Peggy and I are continuing our exploration of 25 of America’s most beautiful national parks in celebration of America’s 250th Birthday. Today we are journeying to northern Wyoming and visiting Grand Teton National Park with its spectacular mountain range: Our second national park.
I have good news. I mentioned in a recent blog that the Washington Post had reported that Major League Baseball, working in conjunction with the Trump Administration, was exploring the possibility of building a baseball stadium in the Park. Local government and community leaders dashed off a resounding “NO” to MLB and Trump. The idea was dropped faster than a 100 MPH pitched baseball can travel. Concerned citizens can make a difference!
An unobstructed fall view of the Grand Teton mountains with their great natural beauty. Plus ducks. Probably hanging out on their way south.Visitors and wildlife won’t have to cope with thousands of more people clogging the narrow two lane highways and park if a baseball stadium had been built. One can only wonder what would happen if a grizzly attended a baseball tailgate party! One thing’s for sure: It could have had its choice of snacks.Staring to rise 6-9 million years ago, the Grand Teton Mountain Range is the youngest mountain range in North America. The Rocky Mountains developed between 55-80 million years ago and the Appalachians 480 million years. Even the baby Sierra Nevada Mountain Range of California is a million or so years older.And the Grand Tetons are still growing, one earthquake at a time. The latest occurred 5,900, 8,000, and 10,000 years ago. The earthquakes happen along the Teton Fault that runs 40 miles along the eastern side of the mountains. Each quake sees about 10 feet (3 meters) in uplift with the mountain rising 5 feet and the Jackson Hole Valley dropping 5. Is it time for another one? It has the potential of about 7.0 to 7.5 in magnitude.The last time we visited Grand Teton NP we followed Highway 26 out of Casper, Wyoming. Our first view of the Tetons would have been shortly after we passed over Togwotee Pass sitting on the Continental Divide at an elevation of 9,655 feet. Togwotee is a Shoshone word meaning expert spear thrower.Before we could spot the Grand Tetons, we saw these impressive breccia peaks to the north of Highway 26 near the Togwotee Pass. (My father painted these mountains once.)Professional photographer Glen Fishback took this photo of my dad painting the Absaroka Range in the 1980s. Pop, as we knew him, had wandered around the country with his sister, Elanor, a few years earlier.Breccia consists of sharp, angular fragments of various minerals and rocks cemented together within a crumbly matrix of volcanic ash. The peaks are between 10 and 11 thousand feet high.Aspens were also found near the pass. We were definitely being treated to fall colors.Our first view of the Tetons on Highway 26 coming down from the Continental Divide into Jackson Hole Valley.They grew quickly in size and clarity.A closer valley view of the southern Tetons.Now picture yourself as French fur trappers after a winter of being isolated all winter in a single room cabin without female companionship trapping beaver, and you come across your first view of these mountains in 1818. Legend has it that their reaction was something like, “Sacrebleu! Regardez les grand tétons! (Sacred Blue! Look at the great tits!)” Both their imagination and testosterone were running rampant. The mountain range and the future national park got its name. The center peak shown here is the Grand Teton of the park with an elevation 13, 776 feet (4200 meters).I thought this view of the Jackson Hole Valley was rather attractive and looking fall-ish.While the Teton Mountains are young, the rocks that make them up are some of the North America’s oldest, dating back some 2.7 billion years, before there was any life on earth. This photo was from an earlier trip we made to the park (July, 2009). No fall colors! This is looking toward the northern end of the park. The large mountain on the left is Mt. Moran.A final photo of Grand Teton mountain.And a final photo of Mt. Moran. This wraps up our second national park out of 25. Next we will drive up the road from the Grand Tetons and visit Yellowstone National Park. But first— We’ve checked out the natural beauty of the Scottish Highlands; it’s time to check out some of the gorgeous landscaping and flowers of Scottish castles, parks and arboretums.Water lily garden in Scottish Highlands.
One thought on “Grand Teton NP: The Youngest Mountain Range in North America… 25 World Class National Parks – #2”
I’d seen the headlines about the possibility of that baseball park, and was more than happy to read it’s been quashed. Apparently anything can be the target of human impulses toward destruction, particularly in the case of one particular human.
I’m really looking forward to your next post. When I saw the blue flag and lily pads in your last photo, I thought, “Grand Tetons?” Then I read where it’s located!
I’d seen the headlines about the possibility of that baseball park, and was more than happy to read it’s been quashed. Apparently anything can be the target of human impulses toward destruction, particularly in the case of one particular human.
I’m really looking forward to your next post. When I saw the blue flag and lily pads in your last photo, I thought, “Grand Tetons?” Then I read where it’s located!