Mike, Tracy, Willa and Hazel land at Jackson Hole airport, load their plunder into a rental car, and we all make our way to our hangout for the week, our motorhome in Gros Ventre. Hazel takes over Willa’s traditional sleeping cubby back by Grampa and Nana and Willa is thrilled with her spot on the jack-knife sofa (unicorn and rainbow bedding are a big selling point).  Mike and Tracy get the over-cab queen and all is set….cozy but comfy.

We spend a day planning, exploring and settling in.  While Mike gets some recommendations from the Visitor Center Ranger the girls have a great time with the exhibits and trapsing around on the river image projected on the visitor center floor.  It is pretty cool.

Day two we dive in.  Mike, Tracy, Willa and Nana head for the Death Canyon Trail Head.  Cool name, right?  Our destination is the Phelps Lake Overlook.  We spot a black bear and her cub enroute along Moose-Wilson Road.  The trail is a bit challenging with some elevation change and an added mile or so because we have to use overflow parking.  We spend some time soaking in the view of the lake at the top and watching mock (we hope) helicopter rescues below us.  Great first hike, Dad.  Kent and Hazel  enjoyed some chill time at the motorhome.  She caught her afternoon nap.

Checking out town, Jackson.  First, it is playground time.  There are swings and climbing structures and plenty of slides plus a coffee shop not far away.  It is a fun couple hours for kids and adults.   We all work up an appetite and head for the Persephone Bakery where we share a selection of delicious pastries, cakes, and cookies.  There is a stop for pictures under the antler arches along the way. Once we hve gad our fill of goodies, Hazel heads back to camp with us while Willa takes Mom and Dad shopping and sight-seeing.  We hear that there is a horse drawn wagon involved and a stuffie, Rainbow Ruby (a unicorn) comes home with them.   Hazel takes a motorhome shower with Nana.  We get the girls for the evening while Mom and Dad head back into town for a date night.  Win: win all around.

Another hike, this time to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point above Jenny Lake.  We start with a ferry ride then there is a lot of “up”, we sort of expected that with a destination like Inspiration Point!  Willa is anxious to mountain climb – not just walk a trail- and to maybe get to the snow.  Above Hidden Falls she gets at least part of that wish.  The trail gets rocky and steep just perfect for her hands and feet climbing on up to the point.  She is thrilled to meet the beggy trail chipmunks.  She calls them “chicky” and is adamant that she be allowed to adopt one and take it home.  I get in trouble for swatting at them as they try to climb into my backpack and steal food.  They are very people habituated!  Just as we get her to move no an unusually brazen pica scurries right by Willa’s feet in a hurry to stash his mouthful of grass.  We climb a bit higher onto Cascade Canyon trail hoping to see more wildlife as the crowds thin out.  No luck with that but it does take us to an alternative, shorter, less steep return route back to the lake.  Here are fewer hikers so it makes for a perfect place to try out Willa’s rescue chain.  Check out the pic.  Her stated purpose was so the test of us could help Daddy when he got tired carrying Hazel the whole time.  More on its origin later.  The return ferry trip is a welcome opportunity to sit down for a few and by the time we make it to the car everyone is about done for the day.  Hazel was a great sport (Mike too) through all her time in the carrier.  She even caught a bit of a nap.

Beach time!  Lakes here are pretty cold for swimming but Mike gets a recommendation to try String Lake.  It is shallow so about as warm as they come in these parts.  We pack up blankets and towels and lunch and head out, Hazel in the truck with us.  Parking near the lake is an absolute zoo.  We troll the lots several loops until Grampa’s patience gives out.  Mike has dropped Tracy and Willa as he vultures for a spot.  I join them and Kent is off back to camp.  He and Hazel will find alternative entertainment today.  We girls are just claiming our spot on the beach when Mike walks up.  He got a spot in the second row…credit to his practice at parking in the city all those years.  Willa and Tracy build a great sand castle.  Mike takes the Polar Plunge, the only one of us to completely submerge in the “warmer” lake water.  A volunteer ranger comes by to have us move all our stuff to the bear locker.  A bear was sighted just a few hundred yards behind us.  We stash our bags for a half hour until we get the all clear and enjoy a nice picnic lunch.  There is a bit more castle building and some warming in the sun then we wrap it up and head home.

Today we head up to over 10,000 feet on the Bridger Gondola in Teton Village!  After about an hour weather (lightning) delay the aerial tram takes us to 10,450 ft on Rendezvous Mountain.   Clouds shroud the mountain tops and we rise right up into them.  We are all startled when a rock cliff appears seemingly right in our path.  We of course rise just along and above to safely come to a halt on the mountain top.   It is cold in the fog and wind so we duck into Corbet Cabin for a traditional treat, waffles and hot drinks.  We go for one traditional waffle =brown sugar butter and one Belgian= cookie butter, caramel and powdered sugar. So delicious.  The sun breaks through and we head out to explore.   Our goal is the Top of the World trail.  We are still looking for snow to play in but we are still not quite high enough for this time of year.  We have to be content to check out the glaciers above us.  We stroll and take in the view then board the tram for the trip down.  Its clear skies all the way down so views are better than ever.  The grounds in the resort are grassy and a great place to play.  Willa discovers a bungie trampoline.  She is going to try it.  I’d rate it as a somewhat tense but overall fun adventure.  Check out the pics and you be the judge.  We grab some lunch, play a bit longer as Grampa and Nana relax in our Adirondack chairs then we head off with the kids while Mom and Dad try to squeeze in one more hike.  Fun day for all.

Yellowstone day.  Willa is quite the volcano fan. Mike and Tracy have never been to Yellowstone.  Today is the day; they set off to check out the caldera and all the thermal features.  We plan out a fun day for Hazel with us so they can focus on that unique place.   They spend a night at the Yellowstone Inn and trapse all around checking out the sights.  Pictures and their report back say a good time was had by all.  We take Hazel to the beach at Lower Slide Lake.  We throw a lot of rocks to watch them splash.  Splash each other and do some people watching.  She is a bit reluctant to start but really gets into it by time to head home.  Once back home she paints, makes Dad a birthday card, and gets a traditional brown tub bath.  It is a full day for all of us too.

Early birthday for Dad.  Mike jumps in to help make his “cake”, Dutch oven peach cobbler.  It’s a fun way to celebrate and I’d say it came out pretty good.  There were no leftovers.

Nana there is a Moo

Then there was just everyday fun stuff.  Campfires with s’mores and fun stories.  Chalk art. Coloring.  Painting, rocks and on paper.  Crafts, the afore mentioned huge paper chain in particular.  Tillie time/pretend school mostly.  Bocce.  Playball. Camp dishwashing time.  Moose watching walking around camp and out the motorhome window, sometimes even sparring.  Redneck playpen bounce ball: Willa and Hazel in the pickup bed with the tailgate closed.  Kent bounces a tennis ball into the bed where it ricochets around until they catch it and throw it to, at, or purposefully just out of the reach of Grampa. Much giggling ensues.

We had a fantastic week and can’t wait to see them again when we head their way for Hazel’s birthday in October.