Great MisAdventures Summer 2011

Yellowstone National Park
~ Round Trip to Grand Teton National Park ~

August 12, 2011

Today's MisAdventure started very early for us as we had a great distance to travel. This trip will take us south through Yellowstone into Grand Teton National Park, a visit to Jackson Wyoming, and the return over Teton Pass to Idaho and home. As we reached the Geyser Basin, we were delighted to find billowing steam venting from the many geysers here, another Yellowstone wonder. As we had not visited the West Thumb Geyser Basin along the western shore of Yellowstone Lake, and being ahead of the crowds, we stopped and toured this unique area.
The West Thumb Geyser Basin is unique in that it is the largest geyser basin on the shores of Yellowstone Lake. The heat source of the thermal features in this location is thought to be relatively close to the surface, only 10,000 feet down! The West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake was formed by a large volcanic explosion that occurred approximately 150,000 years ago. The resulting

collapsed volcano, called a caldera, later filled with water forming an extension of Yellowstone Lake.
Members of the 1870 Washburn party noted that Yellowstone Lake was shaped like "a human hand with the fingers extended and spread apart as much as possible," with the large west bay representing the thumb. In 1878, however, the Hayden Survey used the name "West Arm" for the bay; "West Bay" was also used. Norris' maps of 1880 and 1881 used "West Bay or Thumb." During the 1930s, park personnel attempted to change the name back to "West Arm," but West Thumb remains the accepted name.
The thermal features at West Thumb are found not only on the lake shore, but extend under the surface of the lake as well. Several underwater geysers were discovered in the early 1990s and can be seen as slick spots or slight bulges in the summer. During the winter, the underwater thermal features are visible as melt holes in the icy surface of the lake. The ice averages about three feet thick during the winter.

In 1869, the first scientific expedition to explore the Yellowstone area, the Folsom- Cook-Peterson Expedition, visited the West Thumb Geyser Basin. David Folsom described the area as follows:
Among these were springs differing from any we had previously seen. They were situated along the shore for a distance of two miles, extending back from it about five hundred yards and into the lake perhaps as many feet. There were several hundred springs here, varying in size from miniature fountains to pools or wells seventy-five feet in diameter and of great depth. The water had a pale violet tinge, and was very clear, enabling us to discern small objects fifty or sixty feet below the surface. A small cluster of mud springs near by claimed our attention. These were filled with mud, resembling thick paint of the finest quality, differing in color from pure white to the various shades of yellow, pink, red and violet. During the afternoon they threw mud to the height of fifteen feet. . . .

Historically, visitors travelling to Yellowstone would arrive at West Thumb via stagecoach from the Old Faithful area. At West Thumb, they had the choice of continuing on the dusty, bumpy stagecoach or boarding the steamship "Zillah" to continue the journey to the Lake Hotel.

The parking lot has filled with vehicles as we leave West Thumb to continue southward through the park. We stop at Lewis Falls and enjoy the sights and sounds of a smaller waterfall along the roadway.
Lewis Falls is a 29' cascade type falls with no close access to the falls themselves. We continue on entering Grand Teton National Park.

Grand Tetons From The Shore of Jackson Lake

We are still on a Moose hunt as we have not sighted the giant mammals yet. Grand Teton National Park is a great place to find these very elusive creatures. The mountain majesty is also one of the best views and also the most recognizable range in the USA.

The birth of present-day Grand Teton National Park involved controversy and a struggle that lasted several decades. Animosity toward expanding governmental control and a perceived loss of individual

freedoms fueled anti-park sentiments in Jackson Hole that nearly derailed establishment of the park. The original Grand Teton National Park, set aside by an act of Congress in 1929, included only the Teton Range and six glacial lakes at the base of the mountains. The Jackson Hole National Monument, decreed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt through presidential proclamation in 1943, combined Teton National Forest acreage, other federal properties including Jackson Lake and a generous 35,000-acre donation by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. The Rockefeller lands continued to be privately held until December 16, 1949 when impasse for addition to the national park was resolved. On September 14, 1950, the original 1929 Park and the 1943 National Monument (including Rockefeller’s donation) were united into a “new” Grand Teton National Park, creating present-day boundaries.

Gods Country

We drive through the park stopping frequently to gaze at the beauty, ending up in the western town of Jackson, Wyoming. We visit the great Visitors Center located here then head downtown for some sightseeing. We found Jackson way too crowded for our tastes and continue west over Teton Pass and drop into Idaho.

Our next destination is Victor, Idaho, home of Grand Teton Brewing. David found Howling Wolf,an unfiltered Bavarian-style Hefeweizen Ale in the local market and wanted to try a brew on tap. This brew is definitely one of the favorites of the Great Yellowstone MisAdventure! We were hoping for a late lunch here as well, but the only food in sight or on the menu was popcorn fresh from the popper.

David purchases a case of this fine ale and we continue toward our home at Lionshead Resort. We elect to once again take the Mesa Falls Drive into Island Park to enjoy the beauty of Southeastern Idaho and the Island Park Caldera. Another fine Mooseless MisAdventure on this journey of life.

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