The Tetons are Grand

So, apparently Joel and I have fallen off of the blog wagon. This is my attempt to get back on. We went to the Tetons over Labor Day weekend with my friend and classmate Sandy. We enjoyed a long hike though the national park, some rain, bear, elk, pika, and marmot sightings, and a nice backpacking trip. Here are some pictures to prove it. 

 Yay We're in the Tetons. You wouldn't believe how many outtakes we have of this picture. 

 The Tetons aren't bad to look at

 Joel and I went swimming in Lake Solitude. According to me when you get a chance to swim, you take it. Sandy has "the raynauds" and thinks Joel and I are nuts. 

 Sandy and me

 After a nice rain through the night we woke up to a foggy Saturday morning. It was pleasant to watch the fog blow off as we prepared for a one night backpacking adventure into Alaska Basin. 

 The fog is gone, a beautiful sight to see. 

 This picture was taken on the trail as we backpacked up to alaska basin

 What do you get when you mix cous cous and instant potatoes together you ask? COUSCATATOES! I added a little too much water to the cous cous so Sandy suggested adding some of our instant potatoes. I however think you can never have too many potatoes, so I added them all. COUSCATATOES is a new Pierson backpacking delicacy. You better watch it, I am going to patent the recipe and sell it to REI. 

 Mirror image in one of the basin lakes in the evening.

 Mirror image of one of the basin lakes in the morning. 

Here is a group shot on Monday morning, right after we packed up camp. We were all a little sad that we had to leave this and go back to the city for the week ahead. As Sandy mentioned, "the only good thing about the end of this weekend is not having to cuddle up next to a can of bear spray at night". It was her first time sleeping in bear country.... I told her she'd get use to it. 

Credit to Alexandra Agnes Vojik for phenomenal photos.