October 5, 2020 Grand Teton National Park

Jenny Lake and Inspiration Point

hikers:  Mark, Lecia, Seth, Sterling

On our way to Yellowstone we spent some time in Grand Teton National Park and hiked around Jenny Lake to Hidden Falls and then on to Inspiration Point.  This should definitely be on your itinerary if you are up that way and while we were there it was gorgeous autumn weather.  The trees were so colorful.

The hike we did was maybe 7 miles round trip and 400 feet of elevation gain.  Really pleasant and most of the elevation gain was in the last mile or so.

This is Jenny Lake. Jenny Lake is large and so the first couple of miles of hiking is around the lake to get to the trailhead for inspiration point. We started at the south parking lot for jenny lake.   In season you can pay to ride a boat across the lake. This was too late in the season for that and besides we really enjoy  hiking. This part of the hike was mostly flat on a nice trail and was really pretty.  Plus we saw a moose and a fox and a beaver pond while hiking around the lake!  That was a big bonus we wouldn't have wanted to miss.

On the other side of the lake, when the Cascade Canyon Trail forks off from the Jenny Lake trail, the Jenny Lake trail has a bridge that crosses Cascade Creek and there are some falls there.  Those are not Hidden Falls but its worth going to the bridge for a look.  

It's just a bit further up the Cascade Canyon Trail, then a short little spur to Hidden Falls!

This is further up the Cascade Canyon Trail to Inspiration Point .  The elevation gain is only about 400 feet and most of it is on the Cascade Canyon Trail.  I read this trail was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps workers in the 1930's.  They did an awesome job.  

And this is Inspiration Point!  The reward of the hike where you can look out over the lake and the valley and be inspired. It was a great time to be hiking here, there weren't a lot of people  while we were at the viewpoint. 

To adapt this hike for kids too young to hike that far, you could just do the trail around the lake part of the way as an out and back hike.  Kids would enjoy that.  

The Cascade Canyon Trail continues on, up Cascade Canyon if you are looking for more of a challenge. 

The next day we drove to Yellowstone and spent 2 days there.  We walked a lot of miles on boardwalks, which was very enjoyable but not a hike so I won't be including those here.  

September 12, 2020 Timp!

Mount Timpanogos

hikers:  Ethan, Daniel, Mark

This year a couple of the boys and Mark hiked Timp!  It has been a not quite annual tradition for many years for whoever could go.  Mark wanted to do it again after not having been to the summit for several years.  I'm glad these three made it happen.  Since I wasn't there I don't have much to say about the hike, but way to go Daniel, Ethan, and Mark.  

the hikers

the view

the summit