We decided to take a break from the hiking and instead take
the scenic route to Jackson. So, we drove to Alpine before we turned to Victor,
Idaho. One more turn found us heading up to the top of Teton Pass. It’s a steep
route, about ten percent grade and a truck was ahead of us, so it was a slow
ascent to the pass.
Pulling off, we all got out and looked east toward Black
Tail Butte, The Gros Ventre Range, and the City of Jackson. Avalanche shuts were
devoid t of trees and any brush and each year massive avalanches thunder down
the pass, frequently closing the highway. A plan was made to build avalanche
sheds to save lives but the Wyoming Legislature decided to not appropriate the
funds.
Heading down the pass we turned on the Moose Wilson road.
There have been four moose struck and killed and one wonders at the idiots that
don’t pay attention to the warning signs! Entering the park, we drove the road
but didn’t see any bears to moose. Jen and Eric were planning on hiking a very
difficult trail, and so we headed to the park headquarters to ask for
directions.
Asking about the Delta Trail at the information desk the
young park interpreter looked at me and must have decided that I was too old
for such a trail. He said that they already had three rescues on the trail and
wouldn’t tell me the critical turn to Delta Lake.
Now I had climbed there years ago but I didn’t argue as it
wasn’t worth the effort, (Jen later approached the same person who told her the
way to get to Delta Lake. Either it was because she is thirty years younger
than I am or perhaps he wanted to impress her with his knowledge.
We next drove to the trail head which is located at Lupine
Meadows. It’s the same trail I took when Terry Rypkema, Steve Gardner, and I climbed
Teewinot, a 12300-foot peak just north of The Grand Teton. Figuring things out, Jen, Eric, (Renita and I weren’t going to hike to Devils Lake), we drove back to the Moose
Wilson Road.
A few miles down the road we got caught in a bear jam but as
we reached the location of the bears, they had moved back into the brush. A
pull off was nearby and Renita pulled in and parked the truck. Soon people
started to move our way and sure enough the Black Bear sow and her cub were
walking right towards us!
The bears were only thirty feet away, when they turned and
walked along a trail right in front of us. It was the closest we have been to
bears this year and with an occasional glance towards us the sow continued down
the trail closely followed by the cub.
To see bear here, you must know where they are, at different
times of the year, and you must be lucky. Jen and Eric brought us their luck! Clear skies
Neat bear encounter.
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