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Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
September 18, 2008 | 19 Comments
It’s the one with the naughty name.
The mountains were named by a French trapper who viewed them from the Idaho side of the range and called them tétons, the French word for “nipples” or “teats” (presumably referring to the shape of the peaks). (Source)
Just south of Yellowstone National Park, the Teton Range is one of the most spectacular sights in the world. Part of the Rocky Mountains, it has eight peaks – all above 12,000. The tallest – Grand Teton – is 13,770 feet. Imagine a mountain range 40 miles long and about 8 miles wide, “rearing up with cartoonish exaggeration” from the Jackson Hole valley floor to the peaks, with no foothills to obscure the view.
The jagged north-south-trending range was carved by glaciers, and makes you gasp, no matter how many times you see it.
Grand Teton National Park is located in the heart of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, one of the largest intact temperate zone ecosystems remaining on the planet. This means that many of the animals in the Teton area travel between the two parks and the numerous adjacent National Forests.
Over 1000 species of plants, bison, moose, elk, over 300 species of birds, fish, amphibians and rodents thrive along the mountains and lakes, adding to the vibrance and beauty of the landscape.
We went camping there earlier this month. This was our third visit. All three gave us just a whiff of this magical place. The first time, two years ago, we whizzed past on our way back from Yellowstone, spellbound, but too rushed to stop. Last winter, when the park was closed, we visited Jackson Hole to see the elk pack at the National Elk Refuge. (Pics HERE)
This time, we planned to stay for two whole days and ended up cutting our trip short because of impending hailstorms. In the one day (two nights) we spent there, we took way too many pictures.
Women Who Hate Women by Bee @ Forgive Me My Nonsense.
Filed Under: Grand Teton National Park, mountains, national park, Photo Essays, TRAVEL, Wyoming
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19 Comments
Love every single shot! You guys almost took me there! Thanks a ton!
Nice snaps!
The barn! I’ve never been to the Tetons but I know the barn. The Moulton Barn. It will be the first thing I seek out when we visit the Grand Tetons – it will be like meeting a long lost friend. I first met it through my fellow Flickrite Jeff Clow.
Your pictures are stunning. Esp of the barn. And the craggy peaks. And the lake. And the dude. OMG. The dude! This is progress I say. A side view of the J-dude! Woo hoo!
That purple flowers? I think they might be monkshood.
Have a great weekend!
oh.
and.
lipstick.
(hic)
what a beautiful landscape!!thanks for putting a smile on my face!
Gorgeous pictures…enjoy your weekend
Lovely pics B and J… my sis and I went for a road trip a earlier this year and we made a pit stop at the Tetons. We just could not get over the snow capped range behind Jackson lake. Wish we spent more time there… Have a lovely weekend
The French guy knows well how to describe the mother nature ! Stunning pict as usual !
beautiful picture. so serene !
Hi Bee
The pics are breathtaking!!
I read the name of the post & knew we were in for a visual treat! Breathtaking absolutely…reminds me of the Himalayas when you take a flight to North-East India. The mountain range looks as beautiful in the rays of the rising sun….lovely snapshots B & J!
So beautiful. I am going to Wyoming and Montana next summer and now I am way more excited. Since my idea of camping is no room service I may not have as spectacular a trip as your however. Thanks for the preview!
Stunning pictures!
Thanks for sharing about the origin of the name, too. The french girl in me is blushing (lol).
Thanks for showing the great views and I love the sunset picture.
What a peace of mind!!! Being there alone
. Beautiful pictures! I wish we could jar the air there and get to breath it when back to normal life…
Hola J and B, a post card for you at:
http://threemangoes.blogspot.com/2008/09/peruvian-food-note-of-appreciation-and.html
[...] reassure them that they didn’t waste their time and airfare, we take them to Yellowstone, or Grand Tetons, or Sun Valley or Utah or wherever. We pile into our Subaru and drive. We have many days of driving [...]
Wow, I love the Grand Teton Range. I wish I go could go there.
[...] Hole, in the valley below the Grand Teton Mountains, was one of the last places in the lower 48 states inhabited by white settlers. This place has very [...]