Jackson, WY

September 13-22, 2009 Elk antler arches in Jackson:

Jackson is best known for its scenery, wildlife, skiing, fresh-faced and long-haired residents, and close proximity to Grand Teton, but the town Jackalope is hard to miss:

Our stay coincided with the Jackson Hole Art Festival:

We met Erik, Caroline and wee Nicole from Norway and thoroughly enjoyed a few campfires and outings with them.

They camped next to us in Wilson Road Campground, as did a carpenter - in his 20' sailboat.

A nature walk with Mathieu Ricard in Grand Teton National Park rounded out the Jackson experience. He is a Buddhist monk based in Nepal, the French translator for the Dalai Lama and researcher of the scientific benefits of happiness. He spoke of compassion and how we can use Nature's beauty to inspire inner beauty and cultivate respect for the environment and others.

-P

Jackson, WY

September 13-22, 2009 Elk antler arches in Jackson:

Jackson is best known for its scenery, wildlife, skiing, fresh-faced and long-haired residents, and close proximity to Grand Teton, but the town Jackalope is hard to miss:

Our stay coincided with the Jackson Hole Art Festival:

We met Erik, Caroline and wee Nicole from Norway and thoroughly enjoyed a few campfires and outings with them.

They camped next to us in Wilson Road Campground, as did a carpenter - in his 20' sailboat.

A nature walk with Mathieu Ricard in Grand Teton National Park rounded out the Jackson experience. He is a Buddhist monk based in Nepal, the French translator for the Dalai Lama and researcher of the scientific benefits of happiness. He spoke of compassion and how we can use Nature's beauty to inspire inner beauty and cultivate respect for the environment and others.

-P

Three New Photo Galleries: Zion, Craters, and Grand Tetons

[caption id="attachment_3593" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Zion National Park, UT"][/caption] New Photo Gallery: Zion National Park, UT

[caption id="attachment_3592" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Craters of the Moon National Park, ID"][/caption]

New Photo Gallery: Craters of the Moon, ID

[caption id="attachment_3594" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Grand Teton National Park, WY"][/caption]

New Photo Gallery: Grand Teton National Park, WY

Three New Photo Galleries: Zion, Craters, and Grand Tetons

New Photo Gallery: Zion National Park, UT

New Photo Gallery: Craters of the Moon, ID

New Photo Gallery: Grand Teton National Park, WY

Geysers Galore

September 13, 2009 Apparently, 300-500 geysers gush in Yellowstone National Park.

Old Faithful is the most famous and the first to be named in the park back in 1870. Apparently, Old Faithful was used as a laundry in the 1880s, even though the force of the eruptions sometimes damaged the cotton and linen garments that were flung into the crater for cleaning.

Most geysers smell of sulfur - free rotten egg scented saunas.

Castle Geyser surges longer than Old Faithful, about 20 minutes followed by 40 minutes of roaring steam. It's plume towers 90 feet high.

Geyser basin trails wind by springs that boil, steam, spit and spout water high in the air.

Yellowstone is the largest active geyser field in the world.

-P

Geysers Galore

September 13, 2009 Apparently, 300-500 geysers gush in Yellowstone National Park.

Old Faithful is the most famous and the first to be named in the park back in 1870. Apparently, Old Faithful was used as a laundry in the 1880s, even though the force of the eruptions sometimes damaged the cotton and linen garments that were flung into the crater for cleaning.

Most geysers smell of sulfur - free rotten egg scented saunas.

Castle Geyser surges longer than Old Faithful, about 20 minutes followed by 40 minutes of roaring steam. It's plume towers 90 feet high.

Geyser basin trails wind by springs that boil, steam, spit and spout water high in the air.

Yellowstone is the largest active geyser field in the world.

-P

Yellowstone Jewels

September 10-13, 2009 Yellowstone National Park, WY

The force and spectacle of gushing geysers impress, but the jewel-toned hot springs of Yellowstone awed me more.

Sometimes they bubble or boil:

Sometimes they don't:

Sometimes they steam:

Sometimes they are crystal clear:

Sometimes they seem bottomless:

Sometimes they're two- or tri-toned:

Sometimes they run off in neon rivulets:

Sometimes their vapor hangs:

Sometimes they're small:

Sometimes they're named Artist Paintpots:

Sometimes they're multi-textured:

And sometimes they're just awesome:

-P

Yellowstone Jewels

September 10-13, 2009 Yellowstone National Park, WY

The force and spectacle of gushing geysers impress, but the jewel-toned hot springs of Yellowstone awed me more.

Sometimes they bubble or boil:

Sometimes they don't:

Sometimes they steam:

Sometimes they are crystal clear:

Sometimes they seem bottomless:

Sometimes they're two- or tri-toned:

Sometimes they run off in neon rivulets:

Sometimes their vapor hangs:

Sometimes they're small:

Sometimes they're named Artist Paintpots:

Sometimes they're multi-textured:

And sometimes they're just awesome:

-P