I arrived well past dark on the 13th. The last 150 miles were a little chilly, but a good hat and gloves made the trip endurable. Of course, I should have just stopped and put on the soft top, but that would make too much sense! When I arrived at the Chalet, I took care of turning on the power and water, making certain that there were no leaks, like the last time. The beast was stowed in the garage and I was planning on unloading it the next day. The Chalet warmed up quickly and I slept well. The next morning, I arose and began to unload the Beast. The first week here was devoted to doing a few touristy things (like getting a coffee mug and a couple of shirts), updating my web page (thanks for all the kind comments), acquiring food and drink and other basic chores. After the hustle and bustle of the past week, I find that I am having a difficult time slowing down and relaxing.
    One thing that is sadly missing are the animals. When I first came here in 1991, there were many deer (15 at one time) and even a moose or two. I saw two deer and two moose last June, but that is the last animal presence that I have had. There are more houses and dogs. The decline in the usage of the Chalet has also contributed to the decline in animals. I hope that this change is not permanent, but just a temporary dip. Some of the neighbors, who live here full time, have constant encounters with moose and even a bear or two (through the safety of thick glass).
    I did find time for the two primary activities in Grand Teton, hiking and photography. I took part of the day on Wednesday to check out the approach to Garnett Canyon, where we would be camping for our Grand Teton climb. The trail offers a good flat warm-up section and gradually gains elevation. This will make the trek a little easier, especially when we will probably be carrying over 50 pounds on our backs. I found several spots where Grand is framed among the trees and will return with my gear when the time is right. On Thursday, Kevin and I headed into the park for some rock climbing. We hiked several miles around Jenny Lake and up the horse trail until we came to what looked to be a good spot for climbing. With Kevin leading and placing protection, I ended up doing 3 pitches, culminating in a 90 foot rappel. At one point, I took my shoes off and noticed that my toes were turning blue! Fortunately, it was not a lack of circulation, just the dye of the leather being transferred to my skin. Climbing shoes are not the most comfortable things to wear, but they sure are nice when you are 90 feet up a rock wall with almost nothing to stand on. The last few miles hiking back to the trailhead were not the most pleasant, with sore feet and all. The next day, I was pretty sore from shoulder to toe. I’ve never had sore toes before, and I hope that this is not a common occurrence.