Snake river Look out — Attraction in Jackson

I stop here on accident but maybe was fate. Snake River Overlook. Sound like place where snake give TED Talk, but is not. Is mountain. Is river. Is feeling.

I park old truck facing trees. I step out, wind hit face like cold kiss from ex who still care a little. I look out and BOOM — there she is. The Tetons. Mountains so sharp they cut soul in half and make you feel things you not feel since 1997.

River move like slow dragon doing ballet. Sky too blue. Trees too green. I think maybe someone Photoshop real life. Bald eagle fly by, make direct eye contact. I nod. He nod. We both have trauma. We both heal today.

I try take photo. Phone say “storage full.” I throw phone in truck. Is moment not for technology. Is moment for silence and beef jerky and deep thought.

While I stand on rock, I realize big truth: “Life is like mountain — pointy, cold, and beautiful if you shut up long enough to look.”

Other tourist ask me where trail go. I say, “Trail go to better version of you, probably.” They leave confused. That okay.

No bathroom. Only raw emotion and light smell of pine. I cry little. Is normal.

Thank you Snake River Lookout. You show me beauty I not ready for, but now crave always.

Will return with thermos and...

Today’s Snake River Overlook is approximately the site of Ansel Adams famous 1942 photograph. I do appreciate his work, but to me the color version is better. I took the iconic photo. The trees have grown up so they hide the river bend, so my view was not exact. Parking was on a narrow pull out and one walked down the path until they saw the view they wanted. There were no...