Spences Go West 2015 | Days 6-10 | July 22-26 | Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming


We have arrived! Finally, after many long days on the road, we’ve made it to Grand Teton National Park.

A Photo Jul 29, 1 13 07 PM_upload

Specifically, we’re at Colter Bay Group Campsite 5, where we’re staying alongside Dave’s brother, Matt, his wife, Naomi, and their daughter, Ginger; Dave’s cousin Lindsay, her husband, Justin, and their daughter, Teagan; and Dave’s cousin, Erin (Lindsay’s sister).

AB Photo Jul 29, 1 09 41 PM_upload

All 11 of us are spread out in this one large site, with lots of grass, trees and wildflowers and a great, huge campfire area lined with large logs to sit on.

B Photo Jul 26, 1 43 43 PM_upload

BB Photo Jul 29, 1 09 23 PM_uploadC SGW15_DSS_GTNP_001_upload

The bathrooms are just across the lane, but unfortunately, no hot water or showers are inside. If we want to shower, we’ll have to do a bike ride up the hill to one of our family’s cabins or to Dave’s parents’ RV site, or pay for a public shower ($4.50 apiece). This is roughing it, people!

D SGW15_DSS_GTNP_006_upload

Phoebe and Uncle Matt, off on a bike ride to a Ranger Program about cougars.

Photo Jul 22, 8 16 59 PM_upload

Pretty much every night we were together, the whole Spence clan gathered at our group site for an evening campfire, some S’mores,  and lots of chatting.

Photo Jul 22, 8 25 23 PM_uploadPhoto Jul 22, 8 47 47 PM_uploadPhoto Jul 22, 8 47 59 PM_uploadPhoto Jul 22, 8 53 56 PM_upload

Aunt Jan brought chocolate-covered graham crackers — perfect!

Photo Jul 22, 8 55 50 PM_upload

Grandma and Jackson, in deep conversation (probably about books!).

Photo Jul 22, 9 22 54 PM_uploadPhoto Jul 25, 8 42 50 AM_upload

Every morning, we woke ourselves up over coffee and a campfire.

A Photo Jul 22, 1 23 38 PM_upload

B Photo Jul 22, 2 20 50 PM_upload

Dave’s brother, Matt, brought his awesome boat (handmade by him, of course) and took many of us out on floats on the Snake River during the week. First up was Dave and their cousin, Jamie and his daughter, Piper.

BA SGW15_DSS_GTNP_003C SGW15_DSS_GTNP_005

Jamie is an avid fisherman in Western Pennsylvania and this was his first trip to the Tetons. He was super excited to get his hands on some cutthroat trout.

E Photo Jul 29, 1 10 30 PM_upload

Jamie, Dave, and Matt: A redo of one of our favorite images from a Spence vacation about 14 years prior, in Wintergreen, Va.

SGW15_DSS_GTNP_007

Jackson was itching to try out some fishing himself, and Uncle Matt was a patient teacher.

SGW15_DSS_GTNP_008SGW15_DSS_GTNP_036_upload

On another day, we borrowed Kurt’s raft and paddled alongside Matt’s boat on the Snake River.

X Photo Jul 29, 1 09 15 PM_upload

Aunt Naomi, rowing a boat full of kids!

A Photo Jul 23, 3 45 17 PM_upload

One afternoon we drove south to Jackson Hole, Wyoming and spent some time exploring the town square.

B SGW15_DSS_GTNP_009C SGW15_DSS_GTNP_012D SGW15_DSS_GTNP_011DA SGW15_DSS_GTNP_010

We have another photo of 1-year-old Jackson at one of these arches. And now, the girls.

E SGW15_DSS_GTNP_013

Next we drove over to the Bar-T-5 Covered Wagon Cookout for dinner. While we waited for the wagons to be ready, Jackson and Piper played checkers.

F SGW15_DSS_GTNP_014_upload

Also while we waited, Phoebe’s first tooth decided to fall out. She was terrified and excited, all at the same time.

H Photo Jul 23, 4 59 52 PM_uploadPhoto Jul 23, 5 14 29 PM_upload

Soon, it was time to load up onto our covered wagons and head up the canyon to our cookout.

Photo Jul 23, 5 58 19 PM_upload

Dinner was corn on the cob, barbecue chicken, roast beef, baked beans, rolls, salad and ranch dressing, lemonade, hot cocoa and brownies for dessert.

Photo Jul 23, 6 46 02 PM_upload

The evening’s entertainment included audience participation. Kurt and Marcia were called up to help sing a song. And poor cousin Sydney was manhandled by a “mountain man” who tried to marry her. It was … interesting.

Photo Jul 23, 7 45 08 PM_upload

Heading back down the mountain after dinner, and the cool, rainy weather produced a rainbow!

SGW15_DSS_GTNP_016

Jackson and his best buddy,  (2nd cousin? 3rd cousin?) Finn

SGW15_DSS_GTNP_017SGW15_DSS_GTNP_018SGW15_DSS_GTNP_020

Our only group photo for the trip… Happy 45th Anniversary, Marcia and Kurt!

A SGW15_DSS_GTNP_022

Another highlight of the week was a 2-hour morning horseback ride.

AC SGW15_MFS_GTNP_001B SGW15_DSS_GTNP_023

It was Jackson’s first time on a horse!

C SGW15_DSS_GTNP_024D SGW15_DSS_GTNP_025E SGW15_DSS_GTNP_027

It was Naomi’s first ride as well.

EA SGW15_MFS_GTNP_004F SGW15_DSS_GTNP_028

G SGW15_DSS_GTNP_029

Each of the horses wore a feedbag for the entire ride, to prevent them from eating too many wildflowers or other natural features and ruining the trails for other visitors.

GA SGW15_DSS_GTNP_030GAB Photo Jul 24, 9 47 46 AM_uploadH Photo Jul 24, 9 20 14 AM_uploadHA Photo Jul 24, 9 45 41 AM_upload

We saw some incredible scenery as we rode past Swan Lake.

HAB  Jul 29, 1 12 05 PM_uploadHAC Photo Jul 24, 10 00 30 AM_upload

And the guides new the perfect spot for a group photo! Can’t beat those Tetons.

I SGW15_MFS_GTNP_002

When it was time to leave, we all were allowed to give our horses some treats.

J Photo Jul 24, 1 37 39 PM_upload

Later that afternoon, it was Phoebe’s and Ginger’s turn to ride ponies.

JA SGW15_DSS_GTNP_031K SGW15_DSS_GTNP_033SGW15_DSS_GTNP_034

For the entire ride, these two talked the guide’s ears off about everything from Farm Camp to princesses to lost teeth. He was a really good sport about it.

SGW15_DSS_GTNP_062

On one of our final days at the park, the kids completed their Junior Ranger books by attending a Ranger Program about the animals at the park.

SGW15_DSS_GTNP_063SGW15_DSS_GTNP_064SGW15_DSS_GTNP_065

After their books were checked, they were able to choose between a wooden badge (very rare in Junior Ranger world) or a patch (also rare, but slightly less so). Jackson chose the wooden badge and Phoebe took a patch.

Photo Jul 22, 1 2 05 06 PM_upload

This was our daily view at Colter Bay… not bad.

Photo Jul 22, 1 2 05 24 PM_upload

Naomi and Molly took the kids out for a hike one day, and got about 10 minutes in before the kids jumped in the water, fully clothed.

Photo Jul 22, 1 2 05 32 PM_uploadPhoto Jul 22, 1 2 16 07 PM_uploadPhoto Jul 25, 10 08 04 AM_upload

Another day, we drove down to Jenny Lake to do a hike closer to the mountains.

Photo Jul 25, 10 46 53 AM_upload

A giant elk was sitting in the grass, just a few feet off the path.

Photo Jul 25, 11 00 13 AM_uploadPhoto Jul 25, 11 12 33 AM_uploadPhoto Jul 25, 12 07 25 PM_uploadSGW15_DSS_GTNP_040

On the way to the hike, we spotted another elk in the fields.

SGW15_DSS_GTNP_041SGW15_DSS_GTNP_042SGW15_DSS_GTNP_043SGW15_DSS_GTNP_047SGW15_DSS_GTNP_048SGW15_DSS_GTNP_049SGW15_DSS_GTNP_050SGW15_DSS_GTNP_052SGW15_DSS_GTNP_053

All the Jenny Lake hikers, minus Chuck and Jo, who powered ahead of all of us!

SGW15_DSS_GTNP_054SGW15_DSS_GTNP_055SGW15_DSS_GTNP_057SGW15_DSS_GTNP_058SGW15_DSS_GTNP_059SGW15_DSS_GTNP_060SGW15_DSS_GTNP_061

We hopped on the boat with Aunt Jan and Uncle Bob for a ride back across the lake.

SGW15_MFS_GTNP_007SGW15_MFS_GTNP_008

So happy to get a (rare) photo of these two together!

SGW15_MFS_GTNP_009

Dave’s shirt said it all.

SGW15_MFS_GTNP_012SGW15_MFS_GTNP_013SGW15_MFS_GTNP_014

We caught up with Chuck and Jo at the falls.

SGW15_MFS_GTNP_016SGW15_MFS_GTNP_017

What a beautiful hike and boat ride!

Photo Jul 26, 3 15 35 PM_upload

All too soon, it was time to say goodbye to the Tetons! A quick pic with the sign on our way out, and up to Yellowstone!


One response to “Spences Go West 2015 | Days 6-10 | July 22-26 | Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming”

  1. Yes, we had a great week with all the Spences. And just for the record, Jackson and Finn are 2nd cousins. And good buddies.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.