A Rainy Teton September

This has to be one of the most beautiful evenings I have ever experienced in Teton Valley! The Tetons broke through thick storm clouds into a clear blue sky as we walked along the north side of Teton Creek in Teton Canyon. Beginning at the New Sheep Bridge Trailhead, this alternate trail follows the creek east into the canyon, through fields and trees. It isn't a long trail, but for a beautiful walk to help stretch ours and our dog's legs, it was perfect!

The last few days have been quite rainy as a series of steady downpours have made commuting and traveling a bit more exciting. When we got to Teton Canyon, a storm had just passed through. The land smelled of rain and pine needles, it was wonderful! The air cooled significantly with each passing storm, only warming as the sun broke through for about 30 minutes at a time.

We made our trip through Swan Valley to Teton Valley, then back through Sugar City and Rexburg then on to Idaho Falls. We chose to stop at the Teton Overlook to enjoy the setting sun and incoming storm. We could not have imagined the profound contrast, vibrant rainbow, and the awesome lightning show we would soon witness! Besides being pelted by sleet and rain, we had the best seat in the house as the valley lit up yellow and orange in the setting sunlight, then the Tetons became shrouded by an active thunderstorm displaying flashy cloud-to-ground lightning bolts accompanied by crackling thunder. A bright and full double rainbow stole the show as the light hit the falling rain. The whole experience lasted about 30 minutes. It was wonderful!

September is a time of vibrant colors as the seasons change! Warm colors like yellow, orange, and red make their debut this month and into October across the west. My favorite times of day to see these colors are sunrise and sunset as the low-angle light pours across the landscape. We hope to get to the national parks at the end of this month to catch a glimpse at the Fall foliage. Stay tuned for those pictures!

For now, enjoy our favorite photos from yesterday!