Grand Teton National Park

The mountains are calling and I must go. - John Muir

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A Mountain Full of Trees

Can you smell the pine? It’s intoxicating.

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Fog rolling in...

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Wanna take a ride?

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A frosty morning on Jenny Lake

Jenny Lake is one of Grand Teton National Park's most popular destinations. The park's showpiece is the lake, which is tucked away at the base of the Teton Range. Teewinot Mountain, Mount St. John, and Cascade Canyon may all be seen from the east shore. Visitors can look back across the lake to Jackson Hole's valley from the west bank.

Jenny Lake is the starting point for a number of popular paths. Hikers can make a loop around the lake, explore Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point, or take Cascade Canyon into the backcountry. Jenny Lake provides access to longer hikes such as Lake Solitude and Hurricane Pass. Visitors can hike a trail, take a boat ride, relax by the lakeshore, or visit the visitor center to learn more about Jenny Lake. To reach all features of the area, park at the Jenny Lake parking area. During the summer, parking can be tricky as the parking lot fills up fast. See you there! =]:)

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Frosty Sagebrush

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Flowers of Autumn 

These are Arrowleaf Balsamroot, reaching to the sun in an Autumn sky. =]:)

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Walking in the clouds

Walking in the clouds in Grand Teton National Park. Fall is in the air. =]:)

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Happy Independence Day from the Grand Tetons!

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It's Spring in Wyoming!

No, wait, it's winter! Nope, the calendar says Spring. Oh well. Whatever season it happens to be, the Tetons are always magnificent! =]:)

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Garnet Canyon

Hike into the heart of the Teton range

You should be in good shape and experienced at hiking to do this one. It is about 8.4 miles round trip and will take you from 4 to 8 hours with an elevation gain of 2,500 ft. Whew! So worth it, though, if you are up to the challenge.

So here's how to get there. You'll start at Lupine Meadows Trailhead located south of Jenny Lake, and you will switchback up to Three-Mile Junction, then you will follow the trail left towards Garnet Canyon. Follow this trail another mile until you reach a boulder field. Some skill is required to cross the boulder field, and again, you should be physically fit and comfortable with route-finding before attempting to cross it.

Once you get into the canyon, you will find yourself surrounded by some of the more prominent peaks in the range, including Nez Perce, South and Middle Teton, the Grand Teton, and Disappointment Peak. But you won't be disappointed. I promise!

If you do plan to try this hike, please stop by the Jenny Lake Ranger Station to speak with a backcountry ranger about conditions and so they will know you are up there. It's best to check back in with them when returning, so they will know you are okay.

I hope you enjoy the hike, and maybe see you out on the trail! =]:)

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Slip slidin’ away

And we made it! Now just a short climb, and then sliding down, down, down into the blue/green pool below. A very COLD pool! But it’s so fun you only notice it’s cold the first time. Yeah, that’s it! That means you have to swim out, climb back up, and do it again and you’ll feel warmer. Honest!

Thanks so much for coming along with me on this hike over the last few days. In reality, it only took us a little over an hour to get up there and an hour back. Maybe a little less to get back because I wasn’t annoying my hiking buddy, stopping to take photos every few steps.

If you’re in the Lander area, I highly recommend this hike in Sink’s Canyon. If you intend to slide and swim, summer and early Fall is the best time. See you on the slide! =]:)

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Across the wooden bridge

It reminds me of a tropical rain forest. It’s so lush and green here, and it’s almost impossible to see through the foliage. I wonder what could be on the other side? Could we be nearing the end of our little trip up the mountain?

It’s a narrow bridge, but a sturdy one. It’s a pleasure to walk on, and I like the sound my hiking boots make as I take each step. I can hear people laughing somewhere ahead, and the waterfalls bathe the atmosphere with ions and a soundtrack of soothing sounds. =]:)

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A secret message tree

Still making progress along the trail to the waterfall, but I had to stop to look at this tree full of secret messages. Oh, the stories this tree could tell. It can’t talk though, so you just have to read it instead! =]:)

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Getting closer to the falls

As we get closer to the waterfalls, we decided to stop here for a while to take in that amazing sky and the scent of wildflowers. Okay, and maybe to rest a bit too. The air is filled with the sounds of birds, some gathering and getting ready to fly south for the winter, others busily preparing for the colder temperatures to come.On this day, though, you’d never know it was Autumn, but for the yellowing leaves on the trees. The sun was warm, which was good because we planned on sliding down the waterfall into the clear, green/blue pool below. Tomorrow I’ll post the next part of our journey up the mountain. =]:)

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Heading on up

Heading up, on our way to the falls. What a gorgeous day for a hike, and just warm enough for a swim too. =]:)

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Comet Neowise from my little neck of the woods. 

It looks like it just spilled out of the Big dipper. :-)

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“When the sun is setting, leave whatever you are doing and watch it.” – Mehmet Murat Ildan