August 5, 2009

Fossil Butte and Drive to Tetons

We left pretty early again because we wanted to reach the campground by early afternoon.  Everything one reads about Coulter Bay campground says that it rarely fills.  Even so we wanted to be sure we got a spot.  All sites are first come, first served. 

On the way we took a side trip to Fossil Butte.  Very interesting place but, other than visitor center, hard to do with a motor home.  We studied a bit and moved on. 

Fossil Fish

Went through Jackson, WY.  Good sized town but very touristy.  Was glad to leave it.  Cheap gas though. 

Drove up the east (faster) side of Teton NP to the north end where the campground is located. 

Along the way we saw this:

Yes, that is a Bison.

The campground has 360 sites.  The site we got is in the farthest loop - #323.  Kind of funny to look down the loops and see RVs lined up with no spaces between them.  It was predicted that there would be less RV travel this year because of the economy.  Don’t believe it.

We went to the visitor center to get info on activities and hikes.  Just in time to catch a ranger talk.  Learned something that cleared up a question I’d had for some time.  One often hears the terms ‘Jackson’ and Jackson Hole’ used interchangeably.  We went through ‘Jackson’ the city but saw no sign of ‘Jackson Hole’.  The ranger cleared it up for us.  A ‘Hole’ is a valley with mountains on all sides.  Generally created by glacial action.  The term was common with mountain men and trappers.  So, ‘Jackson’ and much of Grand Teton NP are in ‘Jackson Hole’.  Tidbit for the day.

When we drove back to the carbus we passed a sign, “Campground Full”.

:)