Day 3: Part 2 - Mount Washburn Hike

We got several recommendations from friends to check out the Mount Washburn hike in Yellowstone. So, around mid-day, we hit the trail!

Most of the trail is a fairly wide, well cut access road that gives you some great views of the surrounding mountain ranges. 

When we started, about half of the trail was covered in snow. 

Just one of the incredible views along this hike.

So glad to be able to enjoy the great outdoors with this man!

After a while, the whole trail was covered in about 3 feet of snow! It certainly made the hike a little more interesting.

About halfway up, the weather was getting more and more overcast, so we decided to head back down the mountain so we could see more of Yellowstone. If we ever go back, I would love to try the whole thing again, maybe with less snow this time!

Heading back down the mountain. 

Then, it started snowing on us!

But one of the coolest things that we saw was this fox when we came upon a clearing. We watched it for a few minutes. 

Then, all of the sudden, it took off!

And caught and ate a chipmunk!

We watched it enjoy it's lunch. 

As Will said, it felt like we were in the middle of National Geographic or the Animal Planet! It was amazing!

At the end of the hike, we needed to show just how much snow there was here in places. I think that is more than SC has seen in my whole life!

Day 3, Part 1: Yellowstone!

The first full day we were in Jackson Hole, we decided to beat the road construction and head up to Yellowstone early. Sorry in advance for the photo overload!

The advantage of getting up early - sunrise in the Grand Tetons!

And, the elk are out!

Will and I overlooking Yellowstone Lake!

After a big breakfast at one of the restaurants, we decided to wait on Old Faithful. You have to do it in Yellowstone, but it certainly wasn't the best thing in the park. I have a video of the whole thing if you want the experience :)

Hey! A buffalo!

Sapphire Pool, one of the prettiest hot springs.

Hubby at the hot springs. 

And me!

Note the abundance of clothes. It was way too cold for this Southern girl in June! After a hike (more on that later) we made it down to the Upper and Lower Falls at the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. It was gorgeous!

 

View from the overlook at the top of the Lower Falls

Water rushing over the falls. It was actually a little scary standing on this overlook. The water was so powerful and the wind was too, and as you can see in future pictures, it's a long drop to the bottom!

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone! So beautiful!

Us at the top of the Lower Falls

Lower Falls

The entire Lower Falls!

Yellowstone was amazing and I can't wait to go back someday!

Day 2: Road-tripping!

When we woke up in Salt Lake City, we decided to hit the road. The road to Jackson Hole that is! We took a smaller state highway up through Wyoming for most of the way in order to enjoy the scenery, and we sure did!

This was beautiful country to drive through.

Then, we rounded a curve and saw this. The equivalent of a Wyoming traffic jam. 

Real life cowboys!

A mountain overlook on the way to Jackson. 

So beautiful!

One of our first glimpses of the Snake River.

A few of my favorite sights :)

Me and my hubby!

Finally, we were in Jackson!

The National Elk Reserve, from the Jackson Visitor Center

God's handiwork on display!

Day 1: Salt Lake City!

To start off our Western adventure, we flew into Salt Lake City. I guess I was so looking forward to the Tetons and Yellowstone that I overlooked this city, but it ended up being really cool!

Will said we had to start out at In-N-Out!

We drove through Cottonwood Canyon, a recreation area with hiking, biking, and beautiful scenery. 

Mountains in SLC. 

Then we headed to Antelope Island State Park to see the Great Salt Lake. Kinda what you have to do when you are in Salt Lake City, right?

Panorama of the Salt Lake and the surrounding mountains!

Us at the Salt Lake (with a ceramic buffalo photobomb)

Mountains on Antelope Island

Me at the Salt Lake

My awesome hubby!

Antelope Island provided an opportunity to learn about the lake and the area, and definitely provided an up-close view to the local wildlife!

Up next: Tetons & Yellowstone!

Long Time, No Blog

I know I have been out of pocket for a while, but with good reason! We've had some shifting around with work schedules, and when that was over, Will and I took a week long adventure to Jackson Hole, Grand Teton National Park, and Yellowstone. We have 1500+ pictures and a whole bunch of fun stories to share, so the next few blogs will be a bit more scenic than usual. 

Thanks so much to HTI for the opportunity to go on this trip! (A coozie seemed the most appropriate way I could bring our logo out West)

Will and I overlooking Yellowstone Lake on our way into the park for a full day of exploring. 

And, as beautiful as always, the Tetons at Oxbow Bend just before sunrise.

Much, much more to come from this trip and the last several weeks in our lives...

3 Years & Counting

Today, me and my sweet hubby celebrate 3 wonderful years of marriage. It's been a crazy ride so far, but this year was the first whole year that we were living in the same place, working the same jobs, and it kind of felt like we had finally 'settled' into our grown up lives. 

The past three years have been so awesome and it just keeps getting better :)

Thank you to Will for being a husband and leader I can look up to and walk beside in our journey. I love you so much and appreciate all you do for our little family. 

I look forward to so so so many more years of adventure with you. I love you Will!