Flying into the Tetons!
Grand Teton – all 13,770 feet of it.
Maureen and Jared were completely enthralled with the Tetons!
A bronze moose keeps watch over the visitor’s center
Long Sagebrush covers the prairie, giving way to the lodgepole pines on the mountains
Meet the family: Nez Perce (11,901 ft.), Grand Teton (13,700 ft.), Mount Owen (12,928 ft.), and Teewinot Mountain (12,325 ft.)
Grand Teton grabbed a cloud and wouldn’t let go! Nestled between it and Mount Own is the Teton Glacier, the largest glacier in the park. Sadly, it is shrinking due to climate change
An up-close of the Long Sagebrush
Lodgepole pines lauding the majestic Tetons
Sunset over Jenny Lake
Leaves of an Aspen Tree
Bark from an Aspen Tree
View from the summit of Signal Mountain (7,727 ft.)
Peering through the aspens atop Signal Mountain
Snake River as seen from the top of Signal Mountain
Snake River as seen from the top of Signal Mountain
Looking out across the valley from Inspiration Point
Ducks on the Snake River (near the Oxbow Bend Turnout).
A Steller’s Jay hunts insects at Inspiration Point. After a boat ride across Jenny Lake, we hiked up 500 feet in one mile to reach Inspiration Point. Along the way we saw bonsai-like pines growing out of crags in the rock, brilliantly hued fungi, and of course, breathtaking mountain vistas.
Jenny Lake from Inspiration Point
Tetons and Yellowstone National Parks 9/19/2015 - 9/26/2015
Day 1 - As the plane descended into Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Maureen snapped pics of the Teton peaks, quite sure each one was more incredible than the last. After a short shuttle from the airport into the town of Jackson Hole, our explorations began. We headed toward Jenny Lake, stopping at the visitor’s center to get Jeff’s passport stamped, pick up some maps, score a couple of Christmas ornaments for Maureen, and of course, gape up at the Tetons. We pulled into numerous turn outs to take pics (or film, in Jared’s case) and let Maureen rub Long Sagebrush between her fingers to release its distinctive scent. Driving on, we drove past the expansive Jackson Lake and up to the summit of Signal Mountain, overlooking the Snake River. A small herd of bison could be seen in the distance, and one was spotted grazing along the side of the road. Three mule deer startled us by running in front of the car at one point. After a hearty dinner at McPhail’s, we excitedly finalized our plans for the next day.
