The Adventure: June 26: Grand Teton National Park

"What a day!" says the journal.

In search of the ever-elusive large wildlife, we started the day in the Jackson Hole area and drove through the National Elk Refuge. I missed the best photo of the day, because at the time it didn't even dawn on me to take a photo, it was sort of a crisis. Really quite funny in hindsight, but you know how these moments go, I am kicking myself for not taking a photo. B had pulled off the road to read an info sign in the Refuge and it turned out all that tall grass was covering up a culvert full of water. Oops! So boy was I surprised when the passenger side of the truck suddenly dropped a few feet down. I was able to get out, and you'll just have to picture this but imagine two wheels on the ground, the front right wheel several feet down in the ditch, and the back left wheel several feet up in the air. It was a spectacle for sure. Luckily it wasn't long after that someone else drove along and was able to tow the truck out. Seriously, can't believe I forgot to photograph this. What a way to start the day.

So onward we went to an area where we were told we'd for sure see all sorts of wildlife. Were we in the Grand Teton National Park or the Teton National Forest... I am not sure. I'm looking at the map and I think we went through both. It was along Flat Creek. I photographed a lot of pretty scenery and got a lot of good background reference photos for art, and we sure gave the truck a workout on some of those roads. As for wildlife? Not an animal in sight other than a few birds, and not even very many of those! I was starting to think I must be some sort of bad luck charm. Must be the camera scaring everything away.

Here are my favorite scenery pics though:







After leaving the Flat Creek area we went into Grand Teton National park. Lots of sagebrush, very pretty.

And finally we started to see animals! This elk I guess is what you'd call a "tourist" elk, right there by the road so everyone can stop and take photos, but hey I wasn't about to complain. It's funny that by the end of the next day it was like "eh, more elk, keep driving." For a few moments I regretted not taking more pictures the following afternoon, but in the end it became clear that the whole day had lined up just to see one thing at the very end of it. Fate. You'll see. ;-)

Anyway, here's the first elk.

Hey look, an animal scratching itself!

And honestly I am not sure if we saw these deer in Grant Teton National Park or in Yellowstone, but I'm just going to stick them onto this post.


Hey look, an animal scratching itself!



Next stop, Yellowstone!