We finally made it to the Teton Area where we spent a week. First we stayed in the Star Valley Ranch RV Resort. It was one of our favorite RV parks. The sites was very large and every where you went there was grass. As you can see from the below there were many sites to park in and they are building more. We would come back here again. We received an Enjoy America (EA) discount of $25 per night so the price was right. Waking up to 49 degrees was a surprise but nice after having to deal with 98 degrees in Riverton.
The RV park was just outside of the city of Jackson in Jackson Hole county, where we enjoyed several meals. The area is “cowboy country” because there are not a lot of stores around and many do close on Sundays – include groceries. So you do have to adapt to the surroundings. However, the city of Jackson has a many shops and restaurants. Definitely where everyone was.
Apparently, they have a National Elk Refuge nearby and which holds over 11,000 elk during the winter. Unfortunately, we were not here during the time they all were in the refuge but may plan another visit when they are. Can you imagine seeing 11,000 elk at one time. (Visit the website to read more about this.)
During their stay, they shed more than 6,000 pounds of antlers every year. It is illegal to take any of these antlers. They are auctioned off every year by the Boy Scouts where 75% of the auction goes back to the refuge and the rest goes to the Boy Scouts. Below is an aged picture of one antler being auctioned off so you can see how large they are.
Jackson, the city, also have arches of the antlers downtown on every corner of the park. Can’t imagine how many are in each of these. This is just one corner.
Another fun thing in Jackson was this store display for the store offering White Water Rafting and Scenic River Trips. Would have been fun to be in their boat. Great advertising – it sure gets your attention.
So now about the Tetons which is in the Grand Teton National Park. You can see the Tetons for miles before you even get close to the area so you begin to understand how large this range of mountains are.
“The Teton Range is a mountain range of the Rocky Mountains. It extends for approximately 40 miles (64 km) in a north–south direction through the state of Wyoming, east of the Idaho state line.
Early French voyageurs named the range les trois tétons (“the three nipples”) after the distinct breast-like shapes of its peaks, from which the modern name is derived.
The principal summits of the central massif, sometimes referred to as the Cathedral Group, are Grand Teton (13,775 feet), Mount Owen (12,928 feet), Teewinot (12,325 feet), Middle Teton (12,804 feet) and South Teton (12,514 feet). Other peaks in the range include Mount Moran (12,605 feet), Mount Wister (11,490 feet), Buck Mountain (11,938 feet) and Static Peak (11,303 feet).” (wiki) A majestic mountain range. You just can’t help but keep looking at it and taking a ton of pictures.
First stop was at the Chapel of Transfiguration. This is a must see according to many because of the awesome picture you can take from inside the chapel of the Tetons.
“This tiny chapel built in 1925 on land donated by Maud Noble is still a functioning Episcopal church. It was constructed so that the early settlers would not have to make the long buckboard ride into Jackson for Sunday services.”
Directly across from this was Bill Menor homestead and Menor’s Ferry. There is a General Store there that is in almost its original condition. In addition to the ginger snaps they serve you that was cooked in the pot belly stove inside, they also had locally made treats – such as the peanut brittle we bought. Yum. 
There are also some ancient carriages and sleds being stored.
Also in this homestead is the Maud Noble Cabin. The short story about this cabin is this is the place where the decision was made to protect the Teton area. “This cabin, erected on its preset site in 1917 by Miss Maud Noble, has been preserved and renovated to commemorate a meeting held here on the evening of July 26, 1923, at which Mr. Struthers Burt, Dr. Horace Carncross, Mr. John L. Eynon, Mr. J.R. Jones and Mr. Richard Winger, all residents of Jackson Hole. Presented to Mr. Horace M. Albright, then Superintendent of Yellowstone National Park, a plan for setting aside a portion of Jackson Hole as a national recreation area for the use and enjoyment of the people of the United States. The purpose of that plan has been accomplished by the establishment and enlargement of the Grand Teton National Park.”
More pictures of the Tetons. One of the most published pictures are from the Oxbow Bend. The water is so still which allows a reflection of the Tetons. So beautiful.
On one of our drives, we also were lucky to see this Bald Eagle. It was funny finding it because it actually dove right at our car. 
On our last day in the park, we finally got to see some moose. No males but cow (female) and her calfs. Too bad we didn’t see the male (bull). It would of been great to see those antlers.
In summary, this is a “do not miss” visit. There are many forests that you drive through and many opportunities to see wildlife. We have to laugh that we got to see the butts of three black bears but not pictures and then we missed one completely. It is fun to watch cars pulled over and everyone taking pictures. You have to be alert so you can figure out why they pulled over. Unfortunately, they black bears didn’t walk front of us. Oh well. Off to Yellowstone so that we may be able to see more wildlife.
