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It's Smoky Out There In The National Parks

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By Kurt Repanshek - September 3rd, 2021

Summer 2021 has been a smoky one in the West, and visitors to many national parks have had to endure obscured views and wildfire smoke that can choke your throat and leave your clothes smelling like a campfire.

During a recent trip through Western Wyoming, I found the views in Grand Teton National Park to be quite unremarkable, which is something to say if you've stood before the Tetons on a clear day.

This was the view on August 24 from the Albright View Turnout/Kurt Repanshek

This was the midday view on August 24 from the Albright View Turnout.../Kurt Repanshek

...and this is the view on a clear day/NPS file

Things weren't much better a week later.

Normally the Tetons can be seen towering above the Cunningham Cabin in Grand Teton, but not on August 30/Kurt Repanshek

On a clear day you can get a stunning view of the Tetons through the cabin's windows, as Abu Sufian Mohammad Asib did./Abu Sufian Mohammad Asib

On a clear day you can get a stunning view of the Tetons through the cabin's window, as Abu Sufian Mohammad Asib did back in 2018/Abu Sufian Mohammad Asib, CC BY-SA 4.0

The views have been a little better in Yosemite National Park, where Traveler Contributing Photographer Rebecca Latson snagged some smoke at Hetch Hetchy this week.

Wildfire smoke hangs in the air at Hetch Hetchy in Yosemite National Park/Rebecca Latson

One thing all this smoke does is make for colorful sunsets due to all the particles in the air...

Wood smoke creates some dazzling, though unhealthy, sunsets, such as this one in Yosemite/Rebecca Latson

Despite all the problems with smoke -- poor views, health concerns, the smell -- national parks in the West seem as crowded as ever, if not more so. If you've been in the parks, what experience with wood smoke have you had? If you can share photos, please attach them in your comments.

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