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Granite Canyon Hike

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Hermitage Point

If you want a sublime, easy, all-day hike with incredible views of water, mountains, ponds and the possibility of seeing animals and birds, then Hermitage Point should be your pick. At the very least, it is one of my top choices. Sure, it is 9.4 miles round trip. Yes, it is a rather long drive from Jackson Hole (fifty minutes by way of US-191 and US-89N). But the hike is relatively flat (elevation gain of 440 ft.) and easy to follow. And, at the beginning and end, there is a park restaurant with all you need to start your day and replenish after the hike.

To find the trail, follow the concrete road south that tracks along the boat landing area. When you reach the end of the concrete, follow the old gravel/dirt service road that runs along the Colter Bay Marina. While walking, take in the beautiful views of water backed by mountains (Mt. Moran and Rockchuck Peak).

Soon, you will reach the Swan Lake/Heron Pond split. Veer right and head towards Heron Pond. You will notice that the path turns to a much narrower dirt path of the type that you would expect in the park. At the next junction (unmarked) head right towards Heron Pond [make sure that you pick-up a trail map to eliminate any confusion). In a few minutes, you will reach another junction. If you take the path to the right you will go uphill to an overlook with fabulous views. Continue further and that trail re-joins the trail you were on. Either way, after a short-distance, you will see an incredibly beautiful pond that will likely be filled with lily pads. Afterwards, you will have a rather lengthy trek through the woods before the terrain opens into sagebrush flats before coming at an end at Hermitage Point (make sure you follow the trail to right when you get to an “X” intersection, otherwise if you go left you will end up at Swan Lake.) The views of the Tetons juxtaposed against Jackson Lake are magnificent at this stage of your journey.

When you reach the rocky beach to your right, settle down for a well-earned sandwich and enjoy the magnificent views and the breeze.

When it is time to go home I recommend retracing your steps. I have gone the other way on the southeastern side of the point and, while interesting (off in the distance you can see Jackson Lake Lodge and you pass a rather cool camp site), I don’t think it worth the seemingly slight extra distance.

Teton Pines Happy Hour

Life is sublime at the Teton Pines happy hour.

On a whim, we drove five miles south of Teton Village to the Teton Pines Club House in January. For more than a week we kept passing the sign advertising a happy hour. Curiosity finally overcame us and we decided to go. Admittedly, we were not overly expectant.  After all, Teton Pines is a country club – not the sort of thing my wife and I usually plan on going to when we visit Jackson Hole.

Teton Pines Happy HourBut from the moment we walked in and found our way to the bar tucked into the back of the clubhouse we realized we had found something special. The huge glass windows looking out on a beautiful landscape perfectly showcase both past and present snowfalls. The bar is small and cozy; especially if you arrive before 5:00 p.m. and the extremely friendly bartenders have time to engage in conversation.

The drink menu had some great combinations. My wife and I ordered a hot cider combination and our friends enjoyed a chocolate flavored concoction. But for those who aren’t looking for something quite so sweet there are plenty of other possibilities along with the normal top shelf liquor found at a well-stocked bar.

But the clear winner was the happy hour menu. Seven different appetizers, each sounding better than the other, will tempt you. We ordered three:

  1. Crispy Buffalo Chicken Bites;
  2. Trio of meatball Sandwiches; and
  3. Mini Fish Tacos.

Not only were they delicious, the portions were surprisingly large – and the price was right – $7 -$9 each. Four of us were satiated from eating those three choices.

Happy hour is only available Wednesday through Saturday from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Unfortunately, it is only offered during the winter. Hopefully, that policy will change for the summer folks.

On this web site, I only write about places I have enjoyed and will return to. Yesterday I went back again.  This time the four of us ordered five different appetizers and then ordered repeats of two of them. Needless to say, we were not disappointed. Check it out at Teton Pines.

Grand Teton National Park Closure

Jackson Hole Favorites is not a political blog. But I can barely restrain myself when at one of the most magical times of the year in Jackson Hole – early October – the Parks are closed. I was angry the other day when I walked up the Moose-Wilson road from Teton Village. I thought I would be able to go as far as the Granite Canyon Trail Head in Grand Teton National Park. But no, the Government shutdown brought to all of us by our dysfunctional government reared its ugly head. I hit a literal roadblock.

Government Shutdown Grand Teton National Park

This is what happens with a disfunctional government.

Why are the Parks closed? Who is at fault?  Each of you has your own answer. But one thing is for sure, it is not the fault of Park employees. The rank and file who work for the Park service by and large does the job for the satisfaction it brings them.  Certainly not for the money they are paid or the living conditions they endure.

That is why the letter Jon Jarvis, Director of the Park Service, wrote to his employees hit the mark. He said in part:

“The functions we must perform under a shutdown are not the reasons any of us joined the National Park Service, but they are the duties we are required to perform by law and regulation… Park employees want to get back to the business of welcoming people to their public lands … Turning visitors away is simply not in our DNA.”

So, whatever your political views remember that Park Service employees do not want to be in the position they are in. They are forced to turn us away by forces beyond their control. And by the way, shame on any politician that attempts to use the fact that they are doing their job for political purposes.

Because you see, those Park Service employees are some of my Jackson Hole Favorites.

Consulting For Your Trip to Jackson Hole

What I Offer

If you would like some assistance on the telephone concerning your upcoming trip to Jackson Hole I would be happy to speak with you for up to fifteen minutes. In order to arrange a time and date please send me contact information using the form below. After we have spoken, if you believe it was worthwhile, then I would appreciate you paying me using the paypal button at the bottom. [Read more…]

Hiking in Granite Canyon Near Jackson Hole

Honestly, my wife and I didn’t intend to go very far up Granite Canyon. Little did we know we would find one of most incredible destinations for a moderate hike that I have seen in Grand Teton National Park.

Lunch in Granite Canyon

Lunch in Granite Canyon

 

We parked just outside of the Moose/Wilson road entrance to the Park on a side road that runs perpendicular to the main road. The advantage of doing this is that you avoid the line of cars that sometimes queues up at the booth. Most people park at the Granite Canyon trailhead another mile further up on the road after entering Grand Teton National Park. But we had plenty of time and wanted the exercise.  [Read more…]

Jackson Hole Real Estate Broker

My Real Estate Broker Recomendation If You Want The Straight Scoop!

I met Darren Kleiman in early 2003, when I first became interested in purchasing a property in Jackson Hole.  Our first contact was a cold call by me to the brokerage he was working for.  Darren was patient, informative and honest with regard to the inventory in the price range I was prepared to pay.  Shortly therefter I arrived in Jackson.  Darren spent considerable time showing several properties without pressuring me to make a decision on any of them.  Unfortunately, none of the listings met my needs.  I certainly gained by soaking up the voluminous amount of knowledge that Darren imparted to me, and if he felt any frustration in spending considerable time without any financial reward he certainly did not show it.

[Read more…]

Bear on Moose-Wilson Road

It has been a bear week on the Moose-Wilson Road. My sum total of bear sightings on this road over the last ten years has been two. This week I have seen the same bear twice and come close on several other occasions.

What gets me is the lack of caution displayed by people eager to photograph bears. Especially in this day of zoom lenses and high performance cameras you would think people would depend more on technology than proximity. But as you can see below that is not always the case.

This particular bear, I am not sure if it is a black or sub adult grizzly, was walking through the brushes and bathing in a stream running parallel to the narrow road. Suddenly it came out of the water, shook off like a dog, and made tracks for the pavement. I was safely in my car, but there were no Park Rangers present when the bear stepped out into the open. The same cannot be said for some, perhaps over eager photographers, who in my judgment were way to close.

Bear on Moose Wilson Road

Bear on Moose Wilson Road

I’m “just saying” of course. [Read more…]