We have arrived!

It’s been a crazy day and a half here in Jackson Hole, WY. The vibes weren’t with us at first, but we stuck through it. I wasn’t sure how to start this entry. So, hmmm… How about with this:

This here is one amazing sight if I must say so myself. Let me add as to why besides the obvious. This here is the Grand Teton Range with one of the few if sole herds of Bison that hang out here in Jackson Hole. There were at least 65 head here that you can’t fully see. The real funny part? I was ready to make a U-turn and Dina goes, “Jarred! What are you doing?” I respond “what?” She says “you don’t see that.” And “See what?” I say. She says “Oh, I don’t know…that huge herd of Bison over there!”

I mean holy crap it was embarrassing I missed that, but I admit it (to the world apparently.) Dina has an amazing spotting ability for animals. It was just uncanny. We must have spent 2 hours with this herd. You didn’t want to let it go! I mean seriously you never see something like this and it was just us and them in front of one of the biggest American beauties that is all of ours; the Grand Teton Range.

Plus to top it off since it was so freaking cold (-22F) the snow was sticking and frosting to their faces in the most beautiful fashion. That several hundred pound head is actually a shovel to dig up the sage brush for their meal!

Pulling out of town there is a great flock of seven or so trumpeter swans that hang out at flat creek. This is so awesome as last year they stayed in small ponds much further off and infrequently I might add. Trumpeter swans are still a threatened species and it’s great to capture them digitally.

Driving away from the bison we went back to check out this huge bull moose that was hunkering down for the day. Can’t blame the guy. It really was brutal. Although he didn’t get up to show off his rack and he was backlit I wanted to give you guys a glimpse. Truly a superior set of genetics that I hope stays in the gene pool for future generations to come.

Thanks to Dina’s key eyes (again) we caught glimpse of this female Northern Harrier perched atop a tree just over the hill. I threw it in silver efex pro and ran it through a wet rocks filter. I really like what it did with the tree.

A great spot we checked out was Kelly Warm Springs. It is in the town of Kelly (go figure I know.) The spring is heated from below the Earth making the frost and hoar frost formation on the vegetation just spectacular. Believe it or not there is a plant somewhere under there.

Pronghorn! Freaking pronghorn! I have never seen them in Jackson, Wyoming before. They were supposed to be long gone by now, but due to the lower snow fall they seem in no rush to leave. There was a herd of at least 40 just grazing along Gros Ventre Road. Just spectacular.

Last, but sure as heck not least there were three mule deer bucks just along route 191 close to town. I have lots of doe’s in my files, but never females. They were highly cooperative and a blast to photograph alongside the road as cars and trucks would wiz right by my back.

I don’t know how to describe this day in greater detail. It’s something that just must be experienced in this great town. I shot over 1700 Images at probably close to 32gb in storage space in one day! Screw the quantity it is the quality of this place. Once the Grand Teton range catches your eye, or the massive Bison lift their heads in your direction you just know in your heart your home.

P.s. I was obligated to mention and give credit to Dina for saving my ass and finding lots of wildlife all along the roads; haha. Just kidding, but without her it wouldn’t be the same. In my defense though I spotted the pronghorn. :-p

P.s.s. I am posting and writing this at the base of the Teton Range at Moose Junction and tethered to my Motorola Droid to bring this to you folks. We are sitting in the car as the thermometer reads -22 (I don’t think it goes any lower) hoping to shoot a star trail. You can see the Milky Way that it’s so dark. J

P.s.s. If you have Google Sky Map on your Droid USE IT! It shows you constellations, planets, and stars in real time! And say you aren’t sure where the constellation is right? Just click search type it in and it will direct you where to go! I mean holy crap technology has come a long way. Good Great night all!