Day 6, morning: Grand Teton National Park

Jackson was totally fogged in when we set out. Glad we did. The fog lingered in Jackson well into the day although it was clear further north. We took the road toward Kelly along the Gross Ventre River. This is an elk reserve, but we didn’t see any elk. We did see what we later learned was prong-horned antelope. The fog lingered here and there in crevasses and over the stream.

We turned north on Mormon Row. There was once (1880s?) a thriving Mormon community here. According the the guide book this is where some of the classic pictures of the Tetons are taken with old barns.

There was certainly a large group of photographers around to catch the early morning light. I was struck with how, instead of jostling like the tourists at Lake Jenny, these patiently waited their turn while one of there number got down on his stomach to catch a reflection in a puddle. They even backed up to be sure their long shadows didn’t get in his picture. Note to self: this is definitely a place to come in the morning for the light, but maybe a little later when my own shadow isn’t to long. Or else bring a zoom lense that will let you reach beyond that long shadow.

The other picture spot the guidebook mentioned was Schwabacher Road. Wow! I couldn’t stop shooting. Every few steps there was another angle, another view.

Also got great reflections at Oxbow Bend Turn out. The fall colors add so much.

We had driven the Park Road yesterday, so we could stop in different places today. Potholes turn out had a plaque explaining that as the last ice age ended, icebergs left behind formed potholes. Some filled with water and some turned into little islands of trees. This broken off pine was on the edge of one of those islands.

We went back to Kelly and drove up Gross Ventre Rd. It climbed a narrow valley with yellow aspens in the bottom. We picnicked along side the road. No table, but a beautiful spot.

It was threatening rain, but we drove south on one of the scenic byways in our book. Nice, but the most spectacular part of the route was definitely around the park.

In the afternoon I left Mom and Steve to watch the football game and went off hiking. So again today we have two blogs. :-)

Thank you, Lord ...
for sunlight on fog.
for stirring vistas.
for reflections.
for authumn leaves.
for a patient husband.