Parked for a Day is a user-submitted feature that lets readers share their favorite activities in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. Parked for a Day activities require parking the car, and can be done in a single day. Share your own favorite Parked for a Day activity with us and we may feature it on Yellowstone Gate.
By Timothy Mayo
Park your vehicle at the upper parking lots at Jackson Lake Dam. Walk west across the dam onto earthen portion of the dam. You will be rewarded with expansive wetlands on the north side that are home to elk, moose, grizzly bears, cranes, beavers and more, and you will experience the beauty of Jackson Lake and the Teton Mountain range on your south.
Make sure you remember your camera, a container of water, warm coat and bear spray.
I recommend that any where in the park you have a witness and/or carry an video-audio recorder to protect yourself from poorly trained Grand Teton National Park personnel who have adopted a nasty, demeaning and harassing attitude towards photographers, visitors and/or anyone who seeks to enjoy the park.
Timothy Mayo is a nature photographer who grew up at Moose, Wyo. and is a 48-year resident of Jackson Hole.
My interactions with both the wildlife brigade and the ranger division have been incredibly pleasant and professional; clearly a completely different experience than yours. I’m so sorry you seem so bent out of shape by your past interactions with park staff and volunteers. I’ve witnessed “professional photographers” who have acted in “nasty, demeaning and harassing” ways as my wife and children were trying to view wildlife and were told to back away so that the “pros” could get their shots. Human nature is such that there are stressed folks on “both sides”. It seems irresponsible to condemn Park staff with such a broad-brush.
The park staff and volunteers are a wonderful group. My only thought is that even those of us who haved lived here for years, don’t own the park. The American people do.
Mr. Mayo has made it a personal vendetta against the park because they are trying to protect the wildlife and the visitors. He does not speak for all photographers, the majority of whom are respectful of what is needed from the public.