If You're Headed to Grand Teton-BEWARE!

[jackiemac]

The above is correct.  Latest bad news is the piles of human waste - the Forest Service has reported it's one big toilet in the camping areas.  They brought in at least one porta potty, but there is no way that's sufficient.

I've kept up by getting daily news alerts about Grand Tetons via Google alerts in my gmail.  If one is headed to Gros Ventre CG, I'd get there before 7:00 AM as pics have shown campers lined half-way up the entrance road already at 8:00 AM.

Linda

Eek, that's really bad. I wasn't sure how busy the boondocking would be but I'm forgetting that some Campgrounds and lodges etc in the Yellowstone and Teton area are closed.  What a pain.

[tanglemoose]

Sure wondering what September will be like... we generally head over that direction but the over flow this summer has been awful.. anyone have some insight for GTNP or West Yellowstone..?  For September.... ??

I hear trying to see anything in Yellowstone  is a joke too...

[PancakeBill]

Things are lightening now.  Friends went to Gros Ventre and got in.  Plus many dispersed spots if you can fit.

[jackiemac]

I've seen figures over the last few days saying neither Gros Ventre nor Colter Bay filled.

[UTTransplant]

Kevin and I are both anxious to get out again, but tales of overcrowding have held us back. Well, that plus so many of the tourists sites like museums being closed! We are now waiting on timing for Kevin’s upcoming cataract surgery, but if we can fit it in we will be going someplace in late September or October. Our only opportunity after that is January when we head southwest. September is still ok in Yellowstone/GTNP, but October is getting pretty iffy even for experienced cold weather campers like us. I just have the fidgets staying home so long.

[John Stephens]

We were going to make another long trip this year, heading southwest this time and then circling up through CA, OR and WA, heading back through MT, WY and finally seeing RMNP in CO before heading through the Midwest and back home. The pandemic changed our minds on that, but since we spent so much time and money renovating the interior of the coach, we want to use it to some extent this year and will leave tomorrow morning, heading on a shorter trip to the Midwest to see friends and relatives, and then to the Smoky Mountains. We will have to wait until next year to catch the Tetons and Yellowstone again. I already have an itinerary planned out and hope there will be a vaccine distributed by the time we are ready to leave in April.

[garyb1st]

  I just have the fidgets staying home so long.

Pam, my fidgets are having fidgets.  Thought we'd be heading out late September as well but now Maria wants to wait until after the election.  Personally I think that's overkill.  For me, the virus is still the big concern.  I'll be looking closely at cases following the Labor Day weekend.  We should see the results of beach openings and holiday gatherings around mid-September.  I've been tracked virus deaths in California, Florida and Texas since July 1 and the results are pretty telling.  The causal relationship of increased cases and deaths following the re-openings is self evident. 

[Boat Addict]

I still do not understand the absolute fear from so many rv owners, especially Class A bus drivers that's so fully self contained. With our lowly travel trailer we have done about 9 thousand miles if not more this summer since mid may and managed to eat anything that we wanted in our fancy hard side tent,  and traveled just about any direction we wanted to with full facilities distancing ourselves from the herds of people without a lot of effort.  We went to Walmart about four times for some perishables, which is much less than we do if we are home. Plan for the worse and hope for the best and we are in the high risk category. But I just be dang if I am going to quit living my life in this vast open country that you can keep your distance with little effort. You can certainly protect yourself at most any refueling station too.  Just buy yourself a tyvek suit if you have any fear of brushing up against some tainted surface too. If things goes as planned we will be doing a early fall trip too that if things goes as planned will cover another  5 thousand miles too. I am already with the one I want to be with 24/7 and get plenty of lip service at my beckoning call.

[garyb1st]

Mike, please don't characterize my travel concerns as "absolute fear".  Personally, I am not concerned about dying from the virus.  I have a kick ass immune system, have never had a flu shot and don't recall ever having the flu.  My guess is if if I get the Coronavirus I will not know it.  My concern is for two of my daughters who have not been as fortunate and have impaired immune systems.  I will continue to have those concerns until treatments are perfected and or a vaccine is available.     

Let's not turn this into another go nowhere discussion about something that is relatively new, highly politicized and nowhere near being fully understood.   

[Boat Addict]

Mike, please don't characterize my travel concerns as "absolute fear".  Personally, I am not concerned about dying from the virus.  I have a kick ass immune system, have never had a flu shot and don't recall ever having the flu.  My guess is if if I get the Coronavirus I will not know it.  My concern is for two of my daughters who have not been as fortunate and have impaired immune systems.  I will continue to have those concerns until treatments are perfected and or a vaccine is available.     

Let's not turn this into another go nowhere discussion about something that is relatively new, highly politicized and nowhere near being fully understood.

With all due respect, its not about all or nothing from me.  The amount of rv sales across the country says volumes about people finding alternative ways to still travel.  The roads from east to west in this country is like a mini rv show with wide open spaces and  the numbers of folks finding ways to still enjoy life in what appears to be the worse of times.  That's my point, whether it came across that way or not. I am a living example of modest means and in the senior years being able to still live somewhat a normal life. And If I can do it I will always encourage others to find a way and  consider not waiting too dang late in their lives. Over and out.

[ClickHill]

We just left the park after being there for a week. It took us a month of getting our days in a row, and once we had all our days there they put us in one spot for the week without having to move. We stayed in the Headwaters campground so we could visit both parks.,
The Tetons and Yellowstone didn't seem that busy, we were able to see the whole park with little crowds at our destinations, and we went from one end of the parks to the other.
Jackson hole was very busy, and crowded, but not that bad that I wouldn't go there. Everyone was wearing masks, and just enjoying themselves while being respectful.

It was a great time, but we left just hours before the cold front and snow came in. We also just made it to Salt Lake just to be rushed out because of the massive winds they are having for the next two days.

[richclover]

We just left the park after being there for a week. It took us a month of getting our days in a row, and once we had all our days there they put us in one spot for the week without having to move. We stayed in the Headwaters campground so we could visit both parks.,
The Tetons and Yellowstone didn't seem that busy, we were able to see the whole park with little crowds at our destinations, and we went from one end of the parks to the other.
Jackson hole was very busy, and crowded, but not that bad that I wouldn't go there. Everyone was wearing masks, and just enjoying themselves while being respectful.

It was a great time, but we left just hours before the cold front and snow came in. We also just made it to Salt Lake just to be rushed out because of the massive winds they are having for the next two days.

Safe travels!  Wind, for sure.  Hopefully you went south, I-15, yesterday.  The storm started here after midnight, early this morning.  Wind gusts over 50 and  I-80 across WY is closed today.