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Christmas and Christmas Lights

Ft. Collins Christmas Lights

‘Tis the Season of Twinkle Lights

Darla and I moved to Jackson Hole in 1986. We started a sign shop on what was then the south edge of town. We sold that business in 1995. Sometime around 2005, I bought my first Nikon DSLR and loved it. During December, I almost always went downtown to the Square and took photos of the Christmas lights. Most of the photos were both on the square itself and the businesses around it. It was more or less a tradition that I looked forward to each year. In the earlier days, the Town Square antler arches and large trees had the jumbo incandescent bulbs. As time went by, they were replaced with more energy efficient LED light strands.

Ft Collins Lights

In mid-2022, Darla and I moved to Loveland, CO. I’m still taking a lot of photos, and I am posting a lot of them on my new web site (Mike Jackson Photography)!

It is easy to see how much Christmas lights have evolved since my first Town Square shots.

Ft Collins Lights

Ft Collins Lights

The new LED lights are smaller, brighter, and cooler than the old incandescent bulbs. Even the old “twinkle lights” are being replaced by LED and micro LED lights.

‘Tis the Season of Twinkle Lights

I recently created a brand new page on my new site that shows the lights on display at a few places here in the Loveland / Ft. Collins area. You’ll want to check it out! It is truly amazing to see what talented and creative people are doing with the new lights and new technology!

Previous Christmas Posts on Best of the Tetons

At least for a while, you can use the SEARCH feature on Best of the Tetons to find topics of interest. For example, I typed “Christmas” in the search box and found at least four pages of posts from previous years. The December Daily Journals pages also popped up in the search results. I believe you will enjoy these “vintage” posts, too!

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Mike Jackson Photography

Click this link above to go directly to the new home page! You should notice the new look, but much of it is very similar to Best of the Tetons. I changed the terminology a bit: Feature Post = Featured Subject and my December Daily Journal for GTNP and JH is simply the December Journal.

If you haven’t seen them already, check out some of the recent posts from the new site:

I am in the process of doing a page on the Bighorns, seen near Loveland. If you sign up to follow the new site, you will get notifications of any new post or page. That link is on the Home Page.

750line

Teton News:

I called around for updates for the Tetons. The area has had a lot of new snow to go on top of all of the previous snow.

  • With the deep snow, most of the moose have moved off the sage flats and back towards the river bottoms
  • Greg Balvin recently posted a few video clips of bighorn rams butting heads on Miller Butte.
  • The Elk Hunt is over in GTNP.
  • Antelope Flats Road is closed for the season. You can still hike, snow shoe, or cross-country ski in.
  • I heard a report of a few mountain goats in the Snake River Canyon.

Have a great December and Holiday Season! Mike Jackson

‘Tis the Season of Twinkle Lights

Cheers! Mike & Darla Jackson!

The post Christmas and Christmas Lights first appeared on Best of the Tetons, Area Info & Photography.
Posted on

Christmas and Christmas Lights

Ft. Collins Christmas Lights

‘Tis the Season of Twinkle Lights

Darla and I moved to Jackson Hole in 1986. We started a sign shop on what was then the south edge of town. We sold that business in 1995. Sometime around 2005, I bought my first Nikon DSLR and loved it. During December, I almost always went downtown to the Square and took photos of the Christmas lights. Most of the photos were both on the square itself and the businesses around it. It was more or less a tradition that I looked forward to each year. In the earlier days, the Town Square antler arches and large trees had the jumbo incandescent bulbs. As time went by, they were replaced with more energy efficient LED light strands.

Ft Collins Lights

In mid-2022, Darla and I moved to Loveland, CO. I’m still taking a lot of photos, and I am posting a lot of them on my new web site (Mike Jackson Photography)!

It is easy to see how much Christmas lights have evolved since my first Town Square shots.

Ft Collins Lights

Ft Collins Lights

The new LED lights are smaller, brighter, and cooler than the old incandescent bulbs. Even the old “twinkle lights” are being replaced by LED and micro LED lights.

‘Tis the Season of Twinkle Lights

I recently created a brand new page on my new site that shows the lights on display at a few places here in the Loveland / Ft. Collins area. You’ll want to check it out! It is truly amazing to see what talented and creative people are doing with the new lights and new technology!

Previous Christmas Posts on Best of the Tetons

At least for a while, you can use the SEARCH feature on Best of the Tetons to find topics of interest. For example, I typed “Christmas” in the search box and found at least four pages of posts from previous years. The December Daily Journals pages also popped up in the search results. I believe you will enjoy these “vintage” posts, too!

750line

Mike Jackson Photography

Click this link above to go directly to the new home page! You should notice the new look, but much of it is very similar to Best of the Tetons. I changed the terminology a bit: Feature Post = Featured Subject and my December Daily Journal for GTNP and JH is simply the December Journal.

If you haven’t seen them already, check out some of the recent posts from the new site:

I am in the process of doing a page on the Bighorns, seen near Loveland. If you sign up to follow the new site, you will get notifications of any new post or page. That link is on the Home Page.

750line

Teton News:

I called around for updates for the Tetons. The area has had a lot of new snow to go on top of all of the previous snow.

  • With the deep snow, most of the moose have moved off the sage flats and back towards the river bottoms
  • Greg Balvin recently posted a few video clips of bighorn rams butting heads on Miller Butte.
  • The Elk Hunt is over in GTNP.
  • Antelope Flats Road is closed for the season. You can still hike, snow shoe, or cross-country ski in.
  • I heard a report of a few mountain goats in the Snake River Canyon.

Have a great December and Holiday Season! Mike Jackson

‘Tis the Season of Twinkle Lights

Cheers! Mike & Darla Jackson!

The post Christmas and Christmas Lights first appeared on Best of the Tetons, Area Info & Photography.
Posted on

December 2022 Daily Journal For GTNP & JH

Welcome to December 2022!

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Moose

Sorry, I can’t be there to add new photos to this page, but hopefully I can still help! Check out these December photos from previous years!

Moose are usually visible in the sage flats north of Kelly. The rut is long over, but the big bulls still spar. At least for the first 10 days or so, be aware that the elk hunt is still ongoing inside GTNP. The bulls will start losing their antlers around the middle of the month but it is possible to find a couple with antlers into January.

Winter Bison Pair

Bison often go back and forth from the sage flats to the Gros Ventre River bottom. As the winter season kicks in, the herds will move onto the northern end of the National Elk Refuge.

Trumpeter Swan

Trumpeter Swans can often be seen on Flat Creek along the Highway. Also watch for smaller waterfowl like Hooded Mergansers, Common Mergansers, and Barrow’s Golden Eyes.

Elk Herd in Snow

Elk may be spotted at times, but will be quite spooky. Many will be on the National Elk Refuge as the month progresses. Elk Refuge sleigh rides begin around the middle of the month and should be in full swing as Christmas approaches.

Great Horned Owl

Great Horned Owls are usually easier to spot during the winter months. They are seen most often in the river bottoms. Great Gray Owls are often still in the valley, but are typically difficult to find.

Ermine

Small critters like this Ermine are elusive, but can be a worthy subject.

Bashing Bighorns

Bighorns move to Miller Butte this time of the year, and if you are lucky, you might find a few bashing heads as part of the rut.

Red Fox

Foxes can be more visible in December, and with their winter coat, look great.

Mountain Goat

Mountain Goats were historically good in December, but it appears they have either left the Snake River Canyon or have been mostly culled by the Game and Fish. Still, a few seem to have made it.

Badger

Watch for any kind of movement! Sometimes you just get LUCKY to be in the right place at the right time.

399 and Quad Cubs

This photo was taken on December 29, 2020. I believe a few of the Grizzlies are still out.

Snake River Bend

Winter Landscapes can be a challenge, especially knowing it can be bitter cold at first light.

River Otters

River Otters can be seen along the Flat Creek if you hit it just right.

Fog Rainbow

Antelope Flats Road will still be open for vehicle travel until at least the day after the elk hunt closing date.

Frosted Coyote

Coyotes stand out against the snow. Many will be spooky, but occasionally you might find one that will pose for you.

Antler Arch

The Jackson Town Square is always a festive place during the Holiday season. The lights are on now.

Teton Point Overlook Pano

If you are up to the challenge, night shots can be rewarding. Since the days are very short, you can get night shots and be back home at a reasonable hour.

Precarious Encounter

To get “the shots”, you simply “have to be out”, be ready and sometimes be very lucky!

Mule Deer

Mule Deer often work their way towards Kelly in December. Some will lose their antlers early in the month.

Thanks to Paul Gore!

Friend and photographer, Paul Gore, sent a check to help keep Best of the Tetons online at least until the end of December. This site has a wealth of information for anyone interested in the Tetons! After moving to Colorado, I started a new site and have been actively populating it with new photos and content, some of which overlaps with content I might have posted here (Moose, Elk, Bighorns, Deer, fall Foliage, Waterfowl, etc). In short, I am dedicating the bulk of my time on that site at the expense of this site.

750line

Mike Jackson Photography

Click the thumbnail above to go to the new Home Page! Be sure to click the Subscribe Today button on the home page!

Check out some of the posts from the new site:

Hope to see you at my new site!

750line

The post December 2022 Daily Journal For GTNP & JH first appeared on Best of the Tetons, Area Info & Photography.
Posted on

December 2022 Daily Journal For GTNP & JH

Welcome to December 2022!

750line

Moose

Sorry, I can’t be there to add new photos to this page, but hopefully I can still help! Check out these December photos from previous years!

Moose are usually visible in the sage flats north of Kelly. The rut is long over, but the big bulls still spar. At least for the first 10 days or so, be aware that the elk hunt is still ongoing inside GTNP. The bulls will start losing their antlers around the middle of the month but it is possible to find a couple with antlers into January.

Winter Bison Pair

Bison often go back and forth from the sage flats to the Gros Ventre River bottom. As the winter season kicks in, the herds will move onto the northern end of the National Elk Refuge.

Trumpeter Swan

Trumpeter Swans can often be seen on Flat Creek along the Highway. Also watch for smaller waterfowl like Hooded Mergansers, Common Mergansers, and Barrow’s Golden Eyes.

Elk Herd in Snow

Elk may be spotted at times, but will be quite spooky. Many will be on the National Elk Refuge as the month progresses. Elk Refuge sleigh rides begin around the middle of the month and should be in full swing as Christmas approaches.

Great Horned Owl

Great Horned Owls are usually easier to spot during the winter months. They are seen most often in the river bottoms. Great Gray Owls are often still in the valley, but are typically difficult to find.

Ermine

Small critters like this Ermine are elusive, but can be a worthy subject.

Bashing Bighorns

Bighorns move to Miller Butte this time of the year, and if you are lucky, you might find a few bashing heads as part of the rut.

Red Fox

Foxes can be more visible in December, and with their winter coat, look great.

Mountain Goat

Mountain Goats were historically good in December, but it appears they have either left the Snake River Canyon or have been mostly culled by the Game and Fish. Still, a few seem to have made it.

Badger

Watch for any kind of movement! Sometimes you just get LUCKY to be in the right place at the right time.

399 and Quad Cubs

This photo was taken on December 29, 2020. I believe a few of the Grizzlies are still out.

Snake River Bend

Winter Landscapes can be a challenge, especially knowing it can be bitter cold at first light.

River Otters

River Otters can be seen along the Flat Creek if you hit it just right.

Fog Rainbow

Antelope Flats Road will still be open for vehicle travel until at least the day after the elk hunt closing date.

Frosted Coyote

Coyotes stand out against the snow. Many will be spooky, but occasionally you might find one that will pose for you.

Antler Arch

The Jackson Town Square is always a festive place during the Holiday season. The lights are on now.

Teton Point Overlook Pano

If you are up to the challenge, night shots can be rewarding. Since the days are very short, you can get night shots and be back home at a reasonable hour.

Precarious Encounter

To get “the shots”, you simply “have to be out”, be ready and sometimes be very lucky!

Mule Deer

Mule Deer often work their way towards Kelly in December. Some will lose their antlers early in the month.

Thanks to Paul Gore!

Friend and photographer, Paul Gore, sent a check to help keep Best of the Tetons online at least until the end of December. This site has a wealth of information for anyone interested in the Tetons! After moving to Colorado, I started a new site and have been actively populating it with new photos and content, some of which overlaps with content I might have posted here (Moose, Elk, Bighorns, Deer, fall Foliage, Waterfowl, etc). In short, I am dedicating the bulk of my time on that site at the expense of this site.

750line

Mike Jackson Photography

Click the thumbnail above to go to the new Home Page! Be sure to click the Subscribe Today button on the home page!

Check out some of the posts from the new site:

Hope to see you at my new site!

750line

The post December 2022 Daily Journal For GTNP & JH first appeared on Best of the Tetons, Area Info & Photography.
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