Jackson: Alpine House & Grand Teton National Park

10 and 11 July 2006 -- Arrived into Jackson Airport around 9:30pm. Rented a car and headed into town. It was dark out, but I could still feel the tranquility of the vast landscape -- towering mountain ranges on either side and plains in between with an elk refuge. And oddly, I did feel like I had arrived in the land depicted in My Own Private Idaho, Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, A River Runs Through It, and most recently, Brokeback Mountain. Just a great expanse of wide open nature as far as the eye can see.

It wasn't difficult to find Alpine House, Jackson is a small town with just a few main streets. I walked into Alpine House and found an envelope with my name on it at the front desk. Inside were the key to my room and a note : "Sorry we missed you...please don't lock the front door.". Welcome to small town Jackson. All was quiet in the house, but as I started up the stairs to my room, I noticed a Japanese guy diligently working away on his laptop (I found out the next morning at breakfast that his colleagues/clients in London obviously didn't know he was on holiday in Jackson). Big town meets small town.


Alpine House is a great little B&B. I love the decor: quaint, country inn with a touch of Alpine.


Inside the room, everything foldable (tissue box, toilet paper, face towel) was folded in a fan shape (maybe Mandarin Oriental should consider using this little touch to tie in with their "I'm a fan" ad campaigns).


My room was comfortable enough for an overnight stay, a steal at US$165++/night. The best thing for me was the in-room wi-fi. After a brief chat with VH on msn messenger about Jackson area real estate, I went to bed excited about driving through Grand Teton on my way to Brooks Lake the next day for an overnight pack trip.



I woke up a bit later than usual (7am, which would have been 9am ET) and headed down for breakfast. The breakfast room was full so I wandered around the house and took a few pics. By the time I finished, I managed to find a table. I had a great breakfast of toasted english muffins with cream cheese and smoked salmon, grapefruit and coffee. I skipped the french toast and omelette because I wanted to grab a bit at Jenny Lake Lodge along the way.



I checked out and headed into Grand Teton National Park (it only costs US$25 for a 7-day pass to both Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks) towards Jenny Lake. The drive was amazing, so relaxing and the views absolutely mesmerizing.


By the time I got to Jenny Lake Lodge, breakfast was done (served until 9:30am) and I was too early for lunch. The woman at the front desk suggested I head to Signal Mountain Lodge since it's on the way to Brooks Lake, so I did. I stopped off at a viewing point for Jenny Lake. I was mesmerized by how clear the water was.


Once at Signal Mountian Lodge, I got side-tracked taking photos and stocking up on essentials for my pack trip (binoculars, sunscreen and insect repellent), that I realized I wouldn't have time to sit down for a bite. So I started driving once again.


Tip to drivers looking for Brooks Lake Road turnoff, it's the gravel road immediately after the turnoff. I missed it and probably ended up driving an extra 45 minutes. It's 5 miles of gravel road with pine trees for as far as the eye can see before you reach Brooks Lake Lodge, but its worth it. On approach, the view opens up and you see Brooks Lake to the right and the lodge set next to it with horses in the paddocks in the foreground. That instant, I knew my pack trip was going to be awesome...

Brooks Lake Lodge lobby wi-fi: Free.