Very excited to share this epic photo journey through the mountain timezone with two unique and unforgettable experiences sandwhiching our 2014 Summer. Once the kids left for sleep-away camp, Gal and I boarded a plane to share a week of pure pristine zen bliss in Big Sky, Montana. Together with our friends Lucy, Brandon, Susan, Howard, Gal and I were guests at Karen and Rob’s “Bear Trap” home at the base of Lone Peak Mountain high atop Spanish Peaks. It was just what the doctor ordered! Visually, we were in heaven as everything around us was so majestic, so clean, so peaceful. Words cannot do justice to the laughs, fun and photos we captured that week. So here’s a look back. Thank you Karen and Rob for showing us the time of our life!
Part 1
The supercool chef Eduardo Garcia and Ranga made a Montana Mex feast for us on our final night…
Part 2
At the end of the summer, we took the kids to an action-packed Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Yellowstone National Park adventure with the Jurick/Erez krewe. I can’t get enough of the awe-inspiring mountains of the wild west. The Grand Teton peak soared to 13,770 and was the centerpiece of many of our hikes. However, the real highlight of the trip was our guided tour (thank you Mike Bryers!!!) of Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone National Park spans an area of 3,468.4 square miles, comprising lakes, canyons, rivers and mountain ranges. Yellowstone is the largest supervolcano on the continent. The region is considered an active volcano. It has erupted with tremendous force several times in the last two million years. Half of the world’s geothermal features are in Yellowstone, fueled by this ongoing volcanism. Lava flows and rocks from volcanic eruptions cover most of the land area of Yellowstone. The park is the centerpiece of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the largest remaining nearly-intact ecosystem in the Earth’s northern temperate zone. I would add a visit to this park to every person’s bucket list – truly epic on every level. Let’s kick it off with a few infrared black and white panoramas from our mountain bike tour of Antelope Flats, Morman Row (first Morman settlers in Wyoming) and the Teton Mountain range.
Edy and I gearing up for the photo journey ahead. I gave Edy her first DSLR on this trip and she carried it with her everywhere.
Midway through our hike to Phelps Lake, we stopped at this huge rock for the kids to do a little cliff jumping. Must be about 30 feet from the top to the lake.
The next day we hiked up to Inspiration Point through cascade canyons which had some breathtaking views.
Fun and dinner and more fun in the town of Jackson Hole after our 6 hour hike.
Our journey to Yellowstone National Park – the mesmerizing highlight of the trip.
Scars of the fire of 1988 which destroyed 40% of the forest in the park. Tragic.
The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
While swimming in the Firehole stream, we came upon these ultra-blond boys wading into the water led by their dad. I just love the contrast of their hair against the dark water and ravine and rocks.
Our amazing guide, Mike Bryers. We highly recommend contacting Mike Bryers to be your guide – he’s a true GEM! mbryers@yahoo.com | www.mikebryersart.com
The incredible grand prismatic springs
This is the EXCELSIOR GEYSER next to the Midway Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park. Temperature of the boiling water in the crater is 199°F. Excelsior was once the largest geyser in the world. However, the last known major eruptions occurred during the 1880s, when there were numerous eruptions up to 300 feet. Since its eruptive activity in the 1880s, Excelsior is now a productive thermal spring, presently discharging 4050 gallons per minute. Numerous vents boil and churn the water within the crater, covering it in a dense layer of steam. This image was captured in infrared to highlight the dramatic clouds and give impact to the crater.
Geyser Hill – Behive Geyser and Old Faithful
My two mountaineers – a little older, a few inches taller, and tons of fun on this wild western adventure – love you guys!
