Shanna, John, Bill and I left Pocatello around 9:30 in the morning (Thursday Dec 29) to spend the day taking pictures and enjoying the winter beauty of Idaho in general and Island Park ID in particular. It really was a spectacular drive.
Frosted trees along I15
The Grand Tetons viewed from St Anthony 
A cute little park in St Anthony
More water at the park 
I thought about trying to use the Mesa Falls Loop, most times it is closed by snow, but maybe… We drove a ways out from Ashton towards the loop and found three antelope hiding behind these huge haystacks eating hay. We spooked them and they ran off, sortof.
They didn’t go very far, but kept an eye on us hoping we’d leave. When we did, they scampered back to the windbreak and all you can eat buffet of hay stacks. 
The drive up the Ashton hill into Island Park was magical. 
Trees were loaded with snow. In some cases they were overloaded and broken or damaged by the weight. Sometimes the tree would manage to spring back and snow would poof out in a mini avalanche with fairy snow dusting into the air.
Shanna spotted this fence where snow of more than 24″ balanced
Henry’s Fork is wide and shallow and the water was hosting a large number of Trumpeter swans, mallards, goldeneyes, Canada geese, and other waterfowl.
Adult and juvenile Trumpeter swans 
There were so many, many swans.
We stopped for a late lunch at the Pines (http://www.pinesislandpark.com/) where John’s friend works. It was awesome. By then I needed hot chocolate. In my quest for decent photos I got out of the car and walked on, and then through some snow. The walking was interspersed with pratfalls. Nothing like soft snow up to your knees to ease your landing. It was quite funny. At least I thought so. My hands got cold and my pride took a hit but I did get some good pictures so HA!
More swans, geese, and ducks on the river
It seemed like every Trumpeter swan was accompanied by at least one duck.
I loved this swan’s foot. An imperfect picture for the end of this post. I wish I’d gotten a more focused shot. I really am such an amateur. I take a lot of pictures and some of them end up being great. Perhaps I’ll take a class. At the very least I’m going to talk more to the photography experts in my family on how to improve. 
I’m sad that while we got to see two Bald Eagles, I never got one to stop and pose. Still, it was a lovely trip — Jenny
BlueRavenBirders 
This brings many years memories flooding back! We had been married only a short time and began trips to Island Park. Oh the beautiful memories! This collection (as well as your many others) have brought so much joy!
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