Bear!

"Get the camera," Jason says, turning around to give Traci access to his backpack.

"Why?" she asks.

"I see a bear," he replies.

Sure enough. Sixth day in the mountains and our second hike, we come across what we believe was a grizzly. (S)he laid quietly in the shade of an evergreen, about 80 yards from the trail leading to Phelps Lake. We stood and watched with our binoculars. Other hikers paused. 

Grizzlies have slowly made their way south from Yellowstone. Teton County is requiring bear-proof trash cans as part of the bear (human) management programs. Black bears are still more prevalent around Jackson, but grizzly populations are growing. One of Traci's new co-workers penned this story about a grizzly mom that achieved "rock star" status because of the clever way she used the human periphery to her advantage.