Cascade Canyon

Trip Start Aug 30, 2008
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Trip End Sep 13, 2008


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Flag of United States  , Wyoming,
Tuesday, September 9, 2008

The morning started off overcast with a chance of showers but greatly improved by noon. We decided to take the boat across Jenny Lake and hike through Cascade Canyon. Jenny Lake sits at the base of the Teton Range. A glacier formed Jenny Lake. Many years ago more snow fell in the winter than could melt in the summer. Eventually it formed ice fields. With the weight of the snow increasing, ice formed deep within the snow fields and began to flow with gravity's pull (not global warming...). These deep snow packs became glaciers. Rocks avalanching off surrounding peaks joined other rocks that had been pulled and eroded from the sides of the canyon to become part of the slow moving river of ice. As the glacier retreated it left the U-shaped Cascade Canyon. As the glacier moved it left behind rock debris carried from the mountains which are called moraines. These moraines acted as a dam which held back meltwaters (notice I did not say global warming as this happened 12,000 years ago could this be cyclic???) forming Jenny Lake. There are several lakes in the Grand Teton National Park that were formed the same way. Jenny Lake is 1.5 miles long and 1 mile wide. It is 236 feet deep. The lake was named for the Jenny Leigh the wife of early trapper, explorer and valley homesteader Beaver "Dick" Leigh (What a name!). Taking the 9 min, $5 boat across Jenny Lake cut 2 miles off our hike. We hiked to Hidden Falls which cascades some 200 feet. The falls were very beautiful but crowded. We took our pictures and proceeded to Inspiration Point another ½ mile up hill. Once at Inspiration Point we were rewarded with fantastic views of the Jackson Valley, Jenny Lake and the Gros Ventre Mountains on the other side of the valley. We sat out on a rocky outcrop and had some lunch. We then ventured into the absolutely breathtaking Cascade Canyon. Every 50 feet or so we had to stop to take pictures. The mountains seemed so close. It is 4.5 miles from Inspiration Point to the Cascade Forks. From there you can hike another 2.7 miles to Lake Solitude. I have been trying to get to Lake Solitude each time I come to the Tetons but somehow it never works out and today was no different. Because we started so late we did not have enough time to reach Lake Solitude and get back before dark. I was disappointed but Kevin promised me that we could do it another day this week and I am holding him to that. The canyon trail is very flat after leaving Inspiration Point. The mountains on each side of the trail towered so high. We passed through some marshy areas and hoped to see some moose but they were not out. The sun was really shining and made the mountains with their snow caps seem so majestic. We both felt like we could hike forever with these views (it did not hurt that the trail was flat, too!). We are staying at the Jenny Lake Campground tonight and hope to get a good night rest after our 10 mile hike today.
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