewis Lake

Long vistas from Signal Mountain Summit.

Not hikers, bikers or kayakers, we still see a lot of gorgeous places in this country. And I read the blogs of friends who take me to the places that hiking, biking and kayaking take them. In between their more energetic adventures, these friends also explore places I look forward to seeing. Joe and Gay's (good-times-rollin') recent blog post on their Grand Tetons' visit not only inspired me to finally route us here, but gave me several fabulous places to see.

One of the most unique is the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve. The final 1,106 acre parcel of the Rockefeller ranch was donated to the park by Laurance in 2001 with a specific vision for its use. Starting with the removal of all ranch structures and reseeding of grazed lands, the preserve provides trails through meadows, forests and riparian habitats.

Parking is limited, and there's a line for a space. Bill and Tessa wait, giving me more time to explore before they join me. 

I could spend hours just in the simple visitor center. A purposely peaceful place where the appreciation of nature is key. Four videos of park flora and fauna play simultaneously showing the changing seasons. The well stocked library has views of the surrounding mountains. There's even a round meditation room with wonderful soft music and sounds of nature playing around you. I love this place!

Open space filled with the natural sounds of the park provide a unique opportunity to watch the changing scenes.

A picture made of photos.

A quiet, comfy spot to read. Must be wonderful on a cold day with the fire going.

Well maintained, winding trails find surprises that whisper and roar. We don't see any wildlife, birdsong teases from the thick brush.

Falls roar with power.

Creek water whispers over and around the rocks.

Late summer blooms and delicate parachutes waiting for a breeze.

No matter our specific destination, those giant mountain peaks are always there to distract us! We must say Wow! a dozen times just seeing them from a slightly different distance and location. I probably took 20 pics of them :-)

Bill got this pic with his peak identifying app. So cool!

With the snow gone, the glaciers are visible. 

These cars are all squeezed in before getting to the full trailhead parking lot. It's not that we're lazy and out of shape, we don't hike because you have to get up too early to access the trailheads. Toooo many people on the trails. Yep, let's go with that excuse. 

Jenny Lake - the one place my boys and I saw in the park 25 years ago. Still beautiful.

And thankfully still clear and pristine.

Entering the Gros Ventre (grow-vaunt) River area, we learn about the historic slide.

Almost 95 years later, the slide scar stands out from the surrounding forest.

 Scalloped lake edges.

Red air-brushed hills above Gros Ventre Lake.

A peak peeks out from the Aspens (see this Janis??).

Mormon Row was a hardy community living in brutal winters with outstanding views.

Just a little duct tape and this cute pink cottage would be perfect!

Old barns and rugged peaks.

Thistle blooms all on the same plant.

Wednesday we stay on the Idaho side of the pass. The Teton Valley is a different kind of beautiful, the peaks more subtle. The cute little towns of Victor, Driggs and Teton Valley include large ranches and farms. No crowds, it's a more laid back day of exploration.

The drive up Grand Targhee.

Teton Valley

Teton Creek ripples through narrow meanders.

 

The natural art of long grass under water.

Protected salamander habitat.

Valley farms.

Processing field gold.

I sleep late on our last day so we again stay in our little valley. Dear friends Steven and Linda (The Chouters) have a beautiful property known to many of us as Lot 5 (very cleverly from the number of the lot......) Linda let's us know where to find it so we take a drive to check it out. 

Wonderful views from Lot 5.

The Big Eddy has not only great boondocking spots, but also the most fish we've seen anywhere this summer. Bill makes sure I put it on the list for our next visit!

Farm art.

This stunning hawk poses for a his photo op.

We missed most of Idaho again, but are so glad we made the time to see this amazing area. We're already planning to come back!

Next we continue south to try, and fail, to see all of Bill's family in Ogden. 

A "Just a Stop On the Way" Turns Into One of Our Top Five!

August 22-25, 2019
Ennis, Montana


It's not the first time. Just picking a location because it happens to be a good number of miles from the last one, and before the next one. Sometimes they're places with nothing more exciting than a quirky main street, or a taqueria with good margaritas. Sometimes we laugh and agree we don't ever need to return. 

Then there are those rare surprises like Ennis, Montana. A place that is now on the list of places we must come back to. A place we could spend several weeks, maybe even a summer.

We arrive at Ennis RV Village in the rain. The storm has followed us for 200 miles, but never strong enough to be an issue for the drive. The park has recently added a new section overlooking the Madison River Valley. Pull-ins for motorhomes, and back-ins for trailers/5ers with the most amazing view. The owners are working hard to make this a great park - we love it already! FHUs with 50 amps, long, level gravel sites with nice green grass space and a picnic table. Very reasonably priced with weekly and monthly rates as well.

Big, stormy Montana skies on I-90

Hwy 287

View from our front yard - wow!

After our rainy night we wake to beautiful puffy clouds in a bright blue sky. A bigger sky. What is it about Montana?

Nearby Ennis Lake is our destination on Friday. It's a small lake on the Madison River. Bill finds a road that takes us into a pretty river canyon. What a perfect day of exploring in this surprising area.

Ennis Lake 

Also Ennis Lake

Old log homestead.

Herd and flock along the lake.

Madison River

The canyon narrows, the water roars.

I love old barns!

A little piece of heaven.

Takes us a few minutes to convince the gang that they should let us pass.

From the canyon we take Saw Log Road to the top of the range.

Madison Valley

A solo antelope buck watches us pass.

In addition to the wonderful RV park and the beautiful river canyon, the little town of Ennis is charming. The people are super friendly and fun. There are seven fly fishing stores in a three block business district :-)

Best of all, we have our own bar and grill!! With great brews and eats. 

The buck is the only wildlife we see except for lots of birds. There is an easily identifiable variety in the valley.

Branch Bird

Water Bird

Fence Bird

Line Birds

When we leave and continue south we'll be taking US 287, so on Saturday we take a drive on MT 287 to the west. Mining history is restored and celebrated in tiny towns along the route. We enjoy the smaller Nevada City, but Virginia City (not unlike the one near Carson City, Nevada) is packed with summer-Saturday crowds. Signs along the road give us the interesting history of the area.

An abandoned stunner in Nevada City.

The office and home of Dr Byam who came here in 1863. He  also served as judge for several years, and his home hosted clandestine meetings of the anti-confederate Union League.

Still serving drinks from the original bar.

Wild Hops help to hold an old cabin together.

The dredged tailings along the road show the permanent damage the gold mining did to the river here. 

More long distance views of Madison Valley.

We spend our evenings outside here. It's just so beautiful - view, temperature, overall feel. This is the first place we've stayed that I never close the front blind. Beautiful and private.

The small pond to the south is full of geese - over 50 at least. As the sun sets they take off in different size flocks - some two, others with 20. They make a lot of noise on take off then silently fly past us. We watch them for over an hour. Magical.

Like the geese, we will return to Ennis, Montana. It's one of our all time favorite places!

Ezra enjoying his cousins' birthday party.