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We Aren’t in Utah Anymore, Toto

Writer's picture: Grace SlavenGrace Slaven
4 min read

It was our first wedding anniversary. A year ago, we were off on a sunshiny desert honeymoon in the American Southwest. It couldn’t have been a more perfect trip! We found ourselves enamored with the constant Utah sunshine. When we embarked on our anniversary trip, however, we soon discovered something vital. We weren’t in the desert anymore. Rain was about to become our nemesis.

 
 

May 28th, 2023 - Grand Teton Day 2

It was 5 AM and awfully cold. My frozen toes ached as I fidgeted with the camera tripod. In front of me, a lonely barn waited for the sun to warm its weathered wood. It was patient. It had experienced colder mornings than I.

The TA Moulton barn is a hugely popular spot for sunrise photography. The internet is littered with variations of the scene: a rustic barn bathed in golden sunlight, green aspens painting the background, and regal mountains filling the sky. We had hoped to mimic other photographers’ success at the location, so we’d driven over an hour through the darkness to find the barn. This morning, however, we were beginning to have our doubts. Based on Internet pictures, I knew there were mountains rising steeply into the horizon behind the barn. We could see nothing but clouds. An impossibly thick fog smothered the landscape. It choked out the mountains and buried the trees. It even blurred the barn itself, a distant dream of the scene.

Admittedly, I was a little disappointed. Tyler, ever the photographer, captured some beautiful shots of the area anyways. He’s so good at that! Much less astute at angles and lighting, I found myself getting more and more distracted by my cold feet. When the sun had fully risen with no sign of the fog lifting, we finally surrendered. No sunrise shots for us! We drove back to Jackson Hole for a hearty breakfast and bear spray rentals. (How convenient is that? You can rent bear spray!) We had originally planned on visiting some other scenic overlooks for photos after breakfast. However, with the fog continuing to thicken, we changed plans. Time to hit the trails!

At home, we have a small stack of books that serve as references when we’re making our trip itineraries. A National Geographic book is my favorite. It gives a detailed overview of each park, highlighting must-see sights and hikes. The Leigh Lake trail was one of these. Enchanted by the lakeside photos I’d seen in the book and on the AllTrails app, I was looking forward to experiencing the trail myself. It didn’t disappoint! The trail winds its way beside several lakes, bordered by the Tetons. Even on the foggiest of mornings, the grey and white mountain reflections in the clear water are striking. We spent hours just exploring. Canoes and kayaks passed us quietly in the water. Hikers smiled as we passed. Even the weather was benevolent, lifting the fog enough for a friendly blue sky to peek through. It didn’t last, though. An afternoon rain shower quickly approached, darkening the mountains. We’d only gone about halfway up the lakeshore, but we decided to turn around. We didn’t want to get soaked on our first trail!

Once the rain had passed, we took a calculated risk and returned to a different trail. We calculated wrong. Not too far up the trail, the rain returned. It was a drizzly sort of rain that gets you just wet enough to smell gross. When it started raining harder, a pine tree became our best friend. As we huddled around the trunk, I found myself being soothed. Yes, my hair smelled like wet dog, but the trail was beautiful! Crystalline raindrops plopped off every leaf. The fresh scent of rain-soaked plants filled the air. Even the pattering of rain on my head was comforting. Even though the weather of Grand Teton was complicated, it was beautiful in its own way. It is just part of what makes the park unique.

By the end of our hike, the clouds had cleared enough for us to go check out some scenic areas. True to the nature of the park, they were all stunning! I saw my first-ever herd of bison grazing in a large field in front of a house. Imagine what it would be like to live there. You could sit on your front porch and bison-watch all day! We also caught a glimpse of a mama grizzly with two cubs. She was far away and well-disguised in the trees. In fact, Tyler only saw a brown blur. I saw her briefly through the camera lens, and then she was gone. Just as well. We knew better than to tempt fate against a mama grizzly!

We finished our day on a mountaintop. The sun slipped behind the jagged peaks of the Tetons, casting a final glow over the vibrant aspens. Jackson Lake, blue and serene, bid us a quiet goodnight.

A beautiful day.



Hiking trails and scenic spots:

TA Moulton barn and Mormon Row

String Lake to Leigh Lake trail

Taggart Lake trail

Elk Ranch Flats

Schwabacher Landing

Teton Point Turnout

Snake River Overlook

Willow Flats Overlook

Jackson Point Overlook



 
 

Comments

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Hi, thanks for dropping by!

When Grace was a kid, one of her favorite pastimes was typing up “newspapers” about farm life and sending them to friends and family. As an adult, she’s moved on from writing about baby goats, but she still loves sharing stories with others. When she’s not telling embarrassing stories about herself, she occasionally publishes them here for your entertainment.

Both Grace and Tyler take the photos featured in the blog posts. The best pictures were certainly taken by Tyler, who’s an excellent photographer but doesn’t give himself any credit!

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