Moose, and buffalo, and bear, Oh my!

Today's plan was to start early again and try to see moose.  Then, spend the day exploring Grand Teton National Park, before heading north again toward Yellowstone National Park.  We really had a busy day! As we left Teton village, a hot air balloon was just taking off, it looked very cool, but maybe next time.

 But we already had a very busy day planned, and our plan worked: we had a very close encounter with a big mama moose and her baby.  We used the proven strategy of not looking for wildlife, but instead, looking for people with big camera lenses all pointing in the same direction.

 We hung out with these two wonderful creatures for a while, noting that it looked like the calf had been hurt:  a chunk had been bitten off his neck - maybe a wolf?  But he seemed to be doing well and healing.

Coincidentally, this is where the historical "Mormon row" is (where Mormons settled in the late 1800'th), which is also where my friend Anne's father was born!!!!  In this very cabin!  how cool is that?? They had no running water nor electricity, but what a view! 

All around the old cabin, pretty little mountain blue birds where enjoying the views too.

From there, we continued north to Jenny Lake and took the ferry across, both to enjoy the view, and to get to the many trail heads on the other side. 

Joe hung out on the lake side trails, while I went up first to the "Hidden Falls"  (they must not be that hidden, because there were a few people around..... and then up to "inspiration point"  (Many people were finding inspiration there with me). 

It's a steep trail carved into the mountain, but short and wide enough that quite a few children made it all the way up.

 I continued up to canyon trail and then back through the forest, where many berries were - I did not recognized any of them and - uncharacteristically - did not try to eat any of them.

 The mountain is starting to put on fall colors and the trails were just lovely.

 Joe and I had agreed to meet at the trail head for String lake.  But there were actually two distinct areas and we spent a bit of time looking for each other.  I was a bit worried about what to do next if I did not find him....  no cell phone sevice anywhere, and we were planning on spending the night in Yellowstone, almost 80 miles away..... not sure what we would have done.  Anyway, we eventually found each other - lesson learned.... plan better next time.

In the afternoon, we drove to the top of Signal Mountain, which has great views of the entire valley and of the lake, and then continued north, stopping here and there to ooohhh and aaahhh till we reached Yellowstone National Park.

We had planned on going directly to the lodge and start exploring tomorrow, but it is just impossible not to stop for the wild life here.  For one thing, everyone else stops:  this little bear was causing quite a traffic jam, just posing by the side of the road.....






And then we got to Hayden valley and a large herd of buffaloes - right there, right next to us.  It was just awesome.  Some were close enough to touch (but we did not!).

So we arrive a bit later than planned, but it was worth it!  Once we got there, we realized that there is no WIFI access anywhere.....  So no pictures until we get home!  (Typing this from the business center in the lodge, but I can't upload pictures).  - Update- figured out a hack to upload pictures after all....  so here they are.....