A Perfect Hike!

I hiked about seven miles in Grand Teton NP today, and it was one of the best days I have EVER spent on the trail. Everything was ideal. The scenery, as this post and the following one show, was awesome. The weather was perfect...a crisp morning followed by a warm afternoon, with sunshine and only a gentle breeze. No mosquitoes...only a few flies of no consequence. The hike was a proper workout for an old sloat; fairly long but almost dead flat. The trail was neither crowded nor empty...I encountered a few dozen congenial folks along the way but had plenty of space to myself. It's probably better to not be on a deserted track in bear country. In mid September, fall colors were beginning to shine. And, the piece de resistance...Leigh Lake turns out to have white sand beaches! This is almost too good to be true for a beach bum like myself. This pic shows a really cool island in the middle of Leigh Lake with exactly one (1) tree, and a robust one at that.

Here's the view from my spot on the beach. I stayed here for over an hour, reading, dozing, and soaking up the beauty. It was superb! Hiking to a beauty spot like this and then finding a fine beach, a thousand miles inland, is like going to a casino and winning a jackpot while playing with house money!

Here's a lengthwise shot of one of the best beaches on Leigh Lake. This pic was taken in late morning; by mid afternoon the entire strip of sand was in the sun. Just a perfect spot for horizontal solar slotation!

The lizards also enjoyed chillin' on the playa. Here they're perched on a log, contemplating Mount Moran.

Fall foliage provides endless opportunities for abstract pictures. Just find a blend of colors, shapes, and shades, and you have a cool piece of art.