Wyoming

Good ole Jackson, Wyoming. One of the most b-e-a-utiful towns in the West. It’s surrounded by mountains with the Grand Tetons right up the road. Not to mention, Yellowstone National Park being just a little further up that road. This place is full of adventurous opportunities. You can raft the Snake River, hike multiple trails, go paragliding, kayak Jackson Lake and bike just about anywhere as this is one of the most “biker-friendly” areas you will ever see. Downtown Jackson is loaded with great shopping, unique restaurants such as Local or Thai Me Up, the elk antler arches in Towne Square and of course, the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar.

Coming into town from the North you can’t help but notice the rather large and rather steep ski slopes in front of you. That is Snow King, which also offers some great hiking in the summer season. At the top you will have gained about 1,600 feet elevation with one of the best views you will ever see! On a clear day, just about the entire Jackson Hole area can be viewed. The Grand Tetons, Teton Village, the National Elk Refuge and the Gros Ventre Mountain Range, all before you in all their glory. The town of Jackson is already about 6,200 feet elevation so get ready for some huffin and puffin on your hike and don’t forget to bring some water with you. In case you’re not in the mood to hike, the ski lifts run all year.

So before or after you head onto your Yellowstone/Teton Austin Lehman Adventure, make sure you spend a few extra days in the wonderful town of Jackson, Wyoming.

John Hinrichsen, who guided several Montana/Wyoming trips this summer, including Nam Fam, writes the following:

This was my first year guiding for Austin-Lehman and I will never forget it. Thank you to Dan and Kasey Austin for taking a chance on me.  I can’t wait for next year.  Thank you to the staff at Austin-Lehman for being so patient (anyone who has to decipher my hand writing on time sheets has to be a saint.)  Your kindness is truly felt.  HUGE and SPECIAL THANK YOU to all the other guides who made me feel like I was part of a family this year. You are all very special people, and I will miss you in the off season. In the kitchen of the Austin-Lehman office, hanging on the wall , are collages of past and present guides, just looking at the faces of each and every one, I couldn't help but feel the warmth and friendliness.  I can only imagine how many lives they must have touched during their trips over the years. I am certainly proud to be amongst them.  I am grateful for the opportunity to have met some of them, and carry on the tradition here at Austin-Lehman adventures.

Dan said during training, "You will find that there are lots of hugs here because we are like family;" he was right. During the long guiding season I found that no matter what, I could count on my guiding partners for anything. We always had each other’s back. I know I was always covered, and I appreciate and will never forget it.  Yesterday I dropped off a guide at the airport who was on her way home, and through a tearful good bye she said, "Such good people work in this company.  Everyone is so nice and I can't wait to come back." That pretty much says it all.

–John

After an amazing ten days spent guiding and exploring the expansive regions between Billings, MT and Jackson, WY with fourteen wonderful new friends from Namibia, I felt the need to write about a few learnings I took away from this remarkable opportunity of a trip. As a short background, my father, Dan Austin, took a trip to Namibia (his favorite place in the whole world) back in May. After lively and meaningful conversations amongst the group he was traveling with, he ended up extending an invitation to his friendly Namibian acquaintances to come and explore the Yellowstone and Grand Teton regions of the United States. Little did he know, that this welcoming invite would open up doors to these people who wanted to see the world. Read on to discover my three “take-aways” from this trip that has been deemed in our office as “The Nam Fam”.

1. These Namibians are one of a kind….

From the moment we picked our crew up from the airport, I could tell it was going to be a special week. The kindness these people show is like none other that I’ve seen in my travels around the world. We had quite the variety of Namibians in our group – village leaders, government officials, lodge contractors, WWF members, and conservancy workers were just some of the titles represented amongst these people. Their willingness and desire to learn about the geology, history, flora/fauna, and culture of the area made me see the lands I grew up in with a fresh perspective. Along our way, we met with numerous representatives of Montana and Wyoming – Cooke City’s historian, Yellowstone and Grand Teton’s sustainability directors, local World Wildlife Fund reps, wildlife biologists, ranchers, Native Americans and more. I couldn’t believe the amount of interaction and learning that took place within our “on-the-road classrooms.” All in all, the educational factor in this adventure was beneficial for each member (including myself) that was involved, and I believe that the Namibians’ excitement to learn made the whole experience that much more fun!

2. We experienced a whole lot of “firsts”!

Going into this adventure and not knowing the background of each of the Namibian members, left us planning this trip for fourteen people without knowing just how exciting a lot of our activities would be. Little did we know that many of our friends had never been on a plane before, and this was just the first of all of the “Wow’s” we would hear along the way. Visiting the Crow Reservation near Billings allowed our Namibians to make comparisons between the Crow tribe and the Namibian people such as the San and the Himba, a first time for them since they had never seen an American Indian reservation before. At the top of the Beartooth Pass (near 11,000 feet), many of our guests saw snow for the first time and of course we had our first snowball fight! Since none of our Namibians had been to North America before, each wildlife sighting was a first for them too – coyotes, wolves, black bears, moose, elk, and bison were just a few of the animals we saw (although we did hear a lot about the animals we needed to come and see back in Namibia!) Kayaking Jackson Lake was also a first in that many of our friends had never ridden in a boat of any kind, let alone a small two person kayak floating so close to the water. (There were many nervous questions about what could possibly eat you in a lake so large – I made sure everyone knew that alligators and hippos did not exist in the Tetons!) The last first I will mention is the American college football game that we attended on our last day together in Bozeman, Montana – the Bobcats versus the Lumberjacks. What an experience this was – from tailgating before the game to cheering the Cats on to victory, the excitement at this event was incomparable to any football game I’d ever been to before. Each and every first time activity left me grinning ear to ear – how neat to be able to share with these eager people America’s finest gems – it truly was a pleasure!

3. Sustainable tourism – walking the walk

When it comes to sustainable tourism, there are a lot of people and companies that talk the talk, but how many are really out there that walk the walk? Sustainable tourism is defined as tourism that can efficiently and effectively occur over the long term that benefits the environments, cultures, and economies of where it takes place. As a company dedicated to sustainable tourism (as Austin-Lehman’s efforts in our nonprofit organization Wheels of Change shows), we felt that this fam trip definitely took a step in the direction of sustainable tourism in providing our fellow Namibians with connections, practices, ideas, and learnings to bring home to their people and businesses. Not only did we share America’s practices, but we compared our uses of sustainable tourism with the Namibians’ conservancy model. In a nutshell, Namibians use a conservancy to set aside land to protect natural resources (such as the local wildlife, a watershed, or a historic area) while employing almost all local people, therefore improving the economic livelihoods of those benefitting from the conservancies (the locals!). We discussed many times how the idea of a conservancy could be used in America, especially on our Native American reservations. All in all, the discussions regarding sustainable tourism in our lands near and far brought about interesting conversations and ideas that could lead to better sustainable practices both in Namibia and America.

Overall, this trip opened my eyes to the Namibian culture and way of life. These special people really are gems in this world we live in, and to get to know one (let alone fourteen of them)  is like inviting a brother or sister into your life. The fascination with our national parks and Native American reservations was evident in the questions asked throughout the trip. I couldn’t believe the number of “first times” we had for each activity we completed as a group, and just one of these experiences was extraordinary for these people let alone a whole list of them – I feel so lucky to have “relived” these firsts through fresh sets of eyes. Last of all, the ideas shared and connections made regarding sustainable tourism are sure to bring up some interesting questions and conversations that will last far beyond our time spent together in Montana and Wyoming. I can’t wait to see where this trip has led to when I visit Namibia for my very first time in 2013!!

As a guide in Yellowstone National Park, it’s very important for myself as well as my guests to be able to tell the differences between a black bear and a grizzly bear. Why? In a bear encounter on a trail, you handle a grizzly bear differently than a black bear, and this handling can be the difference between a peaceful encounter and a more unpleasant experience. Read on to see if you came up with the same major differences between blacks and grizzlies that I did…

First of all, did you think that you could tell the difference between a black and a grizzly by the color and size? Well, maybe – but this doesn’t always work. Despite the “black” bear’s given name, it can actually range in color from blonde to black and everything in between. The same goes for a grizzly, which most people think of as being  a brown bear. The size is also a good indicator of the species…sometimes. Grizzlies are usually bigger than black bears in their full grown state, but this isn’t always the case. I’ve seen some pretty huge black bears in my time in the Park! Let’s move on to discover the physical differences between a black and a grizzly.

The number one thing I look for first and foremost is the telltale hump between a grizzly bear’s shoulders. A black bear will not have that hump, but in comparison to a grizzly bear, it will appear to slump. And a black bear’s back end, or rump, will appear to be higher than its front end. When it comes down to it, I think to myself “Grizzly Bear = Hump, Black Bear = Rump”. You can imagine how the kids on our Yellowstone Family Adventure have fun with this word play!

Secondly, I look at the face/head of the bear. When looking at the bear from the side, you will notice that a black bear has a straight face profile while a grizzly has a dished face profile. Also, a grizzly has short, round ears while a black bear has taller, longer ears.

Last but not least, you can tell by a bear’s claws as to whether it’s a grizzly or a black. A grizzly’s long, light-colored claws are good for digging while a black bear’s short, dark claws are perfect for climbing trees. However, if you can tell which kind of bear you’re looking at by its claws, you are FAR too close to that bear for comfort! Always stay at least 100 yards (the length of a football field) away from any bear if you can help it. I always use “The Thumb Rule” with the kids on my trips. With a bear (or any wildlife) if you stick your arm straight out in front of you with your thumb up, your thumb should cover the entire bear which means you’re far enough away for safety. If the bear appears around the edges of your thumb, it’s time to slowly back up to get to a safer distance.

There you have it, a full list of physical characteristics for when you head out on your next Austin-Lehman Montana or Wyoming Adventure. Remember, you can’t always tell a grizzly and a black bear apart from their size and color, but you should be able to see the differences in the “hump” and “rump,” face profile, ears, and claws.

Your friendly bear-lover,

Kasey Austin

Today I wanted to talk about and share one of my favorite towns in the world, Jackson, Wyoming. With a population just under 10,000 and located just outside Grand Teton National it is prime time for adventurers. I was lucky enough to guide our Wyoming Family- Yellowstone/Teton adventure this past week, which starts and ends in the beautiful town of Jackson.

Some History on Jackson:
As part of the Hayden Expedition of 1871 and 1872, William Henry Jackson took the first photos of the Tetons and Yellowstone Park.  His photos, along with paintings by Tom Moran, convinced Congress to protect Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone National Park became the first National Park in 1872.  Grand Teton National Park was created in 1920 and greatly expanded in 1950 by the generous efforts of John D. Rockefeller, who purchased and then donated over 30,000 acres. The Town of Jackson was named in 1894,  some of the early buildings remain and can be found throughout the area of the Town Square.  

What to do in Jackson:
1) Bike Antelope Flats, it is a great and easy ride! Enjoy the scenery with the Tetons in view the whole bike ride and make sure you stop by the T. A. Moulton Barn. Often referred to as the most photographed barn in America, I think the backdrop of the Tetons soaring up might have something to do with that.

2) Cable car ride, take the tram to the top of Jackson Hole Resort for some amazing views!

3) Look Up! If you head to Jackson and don't take the time to look at the stars over the Tetons, then you are missing out.

4) Yee Haw! Head on down to the Jackson Rodeo, experience a real wild west rodeo!

5) Jenny Lake, just outside Jackson sits this beautiful lake. The Jenny Lake Loop Road is about 5 miles long and can be easily accessed from the Teton Loop Road. There is also a 6.5 mile hike around the lake, which is a pretty flat and easy trail.

One more thing, I'm sure you'll be hungry after all these activities... I recommend the Trio for dinner, they are an American Bistro with delicious cuisine. Save some room for dessert, the s'more pie is amazing! 

That's it, 5 fun things to do in Jackson! Now all you need to do is go experience it for yourself! Austin-Lehman offers family and adult trips that show you the best of Grand Teton and Yellostone National Park. Check out our Wyoming Vacations.

Your friendly adventurer,

Jonathan

Jonathan here checking in from Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park! Today we had an amazing start to our Yellowstone/Teton Family Adventure. We started our morning bright and early in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, then we drove up to Antelope Flats and had a gorgeous bike ride in front of the Grand Tetons. (photo below) We also stopped at the T.A Moulton Barn "the most photographed barn in America" and of course I took a photo of it. (photo below) Then we headed up to have a picnic lunch at Jackson Lake and then we headed into Yellowstone Park and hiked around Old Faithful. Tonight we are staying at the beautiful Old Faithful Inn, the worlds largest log cabin hotel. Right outside the inn is Old Faithful!

Tomorrow we have a big day of hiking and biking in Yellowstone National Park! Our Yellowstone tour is going hiking at Fountain Paint Pots, biking to Grand Prismatic, hiking the Wapiti Trail and finishing at the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. I'm going to keep this blog short, because we have a big day tomorrow! But below you'll see some photos from today, keep checking back for more stories from my trip!

Your friendly adventure guide,

Jonathan

Some new friends enjoying a picinic at Jackson Lake

ALA Guide Eric serving up some starberry shortcake on a pinic and a wildflower at Jackson Lake

After guiding ALA’s Yellowstone-Tetons Adventure for ten weeks straight last summer, I feel that I have some insider knowledge as to why this trip is one of Austin-Lehman’s best products. Read on for some reasons why YOU should look into Yellowstone National Park Vacations with Austin-Lehman!

1. Two National Parks in One

Many people all over the world want to see Yellowstone National Park, after all it is the world’s first national park and famous for its geothermal features, historic significance, and wildlife. BUT, why not take the trip down to Yellowstone’s neighboring Park which is just as amazing in its awe-inspiring scenery? As a guide, I can’t believe the number of people who visit Yellowstone each year only to skip the gem next door. If you’re going to come out west, take advantage of seeing two national parks in less than 100 miles of each other. You won’t regret it!

2. Geology/Geography

You will be amazed that neighboring national parks can look completely different from one another! Both have been sculpted in their own individual ways and possess their own reasons as to why they look completely opposite. Yellowstone was created by molten magma and an explosive past while the Tetons have uplifted (and the valley has “sunk”) due to major earthquakes over its history. Glaciers have bulldozed and sculpted the land in both parks for thousands of years creating an unforgettably beautiful landscape. Today we are lucky enough to continue witnessing history in the making in regards to geography (and you will see what I mean by this if you visit both Parks!)

3. Yes, You Can Have That Dessert After Dinner

You burned a ton of calories today! You just got done kayaking the clear, blue waters of Jackson Lake or biked the back trails behind the third largest hot spring in the world, Grand Prismatic. On this one trip, you will hike, bike, kayak, and raft your way to places like Old Faithful, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, Lake Yellowstone, Colter Bay, the Snake River, and Wilson to name a few. By the end of the day, you’re going to be hungry for a finger lickin’ good meal at a restaurant like Trio Bistro or Teton Pines. Make sure when you sit down for dessert in the dining room of the Old Faithful Inn, you order a Yellowstone Caldera for me! Yum!

4. Yeehaw! Go Get ‘Em Cowboy!

If you haven’t been out West before, chances are you haven’t witnessed a true western rodeo. In Jackson, Wyoming you will see the best of the best – the cowboys who have been riding since they were old enough to walk and the cowgirls who can race around a set of barrels faster than you can say, “Yippie-Yi-Yay-Ki-Oh, Cowgirl!” All in all, the rodeo is a great time, a little cheesy yes, but a knee-slappin’ great time all the same!  Bring your cowboy hat if you want to fit in with the crowd!

5. Lions, Tigers, and Bears, Oh My!

Alright, so maybe Yellowstone and the Tetons don’t have lions or tigers (except maybe the occasional mountain lion), but chances are high that you will see a bear sometime on your week long journey! Also keep an eye out for bison in Hayden Valley, elk near the Madison River, otters in Jackson Lake, and moose in the small town of Moose, WY. The diversity of wildlife in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is unmatched by any place in the continental U.S. and you can consider yourself privileged if you see one or more of the wildlife I mentioned above! A good pair of binoculars is something you will definitely use!

There you have it, my top reasons to look into Yellowstone tours with Austin-Lehman Adventures. Between the jaw-dropping scenery and the abundant wildlife, you can’t go wrong with a trip to Yellowstone and the Tetons. The trips are selling out quickly, but we still have some availability in August – give me a call if you want to know more!

See you on the trails,

Kasey Austin

The summer season is upon us, and what better way to pass the time then to embark on a trek though the wonderland provided by beautiful Mother Nature. While you could venture out to hike Patagonia in Chile, or retrace the ancient path of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, you don’t even have to venture out of the United States to experience breathtaking beauty. The United States is a hiker’s playground from the sheer massive beauty of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, to the ancient forests of Sequoias at Yosemite National Park in California, or even travel back in time to the great Wild West to the Black Hills of South Dakota. For your summer travels why not take an adventure vacation in your own back yard and experience the awe inspiring sights that United States has to offer. 

Journey to the Rocky Mountain Range in Montana

To explore the world of hiking, one must venture out to the Rocky Mountains of Montana. The beautiful state of Montana is a perfect representation of untamed, natural beauty, and is simply stunning in its vast mountain ranges. Experience wildlife from grizzlies and wolves to bison and bears. Explore nature from their point of view and experience the geological wonders that bring amazing life and color to its National Parks. Experience unique adventures from roping and saddling a horse, to watching good Old Faithful erupt on cue. Hike with the family, roast s’mores, and retell old campfire stories that you grew up on. Explore Yellowstone’s countless geothermal features including Fountain Paint Pots and the Morning Glory Pool, and take a dip in the Boling River.

Visit Zion National Park in Utah

If the Wild West is not quite your style, maybe you would like to explore Zion National Park in Utah. Ranked one of America’s best adventures by National Geographic, these views will take your breath away as you hike past waterfalls, natural springs and hanging gardens. Zion has one of the most diverse groupings of plants in Utah, with over 900 species for you to experience. You can soak up the colorful hues of red, orange and amber during the daylight hours, and at night be surprised by the amazing clarity in the night sky. Kick back and relax as you enjoy the bright star formations in the skies, as you have probably never observed them before.

Visiting The Grand Canyon in Arizona

Looking for a hiking location with a little piece of paradise awaiting you at the finish line? Havasupai is a hidden gem amongst the vast ranges of the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Accessible only by foot this is a beautiful place to explore and bask in the natural rich pools at the base of a thundering 100-ft falls. After a fairly difficult hike to the falls you will feel like you are imagining this oasis as its beauty in the arid space of Arizona doesn’t seem fit for such crystal clear waters. This Grand Canyon Vacation is also equipped with a visit to an old galena mine, hunt for fossils, a visit to a natural mineral rich whirl pool, and a stunning trek en route to Beaver falls.

  
Trekking Wyoming’s Yellowstone and Teton National Parks

You cannot possibly discuss the amazing hiking in the United States without mentioning Yellowstone and Teton National Parks. Yellowstone was declared the world’s first national park in 1872, proving that even then, people realized this beautiful gem needed to be preserved.  Take in the neon blue, 300-foot wide Grand Prismatic Spring, the largest of hot springs in the entire U.S. and the third largest in the world.  You can also experience an adventure packed whitewater-rafting excursion down the scenic Snake Water Canyon.  From hiking, to biking, to kayaking, rafting, and rodeos, Wyoming’s Yellowstone National Park Vacation and Teton National Park are fantastic locations to explore some of nature’s finest views of the great outdoors.  

5 Great Items to Pack

There is no better time than now to explore the wonders of the world located in our own National Parks. Take your family to see how beautiful and diverse this country is, and how many different adventures are just waiting to be experienced. The possibilities are endless from the Rocky Mountains of Montana and Wyoming to the red rocks of Utah, New Mexico and Arizona in the Southwest to the Coastal breezes of Alaska, California and Washington. Contact Austin Lehman Adventures as your trusted Adventure Travel Company to book a hiking tour for your next vacation.

Check out some other great photos of Domestic hiking adventures on our Pinterest

Your Friendly Travel Experts,

Austin-Lehman Adventures

Family adventure vacations are double the fun with our adventure trips to Grand Teton and Yellowstone.  These national parks are wonderful playgrounds for the young and old alike.   Antelope Flats is great area to bike with family.  The flat land makes it easy to bike leisurely while taking in the scenic views of the Teton mountain range.  

While there, you’ll observe bison and antelopes grazing the fields. Hiking vacations really add to the adventure, and with plenty of trails to choose from, Grand Teton National Park makes a six day vacation way too short. The Jackson Lake area also offers trails for different levels of experience. All trails have scenic routes so everyone will have an enjoyable time.  Those who enjoy water based activities will definitely want to try kayaking in the calm waters of Jackson Lake.  Adventure seekers can conquer the rapids of the Snake River.  And after a full day of being on the water, relieve your tired muscles at the Teton Mountain Lodge Spa.

While on this vacation in the Wyoming area, you’ll also want to take some time to explore Yellowstone Park. Hiking trails lead to Storm Point where kids will enjoy spotting marmots and other forest critters may lurking amidst forest trees and the grasslands. Rocky promontories overlook Yellowstone Lake, and a visit to the Grand Prismatic Spring will enthrall everyone with its vivid colors.  

Have a wonderful Wyoming trip with the family by reviewing our adventure vacation packages available in our online travel catalog.
 

Mindy here, today I'm looking for some active families who are looking for a exciting summer adventure! Our Wyoming Family | Yellowstone/Teton adventure lets families explore the best of Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park on a 6 day/5 night family adventure. Our July 1-July 6 departure is looking to be a teen filled trip, so we are actively looking for some more families with teens that would like to join some other awesome families on this amazing Yellowstone vacation.

Our Yellowstone National Park vacations give the whole family a chance to experience the geothermal wonders of Yellowstone, kayak Jackson Lake right in front of the Grand Tetons, get wet rafting some of Wyoming's finest whitewater through the scenic Snake River Canyon and bike through Jackson Hole valley and Antelope Flats past herds of bison and historic log cabins. Not to mention enjoying a real wild west rodeo in Jackson Hole, yee haw!

Yellowstone and Teton National Park are paradises for adults and kids alike. In addition our expert guides create a secure and rewarding environment full of challenge, accomplishment and fun. Combined with exceptional accommodations and classic dining, this is the ultimate family adventure!

For more information and a detailed itinerary visit our Wyoming Family | Yellowstone/Teton trip page or I would be happy to answer any of your questions, just send me an email at mindy@austinlehman.com or give me a call at 800.575.1540

your personal travel consultant,

Mindy Vanderhoof

Also check out our video on our Wyoming Family Adventure!

For those who want to view waterfalls, lakes and wild life, Yellowstone National Parks is the place to visit.  Our Yellowstone National park packages allow you to spend your vacation with everything planned and taken care of – all you need to do it take it all in.  

Vacationers to Yellowstone have lots of opportunities for photography. From wide open vistas to spraying geyser waters, the captivating magic of this destination will provide an unforgettable experience for travelers and families. With over 2.2 million acres to explore, there’s something for everyone whether camping, backpacking or cycling. Our adventure trips are meant to provide something for everyone in attendance.

Whether you start your trip in Montana or Wyoming, we offer plenty of itineraries that cover every type of adventure. Yellowstone tours, family hiking and even winter skiing and snowshoeing will allow vacationers to experience the park in every season.

Because these tours fill up quickly, it is important to plan ahead for whichever season you choose. Visit our online travel catalog today to view the many available packages for solo travelers, couples and families to this beautiful region of the United States. If you would like to speak with someone, our live support line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at (800) 575-1540.