02-SEP-2008
Wyoming always offers a greeting that provides interesting insight on some of its residents. Last year, we were greeted by road signs that declared "Pay Attention - or Pay the Price." Short, sweet and loaded. Can you imagine the judge saying "You are charged with not paying attention. Ok, now you've got to pay the price..."
This year, we stopped at Yankee Doodle's Cafe for lunch just over the state line from Idaho and west of Jackson Hole. It's a rustic restaurant overlooking the Snake River. The interior was done completely in red, white and blue. The menu still offers American Fries, even though we're friendly again with the French. That news either hasn't reached Wyoming, or perhaps they are still mad. This was their attempt at offering an All-American restaurant.
02-SEP-2008
Basic to life for many who live in Wyoming is access to guns and the right to use them, whenever, however and on whatever. What can be sweeter than a crossed stitched wall hanging of a red, white and blue 38 police special with stars? Nice.
02-SEP-2008
Freedom is important to everyone.
I must admit to thinking, however, that when someone from Wyoming, Montana, Colorado and/or Idaho speaks of freedom, it's different from what I believe freedom means. This has been especially true when I've talked with ranchers. Freedom is personal. It's the ability to do as they please. Freedom does not extend to others. Expression, behavior or ideas different from theirs is not tolerated. Many here would happily return to the days of Hopalong Cassidy when things were simple and white guys on white horses were in charge. That's why GW was so popular here.
It's the wild west and if you can't survive here, you ought to pay the price.
I prefer the idea that when Freedom's bell rings, it rings for all, not just the privileged.
02-SEP-2008
The bathroom decoration at Doodle's Cafe seem to have been inspired by Larry Craig. Motherhood, God, Country and Troop Support are extolled in the general eating area, but the bathrooms were dedicated to raw sex. The men's room had large posters of voluptuous women in bikinis with extraordinarily large bosoms. The ladies' room had posters of well endowed, muscular men wearing thongs. The message was clear - sex is OK, but let's keep it in the bathrooms, out of public view.
02-SEP-2008
Jackson Hole lies just to the south of The Grand Teton National Park. The old historic part of town is rustic and charming. The town square has grand arches made from elk antlers at each of its four corners.
02-SEP-2008
The Grand Tetons are geologically young mountains that run north and south. The road that goes through the park provides spectacular views of the Tetons and Jackson Lake. The mountain range rises above the sage covered valley floor in a most dramatic fashion. Throw in grazing antelope, bison and/or horses, all of which can be seen along the roadside, and you have an immediate prize winning photo.
02-SEP-2008
One reason the Tetons are famous is because of their great elevation above their base. Unlike most mountain ranges the Tetons lack foothills, or lower peaks which can obscure the view. The Tetons rise sharply from 5,000 to nearly 7,000 feet above the surrounding terrain.
02-SEP-2008
There's something here for everybody. There are campgrounds, historic hotels, bed and breakfasts, motels and dude ranches. Trails can be hiked or taken on horseback as part of a pack trip. Most visitors are happy to drive the main highway and look for wildlife from their cars. Others will head for the back country for a more personal experience. There are river raft float trips down the Snake River. There's world class river and lake fishing. And there's a lot of wildlife to be seen throughout the park.
02-SEP-2008
There are two principal summits in this range - the Grand Teton is a towering 13770 feet and Mount Owen is 12928 feet.
02-SEP-2008
The Snake River wends its way down this valley alongside the mountains. It is a slow moving river along this stretch. River rafting is thrilling without being dangerous and wet. Views of the mountains from the river are dramatic. Eagles, moose, elk, beaver and antelope are also frequently seen on rafting trips. White water rafting is available a little further south for the thrill seeking adventurers.
02-SEP-2008
This cabin was built by John Pierce Cunningham, who arrived in Jackson Hole in 1885 and lived as a trapper until he established the small ranch in 1888. The Cunningham family left the valley for Idaho in 1925.
02-SEP-2008
This is a two year old moose that was grazing near the roadside in a low, wet area filled with willows.
02-SEP-2008
The Coulter Bay Visitor Center houses a very interesting museum offering many artifacts from Native Americans of the west. Among them is this grizzly bear necklace.
02-SEP-2008
This was a very attractive breast plate made from large porcupine quills.
02-SEP-2008
Aspens abound everywhere. Throw in a little light and there's a great photo just waiting somewhere along the trunks of the trees.
02-SEP-2008
Clouds always enhance a photograph, even in a reflection. In this case, the flower box is below a dining room window at the Grand Teton Lodge.
02-SEP-2008
Jackson Lake sits at the base of the mountains. Can there be a more spectacular view anywhere?
02-SEP-2008
There is an extensive area of willows next to Jackson Lake and below the Grand Teton Lodge. It is an excellent area for seeing moose. And it's also an excellent area to see grizzly bears.
02-SEP-2008
The moose are an attraction to the bears, especially in the spring when the moose calves are vulnerable.
02-SEP-2008
This is a two year old female that had been seen in the area for the past several weeks. This one was seen near Ox Bow Bend. This bush was covered with berries about the size of dried cherries when the bear found it. After about 20 minutes, the bush had been stripped of all its berries.
02-SEP-2008
To get the berries, the bear put the whole branch in its mouth. It closed it and pulled away stripping away the berries. It was pretty efficient. It's likely that a few leaves were eaten along with the berries. The bear was quite methodical and patient until all the berries were gone. When the berries were gone, the bear left, looking for more.
02-SEP-2008
The bear crossed the road and walked up the hill on the other side and visited each bush along its path. If there were a few berries on any branches when it got to it, they were gone in a short time.
02-SEP-2008
Seeing a grizzly bear at such a close distance was a real treat. Here, it was easy to see that the bear had a blue-black tongue, similar to that of the giraffe.
02-SEP-2008
Frequently, wild animals have coats that are matted or ditry. This bear looked like it had just come out of a beauty salon. Its coat was bright, shiny and clean. It was a magnificent animal in every way.
02-SEP-2008
Ox Bow Bend is one of the best places in the park to take photographs. The bend in the river is a great place to see wildlife. We've seen moose, beaver, elk, eagles, muskrats - and now grizzly bears. It's also a great place to get reflection shots of the mountains.
02-SEP-2008
These aspens are near Ox Bow Bend and look really great when they catch the evening light.
