Along Death Canyon

One of the ideas that got strengthened as we hiked to Phelps Lake was the importance of being able to see the big picture and the little picture. Looking at the whole incredible lake at the overlook and the water's edge was an experience not to be missed. But the single elements of the bear, the marmot, the flowers, the path...each gave a particular blessing to the hike.

I thought about the song words, "He's got the whole world in his hands" and thought of the big picture. But it is also each singular thing in creation that does not escape His love and care.

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Not a creature exists that is concealed from his sight.

Favorite Trails

The Death Canyon Trailhead is one of the trails we took off Wilson Road. It started with a drive in the car (luckily we had rented a Jeep) on a rutty dirt road that narrowed and became worse as options for parking became scarce. Once we began walking it was apparent that this trail was rated 'moderate' but deemed a steeper ranking. But we persevered and did the walk up to Phelps Lake.

The climb to the overlook was a little rattling because a honey-colored black bear and her cubs had been on the trail ahead of us. When we passed the area we could see a bit of her color through the trees higher up above us. She was busy digging roots and gave us no mind, especially since we were talking, letting her know that we were there. No surprises.

When we got to the over look it was quite stunning. We continued just as steep a descent down to the water's edge. One of the things I love about hiking is that people who are meeting you going the other way encourage you to keep on going. Where would we be in sticking to hard things without encouragement?

Phelps Lake was definitely worth the extra hike through the narrow trails edged with wildflowers. I will post some flowers and wildlife in the next entry, but wanted to concentrate on this beautiful lake. Because it is difficult to get to it is also very serene. No boats, no swimmers, no trash, no noise. The only bird around was a solitary duck making a white trail with his glide across the reflection in the lake. It was quite ethereal.

We sat by the water and were thankful that we had 'run the race' and finished to see the beautiful prize. It was quite humbling to know that not many people got to see what we were looking at because it was difficult to get up and down the trail. I am thankful for my health and for the discipline God gave me to keep working out so I would have the stamina to hike. It was a treasure of time spent with my husband in one of the most beautiful places on the earth.

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Acknowledge Him in all ways and He will direct your path.

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Encourage one another in the race we run!

Favorite Restaurant

No, Moose is not my favorite breakfast...nor are the wildflowers. This is just what we saw before and after eating our wonderful breakfast at an open air picnic table at Dornan's Chuckwagon. We had eaten a great meal one evening before heading up to Yellowstone. The aromas coming from the Dutch ovens married with the forest smells made for good appetites.

Our breakfasts on this last morning of the journey consisted of sourdough pancakes, eggs, bacon, fruit, and coffee. They were served to us while we took in the massive Grand Tetons. We slurped up the last drops of our second cup of coffee and headed for one more pass at Wilson Road before heading for the airport. We drove out of the parking lot of Dornan's, turned right to enter Wilson Road a short distance down the road, and Eric saw a bull moose standing on an island right in the river at the bridge crossing. We saw another moose when we got on Wilson Road. What blessings!

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Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth, and break forth into singing, O mountains; for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.
Isaiah 49:13

Favorite Roads #2

So many times we have been thinking about what to do in an evening and remarked, "Let's go to Wilson Road." We have such fond memories of the sunrise/sunset drives through the path between Teton Village and Moose Junction just north of Jackson.

This vacation afforded us the second opportunity to visit one of our favorite roads. Little did we know (we only saw elk, deer, and a bear from far away) that we were in for such a memorable treat this time. Most of the 19 moose sightings were along its willow and wildflower covered hills. The elk camped out on the hilltops, hard to see from an enclosed car. The deer would pop up usually close to the road. The moose this time had a favorite pond that was slightly hidden from the road by the tall willow. However, a break in the cover farther down the road showed them standing in the distance reflected in the water. We saw cows, bulls, and calves there almost every time we took the road.

The road itself winds by flat grassland, river bed, deep canyon, cascading waters, and stunning wildflowers. It is one of those places I can go in my mind from start to finish around each curve. It wakes up the emotions and senses through its length as the smells, visual pleasures, and anticipations sputter into the nose, ears, eyes and land in the mind and heart. If you ever get a chance to visit Jackson, do not miss a few trips down Wilson Road. It will bless you!

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And I will make all my mountains a way,
and my highways shall be exalted.
Isaiah 49:11

Favorite Roads

We are back from Yellowstone and Jackson Hole with some heartwarming and heart-stopping stories. One of the no-miss Roads we wanted to revisit at Jackson Hole was Wilson Road. I will tell you more about it on the next post. It holds even more majestic memories for us after this last week.

Today, for my first post about this vacation, I want to tell you about a new favorite. We stayed in Canyon Village in north Yellowstone. The road north from the Canyon Village intersection is Dunraven. It leads to Tower, more of the Yellowstone Grand Canyon, incredible hiking trails, and several sightings of grizzly bears.

We found ourselves in a line of stopped cars, a sure sign of wildlife sightings. We had seen several bison crossing the road south of Canyon Village, and thought this is what we would see. However, when we got closer, we saw the defining hump on this grizzly's back. It was digging roots at the side of the road. The visitors to the park were ecstatic at the opportunity to see this huge bear in the wildflowers. The beautiful layers of mountains in the background were breathtaking.

When we got our chance to photograph the bear and go on up the road, we took a turnoff to begin a hike up to Mt. Washburn. Though the trail was steep it was also wide and afforded scenic grandeur of alpine wildflowers on a high mountain caldera still holding onto a ribbon of snow. I was in heaven noting new discoveries of wildflowers.

Down below a park ranger had come to chase the bear off and break up the dangerous traffic jam. As we were enjoying the cool afternoon hike we looked down to see the grizzly crest the hill below and come up the mountain toward us. The experience gave a whole new meaning to "scenic overlook"!!! Per advice from bear safety information we did not run, so the bear would not chase as an instinct. We walked slowly away, and the bear nonchalantly walked to the trees to the left.

We took Dunraven Road several times during our stay at the park. All five grizzly sightings were along that road. We followed it longer one day to find a few trails through thickly flowered hillsides in back of Roosevelt Lodge. This was another world compared to the mud pots and sulfur smells of the southern and western park.

The country we live in has so much incredible beauty to experience. Some of it is risky, but life is full of risks. Driving in Metroplex traffic might be right up there with grizzlies per chance of death. We had near misses on the freeway back from the airport.

When I need to think on those things that are beautiful I will perhaps think of Dunraven Road with its cool winds and afternoon rains, and that beautiful animal in the wildflowers. I will not think of traffic at Rufe Snow and 820.

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Phil. 4:8
(Think on these things)