THE GRANDEST MOUNTAINS

The Grand Teton Mountains rise like a picket fence along the border between south-east Idaho and western Wyoming.

Their profile is much the same from any angle on the Idaho side.

On the Wyoming side their appearance changes dramatically from every location.  This is the view from Grand Teton Lodge, a high rent national park hotel which has a nice bathroom just off the lobby.

DH and I have lived just an hour and a half's drive from The Grand Tetons for a long time.  We went through Yellowstone Park and Grand Teton Park on our honeymoon.  It was pouring rain and we never even saw the mountains, but we didn’t much care.

We’ve gone back to visit almost every year.  The view never ceases to make me get a little crazy with my camera.  This shot was one of those set-the-timer-and-run pictures.  We were on our way back home from a motorcycle trip to Cody, Wyoming and a little road weary.

Back again with friends on another motorcycle excursion and a hike around Jenny Lake.

 Before the place became insanely crowded it was a great place to do a little family camping.

Who couldn’t resist a view like this from your picnic table?

DH and I even hiked up to Lake Solitude where we could see The Grand up close at around ten thousand feet.  The trail looked so easy on the map.  How can miles up a mountain path be so much longer than miles along a sidewalk?

"The North Face" transparent watercolor 18x24 in. 140 cp

That view inspired this watercolor painting which I gave to DH to hang in his office on campus.  It helped us remember the good times and not the blisters on our feet. See more of my paintings here.

The Tetons have served as a backdrop for several trips to the July 4^th Balloon Fest.

Sometimes our trip through the park is slowed by the locals.

If you go there REEEEAALY early in the morning in October you can hear the eerie sound of the elk bugle, and most likely get to see the big bulls as they show off for their cows.

This year, even though we went in June, the Tetons were still sporting a deep snow pack.  Any climber who wants to bag the 13,775 (4199 m) Grand is going to have to wear his snow boots.