June 17 (Into the Tetons...and out?)

I left Yellowstone today. I would have liked to stay longer but, with my funds running so short, I can't stick around and sightsee. Someday I'd like to come back and spend the week leisurely touring around Yellowstone, seeing all the sights at a relaxed pace.

 

I guess the Teton's are less popular than Yellowstone, for while the "Welcome to Yellowstone" sign had a freaking line of people for taking pictures, the Teton sign was neglected.

 

The first two things I noticed about the Tetons were the roads and the mountains. The roads were instantly in better condition, and had a larger shoulder to boot. (If memory serves anyway) In fact, as I rushed down one of the larger hills, there were five signs forming a poem flashing by on my right. I would have taken pictures, but by the time I realized what they were I was at the bottom, and just no. The signs said this.

We saw wildlife,

From afar,

Until we hit them,

With our car.

Slow down!

I also saw this GREAT message flashing on one of the electronic road signs:

 

 

 

The Tetons were absolutely beautiful. I really wish I had had the time to go down to Jackson, apparently that road parallels the Tetons and is magnificent. But I did still get some great pictures!

 

 

 

Finally, I passed one couple on my way out of the Tetons.

 

The Teton area was actually rather short, and I ended up leaving it today as well. Which just left Togwotee Pass... a short amusing aside on this. Togwotee Pass is almost a three thousand foot climb, and I was very much not looking forward to finishing it at the end of today's ride. In fact, while looking at my map this morning, I got into an argument with the cyclist I was camping with about where the real climbs were on my ride yesterday. She somewhat balked when I showed her that the three passes I had put behind me all dwarfed her tough climb that day. She had those three to look forward to.) And she was really taken aback when she saw the 3,000 foot elevation climb of Togwotee. Pride ++.

Anyway, I decided I wouldn't take the whole pass in a single day. There was a campsite halfway up, and I figured it wouldn't be too bad. WRONG. For about 9-10 miles, I continuously passed these signs.

Even though the sign looks like the truck is going down, I was very much going UP.  If you're not a cyclist and would like to understand exactly what this means when you're on two wheels, moving under your own power, here's a Handy Guide to Climbing Grades.

 

Add in the fact that there was standing water nearby – and whenever I stopped the bugs swarmed around me making me feel like a modern day Beelzebub – and you have a miserable situation. Constant harsh climbing and because of the bugs you can't even take a break. Arrrrrrrgh!!!!!!!.

I did eventually reach the lodge, and I did luck out there. The campsite was cheap, $10 a vehicle but, as bikes aren't reaaaaally a vehicle, (words of the front desk) I could stay for free. In fact, there was another cyclist named Matt at the campsite. Matt is doing a mountain biking tour of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, and has put down some SERIOUS miles. We both started the same day, interestingly enough. But while I have put 1,200 road miles behind me, he has ridden 1,800 – across mountain biking terrain. Pride-

 

The sunset over the Tetons was spectacular.

 

P.S.

Can anyone tell me what these signs are for? I've been seeing them everywhere since I got out of the Tetons, and I have no clue what they are for.