Grand Teton National Park - Wildlife Wonders

Grand Teton National Park will forever stand out in my mind as the first place I saw a wolf in the wild. It could easily be the first and only time. Oddly enough, I wasn't on an arduous backcountry hike, but standing directly in front of my room at Jackson Lake Lodge. It howled three times before I realized it wasn't some large bird off in the distance.

In my defense, the howl was much higher-pitched than I expected — not like the kind you hear in werewolf movies. But I saw him (or her) standing in a low-lying area to my left. Unfortunately, there wasn't a soul in sight to share this extraordinary experience.

In four days of travel around Grant Teton National Park we also saw elk, two bears, a mama moose and baby, plus antelope. But, according to park staff, a wolf sighting is something special. I have no doubt I'll remember it.

Mama moose and her wobbly baby were adorable. To the delight of staff and guests, they seemed to prefer staying within sight of the lodge buildings. Wherever the pair wandered an entourage of camera-toting humans followed.

Driving from the lodge entrance one morning, we saw them wading in a shallow pool of water. I counted 15 cars lined up along the side of the road, all stopped to watch them — talk about a fan club!

In my pretrip research I read an intriguing description of the Tetons. The guidebook author said when small children are asked to sketch mountains; they draw something very much like the Grand Tetons. With my first glimpse of this glacier-carved range, I completely understood what she meant.

The jagged mountains seem to soar directly skyward, with no foothills to ease the transition. The peaks had a covering of snow, still clinging firmly in June, adding sharp contrast to the color scheme. Whether age 9 or 90, these are the mountains we all imagine in our mind's eye.

If you want to gaze in wonder at the Tetons while enjoying all the comforts of home, search no further than Jackson Lake Lodge within Grand Teton National Park.