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Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming, USA)
by catsholiday Grand Teton National Park WHERE WILL YOU FIND THIS NATIONAL PARK? This National Park is in the state of Wyoming in the North West and stretches through to join Yellowstone National Park from Jackson Hole. Today the area is a popular ski area but is also known for its stunning scenery, hiking areas, fishing and wildlife. ... This National Park gets its name from the huge Grand Teton mountain peak which is 13,770 feet high and is within the Teton Range. The mountains are very alpine looking with sharp high glacial peaks. The Grand Tetons are a part of the Rocky Mountain range and they are a truly stunning area of natural beauty. The mountains formed with no foothills and so the natural lakes below act as mirrors which reflect the snow capped mountains behind them. At the time when the earthquakes and earth movement was building up the mountains a huge area subsided and the valley called Jackson Hole was formed. Strangely the rocks at the core of the Teton Range are some of the oldest rocks in North America, but the mountains are apparently among the youngest in the world. The National park's world-renowned scenery attracts nearly four million visitors per year so we were in good company for our visit. The Grand Teton National Park was very unusually first established in 1929 when the original park protected the mountain peaks and the lakes near the base. The larger park from 1950 took the boundaries further to include much of the adjacent valley floor. WHAT WILL YOU FIND THERE? Apart from driving alongside the beautiful mountains and passing the lakes reflecting these there are over 200 miles of walking trails to explore. We drove through the edge of the park from Jackson Hole through to Yellowstone and on the way we were quite in awe of the scenery but also keeping an eye open for the wildlife or 'the critters' as the man at the gate called them. Just after we entered the park we came across a group of young male moose resting just beside the road. We stopped and took photos and watched them for quite some time as they are the most ridiculous looking beasts but rather wonderful too. We also saw a few bison along the way and the odd jack rabbit but to be truthful we were rather more attracted by the wonderful mountain scenery which was reflected in the lakes below. As we were there in May we were expecting quite warm weather but we did actually experience e quite deep snow. The mountains all had the white snow caps and these did look rather special when reflected in the lakes below. Some of these lakes were however still frozen so reflections were not always seen as we drove along. JACKSON HOLE We stayed one night in Jackson Hole which is largely a ski resort with plenty of tourist accommodation. When we arrived at the hotel we had had quite a long drive because the road we were meant to take had been closed due to a huge landslide. SNAKE RIVER BREWPUB I asked the man at Reception to recommend us somewhere to eat. He named a few options but the one we opted for was the Snake River Brewery and restaurant which was only five minutes walk from our hotel The Quality Inn and Suites which I have already reviewed. We arrived on a Sunday so the restaurant and bar was pretty busy but they found us a table. There were quite a few different beers brewed there and my husband did his best to try as many as possible from the range. The names were great ' Custer's Last Ale', 'Blank Czech Pilsner', 'Dim Witbier', 'Monkey's Dunkel' and the one that finished my husband off for the evening which was 'Discombobulator'. We not only had a few drinks but also enjoyed a bison burger and some local sausages which were very tasty and quite huge portions. This is a real functioning brewery and you can see the factory through glass in some areas of the building. The building is obviously a working factory as there are huge pipes above as part of the 'decor'. It was not a posh place by any means, the tables and tables were functional rather than smart, and the place was pretty noisy and very busy so you felt a little cosy as the tables were close together but the atmosphere was friendly and fun. ANTLER ARCHES The next day we went to find the little local park which had four huge arches made entirely from elk antlers which had been cast off by the animals. They were quite a sight, really large and one at each corner of the small park in the town. We were rather taken by the small rodent like animals called marmots. They popped out of holes and ran around just around our feet. They were quite delightful and kept us entertained for quite some time before we felt we should go and fill the car with petrol. MOOSE IN THE TOWN As my husband was filling the car with petrol I went in to pay and as I looked back to see if he had finished pumping the gas I saw a young moose walk through the petrol station. The young moose then casually walked on looking as though he was about to enter a shop but then changed his mind and went along the pavement towards the park. LEAVING JACKSON HOLE We entered the National Park again having bought our 'America The Beautiful' card or National Park season ticket ( $80 for all in the car for all National Parks for one year from the date purchased) the day before and we drove through the park alongside the mountain range admiring the truly stunning snow capped mountains on our left. FEES Apart from the annual pass you can also pay per visit or pay $12 per person or $25 for a car for a 7 day pass which is good for The Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone as well for the one price. JENNY LAKE VISITOR CENTRE This visitor's centre is just about eight miles north of Moose, a wonderful name for a town! The centre closes at the end of September for the season and opens again in May. There isn't a lot there apart from a number of geology exhibits, information about the park as well as a large map of the park. We stopped to have a little look before heading on. WILDLIFE WATCHING AND DRIVING As we left we spotted a few pronghorn deer which were enjoying the sagebrush foliage. The pronghorn are supposed to be the fastest animal in the USA. We also spotted some of the rather larger elk grazing under some trees. They were quite hard to spot in the shadows but once we did see them we were able to stop the car and just watch them. There are rules when watching wild life, you are asked to be thoughtful about not disturbing the animals so that other visitors can also enjoy the animals. You are forbidden to feed the wildlife, it is against the law. Never put yourself between a mother and its baby as they will protect their young and you may get hurt. They are pretty much common sense but there are always some who need to be told. All along the routes there are plenty of turnouts for wildlife viewing, common sense should tell you not to stop in the middle of the road but if an animal is crossing then it has right of way. Care should be taken when driving at night as some of the larger animals cross the roads at night and are hard to see until you get up close so stick to the speed limit and pay attention at all times. HIKING AND WALKING IN THE PARK This list of advice i have taken from the National Park website * "This is bear country. Make bears aware of your presence and avoid surprising them by making loud noises like talking loudly or singing. Always carry bear spray and know how to use it. * Carry drinking water. Dehydration is common and can be serious, every year at least one visitor is rescued or even air-evacuated due to complications from dehydration. Be prepared for rapid weather changes; rain gear and extra clothing. * High elevation may cause breathing difficulties; pace yourself. * Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return. * Solo hiking and off-trail hiking is not recommended. * Check with a ranger for up-to-date information on trail conditions." These are very sensible precautions and if you are planning on going into the park on foot or camping in the designated areas then heed the advice. WOULD I RECOMMEND? Yes it is a very beautiful area and well worth driving through. The scenery is stunning. We didn't stay in the park but we stopped at the visitor's centre at Jenny Lake and had a coffee at another. The drive was just lovely and we also enjoyed spotting the wildlife as we drove along as well as enjoying the mountains and lake scenery. Thanks for reading. This review may be posted on other sites under my same user name. ©Catsholiday Read the complete review |
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Thingvellir National Park (Iceland)
by AbsintheFairy The Thingvellir (or Žingvellir) National Park in Iceland has a long and distinguished history. The Icelandic Parliament was established there in AD 930, remaining there until 1789. The Thingvellir National Park was founded in 1930 to protect the remains of this site and also the natural aspects of the area. The Parliament helped to forge ... a common cultural heritage and national identity among Icelanders. The Althing (assembly) was held here, at which people could make speeches and present cases which were judged by the laws of the time. Thousands of people would flock here, setting up temporary houses and selling goods, watching entertainment and drinking ale. The park is also significant for geographical reasons. It lies on the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, which are drifting apart at the rate of 2.5 cm a year. The North American plate in particular is especially impressive, towering over the flagpole on the Althing site. The park is located in south west Iceland near Reykjavik, and is one of the locations on the popular Golden Circle Tour, which is the tour I took to visit. It would be possible to hire a car and visit the park yourself, however you'd need to be a confident driver and to know where you were going! For most people booking onto a tour would be the easiest way to see it. The park was the final stop on the tour and as we drove towards our stop the driver pointed out the edge of the Eurasian plate. Over the years the plates have moved apart leaving a kind of low plain in between. Our coach stopped next to the North American plate which looms like a cliff over the plain. As a group we walked for a couple of minutes up towards the North American plate, crossing a bridge and walking slightly uphill in the process. There were a couple of wooden platforms where you could stop and take photos. We stopped just beneath the plate at the point where the Althing used to be held. On the ground it was still possible to see the outlines of some of the huts built to house people attending the parliament. Our guide also pointed out the bridge at which women and criminals were drowned! While anyone who wished could go back to the bus, most of us chose to walk up to the top of the plate and meet the coach which was going to drive round. This involved walking up a gully next to the plate. At this point a snowstorm came on and I felt as though I was in The Lord of the Rings! At the top, the views were very impressive. We could see the sea to our right and the plain spread out in front of us. It was strange to think we had crossed over a divide in the Earth's crust. Overall the Thingvellir National Park was a very impressive sight. I liked to think of ancient Icelanders meeting here to discuss their issues. It definitely helps to know something of the history and geography behind the place, and the guides are very knowledgeable about this. Definitely a must-see if you visit Iceland. Read the complete review |
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Devils' Tower (Wyoming, USA)
by catsholiday Devil's Tower National Monument, Wyoming We decided to visit this monument as we had a spare day while we were staying in Spearfish . We drove into Wyoming and straight to Devil's Tower but on the way back we stopped in to Sundance and visited their museum and then went on to Vore Buffalo Jump which I have reviewed as ... well. This lump of rock is actually the core of a volcano which has been worn to this shape by years of erosion from the weather and the Belle Fourche river. THE FIRST NATIONAL MONUMENT On September 24th 1906 President Theodore Roosevelt declared Devils Tower as a national monument. The actual butte and a surrounding 1,152.91 acres was set aside as this amount of land he believed to "be sufficiently large to provide for the proper care and management of the monument". During early settlement of the area the Area of the Black Hills was 'given' to the Lakota tribes but once gold was found there settles persisted in entering the area to mine. The tribes and these illegal settles fought, the US government tried to get the Lakota to give up their sacred Black Hills but they were naturally reluctant to once again be moved off their land so they refused. By early 1876 there was a full-scale Indian war and following the Battle of the Little Bighorn in June, the Army pursued the 'hostile' tribes relentlessly. In the fall of that year the Indians were compelled to cede the Black Hills and most of their lands in Wyoming to the whites. By the early 1800s the area was safe for white settlers and towns such as Deadwood, Belle Fourche and Custer grew up almost overnight. With the settlers came the expansion of the railway into the area and as the Tower can be seen from the railroad it is thought that this helped it become a National Monument rather than falling into the hands of private individuals. AN IMPORTANT SACRED SITE For years before the white settlers arrived this place was important to the local tribes of the Arapaho, Crow, Lakota, Cheyenne, Kiowa and Shoshone. At the Tower there are signs asking you not to interfere with the sacred offerings around the area. These are items hanging from trees they are small tied bundles of cloths. The Tribes are not really happy with the name Devil's Tower and in fact all the Tribal names include something to do with a bear and their legends around the tower also involve bears. The Arapaho call Devil's Tower "Bear's Tipi" while the Cheyenne call it "Bear's Lodge," "Bear's House," "Bear's Tipi," and "Bear Peak." The Crow however refer to the rock as "Bear's House" and "Bear's Lair." The Kiowa are a bit different and they call the Tower "Aloft on a Rock" and "Tree Rock." Finally the Lakota refer to it as "Bear Lodge," "Bear Lodge Butte," "Grizzly Bear's Lodge," "Penis Mountain," "Mythic-owl Mountain," "Grey Horn Butte," and "Ghost Mountain." All these different tribes feel that this area is of great spiritual importance to them. The area of the Black Hills is important for the Lakota as this is their place of creation. One legend speaks of a Lakota band camped in the forest at the foot of Bear Lodge who were attacked by a band of Crow. A huge bear came to their aid and with its help the Lakota were able to defeat the Crow. The Indian tribes believe that the columns around this hug lump of rock are made by the claws of the giant bear of their legends. THE LAKOTA LEGEND Two boys were playing around picking berries and playing a bit more when suddenly they spotted Mato, the bear. This was giant grizzly so huge that the boys would make only a small mouthful for him. He had got a sniff of the boys and he kept coming closer, and the earth trembled as he gathered speed. The boys ran and ran and the giant bear got closer and closer. The terrified boys called upon Wakan Tanka, the Creator: "Tunkashila, Grandfather, have pity, save us." The earth shook and began to rise up under the boys. Out of the earth came a cone of rock at least a thousand feet high and the two boys were safely on top of it. The furious bear clawed at the sides of the rock frantically all around until eventually he gave up and walked off. "You will notice on its sheer sides many, many streaks and gashes running straight up and down, like scratches made by giant claws." TIMES AND PRICES Our 'America The Beautiful' National Park card got us in here but if you don't have one then the price is $10 per car. The park is free on specific National holidays but you have to pay extra to camp within the park. The Monument is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week and no specific dates are mentioned. From 05 September thru 30 September Visitor Center Hours will be 8 AM-5 PM. On Saturday October 1st the Visitor Center will switch to winter hours, 9 AM-4 PM. RULES IN THE PARK Throughout the park you are supposed to keep your speed down to 25mph. This is to protect the wildlife. You are of course not to remove any wildlife, plants or the like from the park. Do not feed the wildlife and pets must be on a lead and only walked in the parking area NOT on the paths or trails. PRAIRIE DOG TOWN After entering through the gate we drove through the park towards the rock. On the way we passed an area of flat ground which was home to thousands of prairie dogs. They were just everywhere and so very sweet with their little front legs up begging and looking around a bit like the meerkats. We must have spent about half an hour watching these busy little creatures before driving on to see the rock itself. These are black tailed prairie dogs and they are a type of burrowing rodent. They are very sociable beasts and lucky for us they are only active during daylight hours. They burrow huge long tunnels which can stretch up to 10 feet down and then 15 long. This Prairie dog town covers about 40 acres. THE TOWER The Devil's Tower Park is quite some size and along the way you pass a picnic ground and a camp ground. The forests and scenery make a very pleasant drive. Once you arrive at the rock there are quite a few places to park the car. If you are driving one of those huge Winnebagos then you have to park along the road leaving the car park. There is a large visitor's Centre which has a shop, toilets, some displays and information about the Tower and they also arrange climbs and walks around the area. There are several marked walks and you can walk right up to the base of the Tower and of course you can climb it if you apply for a permit I believe. We walked around the area and took photos from several different places before heading back through the park to see if we could find the new sculpture. THE CIRCLE OF SMOKE This quite recent statue or piece of art work was placed in the park in 2008 and is the work of sculptor Junkyu Muto who is actually Japanese. This sculptor has made three sculptures in an international peace project. One piece is in the Vatican and has been there since 2005. The second is in Bodhi Gaya in India near the Bodhi tree and this third piece was donated to the National Park Service by Mr Muto and the Kazenowa Corporation of Japan. This piece is said to represent the first puff of smoke from the peace pipe of the Indian tribes. This Circle of Some was carefully placed on a base stone from the Crazy Horse Monument and it is positioned in such a way that you can frame the Devil's Tower within the circle if you sit or stand in the right place. INTERESTING FACTS AND STORIES Around 400,000 people visit the park every year and many of those come to climb the rock. The first official climb was July 4th 1893 and two local cowboys build themselves a ladder of stakes up one side. Their names were Will Rogers and Willard Ripley. In 1941 a man called George Hopkins parachuted onto the rock. He couldn't get down so food was dropped from above so he could survive until a rescue party could get him down six days later! One of the fastest climbs of Devils Tower was done in 18 minutes by Todd Skinner in the 1980s. It usually takes 4-6 hours to climb the Tower. The top of Devils Tower is about the size of a football field and is slightly dome shaped and rocky, with native grasses, cacti, and sagebrush. Prairie falcons sometimes nest in the cracks of Devils Tower and then the climbing routes near the nest are closed until the young falcons have flown. Occasionally chipmunks, mice, pack rats, and snakes are found on the top so they must be good climbers too. The Towers is 856 feet high and rocks and boulders that have broken off from the Tower have been found up to a mile and a quarter away from the Tower. WOULD I RECOMMEND A VISIT? Yes indeed if you are near the area then make the effort. You can camp in the park if you have the right equipment or you can go for a day trip like we did. If you want to go for longer hikes then plan you day carefully and take plenty to drink. Read all the warnings and instructions about walking along the trails before you set off. The legends were wonderful I have retold the Lakota one but each tribe has a slightly different legend to explain this lump of rock with interesting column formations up its sides. The prairie dogs alone are worth coming to see as they are so very entertaining in their antics. Thanks for reading and I hope this has been of some interest. This review may be posted on other sites under my same user name. ©Catsholiday Read the complete review |
National Park International |
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