I’m guessing I’m not the only person in the state who ventured away from the reach of Wyoming PBS over the Thanksgiving Holiday.  Or so I thought I was away from the reach of Wyoming PBS. But, sitting by the fire with my computer in the home of my brother’s in-laws in Connecticut, I (very) happily discovered Wyoming PBS puts Wyoming Chronicle on its site almost immediately after it airs on television Friday night. I didn’t have to wait to see my interview with Grand Teton Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott after all. (In case you missed it, you can find it, as well as all of the other episodes that have already aired this season, at: http://www.wyomingpbs.org/programming/wyomingchronicle/video/episode108.php.)

Did I really ask Superintendent Scott what her favorite animal is?

As Executive Producer Geoff O’Gara points out at the conclusion of my interview, the only question Superintendent Scott dodged was the one about her favorite spot in the park. Geoff goes on to ask you — the viewers — to reveal your favorite spots in Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and Devil’s Tower. Heck, if you’ve got a favorite peak or valley in the Cloud Peak Wilderness I’d love to hear that too. I know that a place doesn’t have to be a national park or monument to be beautiful, especially not in this state. No one seems to have chimed in yet. Perhaps you’re waiting for me to get the ball rolling:

In Grand Teton, I love the moment when hiking up the trail to Garnet Canyon you finally turn west into the canyon itself (this happens a little more than three miles in) and are suddenly face-to-face with the Park’s biggest peaks. They come at you seemingly out of nowhere. One moment you’re in the trees and the next you’re staring at the Black Dike ripping up through the middle of the Middle Teton.

In Yellowstone, I love ice skating at Mammoth in the winter. I lived in Wyoming for over a decade before I knew there was even a rink there. They even let you use rental skates for free. There’s no cost to use the rink either. And then of course, hot chocolate and coffee and sweet treats are only a few steps away in the beautiful Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel.

At Devils Tower, well, I hate to admit I’ve yet to make it to the top of the tower. This wouldn’t be that horrible an admission if I weren’t a climber, but I am. And a climber in Wyoming who hasn’t yet done at least the Durrance Route on the Tower can’t really call themselves a climber.  I console myself with the sorry state of my climbing career with the best burger in the state: at the bar next to the town park in Hulett. Their margaritas are pretty amazing too. Hmmm, perhaps these margaritas and burgers are the reasons I’ve yet to make it to the top of Devils Tower.

So there are my favorites. I’m ready to hear yours. Feel free to tell me your favorite animal too.