A Ranger at the Jenny Lake Campground had explained to us that the Grand Tetons were formed when a giant North South fault suddenly rose straight up 9000 feet creating the massive range that exists today. Due to the nature of the uplift, the Eastern slopes were practically vertical, but the western slope was more gradual, "almost so gentle you could almost walk right up", she said. We left the campground in the Tetons Park early in morning with the idea of driving down to Jackson Hole, getting some coffee and an internet connection, and then driving west, seeing just how gradual the other side of the Tetons really were. If it were nice enough, camping and hiking there for a few days.
Coincidentally our plan also took us out of Wyoming into Idaho, a state about which we knew very little. Basically, they grow potatoes there and the B52's sang a song about 'living in your own private Idaho", a statement I considered some type of insult to non-potato-loving people's everywhere.
And sure enough, as soon as we descended the pass into Idaho, we started seeing potatoes. We even
saw giant potatoes and the "Spud Drive-In" which is
apparently run by potato people. But the amazement didn't stop there.
Driving north, along the western foothills of the Grand Tetons we came
to Driggs, Idaho. Driggs is a small town and while it doesn't have a bookstore, it does have a library with a great selection of used books for sale. It also has a great coffee shop and Broulim's grocery store was stocked with the best produce and wine. Driggs is also 100% bike friendly and has a number of wilderness outfitters, for both hiking, biking, fishing; adventured both in the Tetons and the Snake River. But best of all, Driggs is the town you pass through on your way east to Teton Canyon.
Driving up Teton Canyon you find the National Forest Service Teton Canyon Campsite and trail. Fully stocked from our visit in Driggs, we set up camp and set off up the trail to the Grand Tetons once again. Just as the Ranger described however, this was almost a totally different mountain range. Instead of hiking underneath towering clifts and scrambling up granite mountain sides, we strolled along a gentle brook and then into a broad wildflower covered valley with hanging waterfalls on every side. While we had been hiking on the Wyoming side we rarely had the trail to ourselves, and most of the people who would pass would hardly acknowledge your presence. Here, the Idahoians were incredibly considerate, fit, friendly and obviously as in love with the mountains as we were. They would stop, talk about the wildflowers, suggest other trails that we 'really need to hike', and tells us about their favorite places in Idaho.
After two days of camping and hiking it was time to continue on. Driving west I realized that I'd be happy to live in my 'own private Idaho' provided it was in Driggs, at the western foot of the Grand Tetons.
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