I got there early to beat the crowds. Nobody told the bear.
This shot was on my list before I ever left for the Tetons. Peak season meant company, so I pulled into the lot at 2:30 in the morning and had the place to myself. I sat and enjoyed the quiet until headlights started coming down the road. Time to grab my gear.
On the walk in, I crossed paths with a bear. Thankfully, it took off almost as quickly as it appeared. Better than any cup of coffee I've ever had. I stayed wide awake the rest of the way to the water.
Then the sun caught the top of the Grand. The pond settled into a mirror, handing back the mountains, the trees, and that first warm light.
This one's about that. An early start, an unexpected encounter, and the moment everything I'd come for finally came together.
Worth the wake-up call.