DAY 7 – Sunrise at Schwabachrs, Stampede at Moulton Barn and Jenny Lake

As much as it pained us to do so, we skipped breakfast and drove in the dark to stake out the perfect vantage point at Schwabachers Landing to watch the sun rise on the Tetons. For you non-photographers, this is the quintessential spot for sunrise pictures of the Tetons and I was not about to miss out. However, we almost didn’t make it because of a missing road sign (long story you probably don’t want to hear).

We did arrive about 15 minutes before the sun was officially up. There weren’t any clouds in the sky so we didn’t really miss any of that pre-sunrise spectrum of colors. I didn’t know the area well so I opted not to venture further on this trail and stopped literally in a muddy pool at the edge of a pond that fed into this creek. It was nice and still so the reflections were really nice and there was a thin mist rolling over the top – picture perfect!!

We hung out there for about 45 minutes then moved on to Moulton Barn on Mormon Row just down the road a piece. This is easily one of the most photographed barns in the world and it is easy to see why. With the backdrop of the Tetons, it is irresistible and as picture perfect as can be.

On this particular morning though we were extra blessed because off to the left of us were several small herds of buffalo that periodically stampeded right past the barn. At one point I was inside the open fence line way to the left of the barn and they started coming towards me. John was freaking out thinking I would be trampled to death, but I was determined to get my shots. I think they have crappy eye sight so I made sure to stay really still – that is until John insisted I get out of there. I still think I would have been fine, but I didn’t want him to worry about me.

Sunrise at Schwabachers in all its glory.

This was taken with a fluorescent filter.

From a different vantage point.

Yet another vantage point.

That fluorescent filter again.

Moulton Barn, Mormon Row

A stampede of buffalo and check out how cute the calves are!!

This was where John was freaking out that I would get attacked or trampled.

Before the stampede.

We spotted this moose cow on the way back from Jenny Lake...I had been wanting to see one the entire time I was on vacation and finally, GOLD!!

Again John freaked because I was getting close to it.

Tetons from our hike on the other side of Jenny Lake.

The trail on the back of Jenny Lake.

Big water fall on the trail.

View from the boat.

On the way across the lake.

Getting started across the lake.

A really really friendly chipmunk up the mountain.

Yup, that's him, next to my shoe sniffing for the nut I found on the ground.

Hi Charley Chipmink!

Another bee.

DAY 6 – Taggart and Bradley Lakes

For a change we slept in. We knew we were going hiking and we knew from the siren smell of breakfast penetrating our room, that we did not want to miss the breakfast prepared by our hostess. There was a panorama of gastronomic delights awaiting us that included warm chocolate chip muffing, bacon, hash browns and scrambled eggs baked with ricotta cheese and pineapple.

We hung out eating and talking with her and other guests until about 9:30 then hit the road. We drove in and parked at the Taggart Lake trailhead, took a tinkle then hit the trail with gear on our backs. We had a nice hike up to Taggart Lake which offered up close and person views of the Tetons with lake reflections. It was a sight to behold!

After shooting some pictures and stopping for a snack of cliff bars (thanks for introducing me to these Robert) and trail mix we continued on to Bradley Lake. This was definitely a much harder hike than getting to Taggart, but by the time we got there it was worth it because the view was spectacular. We stopped in a small clearing on the northeast side of the lake and dropped our gear and sat down for lunch. We ate these Slim-Jim like sticks made from elk which were really tasty, had bread and more dried fruit and tons of water. It was very relaxing. In fact, we were tempted to swim in the crystal clear lake, but it was a tad cold and being covered from head to toe in Deep Deep Deep Woods Off, I didn’t think the aquatic life would appreciate the onslaught of chemicals so I stood down on that idea.

I was pretty beat by the time we got to Bradley so the hike back seemed almost endless. All tolled this was our biggest hiking day at six and a half miles. My feet felt dead by the time we traversed our way back and nothing was going to come between me and the outhouse either! I almost cried when I finally sat in the car to come back.

When we did come back I took a shower right away and felt instantly better. We went to dinner in town again, this time at a little Tex-Mex place called The Merry Piglets. The food was really really good! After that, of all things, we walked around some, then went back for some much deserved time in the hot tub.

On the way to Taggart Lake.

Taggart Lake

Taggart Lake - you gotta love a polarizing filter...can see right into the water!

Scarlet Gilia

Not sure what this was, but it was pretty.

Cool looking bug in this flower.

Pretty (and cooperative) orange butterfly.

Nor sure if you can see them, but there are very small lake trout in here.

Meadow on the way to Taggart.

The trail to Taggart.

Mountains Rule!

Johnnie chilling out at Taggart Lake.

These were some massive peonies that our hostess had in a vase on the wood burning stove in the living room. They looked really pretty in the light in this room, I just had to get a picture.

Teton from the trail.

Bee on a yellow wild flower.

Another view from Taggart Lake.

Bradley Lake.

Mountain pass from Bradley Lake.

Same view panned out a bit.

Bradley Lake.

Blue Hairstreak Butterfly on Flowers.

Blue Hairstreak on the Ground.

Some evil fly-bee thing - probably the one that kept biting me!

Another, less evil, bee.

Seriously evil and hairy bee-fly thing!

Hooray for the red and black ants killing the pine bark beetle!!