Yellowstone/Tetons

Well, I have somewhat disappointing news. I know, I know, not what you wanted to hear, but I'll say it anyways: I didn't go to Utah. I ended up calling the trip off because I was extremely unmotivated to do anything after I took my exam. So... instead of going to a marvelously warm climate, I decided to go to an even colder one. Not the best decision I've ever made, but I did have a blast.
My initial intention was to go by myself and spend a few days taking pictures and wandering around, but there was a bit of turn of fate. Brandt recently moved up here and has been unemployed. By choice. He's just having a good ol time wandering around and doing nothing. Much like I was about to do, so I told him he should come along.
I took my comprehensive exam on Friday and left for Yellowstone that evening. I'm currently living in my car, so it's very easy to pack. I drove down that night and was instantly greeted by passes being closed because of avalanches and avalanche danger. I realize this sounds crazy... and that's because it is. When it's June there shouldn't be so much snow that avalanches are running across the highway. But on a lighter note, global warming's a myth. There I said it. I'll expect comments from everyone on their take. Pro or Con. Just put down something short.
Well, After spending all of Saturday sitting in the same chair next to the fireplace at Old Faithful Lodge, we decided it might be time to move on. So Brandt and I went down to the Tetons with hopes of better weather.
Even though the Tetons are South of Yellowstone, that doesn't mean anything... apparently. It was still cold and snowy and rainy. It was a smidge warmer, but that really didn't matter. It was cold enough that the couple degrees warmer it was really didn't do anything to make me or Brandt feel warmer. But, we did get a little break in the weather for a morning where I got a few pictures.
When we initially got down there on Sunday, we went all the way to Jackson to go to Snake River Brewing to have a couple beers to celebrate Brandt's birthday! It doesn't get much better than that. Having some good beer with good company is one of the greatest things ever! And I was that great company for Brandt, as was he for me. That night we kept the tradition together and stayed at this pull-off I've always stayed in in the Tetons. I point it out to everybody. It's almost my home away from home. I mean, I've been there every summer at least for a week. Same spot every time. I do switch it up once in a while and stay at the climber's ranch, but for the most part I stay at the pull-off.
On Monday we had some good weather in the morning, so we took off to the park to take a few pictures. It didn't last long, so we went to the Jackson Lake Lodge and had a few drinks... and then a few more... and then we ended up being there for about 9 hours! I don't know what happened in all that time, but we did have an awesome waitress that we talked to a lot when there weren't many people in the bar. So we ended up spending a lot of time reading, drinking, and chatting with the waitress. It was quite a day.
Finally on Tuesday we decided it was time to head back to Bozeman because the rain and snow was really getting annoying. I kind of wanted some spring weather. Or, oh I don't know, some summer weather... since it's summer. When I was driving through Yellowstone heading back to Bozeman, there was a little break in the weather and I got a few pictures. Not too many pictures but I got a few.
All in all a very good trip to get me relaxed before I dive head first into my thesis. Oh yeah, I passed my comprehensive!!! Now all I have to do is finish the thesis and get the heck out of here to actually make some money. Probably won't happen until January or so, but it's at least something to look forward to.