Day 18--Goodbye Tetons!

Note: images for Days 16 and 17 have been added!

Cunningham Cabin, Tetons

We checked out of the Heart 6 Guest Ranch in Moran, Wyoming, and drove through the Grand Tetons one last time before heading south to Vernal, Utah. The morning was once again gorgeous, with blue blue skies and a few fluffy clouds. We resisted the temptation to visit Oxbow Bend again (it was hard). Instead, we stopped at the Cunningham Cabin, built in 1888 by John Pierce Cunningham, who lived there with his wife, raising cattle and a family in the harsh conditions. The depression caused Cunningham and some other ranchers to sell their ranches, which later became a part of the Grand Tetons. 

Snake River Overlook, where Ansel Adams photographed
his famous version of this scene

Our last stop in the Tetons was at the Snake River Overlook, the famous spot where Ansel Adams, in 1942, stood on top of his car to shoot his memorable shot of the Tetons with the Snake River in the foreground. The trees along the river have grown up a lot since then, so the photo Smoky made is not by any means a replica of Adams photo, but it was inspiring nonetheless to stand in the same general area as the master!

After this stop we had a lot of driving to do, so we headed south on Hwy 191, stopping in Pinedale, Wyoming, at the Wind River Brewing Company for a great fish taco salad for lunch! At Rock Springs we turned on Interstate 80 for a short while so that we could drive along the western edge of the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area on our way to Vernal. At first we wondered what had prompted the name of Flaming Gorge for this area. Then we looked at the photos! See what you think about the choice.

Flaming Gorge

Along the Flaming Gorge road, we stopped for some pronghorns.

--Shann