Falls Taste of Home

Twelve hours of glorious colors, weather and adventure. Tuesday I was invited by a dear friend to take a road trip through Teton Nation Park. Fall! Tetons! Oh what an adventure. But this adventure came with one stipulation, I HAD TO DRIVE! I could do this, I could steer through the maze of tourists, lookouts and get us where we plotted to go as long as I had a navigator.

We left a 8:15 am. The weather was cool, crisp and clear. We drop over the pass past Swan Valley, Beautiful. I love this time of year all the fall colors, pocket of color amongst all the forest green.

THEN it was time for the 10% down grade climb down into the Jackson Valley. The summit top was in sight and I knew that the car breaks would be getting their work out this morning. We crested the top of the summit started our descent to the valley floor. Got past Glory Bowl (which is where in the winter, avalanches are always set up) and could almost see the Grand sticking through the heavy clouds. On to a couple more mountain turn and Jackson should be in sight. NOT! Jackson this morning is totally fogged in. Remind me of looking out over an ocean fog. Had I come all the hour and half drive not to be able to see anything? I really hope that by the time we tour Teton Village the fog will have lifted so that I can take the photos that I have gotten planned. Jenny Lake, Hidden Falls, Black Bears, Log Cabins, just to name a few that were on the agenda today.

Fall reflections in Jenny Lake.  Cristal, ice smooth water.  A water skiers dream if you like water skiing in a ice bath.  I really love this area, one of my most favorite.  Take the scenic route going north past Teton Village down the Wilson/Moose Road.  Enter the Teton Nation Park and head to the Jenny Lake Parking lot.  In the summer month there are boat shuttles across Jenny Lake.  Today, however, I was on foot.  Thus giving me the opportunity to get down and capture fall as it reflects of a watery mirror.   The trail around Jenny Lake will take you to Cascade Canyon, to Hidden Falls and  Inspiration Point.  An for the more adventures, in fit hiker, Hurricane Pass.

Now in on up the high way to eagles, Snake River, Buffalos, old homestead and Oxbow Bend.  Had the skies not been so hazy, had I been here earlier, had I done this or that differently, I would have been able to get a much more detailed photo of the Grand Teton Mountain range.  But wasn't in the cards for today so I will just have to settle more more reflections that blues mountains.

One of the amazing things to capture this time of year is all the black bears foraging for winter food.  I is mind boggling how a 200+ pound animal can maneuver up thin berry branches for a bite to eat.  They are so cagey yet intimidating.  It's times like this that I wish that I had remembered to remove my polarizer lens, use my tripod and just sit, wait and enjoy the shop.

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