John Colter Trail 1807 — 1808

Day 24: September 6th, 2005 Jackson — Grant Village

Today I will reach the Yellowstone National Park. But first I drive over to the Village Inn for breakfast. The service is again kind of slow, but the coffee is really great! Eventually a good strong coffee!

N Cache St, Jackson, WY

Then I drive over to the gas station and to the closest K–Mart — after all I am running out of bottled water. Around ten I drive once again through Jackson to have a chance to video tape the drive through the city by daylight.

Highway 26/89/191, Jackson, WY

Highway 26/89/191, Jackson, WY

Then I drive again back through the city and continue to Highway 22.

Highway 22, WY

Highway 22, WY

Highway 22, WY

On this highway I cross the Teton Pass, where I have once again great views.

Highway 22, State Line WY and ID

The highway changes its number to 33 at the state line to Idaho. I follow Highway 33 for a couple of miles up to Victor.

N Stateline Rd, ID

Then I take again the smaller backroads, which take me along small farms and beautiful houses. Also the road changes to a gravel road once again.

N Stateline Rd, Kilpack Canal, ID

Then I continue on pavement for a short distance until I hit a road construction. First I think, that I am not allowed to drive through here. But then a worker gives me a sign to continue. I am driving directly through the road construction, where diggers are working to the left and the right — completely unimaginable in Germany. Suddenly I must also cross a small creek, where the road goes down pretty steep. Just to be sure I put in 4WD to definitely be able to leave the creek again.

Reece Rd, ID

Finally I am back on pavement until this road also turns to gravel once again. And then I hit a point where I am not able to continue and must turn around.

Highway 32, ID

Highway 32, ID

Highway 32, ID

I return to Highway 32 and follow this highway up to the next possible exit at Squirrel.

88 S10 Blazer, FR264, ID

Without any further issues I reach the Targhee National Forest. There I continue on gravel in direction of Wyoming. On my way is a very nice glade, where I stop for a brief lunch brake.

FR264, Jackass Meadow Rd, ID

FR264, Jackass Meadow Rd, ID

FR264, State Line ID and WY

FR264, Ernest Lake, WY

Then I cross the state line to Wyoming. There is even a small wooden sign, which shows the state line. At a small lake with some wild ducks I stop for some nice shots of the area.

FR264, WY

FR264, WY

FR264, WY

FR264, WY

FR264, WY

Then I continue on forest roads through an absolutely picturesque landscape. There are also many possibilities for camping.

FR261, WY

FR261, WY

FR261, WY

FR261, Cascade Creek, WY

I often stop for video taping and some photos.

Grassy Lake Rd, WY

Grassy Lake Rd, WY

Grassy Lake Rd, WY

Grassy Lake Rd, WY

Grassy Lake Rd, WY

Grassy Lake Rd, WY

Grassy Lake Rd, Glade Creek, WY

Grassy Lake Rd, WY

Grassy Lake Rd, Glade Creek, WY

Grassy Lake Rd, WY

Grassy Lake Rd, Polecat Creek, WY

Grassy Lake Rd, Polecat Creek, WY

The gravel road ends at the bridge over Polecat Creek. There I watch an SUV driver, who approaches from the paved side and turns around, when she realizes the oncoming gravel — that’s why she is driving an SUV, sure…

S Entrance, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Way too fast I reach the highway, which takes me to the Yellowstone National Park entrance. I stop at the sign for some video taping with my tripod and some pictures. As usual, some others also stop here and ask me, if I could take a picture of them. It really seems, like a tripod is magically attracting people…

To my surprise there is no one at the park entrance building. There is only a sign stating, that I should pay at the exit. Let’s see, how that works out. All in all I will stay within the park for the whole next week. But for now I continue my drive in direction of Grant Village.

Highway 89/191/287, Yellowstone National Park, WY

Continental Divide, Yellowstone National Park, WY

On my way I cross the Continental Divide, where I stop again briefly for a photo. Then I continue to my destination of today. I have made a reservation for two days in the motel like buildings. For dinner I can either go to the Lake House (without reservation) or the Dining Room, where you need a reservation (not for breakfast necessary).

So I try my luck around 8pm at the Lake House — and must realize to my horror, that it is a Fast Food Dining here! No real server, you must line up for dinner and the menu choices are not really great. Therefore I only order a salad and leave the place pretty much pissed off. All in all I explicitly asked, if this is a real restaurant when checking in!

Back at my room I check the video taping of today and make myself a coffee after all this annoyance. At least there is a coffee machine in the room…