06/26/08 Hiking Taggart Lake Trail:
What a difference from a couple of weeks ago. Temperature got up near the 90's after I got here. Flowers out in full force as were the mosquitos. A couple of sprinkles last night and some clouds this morning.
The Taggart Lake Trail is the easiest trail in the Tetons and the most popular. I got to the trailhead at 8am and there were a few other cars there already.
A short ways into the hike is a very nice cascading falls with The Grand Teton in the background. Mine photo didn't take that well. Might need a little better sunlight.
It's only 1 mile or so to Taggart Lake with about 100 feet of elevation. Very pretty with the Tetons reflected in the lake on this calm day. I decided to follow the Taggart Lake Trail sign... around Taggart Lake, right? Wrong! It went a few miles in the other direction and ended back at the parking lot. A couple of views along the way but mostly just a walk in the woods.
06/27/08 Hiking Taggart Lake Trail:
Decided to go back up the Taggert Lake Trail and then on to Bradley Lake. The air was as clear as I've ever seen it today. I had to stop and take many pictures I had taken before.
I hiked to Taggart Lake as before and followed it to the left and stopped in the middle of the bridge over the outlet. That was all the lake had to offer in that direction so I retraced my steps 100 yards and picked up the Bradley Lake Trail towards the right of Taggart Lake.
This proved to be another 1.4 miles. The trail follows Taggart Lake but the only views were through the trees. An incline for the next mile or so. Lots of flowers and some great views made for some very nice photos.
Bradley Lake was almost exactly the same as Taggart Lake with the same views.
06/28/08 Hiking Hidden Falls Trail:
I was looking for something in the 1000 foot and 5 mile range. All the hikes I looked at were either too steep or too short... so I went with Hidden Falls Trial.
I picked it up at south Jenny Lake and followed the west side of the lake 2 miles to the trail. Some ups and downs on the way and more on the way to the 200 foot Hidden Falls. I started up to Inspiration Point. I got half way up and stopped, The view at that point was almost as good as up top and I didn't feel like climbing any higher.
I'm having a hard time progressing to the next level of my hiking. Geez! I hope I'm not going to be stuck hiking with the fat ladies, old geezers and 4 year olds for the rest of my life. I did feel pretty strong on the up hills on the way back but still not pleased.
06/29/08 Hiking Swan Lake/Heron Lake Trails:
Saw a moose browsing in the trees on the way to Colter Bay. Hiked up to Swan Lake which was full of lily pads. On the way back the flowers started opening up.
I startled a young deer buck with velvet antlers on the way back. Then I saw 3, maybe 4 elk clustered back in the woods. One of them was a little guy a month or two old. 30-40 Canadian geese at the top of the lake.
Nothing much at Heron Lake. About 8 little duckies following mom and dad around. A nice reflection of snow covered peaks but that was about it.