This morning, we woke up to overcast skies with a temperature of 40 degrees. We geared up for the day with a meal of blueberry pancakes, bacon, fresh fruit, yogurt and cereal.

Afterwards, students completed their morning e-stations, which centered around the geological make up of Grand Teton National Park. We also discussed the three different types of rock: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Students used this information today in the field, as well as in their discussions of how the Teton Mountain Range was formed. Additionally, students explored the role of glaciers.

While staying on the TSS Campus, we are actually located inside of the Grand Teton National Park. However, today we took our first field trip into the official gates of the park by driving north past the Moose Visitor Center to the the trailhead for our hike to Taggart and Bradley Lakes, which are located at the base of the Tetons. Taggart Lake (elevation 6,902 feet) was formed by a glacier flowing from Avalanche Canyon. As the glacier emerged from the mountains it scraped out a basin and dropped ridges of rock (called moraines) around the edges. When the glacier melted, water filled the basin and formed Taggart Lake. Bradley Lake (elevation 7,022 feet) is fed by a stream from Garnet Canyon, which originates from a glacier next to Middle Teton approximately 5,000 feet above.

Students were hiking very close to the mountains all day. Although it drizzled for a short while, we had a full view of the mountains. Students observed evidence of a wildfire in an area of the park that took place in 1985. They also witnessed the new life growing in this area, and learned about succession and the adaptations that different plants have to fire. All groups walked close to 6 miles and were able to explore Taggart Lake and Bradley Lake.

During our evening activity, we will visit the Gros Ventre landslide, which is just off of TSS campus in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. This landslide is the largest in the country and the second largest in the world. The history of the slide is as follows: On June 23, 1925 a significant chunk of sedimentary rock slid down the north face of sheep mountain after a very snowy winter. Weeks of rain followed. This action essentially dammed the Gros Ventre River, and created Slide Lake just upstream of the town of Kelly. Two years later, on May 18, 1927 another wet winter and spring resulted in even more flooding, and the dam eventually broke and inundated the town killing six people.

In tonight's evening activity all groups will walk along the landslide debris, and complete a short hike to see Slide Lake. This spot has great views of the Tetons, the landslide, and slide lake.

Tomorrow morning, we will load the bus at 6:15 a.m. to head into Yellowstone National Park. We will visit Artist Point, Inspiration Point, Painted Pots, Grand Prismatic, and Old Faithful. We will return to campus tomorrow evening for dinner and our evening activity. Tomorrow will be extremely busy, and the blog will NOT be updated until very late in the evening or possibly Thursday morning.