granite canyon || the road is home

Granite Canyon || 12.9 Miles

Teton Village, WY

Trailhead Elevation: 10,450 Feet

we end up stopping at a different trail head than the one we pinpointed on our map back at camp. we have a limited amount of time-- and this trail is closer. Granite Canyon, the sign says, and my dad and I both agree that canyons are cool.

I have a backpack with sunscreen and water and probably some other junk I forgot about. dad has a thermos coffee and bear spray in the side pocket of the drivers side. first we decide that we probably don't need the bear spray, because what are the chances? a sign a hundred yards in sprouts up and tells us in red letters that there are indeed chances.  

so dad walks back for the can with the red pin. I wait. I see a deer. 

the trail cuts through a meadow that looks like something out of the sound of music. the big blue/gray shapes of the rocky tetons crop up around us, laced by ragged pines and a river swollen with melt. the trail loops off into the woods, climbing gradually. there's evidence of bears everywhere; fur tufts, droppings, claw marks on trees. I'm giddy with excitement, though we never catch sight of one. we see something like a woodchuck instead, not wanting to let us by. it eats grass for a long time, dad contemplates and i take it's picture.

we pass a group of hiker dudes who haven't showered or probably seen civilization in awhile; friendly beards wearing bandannas. the light comes in through the trees and the now deep-forest around us looks like a scene out of prince caspian. we ditch our stuff on an embankment and climb some rocks to drink up the views of the foothills, and the rocky giants above. 

we stop at the river and reach down to let the water run through the gaps between our fingers; liquid ice, fresh from the top. on the way back we weave through clusters of wild, fragrant sage and patches of native birches. I feel like this is ages ago, with the golden sunlight on my face; everything is ancient but new, rich, yellow.

lOVE,

kATE

what was your greatest adventure this week? and who's pumped for thankgiving and christmas? because, dang am I ever.