Our trip into the park yesterday told us that even in October this place is busy mid-day. So, we set the alarm for 6:45AM.
It is in the mid-20s and first light glints off the heavy frost on everything. Distant mountain tops in all directions sport a new dusting of snow creating a perfect backdrop for fall colors. Off we go. We are in the park and at Rainbow point by 9AM. Parking is no problem, yeah. We have lots of clothes with us and the sun is toasty. We set out to explore.
We start with views from the rim beginning at the furthest stop on the scenic drive, Yovimpa and Rainbow Points, then moving in toward the main amphitheater. Views are absolutely amazing and different from every angle and every stop. On this far end of the canyon it is all the work of nature. The hordes of tromping boots are mostly held up on the rim; minimizing trail scars among the hoodoos below. 
Between the overlooks the bristlecone pine loop takes us past these hardy ancient pines that manage to survive in the cold, wind, scarce water and rocky ground above 9000 ft. Gnarly, 1000+ years old and amazing. Check out the namesake cones. We move on stopping at every pull out and taking dozens of pictures.
Now it’s time to wander among the hoodoos. On the recommendation from the ranger (amazing hoodoos and not many other hikers), we choose the Tower Bridge Trail. It is short, just 1 1/2 miles each way but it does go to the bottom of the canyon meaning an 800 ft drop in elevation. It is an out and back; so, yep that’s 800 ft back up. All this starts at 8000 ft elevation. We wind among ever changing formations, rocks, spires, castle-like, spiraling walls, and sentinel towers standing solo among the many. Trail side signs encourage extra care as we make our way through a sensitive vegetation area, another “grove” of bristle cone pines. Our toes are cramping from the continuous downhill when we reach crisscrossing streambeds, this must be the bottom! There just ahead, is the Tower Bridge hoodoo. Definitely castle-tower-like and pretty cool. 
It is absolutely silent here. What a perfect place for lunch break. Our pace up is just perfect for admiring lots more hoodoos from differing angles…..Back at the car we log in at 4.89 miles total door to door for this walk and 1095ft elevation change. Well worth it to get the unique perspective of hoodoos from right among them.
We are back home entertained by the prairie dogs all around us. There is dinner then a beautiful black night sky. We fall into bed with the milky way arching across overhead.
We are not quite sure why she is so obsessed but she has been saying it for weeks and still not waivered. Something about having evil magic powers. Who knows. We bring out last year’s witch costume and add a red lining to the cape, create a turban from Mom’s wool hat and some flower arrangement sprigs, and she and I create the iconic serpent scepter. With a bit of face paint, she is quite Jafar-like.
costume Willa wore when she was two just fits Miss Hazel. It is adorable on her.
Yikes, it is cold, 37F and the sun isn’t high enough to warm this part of the valley. We huddle in the warm truck for a few then put on everything we brought, fleece, windbreakers, wool hats, and gloves then head to the trailhead.
Mountain goat pic. We get to a spectacular viewing spot and declare it the end of our climb. The trail is very busy now with both overtaking and oncoming traffic, not so much fun.
Kent gets one of the most captured big horn pictures, butts!
While we are gawking at it, a bear jam gathers. Not for the black bear, for a big grizzly bear swimming toward us across Lake Sherburne. She/he rises up out of the water as they come ashore then alternates snuffling about and trotting toward us. By then a ranger has arrived to wrangle the watchers and clear a path should the bear keep coming our way. It does, and he hustles all the cars and people out of the way. We watch out of our rearview mirror as she moves on toward the road. It is a fantastic grizzly sighting. Quite close and within scurry distance of the truck!
breakfast at the Inn. Mike and Tracy’s pictures reminded us how cool the old structure is and we feel the need to check it out. It’s a buffet with food a bit better than average but the cozy setting makes up for anything it lacks. We are back out in plenty of time for Old Faithful’s show. Even against a cloud filled sky it is spectacular. The weather holds off long enough to walk the entire upper basin boardwalk including catching a Daisy geyser eruption.
We make it back to the geyser hill just in time to see Old Faithful a second time. It looks more powerful from the view on the top boardwalk! It is misting and still in the 50’s. We check out the gift shop. I must have another Yellowstone medallion, a bison this time. Plans are to check out Grand Prismatic and the Norris Basin thermal area if the crowds aren’t awful. No such luck, traffic is spilling out of the parking lots as folks are vulturing for spots. We head home with a couple detours; The Firehole River Canyon Drive, it is spectacular, then a loop along the Madison River, lovely but no elk or bears on that section of the grassy banks today. The elk from this morning are still out along 20. It is definitely a favorite spot for them. We are back in camp sipping hot tea to warm up in the rainy and chilly weather. It’s a great chance to catch up on the blog and naps!
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.
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.
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.
Clouds shroud the top-most peak of Grand Teton but the view is worth the climb. We relax and lunch watching the clouds advance and rise on the mountain tops until it seems wise to head back. Clouds are thickening. We keep a good pace on our return (down-hill always helps with that) and in one check behind us see the very place we had been standing completely shrouded in dark grey clouds. Good timing. We keep moving and make it back to the truck wet with sweat but ahead of the rain.
or maybe bear but no such luck. Pika scurried on the scree piles near the top of the hike. We heard but did not see marmots. Kent spotted a different little rodent fellow – might be a prairie dog, at 8,000 ft?
The pika are working hard collecting flowers and grasses and stacking them in large piles to dry in the sun. This one fellow has two heaps each much bigger than he is. 
We come upon one nearly black marmot perched in a tree…pretty bear-like isn’t he. The view from the saddle is spectacular as well. We hang for a while just taking it all in and hoping the haze will clear a bit more.
Our ticket is good for as many as 3 trips up and we want to see if it has cleared off. Another smooth ride up and a short walk and we find it, a not-quite-crystal-clear but marvelous view. Well worth the trip back up, especially since we rode the lift back down this time!
Today, early in the walk, the trail takes us up the walls of the canyon well above the creek bed. The views are lovely as we cross meadows interspersed with treed areas and open rocky outcroppings. We first hear the waterfall exiting the cave then spot the opening in the cliffs above us. The last half mile or so is a steep mix of rock steps and tree root tangle that takes us to just over 8700 feet in elevation. There is a bit of puffing but we make it. Folks claim they scale the slope up to the entrance to walk then crawl to the back of the cave where the opening reduces to a couple feet in each direction. It looks like today water would be running around our feet the whole time. 
We settle for the gurgle and splash of the falls and the lovely view from below. We scan high meadows for wildlife both going and returning but none make an appearance. Guess there are too many places to hide. It is great to spot whatever is out there but it is even fun to look for them.
Teton Canyon along the south fork of Teton Creek. We set out along the creek through towering pines with a much lighter understory than other recent hikes. It is cool and lovely. There is a fair amount of traffic on the trail but Kent and I are alone on a stretch and we hear a loud huff.
Maybe 100ft to our right along the creek bank are two moose, a mature bull with a good start on a rack and a juvenile. They browse with an eye on us for a bit before moving on when more hikers arrive. We get a good look and some nice pictures. We move on too. Pines give way to wide open mountain meadows backed by majestic cliffs, blanketed with wildflowers, and often cut through by a ribbon of willows lining the banks of smaller streams. We find a perfectly placed butt rock and relax taking in the view. 
Kent muses that it seems a perfect moose spot and not 5 minutes later a cow moose emerges from the willows moving nervously and even challenging a pair of hikers who are on the trail fairly close. She runs at them, not really charging but seemingly telling them not to get any closer then turns and collects up her young calf that has been hidden along the creek. They both head upslope and disappear into the denser undercover. All is well and it is a great encounter, for US.
one more lovely meadow and a lunch stop at the intersection with Devils Staircase 
trail before we reverse course for a nearly all downhill stroll back to the trailhead.
Palisades Creek Trail. The creek is roaring, we have had quite a bit of rain in the area the past week. It is a bit muddy underfoot and we are grateful to have the benefit of bridges at the various crossings along the way. Sometimes the water is right at our feet, others the trail is higher up slope along the bottom edge of soaring cliffs. Our goal today is lower Palisades Lake where we settle in along the boulder strewn shore to watch for critters after spotting a grouse on the trail. Chipmunks show up in mass begging for our lunch. Geese, common goldeneye and mallards are trailing their young around. We are very surprised to first hear then spot
pica busily gathering wildflowers and leaves for their den. Previously, we have only seen them at much higher elevation. This is moose territory too but none show their faces today.
flowing water and catches bugs. There are many perfect looking spots in this creek and finally I spot one of the little guys resting on a root ball out in the stream. Yeah! Nine miles. We’re glad to get the boots off.
