Our alarm clocks were set for 4:00 am because that is what a normal couple likes to do when they are celebrating their ten-year anniversary together;) We got out the door fast, drove 90 minutes to the Tetons, and got things started.
Uncrustables and Red Bull. Not the most nutritiously dense way to start the day, but it worked perfectly before a big trail adventure.
We wanted to avoid as much traffic as possible, full parking lots, and to get in the majority of the run in cooler temps, hence the ridiculously early start time. Success!
We parked at Lupine Meadow’s Trailhead, and there were only a couple of cars and vans there at 5:45 am. It was perfect out. The lighting, the weather, the empty trails. We only saw maybe five people in the first two hours.
Bikes aren’t allowed on this trail, so Andrew turned into a trail runner.
PLEASE VISIT THE TETON RANGE IF YOU GET THE CHANCE. You will want to stop to take pictures every tenth of a mile.
Our goal was to reach three lakes, and the first we wanted to visit was Delta Lake, a glacier-fed alpine lake.
A random picture of me sitting on a log:
The first three miles are pretty runnable (with some definite hiking sections, too), and then you go off the maintained trails for another mile to reach Delta Lake.
The climb up through the boulder field BURNED. I have never been through an area like this, and it took me quite some time to get up it. I used my arms almost as much as my legs on the way up these, haha.
We used AllTrails to make sure we were going the right way. AllTrails saves me every year.
And then we arrived at the most gorgeous lake I have ever seen. We had the entire lake to ourselves.
Snickers fueled this adventure. Skye LOVES Snickers, and she told me to eat them on the trails, and I took her tip; they tasted perfectly and kept us energized (along with salt tabs and water).
We then went back down the boulder field, rejoined the trail we started on, and headed up again towards the other two lakes.
I think it was about another 2 miles to Surprise Lake. Nobody else was at this lake either!
You go another .25 miles up and get to see another lake, Amphitheater Lake, which was Andrew’s favorite.
I could have stayed here all day. The optical illusions at these lakes are real. They create the perfect mirror for the mountains.
Thankfully, we didn’t see any bears. Just this guy, whom I was happy about.
And then, we got to cruise back down to the parking lot for a total of 12 miles, 3000ish ft of gain, and 3 hours of moving time (but with plenty of breaks, 4 hours and 10 minutes elapsed time). The last two miles became VERY busy, so please start early if you go.
Our first post-run meal–> Waffles at the top of the tram in Teton Village, Corbets Cabin. Cookiebutter and caramel for me. Berries and whipped cream for Andrew.
We then took a nap on the grass under a tree (I can fall asleep anywhere) in Teton Village, woke up, and drove to Jackson to walk around and eat burgers at Liberty Burger.
Nothing like coming home from a trip together, 10x more exhausted than we left, but that is just how we like to do things.
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Can you fall asleep anywhere?
-Absolutely. I prefer my perfect nightly setup at home (pitch-dark room, eye mask, two fans), but I can take a nap anywhere at any time.
Do you feel like you come back from trips/vacations more exhausted or more rested than when you left?
Ever visited the Teton Range?
Tell me your favorite National Park!
The post Delta, Surprise, Amphitheater Lakes–> The most perfect way to celebrate 10 years. first appeared on The Hungry Runner Girl.