Grand Tetons and Jackson, WY

Leaving Cody, we headed to the Grand Tetons via the East entrance to Yellowstone.  We have entered Yellowstone from the West and and North but the East entrance is now our favorite.  There are some very interesting formations on the way, along the North Fork of the Shoshone River.

Photo of the East Entrance to Yellowstone on a "nice day"

The drive through Yellowstone was pretty and uncrowded.  Traveling early in the season has the advantage of fewer crowds, though the weather has been pretty wet.  We settled into the Coulter Bay RV Park in the Grand Teton National Park and spent 2 1/2 days exploring the park.

Jenny Lake

View of Jackson Lake from the boat

Beaver Dam 

From the National Park we drove to the posh town of Jackson.  Counted among its famous residents are Harrison Ford, Sandra Bullock, VP Dick Cheney, and the Wal-Mart heiress, Christy Walton.  The RV spot was in town and we paid $75 a night for the privilege of convenience.  A special treat was dinner at the Gun Barrel Restaurant, a short walk from the park.  We split a lovely mixed grill with buffalo prime rib, elk steak and venison bratwurst.

The Gun Barrel Restaurant was a beautiful log structure with lots of critters to look at

Mixed Grill dinner of venison elf and bison

The doggie bag provided lunch the next day.  We also enjoyed a buffalo burger in town for a mere $22 and twice visited the Bunnery for yummy baked goods and homemade granola.

After enjoying the game, a first time for elk, we found the Jackson Hole Buffalo Meat Company and stocked the freezer with some elk and bison.  I found the nutrition information quite interesting.

                                         

3 oz.	Cal	Fat	Chol
Bison	93	1.8g	43mg
Elk	94	1.7g	40mg
Turkey	125	3.0g	59mg
Beef	183	8.7g	55mg
Chicken	140	3.0g	73mg
Fish	125	3.0g	59mg

The young man who waited on me told me that he grew up on a cattle and bison ranch in Colorado.  He was learning the retail side but hoped to get his own ranch some day.  I asked whether he preferred to raise bison or beef.  He explained that while bison are ornery, they are much hardier from a health standpoint as well as more able to withstand extreme weather and drought.