Teton National Park Adventure

I will never know how Jon convinced me. I was terrified of only one thing: all of it. Camping in the middle of a grizzlies' living room next to a lake with two little ladies who despised squatting in the woods was not my idea of a good time.

But, I took one for the team and packed up my babies and only the bare necessities- a tent and toilet paper.

We followed the sleepy Berrett clan through the early morning rays towards Jackson and then into the Teton National Park. It was cool and crisp and utterly gorgeous and for a moment I could not feel the anxiety of our pending doom tugging on my nerves.

The canoe was tiny and shallow and dangerous but we plopped our gear and our girls inside anyway for a little aquatic journey. The Big Green was very tipsy even at the slightest movement and I was grateful the water was so shallow in the first lake. Together Jon and I managed to get into a rhythm of paddling and we settled into our adventure and took in the breathtaking beauty of the wild outdoors.

The water was so clear and cold and clean. The color of it was unbelievable, perhaps my new favorite color. It was a deep emerald green when the water plunged down into vast depths and a soft, bright green in the shallows. The sky was blue, the mountains gigantic, the air a bit crisp. It felt so good and I found myself breathing a sigh of relief. This wasn't going to be so bad after all. It may just be amazing...

We paddled to the other side of the lake where we unloaded and hauled our gear, and our canoe, and our girls, across the land where we again plopped our gear and our children back into the water for the second leg of the trip. By this time, it was getting late and the head wind was picking up. The water began to get choppy and even though we hugged the shore, waves crashed inside our tiny vessel. The rocking journey lulled the little ones to sleep and I envied how care-free they were while I feared a pending dip in the lake at every tip and toss.

The site was actually quite charming, our little sanctuary amongst the wild, nestled along the shore of the lake under the embracing bows of the towering trees. I felt safe there. Somewhat. Jon and Tim were cautious and careful and obeyed every tip and trick to keep critters out of our space. Deep in the woods, across the many fallen logs, the men lovingly dug a hole and placed a children's potty on top for the comfort of the little ladies who dared not bare their bums otherwise.

The early mornings were chilly, the fog lingering on the water and eventually lifting until it revealed the majestic peaks that watched over their domain. These early moments were Jon's. He enjoyed sneaking out of the tent in the wee hours of the morn in search of solitude. The girls and I snuggled closer in our warm bags as we heard Jon's footsteps grow fainter and wouldn't wake until his footsteps returned hours later. He would rummage around outside while the girls and I laid in our bags and giggled. I shoved their clothes inside with me so that they would warm up before we stripped them down in the thirty-something degree tent. Getting dressed was a challenge. We were all too cold to stand up so we would bob up and down on the half-deflated air mattress, struggling to get clean socks and unders on as quickly as possible.

Our days were lazy and carefree. We just wondered about the vast outdoors, finding ourselves gently canoeing across the lake, hiking up glacial rocks, peaking at spiders, throwing rocks into the water, and exploring waterfalls. Being there with our great friends was amazing. We had so much fun sharing this experience with them.

My favorite times were sitting by the fire in the evenings. Once the sun set behind the mountain it became cold. We would snuggle in our sweatshirts and jackets. The girls would run around, getting into mischief. They found a little cove that became their special place and supported their curiosity and independence. They would take turns sliding down the bank on their bums, leaving a well worn, slippery trail. Once down there, they studied the bugs, threw rocks into the water, and drew objects with sticks in the mud. Every once in a while, a little voice would call out a discovery and we'd all rush over to see what was found.

Meal time was interesting. A rusted metal bear box was down the trail and over a couple of logs next to the 25 foot pole where you hung your smelly items. Our food remained in that box at all times for we knew that our crackers and granola bars would be a tasty appetizer for the grizz before their McGarry main course. The first night Tim made the most delicious tin foil dinners. When I say delicious, I mean divine! There's something about eating hot potatoes, carrots, meat, and gravy on a log surrounded by miles and miles of wilderness.

The second night was the McGarry's night to cook dinner. Of course, we went high class with Mac and Cheese and Hot Dogs. But, I will tell you, it was the best Mac and Cheese and Hot Dogs I've ever eaten. We even mixed strawberry-lemonade into our filtered river water which made for a great treat. It was fun. Who knew?

The evenings were spectacular and I am ashamed that I never withstood my fatigue for a while longer to see the sparkling heavens. The sleep bug would bite us and the girls and I would gather into the tent, quietly get on our jammies, and then be out for the count before our heads even hit the pillow. That's when you know you've had a great day.

The mountains beckoned Jon the early morning of our departure day. He disappeared into the forest with that oh-so-familiar twinkle in his eye. I knew that he was up to no good. We began gathering our gear and waited and waited and waited for Jon to return. Nervousness set in and began to irritate me until I started to get angry. I was going to be so ticked if I had to go hunting for him in the woods only to find that he'd been slapped around by a bear. Before I reached my boiling point, he returned... victorious! He had tracked a black bear cub and had quite a story to tell.

Although my version will never compare to his, I will try to describe his experience...

"So there I was walking along in the dark, thick forest, miles away up the mountain from camp. The signs of bears were everywhere when I heard this rustling. I pulled out my gun and pointed it toward the noise. Of course I had to investigate. Slowly I pushed branches aside with my weapon, ready to pull the trigger at any abrupt movement.

And there he was, down wind from me, a bear cub about a year old. He poked his head up and looked right at me. Then he continued to eat the berries of the bush, moving his way closer and closer to me. I fumbled to get my camera and captured some shots all the while pointing my gun to my right. Where there's a baby, the momma is not far away. I heard some rustling. 'This is it.' I thought. 'I am going to get mauled by a bear.' The next thing I know...

I hear a whoof in the thick woods to my right. It's his momma. The cub lifts his head and looks toward the deep noise. He returns the call with a quick whoof of his own then continues to eat. It's about this time that I feel that I've pressed my luck long enough. The bears were ahead of me, a steep cliff behind me. Figuring the momma bear had not caught my scent yet, she soon would. I needed to get out of there and fast. I was far away from help and a bear mauling did not suit my plans for the day so I grabbed on some roots, swung myself over the cliff, and repelled on the trees and branches until I reached the bottom. It was awesome!"

Eventually we said good bye to our special campsite #16. She treated us well and I was grateful to her for protecting my family and supporting Jon's crazy love of the wild. I was relieved. I had anticipated leaving safe and sound and found that all was well.

The Teton Trip treated us well and humbled me in my view of camping. Jon owes me big time because all this was for him. He knows it. You don't take this lady away from a toilet and shower too easily. But, maybe I enjoyed it a little more than I let on. It was fun and adventurous and new. Thanks, Babe, for sharing this with your family.