The real String Lake Loop Trail or, hiking in the snow

Leigh, String and Jenny Lakes lie along the base of the Teton Range like "pearls in a necklace." Shaped by valley glaciers that occupied many of the park's canyons 14,000 years ago, they were gouged out of rock and soil which was transported to the mouths of the valleys to form moraines. As the remnants of the ice melted, the terminal moraines held meltwater that created today's lakes.

Since we got tricked into taking the wrong trail last time we attempted the String Lake Loop Trail, we decided to travel counterclockwise around the lake. As we began the hike we notice infrequent snowflakes. You may be able to see the approaching snowstorm coming down off the mountain behind Frederick who is standing on the shore of String Lake.

Not too far along the trail we encountered this cheery fellow, George, a Park Service employee. He was setting-up a "people counter", you may be able to see it on the tree to the left of George. I asked him if this cold, snowy weather was unusual. "No", he said, "what would be unusual would be warm, sunny weather, nice weather - this time of the year". 

As we hiked along these two boats came by going in the opposite direction. I think they had gone out and camped at one of the remote campsites that are accessible only by boat. It must have been cold camping!

Here comes more snow!

Just before we got hit by the snowstorm we crossed the stream flowing out of Leigh lake into String Lake. Frederick is standing on a bridge the crosses the connecting stream.

On the opposite side of the lake the Tetons begin their dramatic mile high-rise from the valley floor and this string of lakes. Until relatively recent geologic time there were no mountains here. Then, about 9 million years ago, the earth's crust began to slip and break into the separate blocks on either side of what is now called the Teton Fault. The western block rose to form the Teton Range while the eastern block dropped dramatically to form the valley. Actually, the valley block fell far more than the mountain block rose. However, subsequently deposited glacial debris have filled in much of the valley. This section of the trail we were following closely parallels the Teton Fault. 

Looking north east toward Leigh Lake.

Looking southwest toward String Lake.

As we began the climb along the western shore of String Lake we became engulfed in a snowstorm. Here is the beginning. I wasn't able to take any more pictures of the storm because I was trying to keep the snow off the camera. Unfortunately I had not brought along the protective cover I use on the camera when we are out in the rain, or, like today, in the snow.

Almost a quickly as it began, the snow ended and the sun came out. By this time we had covered the west side of the lake and had joined the trail that we took last time we attempted to travel clockwise around String Lake. Here is our old pal again, the friendly marmot. Today he was not whistling.

Deja vu - Frederick at the beginning of the String Lake trail - same scene as on Thursday.

Today hike:

Length - 3.9 miles

Duration  - 1 Hour and 45 minutes

Elevation gain - 250 feet ( 27 floors on the Fitbit)