TAGGART AND BRADLEY LAKES HIKE

During a recent day off, we decided to hike to Taggart Lake and Bradley Lake.  This pair of lakes was formed over 9,000 years ago when glaciers grinding down steep mountainsides dropped their gouged out dirt and rock at the foot of the Teton Range.

A common site whenever a tree has toppled over is to see rocks embedded in the roots of the tree.  The rock pictured was about a foot in diameter.  This gives you some idea of just how rocky most of this the soil is and how challenging it was for the early pioneers in the late 1800's and early 1900's to settle this frontier.

Here is an interesting rock that we saw along our hike.  We don't know what the two-inch layer of stone is running through the granite rock, but we see these types of layered rocks on every hike we take.

Part of the hike took us through forest that had been burned by a lightning caused forest fire in 1985.  The lodgepole pine trees have reseeded themselves and are now well over fifteen feet tall.  Some of the sagebrush and aspen trees have also re-germinated as well.  Here some dead lodgepole pine trees have fallen over a large boulder.

The Grand Teton peak s in the background.  Avalanche Canyon is to the left of the Grand.  The late-morning air is still cool as the rain clouds appear to be coming over the Teton Range from Idaho.

We came upon some huckleberry bushes with ripe berries which look like blueberries.  This is a favorite food of bears.  Luckily, the only evidence we saw of bear activity was some scat along the trail.

Here is a view of Taggart Creek.  Even though it is the last week in August, there is still plenty of snow melt coming down from Avalanche Canyon.  Notice how big some of these rocks are as compared to the tree trunks stuck on the rocks in the stream.

After going through a fairly dense group of Douglas fir trees (we never get tired of the Christmas tree smell) we arrived at Taggart Lake, elevation 6902.  Although we had heard thunder earlier in the hike, the temperature warmed up and the clouds were moving to the north; away from us.

After walking most of the way around Taggart Lake, we were treated to some spectacular views, as the skies cleared and there was a reflection of the Tetons on the surface of the lake.

Climbing from Taggart Lake over a moraine towards Bradley Lake, we got this view looking back towards Taggart Lake.  The Gros Venture (French for "Big Belly') mountains are in the background as we are now looking eastward.  The Gros Venture mountains are mere foothills compared to the Teton range.

 

After hiking like mountain goats up several switchbacks with an elevation gain of over 200 feet in a little over a half mile, we came upon Bradley Lake. 

As you can tell, the views all day during our 5.4 mile hike were fantastic; well worth the 620 foot gain and loss in altitude. 

Wildlife you ask?  We saw a large mule dear, 10 or 12 point, but he was so hidden in the trees, we were unable to get a clear photo.  We also saw a small female grouse and several chipmunks, neither of which were good photo opportunities.