Night three finds us in the super-quaint town of Gardiner, Montana. Can’t help but to think of The Hunt for Red October everytime I say, think or write “Montana.”

(00:31 of the following clip) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJESLxEd0Tk

Full day today, leaving Jackson (or Jackson Hole – still not sure which) after a late-ish breakfast and some photo scavenger hunting around the main square. Forget the Golden ones… ‘dems some antler arches!

Heading straight North, we arrived Grand Tetons. What they lack in actual height (relative to Mt. Rainier, for example) they make up for in dramatics (maybe a bit like myself?) – seemingly raising straight out of the valley floor. The Chevy Chase version of “America, the Beautiful” kept playing in my head.

(01:33 at the following clip) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rL2WOqm3OQ

Short stopover at the visitors center, then on to Jenny Lake. This is the high season, so rented RVs, SUVs (like our own) and, more generally, people are everywhere. As we approached the fully-packed Jenny Lake parking lot, an audiable groan resonated from us all. No discouragement here! Putting my best parallel parking skills to use, off we went.

Our hiking route took us to the nearby boat dock. $45 and 15 minutes later, we cruised to the base of the Tetons, ready for our 0.6 mi hike to Hidden Falls.

I repeat, 0.6 miles. At 85-or-so degrees with the thin air of roughly 7,000 feet, however, the trek proved to hold more complaints than a suggestion box at DISH Network. Slow and steady won the race, and the payoff – both in terms of a 10-degree temperature drop and the amazing views – was worth it.

Our trip continued north, along the western route of Yellowstone. Next stop, Continental Divide and on to Old Faithful…