  Church of the Transfiguration, Jackson Hole Church of the Transfiguration, Jackson Hole John Colter in Jackson’s Hole Grand Teton National Park became known to white men in 1807-8 when John Colter crossed the range on the memorable trip which resulted in his discovery of Yellowstone. The northern extremity of the Park lies about 11 miles south of Yellowstone’s southern boundary. Grand Teton National Park contains about 96,000 acres, and is penetrated by 90 miles of good trails. Besides its pinnacled peaks and majestic canyons, Grand Teton includes five large lakes and dozens of smaller bodies of water; glaciers, snowfields and a green forest empire of pine, fir and spruce. Much of the Park is above timberline. The great array of sharp, ragged peaks, which are called the “Teton Range”, present some of the grandest mountain scenery in the world. Southwest of Jenny Lake is a cluster of steepled rock, the dominating figure being Grand Teton, the famous mountain after which the Park is named. The towering Grand Teton rises 13,766 feet, 7000 feet above the floor of the valley. Grand Teton National Park has a rich history. This fertile, green valley and lake region is the historic “Jackson Hole” of pioneer days notoriety, when it was famous as a hideout for outlaws. A large part of it is now included in Jackson Hole National Monument. The colorful title “Jackson Hole” dates back to 1829 when Capt. Wm. Sublette named it for a fellow trapper, David E. Jackson. By 1845 the romantic trapper of the “Fur Era” vanished from the Rockies, and during the next four decades the valleys near the Tetons were virtually deserted, except for wandering tribes of Indians who occasionally drifted in. Later government expeditions making surveys of the region named many of the Park’s natural beauties—Leigh, Jenny, Taggart, Bradley and Phelps Lakes, and Mount St. John—names which remain today. Car in Jackson’s Hole Jackson Lake and Majestic Mt. Moran Jackson Lake and Majestic Mt. Moran The Indian and the outlaw have vanished from this valley but it still retains a flavor of the thrilling Wild West days. The colorful cowboy on spirited pony still rides the range, singing to the cattle, but now he occasionally climbs into the ranch’s shiny station wagon and goes over the pass to Victor to meet and bring incoming guests to the ranch, for here are located some of the outstanding “dude ranches” of the West. For years Jackson Hole has been famous for its big game. In this classification the moose is the most common in the summer. In winter it is the home of the world’s largest herd of Wapiti, or American elk. Other wild animals which inhabit the region include bear, mule-deer, elk, Rocky Mountain sheep, beaver, marten, mink, weasel and coyote. Over 100 species of birds have been identified. A unique variety of wild flowers and plants grow profusely in the Tetons. The flowering period begins in the Park as soon as the ridges and flats are free of snow in May and continues until about the middle of August. Grand Teton National Park is most conveniently reached from Victor, Idaho, on the Union Pacific Railroad. From Victor motor buses climb the Forest Service highway to the top of Teton Pass. This lofty vantage point offers a sublime view of the surrounding domain. |
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