28 August 2017, Monday
We arrive at the Jenny Lake parking area around 10 am. During peak season, the parking lot here is often full as this is the trailhead for one of the most popular hikes at Grand Teton NP, the Jenny Lake loop with side trips to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point. Our goal is to visit the falls and the point, but we are really interested in hiking up Cascade Canyon. We find the falls and Inspiration Point to be scenic and crowded, worth the visit, but not spectacular.
We pause at the beginning of the canyon so that O can set a way point on the GPS. While he is focused on this task, I photograph the deer watching us from the edge of the woods.
We start up the canyon. The trail rises very slowly as it runs along a beautiful stream. After awhile, the canyon opens up and there are spectacular views of the U-shaped glacial valley with small glaciers and snow pack high on the rugged slopes, and streams and waterfalls bounding down into the valley.
Along our side of the valley are expanses of rocky glacial talus, ideal habitat for pica and marmots although we do not see any today. We pass many day hikers and backpackers returning down the trail, but the area is not nearly as crowded as the points of interest right on Jenny Lake.
We finally stop for a snack just after 3 pm and realize we need to return down the canyon in order to get back at a reasonable time for dinner. It is fairly late when we complete our 8.6 mile hike so we stop once again at the Grille at Signal Mountain for sandwiches. From the restaurant we watch the sun set behind the Tetons and then we return to camp.
