I was tired. I had been driving for nine hours; that is a big nono, no reason to drive so many hours, there is no hurry. But I kept on getting closer and closer to the Tetons, so I thought maybe I could just make it there and wake up in the morning and do another glorious hike. Well, I did not make it. Instead I found paradise! I drove by a National Forest campground an hour away from the Tetons, I checked it out, it looked good and decided to stay there.

The campground hosts, two cute elderly couple who held their hands while walking around the campsite, told me that night was free, some type of promotion from the local ranger’s office. Cool, that will help my accommodation budget, I thought.  The campground was part of the Shoshone National Forest, maybe thirty minutes passed Dubois, Wyoming. There were a couple of posters with trails information in the area and it looked promising so I thought I would stay there for another night and keep on going to the Tetons a day later.

Brooks Lake in Spring

In the morning I chose what it looked an interesting hike to some high elevation lakes, got my gear and drove the five miles towards Brooks Lake where most of the trails started from. When I arrived to Brooks Lake I could not believe what I was seeing, the most beautiful mountain surrounded lake I have seen in a long time, and the best of all… no Japanese. The light was not right for the lake itself so I proceed to the upper Jake Lakes. It was a beautiful hike, through healthy woods and meadows, roaring rivers and small frozen lakes. Soon I was knee deep in snow, so my pace slowed down considerably, but four hours later I made it to Jade Lake, breathtaking partly frozen lake on the base of big stone walls still full of snow. The silence of the place was only broken by the booming sound of snow avalanches falling from the top of the ridge. I took a bunch of pictures but more than anything I sat and relax, I just sat in silence. It was purifying.

Jade Lake

With my feet soaking wet by the slushy snow, I proceed to return towards Brooks Lake as I knew the light would only get better later. I kept myself distracted talking to all the hidden bears around me, there were tracks everywhere, so I just talk out loud to them so they can hear me and I do not surprise them. Three hours later and tired from sinking on the snow I made it back to the lake. I took a few pictures but overall it was too early for the shot I was waiting for. So I changed my shoes, opened a poetry book a really nice person gave me before I left Kansas City (yes you know who you are) and waited a couple of hours for the magical evening light to arrived.

Alone in paradise

I was so happy! There were only two people at the lake, fishing, nice people, Wyoming cowboys kind of people, very friendly. I guess the lake just unfroze a couple of days ago so not that many people venture to it this early.

Brooks Lake

Coming back for sunset

After this day, I said, forget the Tetons, I am staying here for a few days, and I did. I came back every evening to hope for better light, better clouds, better choices of how to photograph the area. I loved it. I felt so lucky to have found such a place. I hope my images tell the story, they sure do for me. I will never forget this place. On my way to Montana, I drove by Grand Teton national park and waved goodbye the many buses stopped by the side of the road full of smiling Japanese. I never stopped once.

Shoshone Sunset

Ending light