Grand Teton National Park

Here are photos from Grand Teton National Park. I thought this park was much quieter and approachable than Yellowstone, and everyone was so friendly. We hiked around Jenny Lake, which was beautiful and only had a few patches of snow left. The hikes up the canyons that would provide great views are still snowed in, so I know that I will have to return sometime to explore! I would also love to come back and ride the bike trail that goes from Jackson Hole to Jenny Lake Lodge--although it runs along the side of the Tetons and have incredible views, the trail is entirely flat, due to the lake of foothills.

The Tetons from Jackson Lake Lodge. 

The Tetons! The peak in the middle is Mount Moran.

Jenny Lake

Hiking along Jenny Lake. We saw an osprey, tree swallows, and lots of curious and friendly marmots!

Jenny Lake

Beartooth Pass & Yellowstone National Park

My family and I took a road trip as I traveled to my summer job, and we stopped at Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Yellowstone was extremely busy with visitors, but once we started hiking, it was much quieter and enjoyable. And we saw lots of wildlife and wildflowers!
These photos start as we entered the Beartooth Pass highway in Red Lodge, MT.

Lots of snow still on the road leading up to Beartooth Pass!

First time in Wyoming

Looking at the Beartooth Range

Moss campion

The Beartooth

Arrowleaf balsamroot

Calypso orchid or fairyslipper

Duncecap Larkspur

Lost Lake

Solomon's Seal

Bison in the trail

Young grizzly

Elk

Avalanche lily

Prairiesmoke

Salsify

One of Yellowstone's many bubbling warm springs

Old Faithful

Two black collared male wolves that are part of the Junction Butte pack eating a bison carcass. Seen through a scope in the Lamar Valley of Yellowstone. 

Mammoth Hot Springs

Birdwatching

Seen today at Chippewa Run Natural Area (list compiled by LCR):
> Mallard X
> Blue-winged Teal X
> Green Heron X
> Turkey Vulture X
> Bald Eagle X
> Solitary Sandpiper X
> Mourning Dove X
> Red-bellied Woodpecker X
> Downy Woodpecker X
> Northern Flicker X
> Pileated Woodpecker X
> Eastern Phoebe X
> Great Crested Flycatcher X
> Eastern Kingbird X
> Blue Jay X
> American Crow X
> Black-capped Chickadee X
> Red-breasted Nuthatch X
> White-breasted Nuthatch X
> House Wren X
> Eastern Bluebird X
> Gray-cheeked Thrush X
> American Robin X
> Gray Catbird X
> Brown Thrasher X
> European Starling X
> Black-and-white Warbler X
> Common Yellowthroat X
> American Redstart X
> Yellow Warbler X
> Chestnut-sided Warbler X
> Palm Warbler X
> Pine Warbler X
> Yellow-rumped Warbler X
> Chipping Sparrow X
> Song Sparrow X
> Rose-breasted Grosbeak X
> Red-winged Blackbird X
> Eastern Meadowlark X
> Common Grackle X
> Baltimore Oriole X
> Purple Finch X
> American Goldfinch X

Rain fall, spring ephemerals, and morels

School has ended and it is spring in Michigan--well, sort of. After a long winter here, even a glimpse of the sunlight is cause for celebration. Yesterday's chilly rain didn't stop my dad and me from venturing outside to seek spring ephemerals. We walked along a wooded trail, pausing often to look at different ephemerals. The Dutchman's breeches seem to be winding down, and the squirrel corn has taken its place. Hepatica and bloodroot have come and gone, and the Jack in the Pulpit is unfurling. It's amazing how much I've learned about spring ephemerals over the past few years, and I remember when I had trouble distinguishing certain flowers from one another. I feel like I still have a lot to learn, but it's exciting to be able to walk through a landscape and understand different species and natural processes.
As we wandered along the trail, I spotted a mysterious crumb in the dirt. Upon closer inspection, I realized that it was the remains of a morel mushroom, a local, edible delicacy that is known for its taste, elusiveness, and price. I immediately spotted a full mushroom next to the trail, and shortly after found one more. My collecting eye tuned sharply into the layer of leaf litter and sticks, but I did not find any other mushrooms. Slightly disappointed, we continued down the trail, coming closer to Lake Michigan. On a whim, I decided to cut off trail into a pretty wooded area along a bluff that was brilliantly green with trillium and Solomon's Seal. I spotted a small morel, its cap still covered with dead leaves after pushing its way up through the earth, and then I saw another and another. My dad and I called to one another, and soon we had collected about half a pound. Although I cannot disclose the location (every good mushroom forager knows this), I should mention that I was surprised how sandy the soil was. We may return to this area soon to look for more mushrooms, and I'm also planning on digging up some ramps from the woods to combine with the morels for a local dish.
Spring is also a wonderful time to do some bird watching because the leaves are not out yet, making these winged creatures easier to spot. Baltimore Orioles, Indigo Buntings, and Scarlet Tanagers have been a few of the excited sightings around the house, along with several varieties of woodpeckers.
All photos by LCR

Morel! 

Jack in the Pulpit

Trillium. Normally the entire flower petal is white, but the green color is caused by a mycoplasma infection.

Trout lily

Our morel harvest (the location is top secret).