Fall in the Tetons is Everything You Hoped It Would Be

Flying J celebrated its 50th anniversary of existence this year, and as part of the celebration, they took all of the employees and their spouses/significant others to Jackson Hole over the last weekend in September.  It was a home run in terms of activities and timing. 

We stayed at the Snake River Lodge, which was right by Jackson resort and nice enough. The first activity was dinner at the Million Dollar Steak House.  We were all signed up with people we didn't know as well, and it worked out great, as we had a charming evening of conversation with co-workers that was anything but work related. The food was expensive (as stake houses tend to be) but good. 

The next morning, Kathleen and I had signed up for a paragliding activity (go big or go home, as they say) but it was cancelled due to wind.  Guess it saved me from an oops -- splat! moment for a little while longer, anyway. 

The alternative was horseback riding. It is a lovely thing . . .  as long as you don't mind your knees turning into a puddle of mess and pain. How cowboys manage to even walk is beyond me. That said, the scenery was beautiful. 

After I was finally able to walk again, we wandered into town to eat dinner at Gather, a lovely restaurant that had the best food of our trip, hands down.

Sunday we headed out for a cruise around Jenny Lake, and then some sight seeing in the park.  It was a glorious ride and drive, full of colors and beauty. Here are the pics:

There are mountains that claim to be mountains, and then there are the Tetons. Them are MOUNTAINS.

We saw bald eagles and moose, while others saw elk and black bears (some of the latter at very close quarters!).

But the colors really were the star of the show, as these pictures from around Oxbow Bend attest:

But even without the colors, this high country is so evocative. Just a glance out the car window, and you are a hundred years away, in a world less complicated and more isolated, standing on your own to see what you can do in the midst of God's great creation.

Think we may need to make this an annual tradition. Once in 50 years is never enough.