New way to Phelps Lake

After lounging around Saturday morning eating waffles, we decided to hike up to Phelps Lake in Grand Teton National Park. We came in from the new Rockefeller entrance on the East side of the lake. Donated to the park last year by the Rockefeller family, this new access point provides easier and faster routes to the ever-popular swimming in Phelps during the summer months.

The Rockefeller family essentially used to own the entirety of the Jackson Hole valley. They purchased all of this amazing land with the idea of eventually giving it back to the government once they got it federally protected in the form of a checkerboard of federal lands including; National Park, Wilderness Area, National Elk Refuge, and National Forest. These couple shots we took last weekend represent the last vestige of a large chunk of private land in Grand Teton National Park that has now since been given to the Park. As the story goes, there was some intense inner family squabbling between the Rockefeller's. Some wanted to keep it as the last of the family compound out here in Jackson, while others felt it was best to donate to the Park. Luckily for the general public, the giving side of the equation won out and we have a previously off limits part of the park to explore.

Enjoying Indian Summer weather this week here in the Hole, Yahoo