Yellowstone-Grand Tetons-1-2014

We got an early start in the Grand Tetons NP and found the temperature -5 below zero and everything was covered with the hoar frost. When it's that cold any moisture in the air will crystallize on every surface it comes into contact with. This gives the trees a wonderful coating of ice crystals that when trans-illuminated by the sun will set the tree a-glow like nothing else. I also caught a sun burst between the limbs of the tree as the light streaked thru the opening.

We got to visit Tomato Springs again this year as it is hidden in the park and not available to the visiting public without special guidance.I have always dreamed of finding some type of pool like this in the park, but had no idea it was actually possible to occur. It is stunning as you stand and gaze on it's striking beauty. They don't know how it happens, but there it is. We were told there is one other in the park but it is way out in the back country.

The full moon rise over a mountain as seen from Old Faithful. I really enjoyed the moments that it took to completely clear the trees.

3 mornings after the full moon, the waning moon sets 3 hours later than when it did at it's full phase. That is when you can capture some morning shots with a nice size moon in the western sky. We got out into the Grand Tetons NP and caught it just before it dropped below the mountain peaks.

Moose Falls, Yellowstone NP

Lewis Falls on the Lewis River in Yellowstone NP. Named after Meriwether Lewis of the famed Lewis and Clark Expeditions.

Old Faithful in early stage eruption with the late afternoon sun shining thru the cloud of steam.

Old Faithful in a late stage eruption with a sunburst in a nearby tree. The steam is settling down and the eruption is just about finished.

Old Faithful eruption with only a healthy amount of steam still rising from the vent with a sunburst breaking thru the steam cloud.

Night was fast approaching and so was an incoming snow storm. It made for an awesome sky as the day came to a close.

Early in the morning the Big Horn Sheep came down off of the cliffs and they were still covered with snow from the storm the night before. He didn't seem to mind the light layer of snow he was sporting.

One of the many waterfalls in the park with a slow shutter speed to give the water that flowing silky look.

Driving up to a high point overlook to have lunch and look down at portions of the park. Look closely and you will see the trees on the mountain top as they are high enough to be covered in hoar frost. It wasn't cold enough here in the lower elevations to have the frost covering this day.

Meeting a snowmobiler on the road. You know that has to be very cold racing thru the snow like that.

Yellowstone Winter Snow Lodge at Old Faithful. It is the only hotel open in this part of the park in the winter. You can also stay at Mammoth, which is in the north part of the park in the winter where one of the hotels is open up there. This was a timed exposure taken with the full moon. If you notice in the upper right clear part of the sky you can see the constellation Orion in the sky.

Overlooking Ox Bow Bend on the Snake River with Moran Peak of the Grand Tetons mountain range in the background. There is a pair of ravens flying thru the scene that live at the parking lot area. They are evidently supplementing their diet with scraps illegally thrown out by park visitors. When we drove up they quickly flew in.