Teton Resplendence

Most frequently viewed from the region of Jackson Hole, the Teton Range, and especially the Grand Teton itself, (2nd highest peak in Wyoming) have become an icon of the American West.

We think of the “Grand” as “America’s Mountain,” both because of how frequently it is used to represent the West and because of its intrinsic grandeur. Photographed by millions of visitors since the park’s inception in 1929 and expanded in 1950 to include a significant section of Jackson Hole, the craggy peaks have earned a place in the hearts of Americans. In just 2023, over 3.4 million visitors travelled through the park. These mountains have also been featured in memorable movies such as “The Big Sky,” 1952; “The Wild North,” 1952; “Shane,” 1953; Spencer’s Mountain” 1963; and “The Mountain Men,” 1980. Perhaps what propelled this range into such prominence more than any other factor was the famous Ansel Adams black and white photo of the Tetons and the Snake River taken in 1942.

In our photo, we attempted to capture the Grand itself (13,770 ft.), flanked by it’s lessor companions – South Teton (12,514 ft.), and Middle Teton (12,804 ft.) to the left and Mt. Owen (12,928 ft.) and Teewinot Mtn. (12,325 ft.) to the right. In the foreground, we are along the banks of the Snake River close to Schwabacher Landing with resplendent cottonwoods and willows dressed in autumn gold. What a fortunate and privileged day to be here and capture this scene on camera under a Wyoming blue sky.