Pablo Neruda

"We need to sit on the rim of the well of darkness and fish for fallen light with patience."

- Pablo Neruda from The Sea and the Bells

Hiked to Holly Lake

Holly Lake is a 13-mile roundtrip hike in Grand Teton National Park. A little tough if you're not in shape but definitely doable. Great views, some risk of running into black bears in the early fall.

Marmot

This yellow-bellied marmot was munching huckleberries in Grand Teton National Park in early September. He/she could not have cared less about the humans standing by taking pictures.

Nachos at Signal Mountain Lodge

After hearing for years about the legendary nachos Signal Mountain Lodge, I finally tried them in 2009. Twice actually. Three women made dinner out of this pile and had to leave some on the plate.

Gnomes at Home

Who can be sad when garden gnomes roam the home?

Weekend at Targhee

Two nights at the annual Bluegrass Festival at Grand Targhee Resort in Alta, Wyo., is a new thing for me. Great music, great company, great camping.

The little tent pictured below is the one I slept in. And that group of tents is the "community" that sprang up for the duration of the festival. Given the close proximity of one tent to another, I was pleasantly surprised at how civilized and considerate everyone was of their neighbors.

Volunteered at Snow King Hill Climb

Since I volunteered at a mountain bike race a month ago, it's probably stretching things to call volunteering at the Snow King Hill Climb today a "new thing." But it was my first time, so I think it qualifies.
Although the course is only 2.3 miles long, this is a foot race I'll never try. Runners start at the Town Square in downtown Jackson head towards Snow King. That part is a flat half mile, easy enough. But then it climbs 1.8 steep miles over alpine terrain and switchbacks, a path I don't find easy even just walking. I helped other parks and rec employees at the finish line up top, recording racers' bib numbers and times. Wish I could say I'd run the race, but volunteering counts for something, too, especially when it involves getting out of bed at 6 a.m. on a Saturday.