It has been a while since I posted a Morning Coffee Post. I thought it was about time to get back to sharing how blessed we are here in Western Wyoming no matter what the journey. This morning it was a trip into Jackson Wyoming and to the Aveda Salon for my wife. Truthfully I did not have plans to make this trip with her but she twisted my arm and so off we went.
First stop was to refresh our morning coffees, a decaf latte for her and a large Americano with steamed Half/Half, EXTRA HOT for me!. As usual we ran into some of the local people we know and started our visit in Jackson with some morning chat. I dropped off Peyton at the salon and once she was inside I was gifted with a couple hours all to myself.
Medicine for my Soul
North End of Mormon Row, Grand Teton National Park
As I pulled away from the Salon I quickly looked into the back seat of my truck to make sure I had my camera with me. Yep, I do so where do I want to go for a few hours and relax? Without hesitation I headed north out of Jackson Hole, coffee in hand into Grand Teton National Park. I have so many favorite places I like to visit but because of time constraints I decided to keep the distance driven down thereby allowing me more time to just sit and take in Mother Earths blessings.
Today the weather was not stellar for photos but it was absolutely a beautiful day. Even though it is early May the tourists are definitely arriving and so are their driving habits…UGH. In some cases watching them is more fun than the park itself…lol.
These pictures taken this morning are all from the general same area in Grand Teton National Park. This last one is a place called Black Tail Ponds. This is such a beautiful view of the Tetons which are only a couple miles to the West of this place. Moose, Deer, Antelope, Elk and the elusive Griz frequent this place. The water that lays just below these pines is a ribbon of the Snake River which runs basically behind them.
Black Tail Ponds, Teton National Park
On a morning such as this… this place feeds Medicine for my Soul! The view never old and if ever you are in this country come to this place. Bring a cup of your favorite Coffee and enjoy what the morning has to offer.
We woke up again this morning to another beautiful fall day here in the Yellowstone basin! But this morning unlike many of the ones over the past few weeks was really cold. As we pulled from our driveway this morning on our way to drop Brynn off at school the temp gauge was reading 28 degrees. By the time we got across the Snake River it was 25 degrees and even colder north of town.
The Snake River looked pretty cool as there was steam coming off of the water and for that to happen the air temp must be colder than the water. Trust me, the Snake River is not something to wade in this time of year as the water temperatures have dropped quite a bit. Anyway we dropped Brynn off and headed to the coffee shop and then north of town again.
Now forgive us as our camera was acting up this morning but I think you will enjoy our little adventure. We were alone this morning and the animals were right next to our truck at every turn. We took our time and sat and watched the three moose in the pics for quite some time. They were eating the sage next to the road and for the most part ignored us. Been then they decided to check us out and we rolled away as they headed to us. Very cool!
All in all we saw antelope, buffalo, moose, geese and most certainly some spectacular views of the valley. On this morning we passed through Kelly, Wyoming, past the entrance to the Gros Ventre canyon, over to Antelope flats and Mormon Row and then home again. Another great way to share a cup of java!
One of the most iconic images from Jackson Hole is the Teton Range. Although I do not know the percentage – I would guess that most of the photos taken of the Tetons is a frontal shot that is taken from the general vicinity of Antelope Flats. What is so cool about the Tetons is the many faces it has when taken from different locations throughout the valley. Here is the picture of the day taken from a more northern approach. Enjoy and may it bring peace to your day! (click image to enlarge)
It is sometimes funny how people view what it is that you do. For 30 years I have made my living as an International Health Insurance broker. Selling health insurance and working with people from around the globe is actually a very rewarding career. But when I need a break or have a day off my passions fall into two categories, Photography and hand crafting Native American Flutes.
Living in Jackson Hole Wyoming offers one so many incredible opportunities to photograph the amazing that is right in front of our eyes every day. Yes living here I am blessed. Through the lens of my camera I see the same vistas differently every time I venture out.
I have been humbled by those of you who have commented positively and those of you who have encouraged me to make some of my work available. This is actually quite new for me but I have decided to do just that.
Much of my photographic work can be found in the galleries presented here at JacksonHoleTim. Prints are available starting as low as $1.00 for a simple 4 x 7 all the way up to larger Canvas Prints. Images are also available for purchase formatted for use on your personal or commercial website. I would love to hear from you about some of my work and I welcome comments and suggestions – but please be nice…
If you are interested please email me at @timjen333@gmail.com or call (307) 690-0427.
Another hot cup of coffee and a short road trip north of town. Fall is quickly starting to pass and winter is not far away. The weather was not the best for all these pictures but we found a few that we liked. Waiting for the first snow to get some shots of whats to come. Enjoy the slide show.
There simply are not words as to how fast this summer has gone. In the Rocky Mountain Region such as the Yellowstone Basin our summers are fairly short. Fall comes quickly and it is just about here. The leaves are starting to change and in just a week or two we will be in full blown Fall colors. A great time for pictures and I do not plan to miss this Fall like last. The picture above was one of my favorite from the Fall of 2012. This was taken at Black Tail Ponds and I am traveling up there every couple of days to make sure I get some good pics this year.
Just after Fall comes our long heavy winters and with winter comes some of the animals we see only for a few months each year. Below is a shot I took during the winter of 2012 – 2013. The big horn sheep are amazing to watch and this guy was one of my favorite. They will be arriving very soon and this winter I plan to take advantage of the opportunities to bring you some really cool shots. Enjoy…
I have to apologize as I have been kind of missing over that past winter. So many things have happened but life is getting back to normal. Spring is here in the Tetons and it is in full swing. After a long winter and a pretty wet Spring the sun if finally out. On this morning I grabbed my cup of coffee from my favorite coffee bar here in Jackson and off I went.
The sun was out and the sky clear. I was on a hunt for anything that looked like it deserved the lens of my camera. After getting into the park I turned off on one of the dirt roads I have seen grizzlys on and instead I found these little guys. I had stopped to take a couple of pictures of some cool looking trees when I noticed this group of varmints enjoying their morning. I literately sat down among them and these are a few of the shots I got.
Jackson Hole Wyoming is truly an amazing place to visit, live and work. Most people when they think about visiting Jackson Hole will tell you that they think about the majesty of the Teton Mountain Range, Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone Park, the wildlife plus all of the amazing thermal activity found just north of town. Whitewater rafting, hiking, tram rides, fishing and of course eating at one of the many fine eateries Jackson has to offer. Truthfully Jackson Hole Wyoming is a magical place for those who love the outdoors and appreciate the finest that God has to offer.
For those of you seeking a little taste of the old west while visiting Jackson Hole, set aside an evening and go to the Jackson Hole Rodeo. This is a truly an evening event worth spending time with your family. This is the real deal folks – for more than 100+ years the Jackson Hole Rodeo has been an integral part of Jackson Hole and the old west. For 2+ hours the Wilson family (5th generations Jackson Hole) will entertain you with brave young men who attempt to master the backs of bulls and broncs, while mostly the girls take to the backs of their quickest horse for a shot at being the fastest around the barrels.
If you have never been to a real rodeo you are in for a treat. A real piece of Americana that will not only make you proud to be an American but the Jackson Hole Rodeo will keep you on the edge of your seat for the entire evening. But the real story that I find at the rodeo is not the spectacle that takes place within the arena but what takes place behind the bucking chutes. Boys and men of all ages getting prepared to take their shot at making the 8 second ride into glory. And I mean all ages! There are boys as young as 4 years old getting their first rides all the way up to men in their late 40’s. And that alone is amazing to me as this is really a young mans sport.
Bravery comes in many forms but make no mistake, it takes a man with an incredible constitution to climb on the back of one of these very large and dangerous animals. Behind the chutes you will find these brave young men going through all kinds of rituals as they get ready for their rides. Some are jumping up and down trying to shake off their fears, others practice their ride by sitting on their bronc saddles while they lay on the floorboards of the chute area. Others walk around talking to themselves as if they are trying to convince one half of their other personality everything is ok while the other half is telling them NOT TO GO. These men, and I mean men, come from long distances and they pay a handsome fee to ride and compete for the best score. Most of them are clearly friends that come from the many ranches around the states of Idaho, Montana and of coarse, Wyoming.
As you mingle behind the chutes and fade into the background you can watch these men prepare themselves both physically and mentally for their next ride. You can see the grit and determination, the desire, hunger, fear, concerns, the focus they seek preparing themselves for their upcoming turn in the chutes. They pat each other on the back, high fives, words of encouragement, a nervous chuckle and for some just a simple stare into the eyes of one of their close friends looking for that simple smirk of encouragement and support. There is only constant support for those who are about to ride. No, behind these chutes is no place for a weak man.
Contrary to what many might think, these brave souls come in all shapes and sizes. young men with boyish faces, men with that expected cowboy look, men with scars, casts, slings, limps all giving testimony to earlier events. Many of them ride at least twice a week at this rodeo alone. When you are privileged to be part of this behind the chutes environment you gain a new respect for todays cowboys. They are a breath of fresh air in my opinion as they give testimony and carry on in the tradition of the old west and those men who came before them.
Yes I say – go to the rodeo and I promise you that you will enjoy an event that will leave you with a certain sense pride that only comes with being an American. The rodeo arena is an exciting place to watch all this unfold. A place where America’s truly most original sport was born and 8 seconds of sheer terror takes place right in front of your eyes. Watch with amazement as each young man climbs onto the back of their bull, their bronc, their ride that will surely come. For these men who ride, ride for both themselves as much as they ride for your entertainment. To do this comes only with a passion that is ingrained in the cowboy tradition that still lives on today right here in Jackson Hole Wyoming. These young men and women come to this event with the strong need to participate in this American sport. And yes courage and honor exist right here behind the bucking chutes of American Rodeo.
Wow, hard to believe it is February, 2013 already. I know I keep saying this but time is flying by as they say. After several days of winter weather the sky’s opened up this morning and gave us clear blue sky’s, well with a few clouds floating around. It was 9 degrees at the coffee shop but something makes you seem a lot warmer when you see good ol Mr. Sun.
One more stop at the DOG (Down On Glen) for one of Jackson’s premier breakfast burritos and off we go. Today’s destination was Oxbow Bend and Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park. The pictures above are a very typical morning here in the valley. You never know what will catch your eye when you cruise along. The truck in the pictures is our first brand new Ford F350 which we will be using this spring when we kick off our new Private Party Tours that we will be offering through our website http://www.tetonmarketing.com. If you are visiting Jackson this summer consider letting us take you out and see some of the things we are blessed to experience every day. More on this in future posts.
The temperatures this morning in Grand Teton National Park was hovering around a comfortable 10 degrees. I say comfortable because there was zero wind and the sun was beaming down bright upon us. Winter in the park can offer some really spectacular vistas and wildlife opportunities for your camera. We had the place to ourselves. We could stop on the road and pretty much do what ever we wanted. We saw several moose but they did not want to cooperate and pose for us. Nothing like a cup of hot coffee and some really spectacular scenery start your day out right. Enjoy…
Hard to believe that January, 2013 is in its last week already. The past three weeks here in the Yellowstone Basin and Jackson Hole have been cold. Some of the temperatures in the Moran Junction area were recorded as low as -38 degrees earlier this week. In Jackson the temperatures have been below zero almost every day. The high temps for the day if lucky have been just above zero.
That seems to be changing now as the cold temps are moving to the east. I laugh at the news reports when they say the low is going to be in the low 20’s. The good thing about these cold days is that they are created by a high pressure area and the sky’s are generally clear and blue. I have been out almost every morning looking for something special to shoot with my camera and it has been slim pickins as they say.
This morning I traveled north of town with Peyton after stopping for our morning cup of coffee and a blueberry scone. The sky was absolutely clear – devoid of morning haze and such. On mornings such as these the skyline that is behind the Teton Range to the west is usually a dark blue that helps perfectly highlight the shape of these magnificent peaks.
The pictures above are all taken this morning all within 10 minutes of each other. Each picture was taken from a different location on HWY 89 which is the road to Yellowstone. If you look closely you will see how the views of the Teton change. The first picture was taken from Antelope Flats area just north of Dornan’s. The second was above Schwabachers Landing, the third from Glacial Turnout and the fourth from the Ansel Adams turnout. Enjoy…
