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Trip Report: Grand Teton National Park - Fall 2022
Trip Report: Grand Teton National Park - Fall 2022
by Grant Ordelheide
Here in United States, we are incredibly lucky to live in a country that has so much natural beauty to offer. From deserts to high mountains to dense rain forests, there are a lot of landscapes to photograph. It seems to culminate every fall as foliage changes around the country. I often joke that I wish I could be in multiple places at once every September. Unfortunately I cannot, so I am forced to pick one place to shoot the peak of fall color. Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park has long been a favorite and I seem to often end up there in late September. It is a fantastic time to visit and photograph the park. Aspens and cottonwoods are changing, the moose and elk are starting their rut, bears are out eating up as much as they can before winter, all with the impressive background of the Tetons themselves. It was with great excitement that I met a group of ten photographers, along with fellow guides Michael Wichman and Jose Martinez, for a week of photography in Jackson Hole.
One of my favorite aspects of Grand Teton National Park is that you can shoot world class landscapes and wildlife in the same day. This trip offers the ability to shoot sunrise or sunset at beautiful locations while searching for wildlife in between. Our itinerary is designed to stay productive and help us all fill our memory cards with “wall hangers”.
Our first morning we arrived at the iconic Mormon Row barns. These beautiful old barns have long been a favorite of photographers for their unique shape and weathered wood with the Tetons towering above. We photographed the progression of sunrise and then moved on to our next objective: wildlife. Soon we were photographing a small herd of pronghorn below the Grand Teton. It was a great start to the trip!
As we settled into the rhythm of Grand Teton, our group made the most of our opportunities. We shot well known locations like Oxbow Bend as well as lesser known spots we had scouted. On the third morning, we found ourselves at favorite spot tucked away in the willows along the Snake River. From the road, there is nothing particularly special about this spot. In fact, from the small pullout, you really can’t see the river or the Tetons. As we unloaded the cars in pre-dawn light, I could sense some hesitation, was this really where we were going to shoot? That thought quickly changed as we pushed our way through a few bushes and emerged on the shores of the Snake, looking up river at a perfect “s” curve leading to the Tetons. Mist was rising off of the water and elk bugled in the distance. As the light descended on the mountains, our shutters were flying. A bald eagle made a low pass above us as it looked for its breakfast. It was a
perfect morning in Northwest Wyoming.
Despite our excellent landscape opportunities, there was one thing on everyones “wish list” that we hadn’t found yet: a moose. Late September is a great time to see moose in Grand Teton. The rut is starting and they are typically out and active. We had a few chances with moose in our vicinity, but luck hadn’t been on our side. We weren’t going to give up though, so we made the rounds again, checking all the typical moose hangouts. As we pulled up to a known moose habitat, it looked empty and I was about to back out and leave. Jose offered to jump out of the car and just chat with a few people who were standing around. To our surprise, they said there was a female moose a short walk down the trail. We excitedly grabbed our gear and walked down the trail to photograph our first moose. When we got there, our excitement gave way to confusion as it didn’t seem like there was actually a moose there. After some of the people helped to point her out, we eventually saw it. In the willows far below us, tucked under a tree, in the shadows, behind a thicket of branches, there was… in theory… a moose. Or at least a dark spot that I guess could have been a moose. I typically try to be as positive as I can but there was no denying that this was an unsatisfying moose encounter. We agreed that it could only get better from here as we packed up our cameras and made our way back to the vehicles.
Despite our excellent landscape opportunities, there was one thing on everyones “wish list” that we hadn’t found yet: a moose. Late September is a great time to see moose in Grand Teton. The rut is starting and they are typically out and active. We had a few chances with moose in our vicinity, but luck hadn’t been on our side. We weren’t going to give up though, so we made the rounds again, checking all the typical moose hangouts. As we pulled up to a known moose habitat, it looked empty and I was about to back out and leave. Jose offered to jump out of the car and just chat with a few people who were standing around. To our surprise, they said there was a female moose a short walk down the trail. We excitedly grabbed our gear and walked down the trail to photograph our first moose. When we got there, our excitement gave way to confusion as it didn’t seem like there was actually a moose there. After some of the people helped to point her out, we eventually saw it. In the willows far below us, tucked under a tree, in the shadows, behind a thicket of branches, there was… in theory… a moose. Or at least a dark spot that I guess could have been a moose. I typically try to be as positive as I can but there was no denying that this was an unsatisfying moose encounter. We agreed that it could only get better from here as we packed up our cameras and made our way back to the vehicles.
As we were walking back, we noticed a bit of a commotion near the parking lot. Soon we realized what was going on. There was a mother and calf moose in the pond! In a matter of minutes we had gone from a very disappointing moose sighting, to a great one as the mother and calf moved around the pond eating and interacting with each other. Our guests were over the moon as we photographed the pair for the better part of the next hour. It just goes to show
that you never know when opportunity will present itself when it comes to wildlife photography.
With the moose encounter in hand, we had one more morning in the park and it was going to be a good one. We had saved one of our favorite locations for the last sunrise. The spot is a little known overlook that offers uninterrupted views of the entire range. The forecast was calling for storms so we donned our rain gear and hoped the sun would break through. From what we could see, there were a lot of clouds to the east and I wasn’t super optimistic the light would get through them. As we got closer to dawn however, the eastern horizon started to glow. Soon the clouds were pink and light was shooting across the valley illuminating the Grand and Mount Moran. “Shoot it now” we yelled, as this light was only going to last a short period. Sure enough, it came and went in less than a minute, but that was all we needed to capture our images and end the trip on a high note! We returned to breakfast in Jackson, reflecting on our luck with light and animals. It was a great trip with a great group of people. I know I speak for Michael and Jose when I say we can’t wait to do it again!
With the moose encounter in hand, we had one more morning in the park and it was going to be a good one. We had saved one of our favorite locations for the last sunrise. The spot is a little known overlook that offers uninterrupted views of the entire range. The forecast was calling for storms so we donned our rain gear and hoped the sun would break through. From what we could see, there were a lot of clouds to the east and I wasn’t super optimistic the light would get through them. As we got closer to dawn however, the eastern horizon started to glow. Soon the clouds were pink and light was shooting across the valley illuminating the Grand and Mount Moran. “Shoot it now” we yelled, as this light was only going to last a short period. Sure enough, it came and went in less than a minute, but that was all we needed to capture our images and end the trip on a high note! We returned to breakfast in Jackson, reflecting on our luck with light and animals. It was a great trip with a great group of people. I know I speak for Michael and Jose when I say we can’t wait to do it again!
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AUTHOR
AUTHOR
Grant Ordelheide is a Montana-based outdoor and adventure photographer. Growing up in the Colorado Rockies, in a family that explored and played in the outdoors at every opportunity, instilled in him a profound reverence for the landscape. Grant’s love of nature and wild places preceded his love of photography, which emerged as a natural extension and by-product of his adventures in the mountains as an avid backpacker, climber, and snowboarder.
Following his passion, Grant earned a Bachelor’s degree in photography with an emphasis in business from Pacific Union College in California’s Napa Valley. In 2016, Grant was a recipient of the Art Wolfe Next Generation Photographer Grant organized by Luminous Landscape. His work has won numerous awards, including one of the top honors in the U.S. Landscape Photographer of the Year contest. His photos have been published in National Geographic Traveler, Backpacker, Outside, Climbing, The New York Times, The Yosemite Journal, and many other print and online publications. Grant’s fine art prints hang in gallery, corporate, and private collections across the country.
For several years, Grant has shared his eye, expertise, and contagious passion for photographing the outdoors, teaching photography workshops throughout the country. Grant currently resides in Columbia Falls, Montana with his wife Alexis. His work can be viewed at grantordelheide.com
Following his passion, Grant earned a Bachelor’s degree in photography with an emphasis in business from Pacific Union College in California’s Napa Valley. In 2016, Grant was a recipient of the Art Wolfe Next Generation Photographer Grant organized by Luminous Landscape. His work has won numerous awards, including one of the top honors in the U.S. Landscape Photographer of the Year contest. His photos have been published in National Geographic Traveler, Backpacker, Outside, Climbing, The New York Times, The Yosemite Journal, and many other print and online publications. Grant’s fine art prints hang in gallery, corporate, and private collections across the country.
For several years, Grant has shared his eye, expertise, and contagious passion for photographing the outdoors, teaching photography workshops throughout the country. Grant currently resides in Columbia Falls, Montana with his wife Alexis. His work can be viewed at grantordelheide.com
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"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations worldwide.
- Russ Nordstrand, Backcountry Journeys Founder & Director
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BACKCOUNTRY JOURNEYS
"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations worldwide.
All Images & Content are property of Backcountry Journeys Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLC - Copyright 2024
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Download our Trip Catalog for detailed information on our many destinations for photography tours, workshops, and safaris.