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| My Favorite Picture that day --as we hiked on the String Lake Trail in the Tetons (9/13/18) |
Dear Friends, Today I am re-living a rough day I had on Sept. 13, 2018..... George and I were on our West Trip to Montana and Wyoming (from Sept. 6-17)---and even though I had had a rough year with my heart medications and my rapidly beating heart, I had been doing fairly well on that trip until this day.....
Since I had been feeling pretty good, we decided to take a SHORT hike (or at least we 'thought' it was going to be short) around String Lake. To say it bluntly, I wasn't prepared for this hike AT ALL. What turned out to be a one to two mile hike became a FIVE mile hike.... Of course, we hadn't prepared to get lost, and have to turn around a couple of time... AND ---since it was only going to be a short hike, we didn't even have any water with us on that very warm day in September. GADS--we weren't ready for that hike!!!!!
The directions we had been following deceived us ---BUT it was our fault for not doing enough research ahead of time. I love the hikes in the Tetons --but those trails are not marked very well and ONE has to know where they are going ..... We obviously did NOT!!!!!!
The backside of that trail didn't go directly around the lake (like we thought it would) ---but headed up into the mountain behind. At first, we thought it was SO pretty back in there. And --as you'll see below, we got some great pictures that day. BUT---once up in those mountains, there were several different trails (unmarked)... It got very confusing --and the GPS didn't help at all....
With A Fib and with the medications, one HAS to stay hydrated.... That is hard when I'm sweating and hiking that far with no water. I got extremely weak and light-headed---and was barely making it.... I was also scared because I thought I was going to faint... (Luckily I didn't!)
After we got about as far as I could go, I convinced George to go ahead to the car to get WATER.... He didn't want to leave me --but I insisted. Needless to say, he walked MORE than five miles that day --going to the car and then coming back to find me.... Bless his heart. He is truly an amazing guy!
We didn't see many hikers on that trail that day ---but I did meet a couple of younger ladies. They shared some of their water with me (which helped).... There was nowhere to sit down, so I kept walking (albeit VERY SLOWLY) ---and finally got BACK down to the lake --and found a bench....
It was cooler by the water ---and I started feeling some better mainly just being able to SIT for awhile and because those wonderful ladies had shared their water with me. I walked some more ---and George finally got back to me. We were SO glad to see each other.... This part of the trail along the lake was fairly flat and there were benches here and there, and it was shady... We both finally made it back to the car..... What a hike!!!!!! As I said in my title --this is one I will never forget... AND --it's one that taught me to take water with me NO matter where I am going.... Duh!!!!!
NOW---forget all of that story and sit back and enjoy our beautiful pictures from the coolness of your home!!!!!!! I would do that hike again sometime (IF I could) --so that I could enjoy it much more...
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| The beginning part of the hike, as we walked along String Lake |
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| When we first started heading up the mountain on the back side of the lake |
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| It was very pretty back in the woods.... |
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| I was amazed at how huge some of these Evergreen Trees were |
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| George's gorgeous picture of the Tetons |
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| At this part of the hike, I felt okay --and was enjoying it. |
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| Look at how lush and healthy those Lodgepole Pines are --as we hiked along, on the trail |
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| My Sweetie is STILL smiling at this point..... As I said, we both loved the first part of the hike... |
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| A little hint of FALL along here |
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| Yeah ---we can now see the lake from the other side |
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| Now we are up higher ---and this is one of the areas where we turned around!!!! BUT--we did come back after finding out that we had been on the correct trail all along... |
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| You can see how high up we were by now---but it was good to even see the lake!!!! |
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| This ELK was hiding from me!!!!! There was evidence of MOOSE --but we didn't see one. |
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| I didn't take many more pictures that day (one reason I'd love to go back) --but did get a good picture once I was back down to the lake. This shows some of the areas UP there where our hike took us. |
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| After almost getting back to the car, we saw a Mule Deer grazing . Look at those big ears.... |
Well Friends ---see how beautiful that place is!!!!! I knew that I loved hiking on the Taggart Trail several years before this trip ----but this one was gorgeous also!!!!! That's why I'd love to go back sometime (now that we know to be prepared)....
Have a great week --and drink plenty of WATER.... We are having a hot SUMMER here in Tennessee so far!
Hugs,
28 comments:
Wow it is beautiful there. What a scary experience for you though. Glad it all ended well.
It is a very pretty area indeed.
You know they make movies about things like this; people getting lost on a hike. Very very scary and I'm so happy that it ended well. Lesson learned for sure. XO
Hello, Betsy!
You have beautiful trip memories. The Tetons are beautiful, the mountain views are stunning. I am glad this hike had a good ending, things could have been worse. I guess we should always make sure to carry water on our hikes, short or long hikes. Enjoy your day, wishing you a great new week!
Good shots of such a pretty area.
Would you really do that hike again? I'm not sure I would.
I’ve been to the Grand Tetons a couple of times and thought it was one of the most beautiful places I had ever been! I am glad you were able to find your way back! Thanks for the reminder to always take water on hikes.
Always love your photos and am glad you have them to remember the lovely parts of a difficult hike. Makes me want to plan a Grand Tetons trip.
Sallie
Yikes, this could have had such an awful ending and I am so glad it turned out OK. I have a similar condition and felt your concern. I am fanatic about water and almost carry water to the mail box--OK--not quite but you know the importance.
Pictures of the Tetons were worthy of framing.
Betsy, We've been to the Grand Tetons and it is a beautiful area. I'm not into hiking and never was... I missed a lot but I've seen plenty of terrific scenery nevertheless. That had to be a scary experience for both of you! Great photos! Take Care, Big Daddy Dave
I did the very same thing yesterday, and I know better (as you did, too)! I started a walk with Bob thinking it would be short, but he had to turn around much sooner than expected, so I continued on. I try to get 5 miles most days, but I shouldn't have pushed it because I wasn't carrying water and here at high altitude you dry out fast. I was really tired and dehydrated when I got home. Actually, the cardiologist told me NEVER to get dehydrated - my bad... The Tetons are spectacular - the photos tell the story of your hike. Also, I notice, you were weighted down with cameras! Where I live in Colorado, we have a similar landscape. I do most of my hiking in Lodgepole and Spruce forests with a smattering of Aspens. Hope you're feeling well, Betsy. Your Lillies on the Header are spectacular.
We love the Tetons too and plan to visit next month. Your story is very scary and a good reminder to us all to be prepared with water, etc. I'm so glad the ending was a happy one.
Blessings,
Betsy
Thank goodness that ended well! Sounds like you had quite an adventure, for sure! GPS is rarely a help... May try an old fashioned compass but, hopefully, it won't happen again! I've seen 'simple' trails get confusing. Always have to be aware of your surroundings or you could get twisted around!
The pictures are beautiful! I see why you wanted to hike there!
Gorgeous pictures, despite your travail. It could have turned out so much worse! We have to take water with us even locally!
Scary story. I was never so glad to read the end and learn you were okay.
A good lesson learned! We mature folks (I won't say 'old') have to learn to pace ourselves!
WOW! I am glad that this story ended well, with you and George back at the car and able to relax.The scenery is gorgeous.
The Tetons on on our list to visit one day. Thanks for sharing. And yes water is very important when hiking especially in dry climates.
As you know Betsy, the first rule of hiking is never to go without your water no matter how short you think the hike might be. So pleased it ended well.
Sorry this happened to you and I know you must have been very scared. I also know that you were very thankful for the young ladies who shared their water.....a wonderful Blessing! So much beauty all around you...glad you were able to enjoy all of God's Beauty that day..
It is hot here also and I am so tired of the humidity! You were very lucky to make that little trek without water- I imagine it scared you. I hope you can go back and trek the trail again soon. I'm hoping to head that way this fall for the foliage. Blessings to you and George.
I love the photos and the animals. I don't remember this story. I am so glad things turned out as well as they did. Nice of the ladies sharing water with you. NE CAREFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Beautiful photos! Glad those ladies came along. Be sure to have some water canteens that are so easy to carry that you don't think twice.
Scary hike - but glad it turned out well. Lovely shots!
Hello Betsy
My goodness that really was too scary.
How nice of those ladies to share some water though …
Your photographs are so beautiful and it looks a great area, I can understand why you'd like to go back sometime.
I hope your week is going well.
Stay as cool as you can and keep hydrated.
All the best Jan
Wow, gorgeous photos, Betsy! It must have been so scary to be lost and not have water with you. So glad this hike had a happy ending.
That sense really tough moment but glad you survived that hike with help of kindest George and the young women. The hike has took you through picturesque views and the mountain landscape is quite inviting and resemble a dream land! Loved all the photos and admire the beauty of the place. No wonder you want to go back there and I wish you were able to do it.
Hope you doing well now!
That really was a hike to remember. Glad you encountered kind people along the way who shared their water. Beautiful photographs.
A hike to remember, and a lesson learned.
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