Wyoming – Jackson or Jackson Hole?

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…oh wait…it’s mid-May, not December. Someone needs to clue ‘ole man winter or mother nature in that the calendar says its spring! We hit the jackpot with the weather when we left Utah and headed to Wyoming. We had sun, rain, sleet and snow. Once we got to Jackson Hole on Wednesday, 5/14, it remained cold, with highs in the low 40’s and lows in the 20’s for our two-night stay at Gros Ventre. When in Buffalo we say, "if you don't like the weather just give it 10 minutes". In Wyoming you just have to travel 10 miles, and you can go from sun to snow showers. Of course, altitutude makes all the difference also.

The last time we were in Jackson Hole was about 30 years ago. Mark had gone on an elk hunting trip and then the next year we went back as a family to do a wagon train trip in the Teton wilderness. One of our most memorable trips with the kids. The town has been built up with more stores, hotels, etc., but the main block remains the same, quaint with shops and restaurants.

So, is it Jackson, Wyoming or Jackson Hole? Actually, it is both! Jackson Hole is a valley and Jackson is the major town within the valley. It is surrounded by the Teton Range to the west and the Gros Ventre Range to the east. We would have loved to bike in Grand Teton National Park, but the weather just would not cooperate. Instead, we took the scenic drive from Gros Ventre to Yellowstone on Friday, where we are staying inside Yellowstone at Fishing Bridge RV Park for the next 5 nights.

On the way to Jackson, we fueled up at a Sinclair Station.

Mark made a comment that he had not seen a Sinclair station

since his childhood. Dick Rusher Service. He says our Bowmansville friends

will remember.

When we left Heber City we had sunshine, but the

clouds started rolling in shortly after we left.

We started seeing more and more snow

Afton, Wyoming 

World's largest elkhorn arch

Jackson Hole has 4 elkhorn arches in the town square.

The Million Dollar Cowboy bar is located on the town

square and has been a landmark since 1937.

The circles are the cattle brands from different ranches.

The silver dollars were donated by those ranches.

Barstools are western saddles.

Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park

Although there were a lot of clouds, the Teton Mountains

are beautiful.

We finally saw some elk. 

Depending on where you were in the mountains,

you could experience sun, rain or snow.

They allowed campfires at Gros Ventre.

So many people in tents and the lows were in the 20's.

Our campsite at Gros Ventre. There is a brown box

to the left of our unit, it's a bear box. If you don't have

a hard sided RV, you must store all coolers, food, toiletries, 

basically, anything with a scent, in the box. 

Shortly after the moose junction sign, we saw a moose.

Elk playing peek-a-boo

I think this elk wanted a ride with us, he was

giving Mark the eye as we slowly drove past.

Not sure if this was a forest fire or a controlled burn.

There were several sections in Teton and Yellowstone

where we could see fire damage.

They just recently opened the south entrance to 

Yellowstone. There is still a lot of snow in the area and

several roads and trails that have not opened yet.

A beautiful view of the Snake River in the gorge.

There was a line of campers ahead of us

and behind us all going to Fishing Bridge RV Park.