A Full Moon and The Beginning Of Sunrise Over The Teton Mountains

A full moon and the beginning of sunrise over the Grand Teton Mountains, Wyoming.

I was so very tired the day before from all the driving and hiking of the previous days, that I didn’t think I could get up early enough to do any sunrise photography. Besides, I had not really scouted out anyplace per se. So I figured I’d just sleep a little later that morning. Then, at about 4am, I had a HUGE cramp in my left calf. This was the same leg in which I’d pulled the calf muscle while on the North Rim. The pain was so bad that it woke me immediately and I didn’t get back to sleep. So, I figured what the heck, might as well get up and get going. I checked out of the hotel in Jackson and drove to an overlook I’d passed by a day earlier on my way to the park. Turned out to be a nice spot. And it was cold! Lucky for me I had my wool cowboy hat with me and I was wearing long sleeves. As I stood there getting pre-dawn and sunrise photos, I had to grin to myself that I was no longer in heat and humidity and the air was sweet with the fragrance of sage.