Author: Jake Bramante

  • Memorial Day – 2017

    Memorial Day – 2017

    My grandfather fought in World War II like so many of what is known as the “Greatest Generation”. When he came back, he resumed his life like so many others. He was a husband, my mom’s father, and a pharmacist. My family is not a “military family” in the least, but I was raised with great…

  • Lakeshore Trail

    Lakeshore Trail

    The Lakeshore Trail in Grand Teton National Park forms a figure-eight shape as it works its way out onto a peninsula that forms Colter Bay’s north shore. This hike gives some wonderful views of Jackson Lake and the Tetons, but spends a large portion of its time in the peninsula’s woods. The waters were perfectly calm…

  • String Lake, Leigh Lake, Bearpaw Lake, & Trapper Lake

    String Lake, Leigh Lake, Bearpaw Lake, & Trapper Lake

    The chain of lakes at the base of the Tetons beginning with String Lake, then progressing through Leigh Lake and Bearpaw Lake, all the way to Trapper Lakes in Grand Teton National Park is a wonderful level walk with loads of variations for all sorts of hikers. Each lake is unique and can make for…

  • Amphitheater Lake & Garnet Canyon

    Amphitheater Lake & Garnet Canyon

    The trail from the Lupine Meadows Trailhead in Grand Teton National Park forks to two wonderful alpine destinations. The north fork heads to a pair of beautiful alpine lakes tucked beneath the rugged, rocky summits, Amphitheater Lake and Surprise Lake, while the south fork wraps around and up into Garnet Canyon. This canyon is a…

  • Grand View Point

    Grand View Point

    Grand View Point in Grand Teton National Park offers wonderful, high views of the Tetons, Jackson Lake, and Two Ocean Lake. The trail is short and steep. Cool mornings give more comfortable hiking and better lighting, while afternoon hiking is hotter, but illuminates Two Ocean Lake wonderfully. On a hot afternoon, we drove the dirt…

  • Two Ocean Lake

    Two Ocean Lake

    The quiet loop around the beautiful Two Ocean Lake in Grand Teton National Park is a tale of two halves. Along the north shore, you have drier meadows with ample views of the lake, while the south shore is in the shadow of a ridge making for damp, treed walking. It’s mostly level and a…

  • Spring 2017 Transitions

    Spring 2017 Transitions

    The world is always transitioning, even when it feels static. In the middle of winter, transition is happening, but it feels just like, well, winter. Spring and fall are notable as they are not only part of this perpetual transition, they feel like transitions. I spent last summer hiking Grand Teton National Park, and the fall…

  • South Boundary Trail Spring 2017

    South Boundary Trail Spring 2017

    We had a nice sunny day to head on up to go for a hike. While snow is still easy to find in Glacier National Park, we were hoping to find some dry trails. After going through a quick list, we decided that the South Boundary Trail would fit the bill. It is south facing…

  • Dunanda Falls

    Dunanda Falls

    Dunanda Falls in the Bechler area of Yellowstone National Park falls 110 ft in a lovely curtain. While hiking it as a day hike is 16.9 miles, it’s mostly level through the meadows and along Boundary Creek and the falls are worth it. You’ll even get a bonus waterfall in Silver Scarf Falls. As September…