Grand Teton National Park - Days 60 to 62

We spent three days in Grand Teton, which is just north of Jackson, Wyoming. Each National Park is unique for some reason, and the unique aspect of Grand Teton is the mountain range and its relation to the valley floor, which is about 7,000 to 8,000 feet of elevation change. Most mountains have some sort of gradual change, but these shoot right out of the ground. The highest we hiked from the valley floor was about 500 feet (Inspiration Point), and the views were amazing.

If I were completely transparent about our trip, the confined living quarters and the hours driving in the van make for many conflicts. There has been a constant need to remind the children to extend grace and forgiveness even when they believe it isn’t deserved. Despite these troubling moments, there are brief moments of true sibling community that remind me why this trip is so special. In Grand Teton, the kids worked together to build a raft out of large driftwood on Lake Jackson. Watching them be creative together as a team gave me hope that someday the warring factions will make peace.

We spotted lots of wildlife in Grand Teton: elk, pronghorn, sandhill cranes, and several hawks. The one animal we couldn’t find was the moose. We even got the whole crew up early in an attempt to spot them in the “popular viewing” area, but no luck.

Despite the warring factions, there are moments when we all enjoy a good laugh. One of my favorites was listening to Bria get tripped up on the word chipmunk. She says, “Chickmunk.” Even when we get her to say “chip” and “munk” separately, when they come together it becomes, “Chickmunk.”