The Milky Way pauses above the Grand Teton during its nightly journey.

Getting out of a warm bed at 2:30 am and driving into 30 degree conditions in the park takes a lot of work, but there is a lot you can see in nearly complete darkness.  The night was cloudless and the moon had already set, perfect conditions for viewing the vast universe above.  This was my first time shooting the Milky Way in the Grand Tetons, and it was by sheer luck that in the time I was there as it travels directly above this majestic mountain range.  I was not too far from my car and while the cries of faraway coyotes interspersed with complete silence in the dark was a but unnerving, watching the Milky Way traverse the sky while faint light from mountain climbers attempting an ascent made me feel like a speck in this vast world and somehow brought a feeling of absolute calm.