Yellowstone & The United States’ Biggest Breasts

I knew I wanted to see the Tetons. That was a given. I had been staring at photos of those jagged peaks for years on the covers of Nat Geos and all over my insta feed. Yellowstone was more of a well I’m already here so how could I not .Parts of it impressed me. Parts of it felt overwhelming. Overall it was huge and wild and very beautiful.

Before getting there I stopped at Ten Sleep Brewing Company for a Hipcamp assignment. My first brewery job. I didn’t expect much but it really surprised me. The scenery was wide open and casual. It was giving old western cartoon backdrop. 

Grand Tetons

Then I drove up past the Boysen Dam and into Grand Teton National Park. I actually recorded myself the moment I first saw the mountains because I knew it would be a thing. It lived up to the anticipation. The Tetons immediately became one of my favorite parks and I can’t fully explain why. I had been reading Terry Tempest Williams’ Hour of Land which has a chapter on the Tetons. And nothing will ever beat reading about a place while your shoes are literally covered in the soil they’re describing. 

I was originally going to camp outside the park to save money, but I checked the campground availability just in case. Jenny Lake had one open site with a mountain view. I took it without thinking too hard. Looking back, I’m glad I did. I sat by the lake that evening and just watched the light change.

The next day I did a hike. Took a slow boat tour. Saw the old Mormon barn that everyone photographs. It really is worth the hype. Then I made my way to Yellowstone.

Oh, right, the title. Did you know Grand Teton is French for “Big Nipple” or “Big Breast”? French-Canadian trappers originally named it “Les Trois Tétons” because it reminded them of, well, breasts. Later, the name was adapted into Grand Teton in reference to the center peak. Maybe that’s why everyone is so drawn to the Tetons.

Yelllowstone

I arrived in the rain but didn’t mind it. Within an hour I took one of my favorite photos from the whole trip. (Class please bring your attention to the photo of the buck standing in the rain.) I continued on through the park. I found a herd of buffalo and just sat for a while. No thinking. Just watching. I ended up camping in the park that night because Yellowstone is enormous. Truly too big to pretend you can come and go easily. That night it stormed so hard I discovered I have a tiny leak near my solar panel bolts.

The next morning I decided to go on a solo hike. Yes. Bear country. No. I did not overthink it. 

I hiked to this tall waterfall and just as I got there a hail storm rolled in. I had probably only dealt with hail once in my life up until this trip and now it had followed me through three states. Everyone else disappeared instantly. I stayed long enough to prop my phone on a log and get a selfie. Once the lightning started, I was out. 

I only stayed a couple of nights because I was eager to get to Glacier. I was craving more mountains and quieter spaces.