25 August 2017, Friday

We leave the motel early to have the best shot at getting a good campsite. As we drive through Grand Teton NP, we stop to look at Jenny Lake Campground, a tents only location. It is already full, even though it is not yet 9 am. We drive on to Colter Bay Campground, a much larger facility that allows RV’s and tents. There are plenty of sites available here, and the young woman at the entrance station says she will take good care of us. We ask for a shady site and she sends us off to site 295 on loop N. Loop N is at the end of the road and seems very quiet. We actually like this area much better than Jenny Lake. There is a pull-through shady spot for Vincent, a picnic table, a bear locker, and a nice level tent pad.

We set up Wglwof and drive to Colter Bay Village for an explore. We find restrooms with hot and cold running water and even soap dispensers! At the gift shop O buys a book on the geology of the Tetons. We learn that the rocks that compose these mountains are very old, but the mountains themselves are young, younger than the Rockies. We find the laundromat and read, journal, type and sip a Starbucks Americano as we wait for our laundry to cycle through. Next we stop by the Visitor Center where O chats with a Native American couple who are the guest artists this week. They are displaying many handmade items decorated with beautiful beadwork. After exploring exhibits at the center, we drive 60 miles back to Jackson for some groceries and to refuel Vincent.

Back at camp we prepare dinner and discuss potential hikes. We try yet another modification of our van storage system so that we can keep day packs more accessible. We are struck by how quiet this campground is.