Before Dawn At The Snake River

Dawn. Paradise. Priceless.

We Interrupt These Travels For A Word From Illinois

"Boom!"

That is all.  Now back to our regularly-scheduled programming.

Diamond Day

Jackson Lake Evening

Marmot Rug

One of the attractions of the national parks is the chance to photograph a grizzly bear.  Preferably from the car with a long lens.  To paraphrase the genie from Aladdin, "Phenomenal cosmic power; itty-bitty tolerance for stupidity."

This trip I saw a grizzly for a moment at a great distance.  But I found something better:  nonstop play machines in a bear-shaped package.  I don't need no stinkin' grizzlies - I've got MARMOTS!  :)

Gateway To?

Clarity

Oxbow Bend, in the Snake River that flows through Grand Teton National Park, is one of the must-sees of any trip.  There could be sixteen bears and a camel lined up on the other side of the road and nobody would see them; the view's that lovely.

Luckily it's on a main road and you can't miss it.  There's a parking lot and at any time of day you'll see photographers with their tongues hanging out and their tripods set up.  The best time for a calendar-worthy shot is early morning as the sun hits the mountains head-on.  (I had to figure this out on my own.  You're welcome.)  Don't discount sunset and storms over the mountains at other times of the day, though.  Sometimes the unpredictable is the best.

Wake Up!

Will this early-morning photographer wake up before his quarry swims by?

Grazing Cow

Sunset Over The Ranch

Breathtaking Back Yard

Downward Hog

 

The yoga lessons are working!!!

Abbott and Costello

Long Day's Work

Do It Yourself

Little Cowpoke

My Happy Place

Just Peachy

One of the original farmsteads on the gravel road known as Mormon Row, Grand Teton National Park.  Besides the history of early settlement in the valley known as Jackson Hole, it's famous this year for the litter of eight coyote pups living under the foundation of one of the outbuildings.  Photographers line up just behind a line drawn by park rangers and train their exotic long lenses on the den opening, sometimes waiting hours for a shot of gamboling pups.



I found it amusing, and was amused at myself as I duly lined up with the rest for a glimpse of tawny fur.  At home we shoot coyotes, too.  Just not with cameras.

Shootin' the shooters . . .

The Sinks

This river near Lander, WY, completely disappears into a series of caves the water has carved out of soft limestone.  (The cave is the dark recess on the far left.  It's full from the spring runoff now, but in summer you can walk into the cave.)  It pops to the surface again half a mile downstream in a pool called The Rise.

Spelunkers have tried to explore the caves, but they're much too small and choked with branches for a human to get into.  Guess they'll just have to remain a mystery for the next hundred thousand years.


Sinks Canyon is really, really gorgeous if you like rocks, as I do.

A Beaut Of A Butte

So okay, I couldn't resist pushing the Photoshop color slider so far that I sprained my thumb.  But this shows the excitement I feel about the west, if not the exact literal depiction.

Evening Updraft

Man, I love Wyoming!

Those tall fences are windbreaks, useful any time of the year, and especially in winter when the snow falls sideways.

Photo Op

Oops, I forgot to brush him first.

Desert Oasis

The red soil looks so exotic to me.

Snowy Range Pass

In the Medicine Bow Mountains of southeastern Wyoming.  After checking that the pass was open (just recently), we started vacation with a cold and windy ride up and over the Snowy (literally) Range.  Oh, and cold - did I mention cold?

Pine Flags

The wind is so constant, and so strong on the tops of the mountains, that branches only grow on one side of the trees.

Medicine Bow Beauty

Huh?

Flaky

Morning Smile