Greetings from Grand Teton National Park

A raven is my companion as I sit beside Jackson Lake eclipsed by the magnificent Teton Range. Ripples upon the lake are the only known movement, until the honk of two Canada Geese turns my gaze upwards to catch them flying overhead. Their ruckus causes the raven to take flight. For now, it is only me and my shadow taking in the silent reflections this magical place has to share with me.

It is not often one gets the solitude of these silent reflections in Grand Teton National Park, especially in the middle of the summer. This park holds a magic all to its own. If you were here with me now, this is what the silent reflections would reveal…

A treasure trove of smooth pebbles and rocks painted in the hues of a painter’s palette embrace you. They stretch for as far as the eye can see cascading gently into the crystal-clear lake. Ripples dancing across the lake’s surface carry you off to a distant shore dressed in varied shades of green. Beyond the green rise, a regal mountain called Mount Moran rises with its broad shoulders brushing against the sky. Upon it, Skillet Glacier dating from eons ago, nestles within a deep eastern facing valley.

As your gaze pulls away from Moran’s monumental view, mountains stretch in both directions as they reach the horizon showcasing a mired of shapes and sizes. Thick solid granite rock rising majestically toward the vast expanse of the clear blue sky. Rough and rugged. Steadfast in their message.

To the left of Mount Moran is the infamous Grand Teton looking dwarfed by Moran’s bulk. The Grand, with its jagged neighboring peaks scattered about, looks almost fragile to the touch. Numerous glaciers cling to life within every available crevice. From the peak of the Grand you look south and the imposing pointed range gradually recedes downward till it becomes lost in the horizon.

Behind me the sun continues to rise shedding the cool morning air. Long ago trees in the form of driftwood rest like sculptures amongst the sea of rocks – still holding their own.

In the stillness an unseen fish jumps to greet this new day, and with that unexpected gesture, a silent morning gives way to the activity surely bound for this rocky shore.

The first tourists shuffle down the boat ramp to soak in the beauty of this spectacular place. A small speed boat zips past in route to the far-off Elk Island. With time suspended, minutes later the wake from the passing boat collides with the shore with a loud gushing sound.

The raven returns for a quick overhead flight. Her silent reflection making her presence known as she circles and turns taking her leave. I follow in suit grateful for my solitude and solace in such a grand park.

Sincerely,
Karen