Tetons/Eclipse 8/21/17

(just a note about working on this blogging platform, Blogger, IT SUCKS! )

Between 8/12 - 8/23/17 we traveled north to Gros Ventre campground east of the Tetons to experience the total solar eclipse.  It went well.

On our way north we often overnight at the Afton Wyoming "homestead" of one of our extremely generous friends.  No, the crab apples weren't blossoming in August, this is from an earlier trip.

Our home for the week, the Gros Ventre campground, is huge.  Over 300 sites and, according to my bike computer about 5 miles of loops.  Being tenters at heart we stay in the no generator section.  Also, because we don't have a generator.

Some of us are happier with our accommodations than others.

The range of set ups is always amazing.  A log cabin--who'da thunk it!

Yeah, huh?

Morning bike ride from the camp site along Mormon Row road to view--the Tetons!

OK, so I'm not the first to take this photo.  But, I had to do it.

Having fun on String Lake, but not us.

Birthday paddle in Leigh Lake, accessed by a portage of about 20 rods from String Lake.

They only missed 1 year, because of fires.

The geography is diverse, from alpine hikes

to high plains, sagebrush paths

and sitting in cactus patches.

Lunch at a scenic overlook.  Everyone else is at the visitor's center.

So, the big day arrives (best photo, ever!)

 

 

On go the jackets.  No crowd here

The moon commences it's inexorable course

Crescent shaped flecks of light mirror the progress of the eclipse

(the I-was-there shot) The temperature drops, a dark shadow sweeps down from the Tetons at 1,000 miles per hour, a deep twilight engulfs us and we witness a benign natural phenomenon something like viewing the rings on Saturn or seeing a full, double rainbow.  The surface of the sun is around  11,000 F but the corona, now visible with the unprotected eye, is 1,000,000 degrees +.  After 2 1/2 very fast minutes a bright "diamond" appears at the upper right corner and on go the glasses.

We return east through some beautiful scenery until Dubois then it's flatland

until the Snowies where we like to camp before the descent into I-25.

Ice Lake 9/7/16 - 9/9/16

Late summer trip to the south San Juan mountains to hike up to Ice Lake.

On the way southwest from Colorado Springs to the Silverton area we overnight on the south rim of Black Canyon of the Gunnison.

Very nice even though Montrose is not far to the southwest.

We took advantage of evening daylight to walk some of the rim.

Humm.....

Pegmetite intrusions in Painted Wall.  Abstract dragons and Park logo on the upper left.

Camping at the trail head and hiking the red line to Ice Lake

Falls from Ice Lake at the side of the trail up gives a preview of the mineral content of the water.

Above timberline just before the view down to Ice Lake.

Preternaturally blue Ice Lake at the base of a craggy, San Juan ridge

Contrasting lakes from above and south of Ice Lake

Island Lake north and above Ice Lake, greener and incredible beautiful

Extra credit saddle hike above Island Lake (trail on the right)

View from saddle above Island Lake

Plaque at the saddle.  Happy to have survived my little hike.  Just do it!