We made it to Grand Teton National Park, and Nathan had a plan: hike all the way up Cascade Canyon. There was just one problem. We are not really hikers. He thought we could make it. Fabiola was not so sure.
So how far did we actually get? That is what this video is about. It is also our first time in the Tetons, right after two days of putting new cameras on the RV.
Ten minutes to a national park
We drove about ten minutes and we were in a national park. That felt strange. After Yellowstone, we had gotten used to driving for hours to see anything. The entrance sign even has its own parking lot, so you do not have to squeeze onto the shoulder for a photo, and you can already see the Tetons behind it.
It was already 5:30 in the evening, so the plan for night one was a scenic drive and a few overlooks. Fabiola also had new boots, and Nathan had bought her a hat. "So I am officially a cowgirl."
On the drive we got talking about something surprising: Grand Teton has an airport inside it. We wondered which came first. The park did, in 1929, but back then it was only the peaks. The valley where the airport sits joined the park in 1950. It is still the only commercial airport in the United States inside a national park.
At the very first overlook we already felt satisfied. With the evening light and the clouds, the mountains looked like a painting.
The gravel road to Schwabacher Landing
We had seen this next spot on YouTube, down a gravel road, and figured not many people would know about it. We were wrong. The lot was full of cars, including a Tesla slowly driving itself around looking for a space.
It was worth it. There is a short path along the water with the Tetons straight ahead, a bear-proof trash can, and a sign warning boaters that the Snake River is dangerous and only for people who know it well. Fabiola's version of the name was "Swashbuckler Landing." A swashbuckler is a pirate with a sword, which is not the same thing at all, but it stuck.
Teton Point Turnout and an old barn
Our next stop was Teton Point Turnout. A sign there, "Stairs Carved by Meltwaters," explains the steps you can see in the land between you and the mountains. You are standing on an old Snake River embankment. The river used to be much bigger and shrank over time, which left the land in steps.
Nathan's flip-flops, meanwhile, are held together with tape. He found a pair he liked years ago, bought about eight, and they stopped making them. He is down to his last pair, maybe two if one is still in Brazil.
On the way back we stopped at an old wooden barn with the Tetons behind it. Grand Teton also felt different from Yellowstone in one way. In Yellowstone there are signs everywhere telling you to stay on the path. At the spots we visited here, there were almost none. Even the river sign more or less said go for it, just be careful.
Line dancing in Jackson
Then we drove into Jackson so Fabiola could line dance in her new boots. "Howdy" is apparently what you learn in Jackson.
Sore feet, but it was fun. Then home to bed, because the next day was going to be a big one.
An early boat across Jenny Lake
There are two ways around Jenny Lake. You can hike the whole loop, which takes about two and a half hours, or take the boat across in about ten minutes. We took the boat. Parking fills up fast, so we got there around 7 in the morning to make sure we got a spot in the lot and on the boat.
The lake is named after Jenny, a Shoshone woman who helped the 1872 Hayden Expedition. The expedition named it for her instead of after one of its own members.
Hidden Falls and a crowded Inspiration Point
Once we got off the boat, the trail started climbing right away. The plan was Hidden Falls, then Inspiration Point, and then decide how much farther to go. From the boat dock to Inspiration Point is about a mile, with roughly 400 feet of elevation gain.
We did not expect it to be this crowded. Part of the trail runs along a cliff, and with that many people around us, we were honestly a little scared of falling. The view from the top was worth the climb, though. You look straight down on Jenny Lake.
On into Cascade Canyon
So of course we kept going, into Cascade Canyon: 9.4 miles and 1,480 feet of elevation gain. "It's five hours, the whole thing?" "Well, we'll see. Nine miles."
There was some confusion about where exactly we were turning around. It was not the peak we could see in the distance. We were not going all the way to the mountain. Either way, we had climbed so much that it was strange to find ourselves in a valley between the mountains.
Why Fabiola almost gave up
In the video Fabiola says it better than we can write it, so here are her words.
During this hike, I wanted to give up so many times, but Nathan kept me going, and I realized that sometimes our bodies can do so much more than our minds believe. And when you finally make it, the feeling of accomplishment fills your heart with so much joy. Sometimes the hardest part is convincing yourself not to quit.
The long way back
Then we had to walk all of it again. "Time to go back. Watch out for the poop." The views were just as good going the other way.
By the time we were back at Jenny Lake the clouds had come in, and there was a crowd waiting at the dock for the boat back across.
How far we actually got
9.5 miles. That is our record, longer than the Notch Trail and longer than Sunday Gulch. We were determined to finish it, and on the way back it got tough. Both of our shoulders were killing us, and our feet hurt. We are new at hiking and still warming up to it, but it is getting better.
One thing we got right was preparing the meals ahead. We had a real lunch on the trail and snacks, with salad and chicken, and that helped a whole lot.
Grand Teton is not Yellowstone
Yellowstone felt like drive and see: drive somewhere, look at the geysers and the other volcanic features, then drive again. Grand Teton feels like it is about the mountains and the hikes. We did see a moose on the hike, which was awesome, but otherwise not much wildlife. This one hike felt like enough to get to know the park.
If we come back, and we think we will, the next hike on our list is Delta Lake. It is more extreme: more miles, more elevation, and part of it is a path that is not a regular trail, up to a lake. We were really tempted this time. We picked Jenny Lake because it was a little easier. Ish.
Next week: our first RV rally
The next day was a travel day, and we started making our way to Colorado. Next week's video is our first RV rally. We were heading to meet some of our favorite YouTubers, Open Roading and Untethered, at their rally, and we were super excited to see them.
This video is part of our National Park RV Trips: Hikes, Wildlife & Scenic Drives playlist on YouTube, with Yellowstone and the Badlands. If you missed it, our last day in Yellowstone is up on the blog too. We also send a short weekly newsletter with where we are and what we are working on.
What is the longest hike you have ever done? Tell us in the comments on the video.