I didn't appreciate just how dark the night can be until I started logging a lot of time in the wee small hours of the morning at Grand Teton National Park. If it's a new moon and there's cloud cover you might be hard-pressed even to make out the Tetons. That's saying something; a towering mountain range just a few miles away is obviously not an insignificant landmark.

GTNP isn't officially a dark sky reserve but if you're going in at night I promise you'll want a headlamp.

I've also learned to appreciate that the Teton Range is going to do what it's going to do. The mountains influence the weather surrounding them. The first order of business when I get up at 0-dark-30 for a sunrise shoot is to poke my head out for a look at the sky. In a way it's an empty exercise: what I see directly overhead isn't necessarily the same thing I'm going to see above the peaks. Whatever is (or isn't) up there certainly isn't going to keep me from heading out.

You never know what you're going to get when stepping into an inky morning in the Tetons.

There's always a heightened feeling of anticipation as my eyes strain to see the outlines of the mountains. What will the morning bring? Especially when it's pitch black the Tetons can remain hidden for a while. I sit and wait. And peer into the darkness. It's exhilarating when those magnificent shapes begin to appear.

As it lightens further I can begin to assess the situation regarding clouds. Too many? Too few? Are they moving? In what direction? How quickly?

Unless the peaks are completely socked in, I don't get too worried about what's happening above them. Things can change dramatically - and relatively quickly. You just have to be patient, see what's going to happen, and be ready to react. (Besides, there's nothing I can do about the conditions...)

I generally won't make a photograph if the peak of the Grand or Mount Moran is obscured by clouds. Other than that, it's game on.

I've seen localized showers drift from south to north over the peaks on an otherwise cloudless morning. I've been sitting in the rain yet treated to dry conditions and beautiful color two hours later when the sun comes up. Heavy cloud cover can lift to reveal a lovely scene as sunrise nears. There may be spectacular bands of low fog. Or perhaps it's a day when the sun will remain hidden - yet dreamy landscapes can be created via long exposures.

It's all part of the magic.

They say the anticipation is often more enjoyable than the actual experience. Not always true! They can both be fun. Take an early morning trek into the Tetons and see for yourself.