Brandon Stephens, Erin Baker, Kyle Lapczynski
Brian: We purchased a round trip boat ticket for $9 and then waited in line for 1/2 an hour to cross Jenny Lake by boat traveling 8 mph. After departing the boat, we regretted not taking Brandon's advice (he wanted to sit near the door of the boat) because we had a large group of people in front of us on the trail. We climbed up to Hidden Falls and then further to Inspiration Point. The views along the way were quite spectacular. We hiked further ahead with anticipation after hearing rumors of moose. We later saw a female moose in a ditch-like stream and a pica, and were soon lulled even further ahead by rumors of a bull moose. Just 30 seconds after the time Kyle had decided we should turn around, we found our bull moose. We danced with death as we closed in from 3 sides on the large bull. After taking, many pictures of the moose we started back down the trail. We were approximately 3.6 miles from the shuttle (2.6 as the crow flies). We hauled ass back down the trail averaging 3.1 mph and arrived back at the boat after 1 hr and 9 minutes. At the dock, we waited in line and cursed the climbers cutting in front of us. On average, the boat carried about 20 people. We barely made the 3rd boat departing at 5:45. The boat sped across the lake at 10 mph. As we left, the boat drivers questioned whether they should bring back the rest of the people. We were all tired, hungry, and ready for "the Moose."
Brandon: After an uneventful boat ride, we were stuck in a people jam on the trail to hidden falls. It was a nice falls tucked away in a neat canyon. Nearby, we viewed climbers and rappellers on the canyon face. After the falls, we climbed the steep climb to inspiration point. The views were shittacculous! I photographed a guy on a nice red kayak paddling solo across the lake. After the screaming baby started to annoy us, we pressed on. The crowd of tourist soon thinned out to a few small groups. I eventually went to 6the back of the group to hike at my own pace to observe. This hike rivals any hike I have done in the grand canyon. My solitude was broken only by the occasional hiker ranting about the moose. Once I arrived at the moose, it didn't take long for me to get off trail perched on a tree to photograph. As I stood on the tree, the group looked like a pack of wolves moving in close for pictures. The moose seemed to be oblivious to the people. We made quick time hiking back to the boat. Our 4.1 mph pace was suddenly shattered when a solo hiker ahead stopped on the trail and motioned to Brian. Brian turns to me and mouths a growl with raised hands moving in a bear-like motion. He fanatically pointed into the bushes. He then tell me a bear with cubs is nearby. I stood on a large 2' high rock on the right side of the trail. My heart was racing wondering if the bear would break through the bushes and attack me. As my eyes gazed into the brush, my ass-pirations of a picture of mother bear and cubs sank like the titanic as I saw a large deer ass sticking out of the foliage.
Kyle: Brandon and Brian covered it all. I will add that the weather was perfect: sunny, clear and in the mid 70s. It was a very happy time for me!
Erin: The steepest part of the trail was up to inspiration point. The views going forward were worth a little extra effort for the great payoff.
Cascade Canyon
Our picnic lunch behind the Explorer.
A Kyle and Erin standoff.
Cascade Canyon
Boat ride across Jenny Lake.
Cascade Canyon
Bottoms up.
Hidden Falls.
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View from Inspiration Point.
Cascade Canyon
View from Inspiration Point.
Bull Moose.
Cascade Canyon
Bull Moose.
Cascade Canyon
Bull Moose.
Bull Moose.
Cascade Canyon
Cascade Canyon.