Photo Journal: Christmas in the Tetons
Christmas 2011 was a special time in the Tetons. While the snow was nowhere near what it usually is, the frequent clear skies afforded more opportunities to watch that amazing spectacle of the first rays of sunlight turning the Teton peaks into a fiery glow of orange and red. It takes less than 15 minutes for the sun to light the entire mountain range after it strikes the first peak. On Christmas morning, the temperature was 21 degrees below zero with fierce winds. But that magical sunrise was followed by an even rarer treat: wolves running through the snowy fields after a night of hunting in the Gros Ventre river bottom, not far, ironically, from where the Teton park superintendent still strangely permits the hunting of elk.
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The first rays of sun paint the peaks of the Teton range above the Snake River. Photo © by Ed Fuhr.
Prints available.
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Sunrise bathes the Tetons in warm light. But the sun carries little warmth this December morning. Temperatures are still 18 below. Photo © by Ed Fuhr.
Prints available.
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Elk congregate on a bitter cold morning on the elk refuge Photo © by Ed Fuhr.
Prints available.
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Elk search for food as winter's snows begin to bury the elk refuge. Photo © by Ed Fuhr.
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A bull moose pauses before resuming eating on the snowy sage flats of Grand Teton National Park. Photo © by Ed Fuhr.
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A young bull moose pokes through the snow and frosted grasses to reach the warm springs north of Kelly, Wyoming. Photo © by Ed Fuhr.
Prints available.
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Fall grasses stand before young willows in the winter snow Photo © by Ed Fuhr.
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A big horn sheep ponders where to dig for food in winter's snow. Photo © by Ed Fuhr.
Prints available.
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Calm and cold settle over frozen Jackson Lake and Mount Moran in the moments before sunrise. Photo © by Ed Fuhr.
Prints available.
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The early sun paints Mt. Moran in its brilliant light even as temperatures hover well below zero near the scenic bend in the Snake River. Photo © by Ed Fuhr.
Prints available.
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The Teton range peeks above the fog that hovers above the frozen Snake River. Photo © by Ed Fuhr.
Prints available.
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The Teton range glows behind the lifting fog above a frozen Jackson Lake. Photo © by Ed Fuhr.
Prints available.
