We
looked for the cheapest way (other than tenting) to stay in the Tetons. We
discovered something COOL!!!!
In
Colter Bay Village (I’ll explain who he was in a minute) they have a thing call
Tent-Cabins. And they’re fun! Two solid sides with canvas around and overhead.
Four bunks, a wood-burning stove to stave off the chill, a picnic table, a fire
ring and…wait for it…a bear box! Yep, we’re in bear country!
Colter
Bay named after John Colter part of the…come on, join in…the Corps of Discovery
or Lewis and Clark group if you’re more comfortable remembering that, is part
of Jackson Lake.
History
moment: John Colter was the fastest runner in the Corps of Discovery (they used
to have footraces as entertainment—ooh! That sounds so entertaining! Personally, I love my
computer and mini dvd player.) He went along as a hunter and on the return
trip, when Lewis split his Corps into three groups, John Colter was captured by
some Blackfeet Indians. They stripped him and for fun before killing him, said
if he could outrun them, he could live. They were in a field of prickly pear cactuses
(or is it cacti?). Barefoot and buck naked, he took off. Lucky he’d had plenty
of practice racing. It took three days but he did it, he outran them. That bit
of thrill became known as Colter’s Run.
Well,
after the Corps made it near home, John Colter left the group to return to the
West and the rest…is mostly forgotten history. But not by this historian!
He
became a well-known mountain man and trapper and having lived and “discovered”
Jackson Lake area, Colter Bay is named for him.
Colter
Bay has a boat dock, swimming, hiking, restaurants, clean flush restrooms, easy access to Yellowstone,
a nice gift shop, cabins, tent cabins and horseback riding. It’s a wonderful “resort”
in miniature with the rustic-ness of a wilderness National Park.
We loved
it!
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