Training Log Archive: Nadim

Grand Teton National Park - From our Colter Bay cabin, I got out for a much needed run. Peggy had run earlier on a small trail we'd scouted on a map during an evening lakeside stroll. I figured that I'd do the same since I thought the trail I wanted to take had been closed--a bear had killed an elk in the area. To my surprise, I found a trail headed in the direction I'd wanted to go that was open. It was hilly initially but it got me to Heron Pond and Swan Lake. The pond was more of an inlet to the larger Jackson Lake. I hoped I'd see a moose but was a little worried about finding a bear. I'd run this trail in 2000 and liked it back then. Back then it felt a lot easier. I paused at a trail junction to read a map where the trail ahead was closed. A runner had come up from behind and turned toward Swan Lake from there. I pursued and caught him but it took me more effort than I thought it would. Luckily we both had to stop 2 times as groups of horses and riders came at us from the other direction.

Grand Teton National Park, WY - Inspiration Point. After we got our sleepy kids going and checked out of Colter Bay, we stopped at the Oxbow Lake for some pictures. We didn't see any moose but there was a nice pelican and a lot of wild flowers to set off the Tetons in the distance.





We also drove up to the top of Signal Mountain for views.











We were able to make a boat shuttle trip across Jenny Lake to start the Inspiration Point hike. The weather was looking risky but we were okay. We toyed with the thought of going to both Inspiration Point and Hidden Falls but in a continuing series of closures we had been running into, the connecting trail had been closed for changes--a gift of $19M had been given to make infrastructure changes all around this very popular lake. The hike was steep, but not so bad for me. Because I lingered taking pictures, I ended up with Samantha who had been rather uncooperative. I nudged her along and kept her from turning around. We had plenty of breaks so it wasn't a grueling thing for her. Still, I had to filter out the excuses. The hike climbed higher than Inspiration Point, and turned back downward to it. I would have been very tempted to go to the falls if I'd know how close we passed to them. The view were nice but we didn't stay long. We could see rain coming over the Tetons behind us. Fortunately it had been virga in the first sightings. As we got closer back to the the dock, it was clear that it was going to eventually reach the ground. It was light while we waited in line for a shuttle boat, but it did pour later.











We were able to get to a group of Mormon homesteads and take some pictures but as we got to the Snake River and Glacier View road stops later, our views and my chances for picture











We were really hungry when we reached Jackson and got checked-in. It took us a while to find an affordable restaurant that didn't have a long wait. We walked to Wendy' from our hotel later for Frosty's for dessert, so least our night in Jackson was good. The kids and adults enjoyed having Internet access and TV again.