Grand Teton in All Its Glory
Grand Teton refers to the highest peak of what is now called the Teton Range. Early French trappers used the name les trois tétons (the three breasts) to describe the three central peaks. So now you know that when you refer to Grand Teton, you are really talking about a big boob.
The Tetons are really striking. Because there are no foothills, they just rise up from the valley and are suddenly there in front of you. When you look at Grand Teton, you are right in front of it and have a view of the complete mountain from top to bottom.
The Tetons are really striking. Because there are no foothills, they just rise up from the valley and are suddenly there in front of you. When you look at Grand Teton, you are right in front of it and have a view of the complete mountain from top to bottom.
The Top of the Top
The Pinnacle of Grand Teton You are looking at the absolute top of Grand Teton, the tallest peak of the Teton Range. As you can see, there just isn't much there but sky, rock and a little snow.
I took this picture with my longest lens (500mm) and then cropped it. I don't think any of us will get any closer to the pinnacle of the Grand Teton unless it is with the help of National Geographic.
I took this picture with my longest lens (500mm) and then cropped it. I don't think any of us will get any closer to the pinnacle of the Grand Teton unless it is with the help of National Geographic.
Jackson Hole
The Jackson Hole is actually the floor of the valley that is bordered on the west by the Teton Range and on the east by the Gros Ventre Range. The Snake River wends through the valley. Apparently early trappers and "mountain men" referred to valleys as "holes" and somehow the name Jackson Hole stuck where others eventually became just valleys.
The Jackson Hole is actually the floor of the valley that is bordered on the west by the Teton Range and on the east by the Gros Ventre Range. The Snake River wends through the valley. Apparently early trappers and "mountain men" referred to valleys as "holes" and somehow the name Jackson Hole stuck where others eventually became just valleys.
Jackson Hole, Looking Down the Valley
It is really an interesting land form as the valley is stepped into tiers rather than just gradually sloped. It looks as though it were man-made, but actually it is a result of the glaciers of the ice age which ended about 12,000 years ago.
We Were Really There!
We Were Really There!
Here's proof were were really at the Tetons. I took this "selfie" using the tripod and the camera's shutter timer. The view you see behind us is the same one we had eating lunch in the Mural Room of the Grand Teton Lodge. The Mural Room was the nicest restaurant in either of the Grand Teton or Yellowstone National Parks. Good food and a beautiful view. Who could ask for more?
The Moose and Pronghorn I Saw Wildlife
When in Yellowstone we went on a tour called "Wake Up to Wildlife." The entire time we were on the bus we were assured we would see pronghorn antelope - nope, no pronghorn. We were also told that while there great numbers of moose in Yellowstone, they were not down in the areas open to the public (smart guys, avoiding the crowds). "You'll see them at Grand Teton," we heard over and over.
So when we got to the Tetons we were excited that moose and pronghorn were prominently mentioned as part of their wildlife mix. There is even a road named Antelope Road in the valley. We were constantly on the "hunt" for moose and pronghorn, including multiple cruises on Antelope Road. The picture here is almost a one-of-a-kind - Grand Teton moose and pronghorn together in the same meadow! Do you see them? Yeah, neither did we. We did, however, see more bison - standing in the middle of Antelope Road!
When in Yellowstone we went on a tour called "Wake Up to Wildlife." The entire time we were on the bus we were assured we would see pronghorn antelope - nope, no pronghorn. We were also told that while there great numbers of moose in Yellowstone, they were not down in the areas open to the public (smart guys, avoiding the crowds). "You'll see them at Grand Teton," we heard over and over.
So when we got to the Tetons we were excited that moose and pronghorn were prominently mentioned as part of their wildlife mix. There is even a road named Antelope Road in the valley. We were constantly on the "hunt" for moose and pronghorn, including multiple cruises on Antelope Road. The picture here is almost a one-of-a-kind - Grand Teton moose and pronghorn together in the same meadow! Do you see them? Yeah, neither did we. We did, however, see more bison - standing in the middle of Antelope Road!
Chapel of the Transfiguration
This log chapel was built in 1925 to serve the dude ranches of the Jackson Hole. It is a charming little structure, and I just had to include a couple of photos of it. When it was built, it was situated so that the three peaks were centered in a large picture window behind the altar. If you look at the photo I took inside the chapel, I think you will agree they succeeded admirably. To my mind it beats any stained glass window for beauty.
This log chapel was built in 1925 to serve the dude ranches of the Jackson Hole. It is a charming little structure, and I just had to include a couple of photos of it. When it was built, it was situated so that the three peaks were centered in a large picture window behind the altar. If you look at the photo I took inside the chapel, I think you will agree they succeeded admirably. To my mind it beats any stained glass window for beauty.
 Chapel of the Tranfiguration |  The Tetons from the Chapel Altar Window |
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