Am back from my latest camping trip which was planned specifically to get over to the Grand Tetons National Park in Wyoming.   After finding that there really wasn't any good place near Jackson to camp (lots of spots to dry camp in the woods but with temps still getting into the low 30s and a big ol snow storm only days before I left, that wasn't so appealing).   I had made a reservation for night one on the way over at a little park called Aspen Acres outside of Ashton, Idaho so was thrilled when they let me extend and just use that as base camp.   Fabulous little park with full hookups out in the middle of the massive farmlands in the area and it also has a golf course!  Recommend you check it out if you are looking for a place to camp at http://yellowstonegolfresort.com/ and tell Rick and Sherri that I said hello.

Day one was a drive on one of the scenic byways in the area.   The Mesa Falls Scenic Byway is a great trip and easily done in a day.   A number of things to see and of course some of it for me was off road.    We tried to get up to Cave Falls but best laid plans were stopped, even for 4WD by snow and downed trees.  I was bummed however we did find a couple of small cascades on the way so all was not lost!    The falls (and one of the two Sheep Falls in the region) are all in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest which offered a number of places to go hike (watch for bears) and meadows to run the poodles.  We did a great deal of exploring on the back roads in that national forest but honestly, there were soooo many trees down on the roads  that it will be a long time before some are open.   Remember the political state in Washington as you try to get back into some of these great natural areas and cannot.  There is that hiring freeze put down by the new administration - so guess what?  No seasonal employees to get out there and move trees (or take care of campgrounds).  Those of us that live here in the west in particular will be seeing more of that I believe, especially on our federally managed wildlands!  

Enough political enlightenment.....

This momma will soon have a fawn or two to care for it appears!