Blue sky !

I hiked up to Bradley and Taggart Lakes this morning. 
      Photo of Bradley Lake









Grand Teton, Mt Owen, and Teewinot

Photo below is looking into Paintbrush Divide,  from a different hike. 

Late August

Mountains looked better today than they have in several days.  Hopefully the big wildfires in Idaho are coming under containment.
      I launched Dolphin into Spaulding Bay this morning and paddled toward the north end of Jackson Lake.  Aprons of rounded cobbles run along portions of the lakeshore, giving habitat to Spotted Sandpipers and California Gulls.  When the lake water levels are higher, shoreline slopes erode faster causing old trees and more rocks to tumble down to the beach.  Some areas have sandy beaches and grass, other bits of lakeshore are forested down to the water's edge.
     I saw 2 groups of Common Mergansers, one with 12 little ducklings following Mom Merganser across the lake.  2 Bald Eagles sat on tree branches in different locations, and a Sharp-shinned Hawk flew along the tree edge into the forest.  Mountain Bluebirds, Robins, and Yellow-rumped Warblers brought their nearly grown families to the lake edge for better foraging.  The forests are so dry.
     One of the photos is from last year when there was more snow on the peaks.

Fireweed growing on a partially submerged downed tree.

more from the canyon

These 2 photos were taken along the Shoshone River as Hwy 20 drops into sagebrush country.

The Parry's Primula I found in Paintbrush Canyon.

into August

Its been hot this past week, and smoke from the wildfires in Idaho has removed all our beautiful mountain scenery.  We are hoping the coming weather front will blow the smoke away and rain will clean the air.
      Sunday morning I drove to the top of Signal Mountain.  The forest was very quiet, save for one Hairy Woodpecker looking for breakfast on a dead pine tree.  I walked down the road listening and looking.  A wooden post top moved,  a female Dusky Grouse !!  A short distance later I found the male on the side of the road.  Now that's exciting.
     Last week I drove out of Yellowstone Park into Cody, WY.  The canyon of the Shoshone River is dramatic with eroded walls, spires, and hoodoos on the top.  I stayed overnight at a small USFS camp area north of Cody.
     Yesterday morning I joined a group of guests on a popular event,  Breakfast Cruise to Elk Island.  A boat takes the group out to the island, we have a  "cowboy"  breakfast, and 20 minutes to wander around the island.  Very nice.

Sunset looking toward the Absaroka Range,  and Lewis's Monkeyflowers.