Grand Teton National Park

Brenda cleans the windshield of our rental car at a turnout just as the rising sun strikes the top of the Tetons.

We watched the sunlight hit the tops of the Tetons as the sun rose over the east ridge.

We were intrigued by the low fog in the meadows as the sun rose.

In the distance we could see the low clouds over Jackson Lake above the sagebrush flats.

When we reached the Jackson Lake dam, the Snake River below the dam had fog rising from its surface.

We drove by Jackson Lake and got this view of Mt. Moran with the delicate clouds rising from the lake.

We drove to the summit of Signal Mountain and got this view of the valley to the East. Fog covers the Snake River in the valley. This was about 7AM and we were hoping that the fog would clear before our float trip at 9:30.

Looking down at the valley, it was easy to imagine it as having been scoured out by a glacier. We were told that the valley was filled with glaciers during the ice ages, and that the entire floor was deep glacial morrain. That leads to the "high desert" type vegetation of sage and grasses since rainwater quickly drains away from the surface.

Rod with the view of Lake Jackson and Mt. Moran from the top of Signal Mountain. The sun was so bright, I couldn't get a picture of Brenda at this spot because she couldn't face the sun.

From the top of Signal Mountain we could now see clear stretches of the Snake River as the fog began to lift.

Brenda thinks she is standing on the same bench where I took a picture of her in 1982.

Lupine blooms say it is still spring here.

We drove on around the west leg of the park road. I liked the white-trunked aspen trees, and enjoyed this perspective of Grand Teton. This valley had a rich stand of sage.

Our last stop on the loop was at the Chapel of the Transfiguration. Above its altar is this view of the Tetons. The morning had already been a time of worship and praise for the magnificent creation. So perhaps this was a fitting end to our morning loop.