DRIVE (Day 1)
I set out quite early from Boulder, Colorado, on a 9-hour drive up to Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park.
Once over the border in Wyoming, I caught Interstate 80 west. I-80 is the highway that most closely follows the route of the old Lincoln Highway, the first road across the US. Stretching 3,500 miles from New York to San Francisco, it encompasses pieces of many other historic travel routes... the Oregon Trail, the California Trail and the First Transcontinental Railroad. I-80 became a part of the Interstate Highway System in 1956, and its final piece was completed in 1986.
In 1912, railroads were the main form of transportation across the country. Roads outside of cities were often poorly maintained and seldom much more than dirt. Carl G. Fisher was a manufacturer of carbide-gas headlights used on early cars. It was his vision of a transcontinental highway that led to the building of a rock road that stretched across 14 states, 128 counties and over 700 towns. He named it after one of his heroes, Abraham Lincoln.
In 1916, a trip from the Atlantic to the Pacific would take 3 to 4 weeks... driving an average of 18 miles an hour for 6 hours per day (only during daylight hours, of course). Gasoline stations were often few and far between, and motorists were encouraged to carry chains, a shovel, axe, tire repair tools, camping equipment and water. Wearing new shoes was not advised since it was good practice to "wade through water before driving through to verify the depth." I was hoping my journey would be much easier than that!
About halfway between Cheyenne and Laramie was a rest area marking the highway's highest point.
The location of the highest point on I-80... and also the Purple Heart Trail
The Purple Heart Medal was created by General George Washington in 1782 for distinguished valor. The trail was established in 1992 to "create a symbolic and honorary system of roads, highways, bridges and other monuments that give tribute to the men and women who have been awarded the Purple Heart medal."
Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865), 16th president of the US
Tributes to Henry B. Joy... A monument from 1936
Henry Bourne Joy was the first president of the Lincoln Highway Association (1913) as well as the president of the Packard Motor Car Company. The original highway was financed by memberships and donations from car and road-building industries. In 1916, the federal government also aided in its funding. Slowly this network of primitive dirt trails across Wyoming began to be paved. Much of the highway evolved into US 30 in the 1920's and then Interstate 80 in the 1950's.
I continued on.
The Boulder I had just come from had a few more people in it... about 100,000 more!
Approaching the Teton Range
By the time I arrived, the Jenny Lake campground was full, so I found a spot at the Signal Mountain campground instead.
I talk with a couple of older guys in the next campsite who were on a huge cycling tour. They said they had just come down from Glacier National Park but hadn't been able to get in because it was still closed due to snow. Guess I won't go that way then!
