During September, I’ll work on two pages simultaneously. This September Foliage 2019 post will contain more specific information about the ever changing foliage status in the area. The September 2019 Daily Journal for JH and GTNP page will contain some foliage information, but will focus more on wildlife and landscapes. You’ll want to go to both regularly.
Click this link to find a variety of Feature Post from earlier years!
Foliage Scale 2020
Note: Peak Fall foliage is not a one day event! It evolves over several weeks. Some areas go first, then lose leaves while others are just beginning. You should be able to find colorful foliage anytime from around the 10th of September to the first week in October.
Click the link above to view an informative page written by the US Forest Service
October 22nd, 2020 – Thursday
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Aspens: This will be the last day I enter new updates on this page for 2020. If you are in GTNP, look for colorful aspens along the Moose-Wilson Road, but almost every other zone is done. The photo above was taken just south of town. Colors are still good there, but are starting to thin.
October 19th, 2020 – Monday
For all practical purposes, most of the foliage is over inside GTNP EXCEPT for the aspens along the Moose-Wilson Road! You can still find a LOT of color in and around the Town of Jackson and south of town.
This is one of the Aspen stands along the Moose-Wilson Road.
Death Canyoncan be seen in the distance, with a nice grouping of Aspens in front.
Mountain Ash trees are quite colorful in town.
The birds will eat the colorful berries on the Mountain Ash treesthroughout the winter months.
October 16th, 2020 – Friday
Death Canyon: Taken along the Moose-Wilson Road.
Little House in Gold: Taken a few miles south Jackson.
Meadow Ranch Barn: Also taken south of Jackson.
Black Bearctober 15th, 2020 – Thursday
Across the board, most zones of Aspens, Cottonwoods, and Willows in GTNP have stripped leaves. There are remnants in some areas, as seen in this photo.
If you are looking for “color” in GTNP try the Moose-Wilson Road.
There is a lot of color in and around the Town of Jackson.
October 14th, 2020 – Wednesday
I took this photo from the road near Uhl Hill, located east of Elk Ranch Flats. I liked the single cottonwood with leaves highlighted by a band of light. Watch of chances to capture the changing seasons!
October 13th, 2020 – Tuesday
It was WINDY yesterday, blowing off a LOT of leaves! By now, I would expect the leaves at and around Oxbow Bend to be on the ground. There is still color in the Aspens around the Peach House at Mormon Row and along the Moose-Wilson Road. There’s a lot of bright color south of the Town of Jackson.
I posted this photo on the October Daily Journal for GTNP and the JH Area. I’ll post it here to show the color of the Black Hawthorn berries along the Moose-Wilson Road. Also, with some of the leaves missing on the trees and bushes, it it becoming easier to spot bears and owls. Similarly, the willows along the river bottoms are thinning and forcing the Moose to begin feeding more regularly on Bitter Brush, mixed in with the Sagebrush.
October 11th, 2020 – Sunday
Overnight Snow covered much of the valley floor early today, but much of it melted quickly. The mountains should hold some of it for a few days.
Leaves in Motion: I spent some time along the Moose-Wilson experimenting with long exposures and both vertical and horizontal motion.
Leaves in Motion:
Leaves in Motion:
Mountain Ash:
Idaho Color: I drove over the Pass after lunch to capture some of the Idaho color in the Victor area.
Idaho Country Roads:
Idaho Country Roads:
Idaho Country Roads:
Idaho Country Roads:
Idaho Aspens:
Idaho Aspens:
Victor Barns:
October 9th, 2020 – Friday
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Fall Moose: Many cottonwoods have lost their leaves along the Snake River, but not all of them!
Colorful leavesare hanging onto many of the Black Hawthorn trees and bushes.
October 8th, 2020 – Thursday
Colors along the Moose-Wilson Road. The Black Hawthorn trees are turning orange and red to compliment the bright yellow aspens.
Colorful Leaves: Taken along Cottonwood Creek.
Bar-B-C Ranch Ridgeline: Clouds began rolling in after lunch…a great sight after many days of cloudless skies.
October 7th, 2020 – Wednesday
Berries Bushes in Transitionalong the Moose-Wilson Road.
Leaves in Motion:
Leaves in Motion: This kind of photo requires a lens that can spin in the collar.
Leaves in Motion:
October 6th, 2020 – Tuesday
Alpenglow Pano at Oxbow Bend: Click this image to see it much larger. Oxbow is still looking good. Nikon D500 and Tamron 18-400mm lens, Tripod.
Oxbow Bend Pano: The upper lot has some beautiful aspens right now. Click to see this pano larger. Nikon D500 and Tamron 18-400mm lens, Handheld.
Aspens and Grand: Skies were still clear today, but the Tetons were much more visible. The weather report calls for one more day of clear skies before we get a few clouds. Nikon D500 and Tamron 18-400mm lens, Handheld.
Aspen Stands and Grand: Nikon D500 and Tamron 18-400mm lens, Handheld.
TA Moulton Barn: The Aspens and Cottonwoods along Mormon still need a few days. Nikon D500 and Tamron 18-400mm lens, Handheld.
Cottonwood Creek at Jenny Lake. Nikon D500 and Tamron 18-400mm lens, Handheld.
This foliage page is only one of my pages for October. Click the link above to see a LOT more, including wildlife and other subjects!
October 5th, 2020 – Monday
Ditch Creek Fall Colors:
Berries in Red: Lots of color in Jackson Hole now.
October 4th, 2020 – Sunday
Upper Lot at Oxbow Bend: The aspens are turning even more gold!
Oxbow Color:
Oxbow Bend:
Aspens:
Peach House: Aspens are changing at Mormon Row, but still a few days from prime.
Wet Leaves: Leaves in Ditch Creek.
October 3rd, 2020 – Saturday
Oxbow Bend: Taken in the afternoon…showing the color at the “bend” and the haze in the sky.
Oxbow Bend Upper Lot: This stand of aspens is turning even more gold and orange. Looks GREAT!
Trumpeter Swan in Gold: Taken at the Boyle’s Hill Swan Pond.
Pilgrim Creek Fire: This photo shows the Jackson Lake Lodge with the distant fire and smoke, taken from the road to the Jackson Lake Dam.
Pilgrim Creek Road: Closed during the fire.
The Grand and Fall Cabin: Taken on the Inner Park Loop Road. Aspens are still looking good there.
October 2nd, 2020 – Friday
Bull Moose in Gold: I’ve been spending most of my time in the southern portion of the park lately. Some of the river bottoms are still bright, while others are past prime. The choke cherry bushes are red now.
Many of the hillsides are screaming yellow.
The Mormon Row barns and homestead’scottonwoods and aspens are beginning to change. There are lots of zones with green trees.
Expect “some” haze.The wind can either bring in new smoke or temporarily whisk it away.
October 1st, 2020 – Thursday
Aspen Hillside: One of the many hillsides lit up with bright aspens!
Aspen Stand: This is the stand of aspens behind the Chapel of the Transfiguration.
Reflections:
Black Hawthorn Berries and Colorful Leaves:
September 30th, 2020 – Wednesday
Oxbow Bend Reflections: Lacking clouds, I opted to look for “tight” shots in the Oxbow area.
Oxbow Bend Reflections:
Oxbow Bend Reflections:
Oxbow Bend Pano Reflections:
Colors at the Oxbow Turnout:
Oxbow Bend Reflections:
September 29th, 2020 – Tuesday
Oxbow Aspen Stand: This is the aspen stand in the “upper lot” at Oxbow Bend. It changed considerably in one day!
Chapel of the Transfiguration: Check out the yellow leaves.
Teton Smoke: We’ve bad essentially clear skies for a few days, but it appears there is a fire on the West side of the Tetons. Smoke was flowing in on both sides.
September 28th, 2020 – Monday
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Alpenglow and Oxbow Bend:
Oxbow Bend: The Aspens at the corner of “the Bend” are turning. Peak? Some are peak now, some are half way.
Upper Parking Lot: This zone is nearing peak.
Arizona Meadows: This golden field is located near Arizona Creek in the northern portion of the park. It has a lot of nice orange Aspens.
Aspens: This was taken near Spread Creek. Some of them will turn even more orange.
Other Notes: The cottonwoods in the Snake River north of Snake River Overlook are essentially done. South of there, the cottonwoods still have leaves but are not as vivid this year as in some other years.
September 27th, 2020 – Sunday
Teton Sunset: Fresh snow on the peaks should make foliage season extra special this year. I hear Oxbow looked great today.
September 26th, 2020 – Saturday
Colorful Aspens: Taken near the Visitor’s Center at Moose. That area is generally bright now. Some of the Black Hawthorn bushes are turning orange and red, too.
Leaf and Drops: I think this one could have been a little sharper if I had set up the tripod. At 1/100th second, the light wind probably rocked it a bit Even so, the colors are so beautiful!
Leaf Detail:
We had rain overnight along with plenty of wind. The clouds were covering the Teton Range, so I didn’t concentrate on the vista views so popular this time of the year.
September 25th, 2020 – Friday
Aspen Hillside: This hill is always an early indicator of the fall foliage changes. It’s on the north edge of town across from the Teton National Park sign.
The wind is blowing today and there is some haze. The weather forecast suggests we might have some rain tomorrow.
September 24th, 2020 – Thursday
Oxbow Bend Upper Lot: Not prime yet, but the leaves are changing now.
Oxbow Bend Pano: Hopefully, today’s brisk winds didn’t strip the early leaves at the bend.
Teton Range Pano:
The Grand and Aspen Stand:
September 23rd, 2020 – Wednesday
Aspens: Aspens are nearing peak in some areas. Cottonwoods south of Schwabacher look dull at the moment, but are brighter in the Triangle X Ranch and Moran Junction area.
Haze?The haze from the California fires was back this afternoon. It is usually more clear in the mornings. I tried adding a circular Polarizing filter today, but it didn’t affect the distant smoke. It might be time to have it ready, however! Check out this post:
Leaves: This was taken along the Gros Ventre Road while waiting for a bull Moose to wake up and get active again.
Bull Moose in Gros Ventre Channel: Other zones of the Gros Ventre River are actually quite yellow, but this section is just turning. …Oh yes. The Moose finally got up!
September 20, 2020 – Sunday
Aspens: This pretty stand of aspens was taken just East of Moran Junction. Lots of color there.
Oxbow Bend: This “record shot” shows the status of the stand of trees at the corner of Oxbow Bend. I’d say it still has a week to go. Aspens on the upper hillside are turning now.
Other Notes:
The Cottonwoods around the Mormon Row Barns are just showing “hints” of color. They usually change in October.
The Cottonwoods along the Snake River are changing
The Willows and Cottonwoods along the Gros Ventre are definitely changing.
There are lots of stands of Aspens near Triangle X and the Cunningham Cabin with yellow.
September 19, 2020 – Saturday
Spring Gulch Aspens: A lot of zones are starting to “turn on” now. There are similar stands on Snow King Mountain.
Black Bear and Black Hawthorn Bushes: The Hawthorns and Choke Cherry trees are turning along the Moose-Wilson Road. There’s a bumper crop of berries this year.
September 18, 2020 – Friday
Moose Cow and Calf in the Gros Ventre: Actually, I took this photo yesterday, but had so many Mountain Maple photos, it got lost in the shuffle. You can see how the trees are changing along the river bottoms. The Snake his similar. There are many cottonwoods with yellow and green in the same tree. They need another three or four days.
Oxbow Bend: I haven’t been there in a few days, but the lower section of aspen at the “bend” was still very green. History “suggests” October 1st is a good bet, but Oxbow could turn prime before then. The hillsides above Oxbow Bend were definitely changing.
September 17, 2020 – Thursday
Mountain Maples: I drove down the Snake River Canyon and to the Palisades Reservoir Dam this morning. The mountains are “on fire” in many areas. Mountain Maples are ablaze!
Mountain Maples: For now, I’ll just add the photos and will try to add comments later. It’s ON…get there if you can!
I took all of these Mountain Maple photos with my Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm lens…all handheld.
Some Aspens are turning, but as you can see, many of them are behind the Mountain Maples.
Yes…the skies are hazy, but as you can see in the previous photos, you can still work with the closer trees.
September 15, 2020 – Tuesday – Middle of the Month!
Buffalo Fork River: There is a lot of color around Moran Junction.
Moran Junction: Things are changing from green to yellow, but not prime there.
Oxbow Bend: The lower portions of Oxbow are still green, but the upper hillsides are beginning to change.
Haze is still with us. Right now, don’t expect the big, clear vista views and wide panoramic shots. As you can see in the recent photos, relatively close shots are not greatly affected by the smoke and haze.
September 13, 2020 – Sunday
Jackson Lake Junction Color: These aspens always turn gold and orange early. Very pretty!
Aspens: This stand of aspens is located next to the Christian Creek bridge near the Jackson Lake Lodge.
Grizzlies: Notice the colors behind the photographers along the Buffalo Fork River.
Except for the random patches of color, much of the Oxbow Bend and Willow Flats is still a “3” or maybe “4” on the scale.
Haze: Smoke re=entered the valley today. If you shoot long distances, expect layers of haze. If you can shoot tight, similar to today’s colorful photos above, the haze shouldn’t be as much of an issue.
September 12, 2020 – Saturday
Aspens near Moran Junction. The willows along the Buffalo Fork River at the Moose Junction are also turning.
September 11, 2020 – Friday
Oxbow Bend: Using the scale above, most of the aspens around Oxbow Bend are only a “2” with maybe a few “3”s.
Snake River Cottonwoods: They are looking dry….maybe a “3” but not colorful.
Gros Ventre Willows and Cottonwoods: “5” with a few “7”
September 10, 2020 – Thursday
As in every year, I get emails asking me when I think “prime” will be this year. To be honest, I can never really predict it! As of September 10, I can find some bright yellow trees, but they are scattered all over the place.
Rolling Color: It helps to understand that Prime Foliage “Day” is really not a day, but more of slice of several days. The primary yellow color is supplied by cottonwoods, willows, and aspens. They do not all change at the same time, and they change at different times based on elevation.
Oxbow Bend often hits prime “sometime” between September 25 and October 4th. We’ve had several very cold mornings lately, so that might jump start the season. It was 24ºF yesterday along the Gros Ventre, and it is usually a bit colder farther north.
The willows and cottonwoods along the Gros Ventre are definitely shifting. I saw some similar colors in the river bottom of the Snake River Canyon today.
Watch for early cottonwood colors at the Highway 26/390 junction near Wilson.
Some Aspens are already bright around Triangle X Ranch. Large stands of Aspens are changing along the East Boundary Road.
As the month begins, the sky is mostly clear of smoke, but California Fires can change that at any time. Click the link below for ideas if the smoke returns.
The brightest colors are currently in the Snake River Canyon and along the Palisades Reservoir, but I’d suggest the best is yet to come. Aspens are behind most of the Mountain Maples.
As you can see in this shot, there are ranges of yellow, orange, and red leaves on the Mountain Maples. Mountain Maple leaves seem to stay on the branches longer than the Aspens.
You can find berries and changing leaves on the berry bushes all around the valley.
Spring Gulch Road typically has a few early yellow aspens. I took this shot a few days ago, so I suspect there are more now.
Colorful Choke Cherry Leaves: The Black Hawthorn bushes and the Choke Cherry bushes along the Moose-Wilson Road are changing. A few Black Bears have been seen there, along with a Grizzly. When a Grizzly is sighted along the road, the Park Service closes the road for several days.
Variegated Leaves: Watch for the color! The ground cover is brightly colored in many areas already.
Choke Cherry Leaves: For now, look for color where you can find it. The big stands of colorful Aspens should turn relatively soon!
Remember, this is the Initial Entry for the 2020 Foliage Reports. I will be adding more photos and updates fairly often throughout the foliage season.
I offer year round photo tours in Grand Teton National Park. Seasons are changing! Book now! Click the image for additional information.
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Moose drop their antlers in December. That’s the “norm”, but some hang on until January. I’ve even seen a bull with antlers as late as March 1st, but that is definitely the exception. Moose look pretty scruffy through most of May and June, then begin growing their new antlers. At first, the hint of a new antler might appear about the size of an old style incandescent light bulb, but then start to take shape as the months pass by.
Unnamed Young Bull: July 28,2020
Unnamed Bull: June 27, 2020
By late August and through the first week or so of September, their antlers are fully developed and they begin stripping the soft velvet. Between the two time periods, the bulls are always careful not to damage their velvet. They gingerly pass through the trees and shrubs, and seldom spar with other bulls during this time.
Interestingly, bulls grow their antlers back in mostly the same shape and size from year to year. By the time their antlers are mature for the year, I can (usually) identify each one as a bull I photographed a year earlier. Whale and dolphin watchers can identify many of them by cuts on their back or splits in their fins. Moose watching can be much the same. For example, most Moose have a dewlap. Some of them have either long and full dewlaps dangling from their bell, while others have short dewlaps, or none at all. Others have a split in one ear or sometimes both, making them easier to identify from year to year. Washakie, a beautiful and popular moose in the area for many years, had a distinguishable scar on the right side of his muzzle. It reminded me of warpaint.
Shoshone
Shoshone has been my favorite bull for the past three or four years. The next three photos show his easily distinguishable antlers. Notice the dates!
Shoshone: July 8, 2018
Shoshone: Oct. 25, 2019
Shoshone: July 5, 2020
As you can see, Shoshone’s brow tines have grown back about the same for three years in a row.
Hoback
Hoback: July 8, 2020
The distinctive feature on this bull is the “drop tine” on his left brow tine. His right brow tine is also well developed. As I watched him early in the season, I made an assumption he was a brand new bull and gave him the name “Hoback”.
Hoback: Sept. 6, 2020
Bannock
Bannock: Dec. 8, 2018
I’ve had a couple of people suggest that Hoback 2020 is actually Bannock? Hmmm…I am not convinced. Maybe? Scroll up and see for yourself. As I mentioned earlier, the bull’s antlers grow back similarly from year to year, but not always the same. When I first named this bull “Bannock” in 2018, his left brow tine was quite similar to Shoshone’s left brow tine. I even considered they “could be” brothers, whether born as twins, or possibly a year or two apart.
Shoshone and Bannock’s names have an origin—possibly of interest to readers here. Each summer, the Shoshone and Bannock tribes have a Pow-Wow at Fort Hall in Eastern Idaho, called the Sho-Ban Pow-Wow. The two tribes are closely related. In 2018, the similarity of the two bulls prompted their names.
Bannock: Aug. 25, 2019
In 2019, his left brow tines were a bit different, but his right brow tine is essentially the same. The inside points on his left brow tine had a “Bowie knife” style scallop, helping make him easy to identify that year.
Bannock: Nov. 3, 2019
This bull and Hoback both have a substantial dewlap. They also have a small white mark on the front of their muzzle. They look similar in these respects, but the right brow tines are considerably different.
What do you think?
Hoback/Bannock Behavior
So far in 2020, the bull I would have called Bannock hasn’t shown up along the Gros Ventre. Possibly, that’s another clue. Another beautiful bull I called “Custer” was a fixture for three or four years, then hasn’t shown up for three years. Possibly, he was killed by a hunter, killed by wolves, or hit by a vehicle, I’ll never know. He lacked a dewlap, so I know neither of these two bulls are Custer. The 2020 Hoback is not hanging in the same areas as 2018 and 2019 Bannock. Possibly Bannock will show up when the cows come into season for the upcoming rut, putting an end to the mystery. Other bulls show up throughout the fall, some of which come from the river bottom of the Snake River.
Naming
Anthropomorphism is a term used when humans assign a name to an animal, often a human name. Scientists frown on it, I figure if Jane Goodall can name apes and monkeys, I can name the bulls I love to photograph. Often, I am the first person to start seriously photographing the moose each year, so I give them a name of my choice. I use the name as a keyword in my Lightroom catalogs, making it easy to bring up a specific bull by the year, or from my entire catalog. Unlike the grizzlies being studied by the park Service, the bull moose do not have an assigned number, such as Grizzly 610 or Grizzly 399. As more photographers show up, they often adopt the names I have been using. We can say, “I saw Shoshone” near the fisherman’s access point” and we all know which moose is out. You, of course, can give them your own name, number, or no identifier at all.
The Velvet Season
By about the mid-July, the bulls start looking pretty good. By mid-August, they usually look great! At some point at the end of August through the first week of September, they begin stripping their velvet. After their antlers are stripped and polished, they are ready to begin the rut. Bulls can travel miles looking for a cow, so it is not uncommon they seem to disappear for relatively long periods of time.
The photos below are some of the images I have taken this year while they were still in the velvet.
While some people suggest that moose are essentially solitary creatures, I find that to be incorrect around here. That is even more so in the few weeks prior to them beginning to strip their velvet.
I enjoy trying to find moose in unusual conditions like fog. Both of these bulls were still in velvet at this time.
Shoshone’s trademark brow tines make him easy to identify even in thick fog.
Fog removes details but adds mood. Shoshone and Hoback are about the same size this year.
Early morning light seems to always be the best! This is a bull I call Kemmerer.
Moose are often seen in the sagebrush, but I like the cottonwood meadows.
Hoback’s drop tine makes him easy to identify.
Likewise, Shoshone’s brow tines are quite distinctive.
Shoshone’s paddles may not be as large as they were last year. That could be an indication he is a year past his prime, but who knows.
I love to capture a nice bull, like Shoshone, in water. Great early morning light is a bonus.
Bulls seldom spar while still in velvet, but they occasionally faux spar—going through the motions without actually touching antlers.
Needless to say, I love the moose!They seem to have so much character!
A partially lit subject is often more interesting than an evenly lit subject. It works for me!
If given the choice, I’d usually pick the biggest bulls, but any bull next to water and with good light is a worthy shot.
Little bull…good light…low angle…worth a shot!
Good light…big bull…low angle…worth a shot!
Stripping Velvet
While not for everyone, trying to catch a big bull stripping his velvet is high on my bucket list each year. There is never a way to know what time of the day they will do it, and they often out of sight when it happens. Persistence can pay off! Of course, this is Hoback.
Bulls find an appropriate tree or branch for stripping their velvet. While this shot does a pretty good job of showing the activity, videos are actually much better!
While thrashing, they often break off branches onto their antlers. Maybe they do it to impress the cows, but I’ve seen it countless times. I caught this one backlit with some of his hanging velvet with a transparent look.
I’ve seen bulls strip the bulk of their velvet in fifteen to thirty minutes, but some bulls take a while. Tassels often hang from the base of their antlers a little longer. The outside of their antlers always falls off first, while the velvet on the inside of their paddles is more difficult. Without a mirror to let them know the status of their fall “job”, they continue to thrash the willows and branches for weeks.
While the rut is still ahead of them, bulls are always in the market to mate with a female. The Flehmen Reaction, or lip curl, lets them know the status of the female.
Even though their antlers aren’t fully polished, the bulls know it is okay to begin sparring.
The serious fights are yet to come.
I don’t know how much longer these two big bulls will hang with each other, but they were still together as a recent rain storm moved through.
Give him a few more days, and I would expect Shoshone to finish stripping the velvet from the inner side of their paddles. This shot was taken during the rain storm.
Photos on this Page
Other than the few earlier photos of Shoshone and Bannock, all of the photos on this page were taken with a Nikon D6 and a Sigma Sport 60-600mm lens in 2020. Some were supported with a tripod, while others were handheld.
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Oxbow Bend Morning Pano: Captured along the shoreline at Oxbow Bend. There were no clouds this morning. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Oxbow Bend Colorful Drive: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Country Roads: Captured at Oxbow Bend. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Oxbow Bend Reflections: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
399 Grizzly Sow: Captured in the northern portion of the Park. She and her four cubs are moving around the region. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
399’s Grizzly Cub: 399 and her cubs create huge jams. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Oxbow Bend Reflections: Lacking interesting clouds over the Tetons, I opted to “go small” today. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
I just added additional Foliage photos on this page:
Moose in Morning Sage: Cottonwoods were just being hit by the morning light as one of the nice bulls passed by. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Bull in Changing Aspens: This fella was lookin’ for a gal! Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Hombre: Seen north of Kelly. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Black Bear Sow: I heard there was a cub nearby, but I didn’t see it. She was sleeping on the fallen tree trunk, but stood up for a few shots. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Pronghorn Buck: Also seen north of Kelly. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Pronghorn Buck: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Bison Bull: The Bison that have been seen recently around the Mormon Row barns appear to be heading north again to meet up with the large herd at Elk Ranch Flats. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Seasonal Closures of Park Campgrounds and Other Facilities
Campground
Seasonal closure date
Gros Ventre Campground
October 9
Jenny Lake Campground
Closed for season
Signal Mountain Campground
October 18
Colter Bay Campground
Closed for season
Colter Bay RV Park
October 4
Lizard Creek Campground
Closed for season
Headwaters Campground
October 1
Moose -Wilson Road Temporary Closure:
The unpaved section of the Moose-Wilson Road in Grand Teton National Park will be temporarily closed for road grading operations beginning at 4 a.m. Thursday, October 1, and will reopen by 12 p.m. the same day.
September 28th, 2020 – Monday
Oxbow Bend Alpenglow: The weather report suggested clear skies for this morning, but I took the chance to head to Oxbow Bend. Instead, there was a nice film of clouds that lit up during the Alpenglow period. Click this image to see it larger. Nikon D850 and Nikon 70-200mm Lens, Tripod.
Oxbow Bend Alpenglow: Nikon D850 and Nikon 70-200mm Lens, Tripod.
Oxbow Bend: I added a few more photos and comments on this page: Nikon D850 and Nikon 70-200mm Lens, Handheld.
Arizona Meadows: Technically, this zone might be called Kamas Meadows, but the sign has been gone for a long time. It is near Arizona Creek. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Arizona Meadows: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Backlit Aspens: Aspens are bright in the Moran Junction and Oxbow Bend area. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Black Bear: Seen on the Moose-Wilson Road. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Red Squirrel: I watched this little squirrel peel the layers off the pine cone like someone eating the corn on a cob. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Elk: This was taken late in the day west of Jackson. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
“Dumpster Art”: I picked up a nail in a tire over the weekend, so I took my truck in to get it fixed. While waiting, I spotted a recycle bin on the back of a trailer. After picking up the truck, I stopped an snapped off a few grungy textures for later use. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
September 27th, 2020 – Sunday
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Sleeping Indian: Taken from the Gros Ventre Road just before sunrise. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Splashy Crossing: Seen crossing the Gros Ventre River. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Mother Moose: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Sheridan Crossing: Sheridan is not the biggest bull in the valley, but he’s big enough, especially when crossing the river! Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Pronghorn Buck: Taken along Mormon Row Road. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Black Bear: While throngs of people were taking photos of 399 and her four cubs at Pilgrim Creek, I was one of only a few people taking photos of this sow and her cub. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Young Bull Moose: I seen this little bull several times along the Moose-Wilson Road. I managed to finally get a shot of him this morning. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Teton Sunset: Late in the day along Spring Gulch Road. The recent cold nights and low clouds added a little snow to the mountain tops. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
September 26th, 2020 – Saturday
Bull Moose – Hombre: Taken near Ditch Creek along the East Boundary Road. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Bull Moose – Hombre: This bull has a distinctive left brow tine. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Bull Moose – Hombre?: I took this photo in mid January of 2018, which would have been part of the 2017 herd of bulls. Notice the similarity of this bull and the one above. There were two that year that had similar tines. This one, however, does not have the long dewlap seen it today’s bull.
Lounging Black Bear: Seen in in a big pine tree along the Moose-Wilson Road. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Soaked Leaf: I took this photo along the Moose-Wilson Road, while waiting and hoping to see a Black Bear. Nikon D500 and Tamron 18-400mm Lens, Handheld.
September 25th, 2020 – Friday
Van Gogh: I spent most of my morning following this bull. He’s lost a bit of his ear, lost his dewlap, and has asymmetrical antlers. If you scroll down to the September 10th entry on this page, you can see him as he was stripping his velvet. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Nursing Moose: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Van Gogh: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Weather: It was still hazy and windy again today, but rain is in the forecast for tomorrow. Hopefully, the wild will stop and the rain will drown the haze.
September 24th, 2020 – Thursday
Black Bear: Seen near the Moose-Wilson Road. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Black Bear Sow: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Black Bear Cub: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Grand and Clouds: Yesterday, the sky was filled with haze and smoke. It was much lighter through most of the morning today. Nikon D850 and Nikon 24-70mm lens.
Old Patriarch Tree: Taken around 2:00 pm. Nikon D850 and Nikon 24-70mm lens.
Cedar Waxwing: The bears are not the only animals feasting on the bumper crop of Black Hawthorn berries. Cedar Waxwings and Robins can be heard and seen in the berry bushes. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Black Bear: It can take a lot of patience (and time) to get the face of a Black Bear in the dense Hawthorn bushes along the Moose-Wilson Road. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Black Bear: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Chocolate Colored Black Bear: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Pronghorn Doe and Fawns: The hardest part of this shot was to get all three of them with their heads up at the same time. They were at Elk Ranch Flats. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Tree Top Black Bear: Taken late in the day along the Moose-Wilson Road. Notice the ample berries at the tops of the trees. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
September 22nd, 2020 – Tuesday…First Day of Fall!
Bison Group: Taken from Antelope Flats Road as the small heard was heading North again. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Moose Cow and Calf: This cow actually has two calves, but I was only able to include one of them in this photo. They have been a “fixture” near the Snake River Bridge at Moose. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Black Bear Sow: Seen along the Moose-Wilson Road. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Black Bear: A lot of the low Black Hawthorn berries are picked off now, forcing the bears to reach or climb for them. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Black Bear Climber: Seen along the Moose-Wilson. It was climbing the aspen tree to get to the higher berries. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Moose Cow and Bull: Taken along the Gros Ventre River. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Bull on the Move: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Aspen Feeder: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Young Bull: This “may be” the youngster that had been staying close to the cow. He was roaming alongside another bull about his size and age. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Doggies: This was just too cute to pass up! Seen along the Gros Ventre Road. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
September 21st, 2020 – Monday
Bison and Grand: Not much light when I took this one! I took it from Antelope Flats Road. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Bison Herd and Mt. Moran: There’s never any way of knowing where the Bison will be on any particular morning. They move around often and far! Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Mother Moose: Keeping an eye on her youngster. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Young Moose: There have been several cows with a single calf and a mother Moose with two calves in the Moose Visitor’s center area over much the summer. They can occasionally be seen along the Moose-Wilson Road. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Nursing Mother Moose: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Black Bear Sow: Taken along the Moose-Wilson Road. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Black Bear: Looking up for Black Hawthorn berries. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Black Bear Feeding: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Black Bear: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Fence Post: Taken along Mormon Row. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Tree Sap: I was “killing time” taking this shot of some sap bubbles dripping down a Lodgepole Pine tree on the Moose-Wilson Road when one of the bears came out of the forest. Nikon D850 and Nikon 80-200mm Zoom Micro Lens, Tripod.
September 20th, 2020 – Sunday
Shoshone and Cow: I always love these innocent “interaction shots”, even if I didn’t capture the bull’s face. The timid cow is telling the story. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Shoshone: This bull has been courting two cows for the last few days along the Gros Ventre. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Morning Meadowlark: I could have easily cropped the stalk of grass out of the shot, but thought it was interesting enough to leave in the final photo. The Meadowlark was sitting atop a post along Mormon Row. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Little Peach House on the Prairie: Taken at a long distance of the John Moulton Homestead. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Chipmonk: I took this shot while waiting for a bull Moose to stand up. They are quick little critters! Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Great Blue Heron: The water level has dropped some at Oxbow Bend, giving this hunter a better advantage for catching small fish. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Shoshone: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
I’ll add a couple of new photos from today on the Foliage Reports page, including one showing the status of the Oxbow Bend. Click the link!
September 19th, 2020 – Saturday
Hoback Lip Curl: The two moose and the beaver photo were in my camera from last evening. Seen along the Snake River. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Hoback: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Beaver: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Morning Schwabacher Pano: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Brown (Black) Bear: Taken along the Moose-Wilson Road. This one has a collar and two yellow ear tags. Leaves are turning! Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Shoshone and Cow: I’ve been hearing about a nice sized bull near the Snake River Bridge at Moose Junction. I figured it was Shoshone, but he’s still hanging around along the Gros Ventre. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Shoshone Lip Curl: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
September 18th, 2020 – Friday
Please take a minute and register to follow this site. I’d love to have another couple hundred new subscribers from the group visiting the site this Fall! MJ
I added several new photos on the new Foliage Reports. It is absolutely stunning in the Snake River Canyon and areas around the Palisades Reservoir. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
There are still a lot of people (and vehicles) in Jackson Hole. The Gros Ventre Campground has a line of people that reach from the office to the main road almost every morning starting at 6:30 am. Road crews have closed one eastbound lane on each direction over the Flat Creek Bridge in town. Tourists entering the town from the north from around 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm may enter a line of traffic that reaches back to the National Museum of Wildlife Art. If heading to Wilson from Jackson, the traffic is bumper to bumper (stop and go) from Albertson’s to the bottom of the pass. Expect 45 minutes to an hour to travel through town. Locals know side roads that normally save time, but those routes are now just as bad, or even worse.
Sunrise: Lately, we have had only haze, but this morning there were a few clouds. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
The Morning Parade: Taken along Mormon Row. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Bison: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Bison Lip Curl: A few of the Bison are still showing rut behavior. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Bison: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
September 17th, 2020 – Thursday
Moose Cow and Calf: Seen crossing the Gros Ventre early this morning. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Bull Crossing the Gros Ventre: (Kemmerer) Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Mountain Maples: What a difference a week makes! I was in the Snake River Canyon and along the Palisades Reservoir on the 10th. It was relatively dull then, but has “caught fire” since. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Mountain Maples: Colors range from yellow, gold, orange, bright red, to maroon. The aspens are still a little behind the maples, but some are changing. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Snake River Beaver: Taken well after the sun went down! Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
September 16th, 2020 – Wednesday
Bison Bull: Taken as the herd moved across Mormon Row. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Bucking Bison: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Red Dog: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Black Bear: Tough shooting along the Moose-Wilson Road…but occasionally one is somewhat cooperative. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Black Bear: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Jumping Moose Calf: Seen along the Moose-Wilson Road. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Long Eared Owl: I’ve never seen a Long Eared Owl in GTNP, but got to take a few photos today. It was in the northern part of the park. (I simplified the shot some by removing a few distracting branches and twigs). Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
September 15th, 2020 – Tuesday
Fly Fishermen and Photographers: I wrote this Feature Post back in March of 2015. It remains one of my favorites! The page examines the eery similarities between fishermen and photographers.
Sunrise: I did a handheld three shot bracket on this photo, merging them in Lightroom. The morning haze enhances the light for several hours. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Hoback on the Snake: I hadn’t seen either Shoshone or Hoback in several days. It appears at least one of them has moved from the Gros Ventre river basin to the Snake River. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Hoback on the Snake: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Hoback on the Snake: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Hoback’s “Girlfriend”: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Hoback: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
September 14th, 2020 – Monday
Bull Moose in Gold: Taking advantage of the amber morning light just after the sun cleared the eastern mountains. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Bull Moose in Gold: I believe this is the same bull I called Kemmerer a week or so ago. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Bull Moose in Gold: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Pronghorn Buck in Gold: The Mormon settlers cleared large sections of sagebrush, then planted grass for their cattle and horses. Now, Pronghorns and Bison thrive in it. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Bison in Gold: It appears several large herds of Bison moved south today. This one was near Mormon Row. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Bison Details: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Scratching Post: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Leaves of Many Colors: I took these along the Moose-Wilson Road. There’s a lot of color around if you look for it! Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
September 13th, 2020 – Sunday
Schwabacher Landing Beaver Dam: Even though there was some smoke and haze, I was able to take a few images taking advantage of the beautiful morning light. Nikon D850 and Nikon 24-70mm Lens, Handheld.
Murphy Barn and Houses: Taken along Mormon Row. These fences are falling down at an alarming pace, so get your shots before they are gone! Nikon D850 and Nikon 24-70mm Lens, Handheld.
Meadowlark: I haven’t seen too many Meadowlarks lately, but this one posed for me along Mormon Row. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Pronghorn Buck: I saw quite a few Pronghorns today, but only a few close enough for photos. This one was in the fields near Kelly. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
399 and Her Cubs: Seen near Moran Junction this morning. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Abstract Trunk: The haze helped create softer light for this shot of an interesting tree near String Lake. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Haze and Layered Hills: I stopped for these hazy shots while heading home on the Teton Park Road (Inner Loop Road). Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Layered Mountains: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Haze: If you can find close subjects, the haze does not affect your photos. Distant photos like these will show the layers . Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
September 12th, 2020 – Saturday
Youngster: Seen along the Gros Ventre just after first light. Notice this one still has velvet, while most of the larger bulls have already stripped theirs. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Cedar Waxwing: It’s berry season all over the park. Cedar Waxwings are actively feeding on them in many areas. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Morning Aspen Stand: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Black Bear: I’ve tried the Moose-Wilson Road numerous times over the past week or so. This is the first time I’ve had a chance to take any photos. Normally, they are seen feeding on the Black Hawthorn berries, but this one was on the move. Luckily, it stopped long enough for a shot. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Moose in Sawmill Pond: Taken along the north end of the Moose-Wilson Road. I heard she had two babies stashed in the willows as she fed on the aquatic vegetation. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
September 11th, 2020 – Friday
Hedrick’s Pond: Clouds were thin or non-existent today. I believe fire haze is heading back to JH. Nikon D500 and Tamron 18-400mm Lens, Handheld.
Approaching Bison: After standing around for hours, the Bison at Elk Ranch Flarts began moving towards the water hole. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Bison Bull: They found the water! Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Bison Bull: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Animated Red Dog: There are still a few “Red Dogs” at Elk Ranch Flats. The others born earlier in the season are dark brown.Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Exiting the Water: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Juvenile Swainson’s Hawk: I had to do some searching to figure out the species of this Hawk. He was at Elk Ranch Flats, too. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Great Blue Heron: This bird was drying it’s wings along the Moose-Wilson Road. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
September 10th, 2020 – Thursday
Morning Snack: It is not uncommon to see a bull eating the stringy velvet hanging from his antlers. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Mountain Maple: I have been hearing the Mountain Maples are going off in the Snake River Canyon and along the Palisades Reservoir. I drove down today to find “some” bright colors, but I think it is still a week or so early for them. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Mountain Maple and Palisades Reservoir: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Kokanee Salmon: While looking for red leaves, I checked on the Kokanee Salmon along Palisades Reservoir. I bought a $15 Idaho day fishing permit and caught a few of them.
Kokanee Salmon: They are in breeding colors right now. I took these two photos with my iPhone 11X.
September 9th, 2020 – Wednesday
Shoshone and the Grand: This morning, the temperature was 24ºF. Some of the weekend snow is still around. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Hoback: An early morning poser. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Hoback and Shoshone: Gentle, pre-rut sparring. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Hoback and Shoshone: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Morning Drink: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
I walked around in the Gros Ventre River bottom this morning to get a better view of another bull. It looked like a war zone with branches all over the place. The prolonged and intense wind that accompanied the rain and snow storm snapped trees
Afternoon
Mid-Sized Bull Moose: I hiked around to find this new bull in the afternoon. He has two brow tines on each side and a few remnant strips of velvet. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handhald.
Mid-Sized Bull Moose: I am anxious to see this bull as he matures. He reminds me a lot of a young “Elvis” with long, sharp tines on his paddles. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handhald.
September 8th, 2020 – Tuesday
Wind & Snow!
Last evening, a winter cold front blasted through Jackson Hole. It started initially as wind and rain, but changed to even harder wind overnight and a new blanket of snow. Hopefully the rain and snow will extinguish the area fires and drop the Fire Danger from High to Moderate or less. The wind uprooted many trees around town and blew off a lot of leaves.
Snow Capped Mountains: I did a quick drive up Spring Gulch Road to document the new snow. It was still VERY windy and temperature at 30°F. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Snow Covered Teton Range: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Box L Ranch and Snow Covered Teton Range: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Box L Barns: The wind came from the North, coating North facing posts, fences, and buildings. I was there just as the light hit them. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Hansen Barns: Much of the snow on the valley floor should melt soon, but should hang around for a few days as the high temperatures are forecasted to be fairly cool. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Snow Covered Truck: Similar to the fences and barns, this truck got blasted with wet, blowing snow. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Rain Soaked Bull: Last evening, I went out at about the time the storm began passing through the valley, hoping to get a few shots of the Moose in the rain. I posted one last night, then processed a few more. This one shows Shoshone shaking the water off his coat. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Soaked Shoshone: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
September 7th, 2020 – Monday – Labor Day
Shoshone and Hoback: Sparring bulls along the Gros Ventre. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Hoback Lip Curl: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Weathering The Storm: I came home wet, but I got a card full of interesting images. This one was taken at 1/50th second. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
September 6th, 2020 – Sunday – Labor Day Weekend
5:50 PM Alert: Henry’s Road, Game Creek, Squaw Creek, and Porcupine Creek subdivisions are in GO stage EVACUATE NOW due to wildland fire.
This fire is south of Jackson about 5 miles (Near the Swinging Bridge).
Slurry Drop: I went down to the fire zone in the afternoon for a few shots. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Slurry Bomber: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Slurry: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
“Exclusively”? I was about to submit a dozen photos to Buckrail.com when I read the agreement:
I am not sure I like the language…didn’t submit them.
This link takes you to Instagram where I posted this one minute video including a few photos.
Shoshone: Shoshone still has a couple of “tassels” and some remnant velvet on the inside of his paddles. Of course, they don’t have mirrors to know when they are clean, so they keep scraping for weeks. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Wildlife News:
I heard a Grizzly was seen near the Moose-Wilson Road. The Park Service has barricades ready to close the area if it ever gets near the road.
A “large” bull Moose was hit along the highway this morning. People often ignore the 45 mph night time speed limit in that area. I have had several calls and one email telling me that Shoshone had been killed, but I can confirm it wasn’t him or Hoback/Bannock.
Area News:
The clear skies of last week have been replaced by more smoke and haze. I heard over 2 million acres have been burned in California and their smoke is spreading across the west.
Several people have reported that Yellowstone is difficult to move around now. They have at least one fire and plenty of road construction.
Between the Labor Day Holiday Weekend and many families “road tripping” this summer, JH is extremely busy.
September 5th, 2020 – Saturday
The Gros Ventre: I’m not quite ready to start a Foliage Reports 2020, but snapped this image today to show how things are starting to change in some areas. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Cast of Characters: I took this photo early in the morning on the 1st. Occasionally, I overhear some of the Wildlife Tour guides telling their clients that Moose are solitary animals…nope! Once the bulls strip their velvet, they do split up while searching for their own cow, but while the bulls are still growing their antlers, I find them regularly in small groups. After the rut, they reassemble in the sage flats until the snow gets too deep for them to reach the Bitter Brush. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Shoshone: Each year, there’s a tiny window of time when the bulls strip their velvet. The stringy, bloody velvet isn’t for everyone. I don’t think Darla would let me hang one of them on our walls, but I really love “trying” to get the photos. I single still photo seldom shows the activity as well as a video, but you get the idea with this photo. They look for any kind of branch or trunk to attempt to scrape the loose velvet. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Shoshone’s “Bling”: It is not always easy to find one of the big bulls, and finding one in the act of stripping their velvet takes an incredible amount off effort and persistence. I have been going out three times a day on most days lately. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Grizzlies, Etc: Even though I have been working hard on the Moose lately, I am constantly getting reports of 399 and her four cubs and 610 and her two older cubs in the Oxbow Bend and Willow Flats area. No one has mentioned seeing Blondie since spring. I get an occasional report of a Black Bear along the Moose-Wilson Road. I heard of a few people seeing a black Wolf near Blacktail Ponds.
Kemmerer: This bull was also stripping his velvet today. I photographed him about a week ago along the Gros Ventre. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Shoshone and Sheridan: The smaller bull on the right didn’t show any signs of wanting to strip his velvet. He seemed to be having a bad case of “antler envy”. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
September 4th, 2020 – Friday
Hoback Losing Velvet: Some of the bulls are beginning to scrape their velvet. Watch for them in the river bottoms around Oxbow Bend, Pacific Creek, Snake River, Buffalo Fork River, and Gros Ventre River. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
September 3rd, 2020 – Thursday
(Almost) Full Moon: I took this photo while hiking around the Gros Ventre River early this morning. Yesterday, the moon set a few minutes too soon to get the shot I wanted as it was dropping behind the Tetons. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Sunrise: This was taken the opposite direction. I did a three shot bracket on this one and then merged them in Lightroom. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Peach Sunrise: I like this shot “when the sky is doing something”. The short lived peach colored clouds prompted the shot across Blacktail Butte. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Shoshone: After a LOT of hiking, I finally found him. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Tidbits:
The National News covered the California wildfires for days on end, but I haven’t seen much about them in a while. Our skies have cleared considerably. The high country snow we received earlier has all melted. A few more of the Gros Ventre River willows and cottonwoods are showing a color change now.
Ping Pong Moose: (This image was still on the card from last evening.) Each year, I find one or two young bulls with antlers about the size of a ping pong paddles. Interestingly, this youngster is still hanging with it’s mother well into his second year. I often see second year cows with the mothers, but seldom young bulls. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
September 2nd, 2020 – Wednesday
Full Moon Over the Grand: I would have liked five to ten minutes additional time to let the ambient light balance this scene…but someone would have to change the astronomical clock! I exposed this shot twice…one for the moon to get the details and one for the mountains. In Photoshop, I layered the detailed moon over the clear version. I used The Photographer’s Ephemeris to help me know where to be this morning. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Morning Fog: Taken at a distance from the Elk Ranch Parking area to the Snake River. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Paint Horse: One of Moosehead Ranch’s trail horses. They got a year off this year. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Mt. Moran at Late Alpenglow: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Tripod.
Bison and Birds: I only was about 60 Bison at Elk Ranch Flats. A few of the bulls still seemed interested in the cows. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Gros Ventre Drinker: Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
September 1st, 2020 – Tuesday
It is difficult to ignore “the elephant in the room”. COVID-19 is impacting the entire world, and of course, Jackson Hole. I’ve been trying to include some pertinent information and articles that affect this area, like the one in the link below.
“Surging tourism is straining this Yellowstone gateway town. Amid rising COVID-19 cases and unconcerned tourists, the people of Jackson, Wyoming, are struggling to keep their town solvent—and safe….”
Both the Town of Jackson and all of Teton County have a mask ordinance requiring people to wear a mask inside businesses and when they are close to others. Many visitors to Jackson Hole are observing the mask order, but not all of them. This group of non-mask wearing, tightly packed, wedding goers were watching the ceremony next to the TA Moulton Barn inside Grand Teton National Park. Short of a safe and effective vaccine, the pandemic seems like it will be with us for a long time. With that stated, it IS possible to stay safe by visiting more obscure areas of the park, or going early when fewer tourists are out and active.
Campgrounds were full and overflowing during most of August, but it appears the pressure is lessening as tourists return home for school.
September! Just a few quick notes:
September days will be shorter and cooler, but you will likely still need to be out early to see Elk, Moose, and Deer.
The bright green grass of spring and early summer are drying out and turning gold or rusty orange.
Regional forest fires are common in September, often pumping smoke into the valley. Sunrise and sunset photos can be spectacular.
Thunderstorms can still blow through in September, offering dramatic skies and light even during the middle of the day. Watch for lightning and rainbows.
Snow is possible, especially in the high country. Snow helps make the fall foliage even more dramatic.
Remember your mosquito repellent! Even in September, they can be relentless on calm evenings.
The Bison rut will be winding down. Watch for them at times in the southern portion of the park and around Elk Ranch Flats.
Bull Elk will be in the rut. Listen for their distinctive “bugle” along the base of the mountains and river bottoms!
Bull Moose will be in the rut most of September. Bulls scatter throughout the valley looking for cows.
Grizzly Sow 399 with her four cubs and 610 with her two cubswill likely be visible around Oxbow Bend and Willow Flats.
Black Bears feed on ripening berries along the base of the mountains. The Moose-Wilson Road will have limited access again this year.
Pronghorns will be visible during the middle of the day. You can find them along most of the valley floor.
Wildflowers are thinning out now. Still you should be able to find them around the valley.
Leaves change colors in September, but do not all change at the same time. There is not just one “peak”.
The first few days of September should resemble the last week or so of August, so be sure to check that page. IT IS LOADED with photos intentionally focused on offering a wide variety of subjects. Same for July!
Later in the month, I will be adding a Foliage Reports page for 2020, but for now, you can view last year’s reports by clicking the link above.
Flowers and Leaves: I took all of these shots this morning along the Moose-Wilson Road. Nikon D500 and Tamron 18-400mm Lens, Handheld.
Foggy Mornings: Following overnight rain, watch for fog the next morning as we had today. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Chambers Homestead: When the Tetons are fogged in, watch for other subjects! Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
John Moulton Homestead: I like telephoto lenses for a lot of my landscapes. Give it a try! Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Foggy Moose: Fog, like the haze and smoke, layers subjects and backgrounds. Check out the recent Featured Post on the subject: Make Lemonade! : Smoke Filled Days of 2020 Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Western Kingbird: The foggy background worked great for this Western Kingbird seen along Mormon Row. Watch for Ravens, Magpies, Long-billed Curlew, Northern Harriers, Swainson’s Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks, and American Kestrels in the same area. Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
Photo Tip: Don’t get too tunnel visioned on the big subjects! Watch also for the smaller critters and stop to smell the flowers. You’ll go home with more photos! Nikon D6 and Sigma Sport 60-600mm Lens, Handheld.
I am accepting photo tours for the fall and early winter…with modifications!
Normally, I drive my tour clients around in my vehicle. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve opted to offer tours by letting clients follow me in their vehicles. This allows for ample social distancing. I purchased several pairs of walkie-talkies to allow me to communicate while driving. Instead of eating inside one of the restaurants, I Creekside Market will make sandwiches to order for the day’s trip. Masks, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes will be provided. If you have questions, please ask!
The goal is to keep both of us safe, yet cover most of the same areas of the park.
Photo tours help me pay bills and continue to add content to this site. Keep me in mind if you are going to be in the valley! My tours are licensed by the National Park Service and National Elk Refuge.
I offer year round photo tours in Grand Teton National Park. Seasons are changing! Book now! Click the image for additional information.
Client Comments: “As a published and passionate photographer, I recognized Michael Jackson’s extraordinary skills as a photographer. Today I learned more about composition and creative technical ideas than I ever could have imagined.” G.S., Jackson Hole.
My suggestion is to embrace the thick smoke when you can and look for unique opportunities.
Déjà Vu…right? This is not the first year we’ve had smoke filled skies. Actually, we get at least some of it every year. It just happens to feel “early” and it feels “thicker” than usual this year!
You’ve probably heard the joke, “If life deals you a bunch of lemons, make lemonade.” Comedian, Ron White, says “If you end up with a lot of lemonade, find someone with a lot of vodka and have a party!”
Currently, Jackson Hole, and essentially all of the west, is being inundated with thick smoke from the California and other regional wildfires. There’s nothing any of us can do to sweep the smoke out of here. Mother Nature will have to do that. More than likely, any relief will probably short lived for most of the rest of summer and into fall. Large fires are burning in almost every western state, so unfortunately there is no relief in the forecast.
The photos on this page were taken within the past week and will hopefully give you some ideas and inspiration.
If you go out early,the sun will the brightest orange you will ever see as it clears the eastern mountains.
Depending on how you process your images, you can “swing” the look in programs like Lightroom, Photoshop, or Elements. Gold…amber…blue…lavender…your choice!
The smoke “layers” landscapes as seen above.
Over the last few days, there have been chances to see the “filtered” Tetons, while other days, the smoke is so thick it is impossible to see them from the highway.
While mornings seem to be best for landscapes here, evenings can also be good if the smoke is not too thick.
I took this photo before the thickest smoke entered the valley.If the wind clears the smoke, the sunrise and sunsets will probably still have the beautiful gold and amber colors.
Wildlife photography can also have an entirely different look. Make lemonade!
I took this photo at straight up noon. Normally, moose would be bedded down during the hottest part of day, and if you did find them, the light would be terribly harsh. With a thick layer of smoke, days can be cooler and animals might be more visible in the middle of the day. The smoke works as a giant light box, softening the light and adding an amber cast.
The trick is to concentrate on close subjects for some “looks” and watch for layered shots in others. As with any other overcast day, colors can be abnormally saturated.
Subjects taken at 40 yards of farther will have a noticeable haze and color shift. Closer would be better on most shots, but the haze can work well enough on others.
Leaves, berries, flowers, and pine cones can usually be photographed at close range, effectively eliminating the haze issue. These are Musk Thistle flowers and even though they are considered an invasive species, I can find beauty in them.
The Dehaze filter found in Adobe Camera Raw in Photoshop and Lightroom can come in handy to eliminate some of the haze. In some cases, especially if the subject is relatively close, the filter can recover some of the density lost to the smoke. You’ll find it adds contrast plus deepens the blues and greens.
Sometimes, the haze can add to a scene like the one above. Close subjects can be dense and dark, while distant elements can have a ghost-like look. The haze can often have a granular or grainy texture.
I have to admit that I will be happy to get back to “normal” at some point in the future, but for now, there are plenty of unique opportunities if you look for them. Time for some lemonade! > MJ
I am accepting photo tours for the summer and fall…with modifications! August Tours Available!
Normally, I drive my tour clients around in my vehicle. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve opted to offer tours by letting clients follow me in their vehicles. This allows for ample social distancing. I purchased several pairs of walkie-talkies to allow me to communicate while driving. Instead of eating inside one of the restaurants, I Creekside Market will make sandwiches to order for the day’s trip. Masks, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes will be provided. If you have questions, please ask!
The goal is to keep both of us safe, yet cover most of the same areas of the park.
Photo tours help me pay bills and continue to add content to this site. Keep me in mind if you are going to be in the valley! My tours are licensed by the National Park Service and National Elk Refuge.
I offer year round photo tours in Grand Teton National Park. Seasons are changing! Book now! Click the image for additional information.
Client Comments: “As a published and passionate photographer, I recognized Michael Jackson’s extraordinary skills as a photographer. Today I learned more about composition and creative technical ideas than I ever could have imagined.” G.S., Jackson Hole.
