22nd May 2025

Today has been a day of ‘firsts’.

As the weather forecast was for cloud all day, we didn’t rise early for sunrise shots (we have that pleasure tomorrow morning). Instead we decided to undertake a hike we have never done before around the String Lake Loop Trail.

The trail is 3.7 miles long (if you don’t miss the turnoff, walk for a mile and then realise you are going in the wrong direction!) and takes approximately two hours. It rises 325 feet and is considered easy. The area is popular for picnicking and water sports.

The first thing you see as you start the walk is a large sign warning of bear country and telling people what to do in the event of a bear attack and not to hike without bear spray. Shame some people are unable to read!

When we started the trail three people passed us and found it quite amusing that we were carrying bear spray. When I enquired if they had any, one of them replied that he didn’t but he wasn’t bothered. I told him to make sure they walked in front of us then! Stupid or what! 🤷‍♀️

It is a beautiful hike and along the way we saw a Marmot, American Robin and a large Moose. We met two people from North Carolina and walked a while with them. They had intended to bring bear spray but were staying with a friend and she couldn’t find the spray so they came without any too!

There was quite a lot of snow on the trail but it was all passable without walking sticks and crampons. At one point we had to strip off some our layers as it was so warm.

Saw this on the trail!

After we had completed the hike we set off for Oxbow Bend, one of our favourite spots, just to check it was still there and to take some photographs.

This evening for dinner we went into Jackson and another first, had dinner at a steakhouse  called Local. It has received some very good reviews and the food was indeed, excellent.

We started with sharing a crab cake and salad followed by a WAGYU Philly Cheesesteak consisting of shaved New York steak, sautéed onions, white cheddar fondue on an amoroso roll served with either salad of fries. We had one of each to share. Needless to say I could only eat half but there’s always room for a pudding so we shared the Sticky Toffee Bread Pudding served warm with toffee caramel sauce and vanilla ice-cream. All washed down very nicely with a few Amaretto Sours for the lady and beer for the gentlemen. 🍹🍺

It occurred to me earlier that there were a couple of things I missed from the previous blogs!

The lady from Florida who I mentioned holidays alone, well she told us that on one occasion she was camping overnight on her own and at one point her tent was surrounded by eight bears!! ⛺️🐻She said she just sat perfectly still until they went away! Again, a much braver woman than I.

Next, while we were shopping in Jackson yesterday, a man walked past me with a gun in a holster on his belt. To say I was rather stunned is an understatement. You hear about it but to actually witness it was something else. Wyoming is an open carry state, meaning open carry of firearms is legal without a permit. Anyone who is at least 18 years old and legally allowed to possess a firearm can open carry in Wyoming. No permit or license is required for open carry. 🤷‍♀️

Tomorrow, the forecast is for a lovely sunny day with temperatures ranging from 35ºF (2ºC) to 60ºF (15ºC). Sunrise is at 5.50 a.m. so we shall rise early, about 5.00 a.m. to make our way to Schwabacher Landing to, fingers crossed, capture some fantastic sunrise shots. 🤞🌅

As always, thanks for reading and please join us again tomorrow to see those fantastic sunrise shots!