Snake River Float Trip, Visit With A Friend, and an Update On Future Travels

Moose, WY (72 degrees, clear blue skies, it just doesn't get any better than this)

Our friend, Linda, came from Indiana to visit us for a few days.  She could not have picked a better time to visit.  Fall colors were at their peak, crowds were less in the park, wildlife was plentiful, and she had blue sky days throughout.  

We have wanted to float down the Snake River from Deadman's to Moose, however, they have been way too many accidents and a fatality to risk taking our kayak down it ourselves. So, we lined up a float trip with Barker and Ewing and had  Michael as our great rafting guide. He was awesome and the scenery was just so beautiful.  They are the only company which floats through the Grand Teton National Park. After spending almost five months here you would think the Teton range would start to get old.  Hardly!  Just a add a little fall color and my heart just sings with each view of it.  

Linda, me, and John

Michael our super great river guide

We launched easily from Deadman's and headed down the river in our rubber raft expertly guided by Michael with six other people.  Immediately we were reminded this is not a river for our sea kayaks. It was bubbling and rolling and it's actually at a low level right now. This is a tricky river best left to the professionals.  Michael says it's ever changing and the best job he has ever held.  His enthusiasm for the river and the area was infectious even after running the river for 14 years. Come along for the ride.

My favorite photo from the trip

We saw five Bald Eagles.  There was one at the tippy top of a lodgepole pine (not pictured) which Michael called an Angel on a Christmas tree. What a perfect description for such a majestic bird.

Bald Eagle enjoying the fall day too

We saw lots of folks fly fishing on the river.  It  looked like fun

Menor's Ferry (famous landmark in the park)

It was a super great float trip which lasted about two hours.  It's certainly not as thrilling as a white water trip but its by far the best paid excursion we have done. Cost is $60/person and this company offers a great benefit for veterans - they can go on the trip for free. What a great bonus for our veterans including my husband.  

After our trip the weather continued to be perfect.  Schwabachers Landing is a very scenic boat landing with beautiful views of the Teton range.  What make it so special is the reflections of the mountains on the river.  There is a very steep decline down to the river and we'd recommend taking the trail to the right for awhile for even better views.  We returned here a couple of days later with a ranger led wildlife tour.  

Very busy beaver actively building a dam while we watched

I love the many textures in this photo

Linda was able to see a lot of wildlife during her stay.  One of the highlights was this Mama Black Bear and her twin cubs.  I had ran into Mama quite unexpectedly earlier in the day while setting up a GTA board retreat. Luckily for me she was more interested in berries than me.  

One of the babies eating berries in a bush

Mama and her family

We have just six more working days with Grand Teton Association.  It's been a wonderful season; in fact we have been here for three of them and trying hard to avoid the fourth- winter.  We started in late April and our last day is October 10th.  Workamping is something we enjoy from time to time and this has been by far our best experience. The hard working staff and management are great. It's especially nice to work for a partner of a National Park.  This is a non profit organization and the profits go back to Grand Teton National Park and help pay for programming, education, and staffing the Federal Government is unable to fund.  

John has enjoyed working in the warehouse. He has helped receive the inventory and take it out to the different bookstores.  He likes the fast pace environment and especially enjoys the staff in the warehouse.  They are a great team.  I've worked as an Administrative Assistant  for the main office and keep busy answering phones, arranging change for the bookstores, writing letters, helping organize special events, and lots of bookkeeping.  This job has been challenging and has a lot of variety.

We have been paid very fairly and get a small bonus at the end for completing our commitment. It's been full time work, however, if you have followed our blog you know we have seen a lot of the area and have had a great time exploring both Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Park. 

We plan to return again soon and would highly recommend GTA to other workampers. Staying in an area for a an extended period of time has lots of advantages and living right in the middle of this beautiful National Park is priceless. We have enjoyed viewing the mountains, hiking, and kayaking. The Teton range is ever changing and the ride into work each day is a delight.

We've had lots of company (friends and family) and it's been great to show them our "front yard".   Being here with our friends Bob and Patsy from J..N. Ding Darling has made it extra special and we have so enjoyed exploring the parks with them.  They know so much about the area. Thanks again for helping us get this job with GTA. Our new friends, Al and Karen, have also been great to hike and explore with together especially in Yellowstone. Karen reached out to us through our blog and has been working nearby for a couple who own Luton's Cabins.  

Some of the staff with GTA have also become great friends too.There have been lots of dinners together and a few outings.  Judy, the bookkeeper and her husband Randy, invited us out to their boat on Jackson Lake which was great fun and such a breathtaking way to enjoy the lake.  We have really enjoyed their friendship and hospitality. 

From here we will be traveling to California for a few weeks.  Our first adventure will be meeting up with a camping club we belong to and exploring the Mohave Nature Preserve together.  John and I will then travel for a few days in Death Valley.  From there we will slowly travel back to Florida and will again volunteer with J.N. Ding Darling NWR this winter.  The highlight will be seeing Jen, John''s daughter, who has recently moved to Florida.  There will be plenty of beach time in our future and maybe a few new sea shells.  Check back again soon. Jimmy is looking forward to being on the road again too. He loves all the new smells!