What a difference a year makes

Jackson Lake ~ Teton National Park

Last year Erin and I couldn't wait to get into the national parks in Wyoming.  The road to yellowstone barely opened by the end of may due to the record setting amount of snow.  This year there is practically no snow and they lakes are already thawed out. Bummer.  Here are a few photos from our trip 2 weekends ago  Check out some of the photos to compare the difference in the years here.  Well im off and running back to finish this gallery hope you like the photos.

Same photo almost as the first one just in color ! Favorites anyone? Color or BW?

Found these cut down trees next to the lake pretty cool!

Build Me a Windmill

Teton Mt Range From Signal Mt ~ Teton National Park

So as most of you know, when the boss is not here doing Photo things, I serve as the utility infielder on the Ranch.  I don't know how to do everything but I'm a quick learner and with a little instruction and practice I can do just about anything.  This week a few new skills have been added to my resume.

Hidden Falls ~ Teton National Park

 Lets start with some simple log construction, on Monday I learned how to notch logs as if you would if you were building a log home.  I also learned how debark a tree.  We ended up cutting down a 50 plus foot tree and cutting it into pieces for a building project - it was an interesting project.

H3 ~ Teton National Park

 I also learned how to weld a little bit this week as well.  I need a lot of practice and its not pretty but its a new skill none the less.

Grand Teton, Mt Owen, and Mt. Teewinot ~ Teton National Park

 Did I mention that Darius and I are building a windmill.  Yes, thats right its not a typo - a real fucking windmill that will weigh about a damn ton when all is done.  Currently we have finished one side of the windmill and will be completing the other side tomorrow.  We are building it out of reclaimed wood, the ranch is very environmentally friendly. It's made out of douglas fur and the boards we are using are 4 x12's and about 24 feet long.  The bottom base of the windmill will be 10x10 and the top will be 6x6 platform that will be home to windmill blades, with and overall height of about 20ft.  The windmill will be placed out at the pond to aerate the pond and reduce the production of algae.  Anywho, this thing is a little like the kitchen island I built for Erin as a Christmas present, Its built to withstand any type of natural disaster you throw at it, its built like a brick shit house to coin a phrase. So here is to hoping we can finish it up tomorrow and get it all set up out by the pond.  I will post a photo when its all done I promise.

Jenny Lake ~ Teton National Park

 Here is also another idea if this windmill doesn't work out we can leave the base at the pond and use the 6x6 platform at the top as a hunting perch / deer stand.  Just saying is all.  Anyone know how much it is to mount a whale......I think I might need a bigger cabin!!!!!

Yellowstone Lake

FREE AT LAST

Well, it was a long few weeks at the ranch. It was filled with tons of dishes.  You would be surprised at how many dishes it takes to feed 20+ people for 3 meals a day.  Anywho, we worked hard and long and now its time to play hard. Erin and I are in Jackson, WY.  We are going to Teton for some awesome photos hopefully and here is to a clear night for some night shots.  Hope you guys like the photos I took today.

Long Week at the Ranch

So sorry to not have posted for some time now but life gets in the way.  This week has been filled with wrapping up projects here on the ranch.  We are so close to being done with the gallery we are almost done.  The Boss made a few more changes that included putting up more walls which JW and I made on Saturday and will go up first thing in the morning tomorrow.  Then we just have 4 more prints to mount and hang.

I learned a good bit of information about electricity this week without even getting shocked.  Who's impressed?

Went horseback riding and saw a moose on our little adventure.  It was a Big Bull Moose, sorry no photos of the moose, was too focused on keeping from falling of my horse.  Did I mention I fell off the horse after the ride was over?  No big deal he wasn't moving, but i have a really cool gash on my forearm from where I made contact with Earth on my headfirst, 5 foot fall.

 Anywho, I also learned how to put up a wire fence.  If anyone wants to send me a come a long (its a poor man winch with a crank lever used to pull you out of the mud) thats rated for 2.5 tons I'll be happy to take it.

 We are officially in MUD CITY - rain, snow, sleet and ice have made it all sorts of mud on the ranch.  Also we had two days off because of the holiday, so I took to working on some images and posted 11 new images on my Imagekind page.  See the link listed below for your enjoyment - all the images on this blog are available to purchase.  http://Jason_Speer_Photo.imagekind.com/Yellowstone

Teton and Yellowstone

Mama Grizzly and her cub.

So normally Erin and I work on Saturdays; but not this Saturday.  We got a full weekend off so we decided we would drive to Jackson Hole.  For those of you who don't know where that it is, it is located just south of Teton National Park.

Sleepy Buffalo at Yellowstone Lake.

So this morning at 5 am we were up and moving, leaving the ranch and on the way. Why so early, you ask?  Well Sylvan Pass which is located on the East Entrance of Yellowstone is only open from 6am to 10am due to a BIG avalanche that happened last week.  Also it is about 3 times as long if you don't travel through Yellowstone.

Another Grizzly, checking something out near Yellowstone Lake.

We could not have asked for a more perfect morning.  All sorts of wildlife was out and even though it was kind of gloomy there were breaks with big blue sky and tons of low lying clouds.  So we saw three grizzly bears this morning in about the first 20 minutes we were in Yellowstone National Park.

Bison on the road.

We ventured through Yellowstone and had a very interesting lunch at a diner with a lot of funny, America-touring senior citizens ( see Erin's blog for the full story).

Then on to Teton where all the hiking trails are closed but the roads are all open and we were able to see some cool things.  Tonight we stay in Jackson and then on the way back through Teton in the AM and finally back to the ranch via the long way but I'm sure I'll get some great photos.

I will be posting some more images (mostly pano's) when I get back to the ranch in a few days.  Also check in later in the week I'll be uploading some of these images to Imagekind ( which is my online
gallery).