In September of 2020, I visited the Grand Tetons National Park. While growing up in Oklahoma, I didn’t visit the northwest much, so I had no expectation of what I would witness when I visited the park. As we traveled up through Kansas, my friends and I were overwhelmed with boredom. There was corn for as far as the eye could see. Colorado provided some visual interest as the sun began to rise on our way to the Tetons, yet we were once again met with vast nothingness as we made our way through Wyoming. This was the setup for the wondrous reveal of the Grand Tetons.
Photo by Spencer Patton
A roadside Grand Tetons photo taken near sunset
As we were met with the cold air, we gazed upon a field of Bison that roamed freely. The beauty then turned to stress as we struggled to find a camping site to spend the cold night in. When going to camp near the Tetons in the late Summer, most campsites are first come first serve, so you must come prepared to scramble for a site. The most popular sites nearest to the park are the NPS campgrounds. We found that during our visit on Labor Day Weekend, they were all full. So we had to extend our search to campsites around Jackson Hole.
After a long search, we finally found our short-term home, Kozy Campground, which we shared with a kind fellow traveler. From there, we set up camp and enjoyed a warm campfire-cooked meal, which was well deserved after over 24 hours of being on the road. The night turned into morning, and we began to explore the park the next day.
Photo by Spencer Patton
Here we set up camp with a few tents and a small campfire.
To start off, we visited Jenny Lake after enjoying coffee at JH Roasters. The food and drinks were great that morning, but the view was even better. We spent most of the day relaxing from our long trip before our hike.
Photo by Spencer Patton
Jenny Lake overshadowed by the Grand Tetons
On that Saturday, we got up early to beat the crowds of people entering the park. We had to get there early to board the ferry that leads to the Cascade Trail trailhead. This trail was the most scenic and popular trail of the Tetons, and it proved to be so given how many people we passed on the trail. As we looked behind us on the trail, we were able to view miles past the lake.
Photo by Spencer Patton
Overlooking Lake Jenny from inspiration point
The cascade trail lead up to Lake Solitude at its highest point. Lake solitude was surrounded by mountains and we were filled with awe. We jumped into the freezing water of Lake Solitude as it was still surrounded by patches of snow.
After spending some time with new friends that we made on the trail, we headed back down and made our way back to Jackson to enjoy a meal. The next day offered a different story, however, as the winds changed directions and the smoke from a 5-mile wide fire covered the horizon. The air was thick and smelled of soot. It was then that we would make our way to Yellowstone National Park. We visited Ole' Faithful and the prismatic lakes which were beautiful, however, we could help but look at the destruction on the horizon.
Photo by Spencer Patton
The 5-mile wide fire in Yellowstone National Park
Destruction from wildfires can cause a very large amount of damage to some of the most beautiful environments in the US. In the picture above, a 5-mile wide patch of Yellowstone National Park can be seen burning. On my excursion to these two parks, I saw the beauty of the United States, and I also saw that beauty be taken away. I think that this brought greater value to the experience overall. It increased my appreciation for the United States, and the preservation of some of the most beautiful locations in the US.
I urge you, fellow explorer, to pack your backpack, fill your gas tank, and experience what the National Parks have to offer.
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