Grand Targhee and the South Leigh Lakes, Jedediah Smith Wilderness

Above: From a point near the intersection of the Mill Creek trail and the Freds Mountain trail, this photo offers up a view of the northern end of Beards Wheatfield, a broad bench of limestone high above South Leigh Canyon. In late July and early August, the Wheatfield is a riot of wildflowers - well worth the effort that you'll expend to reach the area. The name comes from the large numbers of wild flowers that cover the limestone bench in season, resembling a field of wheat.

In the top photo, the view looks out across the Wheatfield and South Leigh Canyon to the heights of 9,466' Beard Mountain over on the left side of the picture. On the far right of the picture is the lower end of Granite Basin on the north side of South Leigh Canyon.

Below, the view east with the basin of South Leigh Lakes just beyond Beards Wheatfield. The 'little' flat-topped peak peeking over the skyline in the background, photo center, is probably Mt. Woodring in the Grand Teton National Park. Lake Solitude is just behind the ridgeline in front of Woodring. The higher peak on the skyline, photo left, is Mt. Moran in the Grand Teton National Park. 10,712' Little Peak is the pyramid at the left edge of the photo.

It's interesting to note that officially, the area on the left side of this photo is considered to be prime Griz habitat, but yet the country on the right side or in the far background of the photo is often considered to not be Grizzly habitat. The thing is, I don't think that anybody has ever bothered to explain that to the Great Bear. Me - I consider it all to be great Grizzly habitat and take all of the necessary precautions when traveling through the region.