July 20th, 2009 
americanrambler What better place to celebrate a birthday than in the Grand Tetons? And I would imagine the best way to wake up is by silly string and party poppers to the face. Dj, our fearless leader and everyone’s favorite southern man, turned another year older and wiser today.
The Death Canyon hike was sometimes treacherous, but always gorgeous. It felt like walking into different rooms of a really cool mansion, and each room was completely unique. Around every corner would be a surprise like a lake, waterfall, sunning marmots scattered on boulders, sun filtering through wind blown aspens and pines, rock fields, a raging river, some trickling streams, snow capped peaks, sheer rock faces with sparse trees clinging on with roots.
Ok, so we are in bear country, but I didn’t expect to see one up close and personal. A grizzly bear was about 4 campsites down. I guess we scared each other equally because after I hid behind the car and looked back, the bear, too, was running away. My adrenaline high was calmed by delicious chili, birthday strawberry shortcakes, a campfire and some rounds of that game catchphrase.
