GRIZZLY BEAR 399 AND HER CUB SPIRIT

t's hard to believe it's already been a year since the breathtaking moment I witnessed Grizzly Bear 399 and her beautiful cub, Spirit, in the wild expanse of Grand Teton National Park. That memory, so vivid and precious, feels like a lifetime ago, yet also just like yesterday.

The news of 399's tragic passing in October 2024, so soon after that sighting, was truly heartbreaking. She was such an iconic and resilient mother, a true queen of the Tetons, and to have seen her with Spirit was an experience I'll forever cherish. Her legacy, and the wild spirit she embodied, will never be forgotten.