Jenny Lake Climbing Rangers' blog
JLCR summer: 307-739-3343
JL Ranger Station is CLOSED
GTNP Emergency Dispatch: 307-739-3301
307-690-3301 for emergency texting
* Teton County Backcounrty SOS App *
Bridger-Teton Avalanche Forecast
Wyoming Road Conditions
Climbing Information: 307-739-3604
BC Camping Permits: 307-739-3309
Visitor Info: 307-739-3399 (or 3300)
Every Kid in a Park
GTNP News Releases
Email: grte_info@nps.gov
M-F's GT Summit Forecast
NWS Extended Forecast 11,600'
NWS Hourly Forecast 11,600'
Forecast: GTNP / JXN
Sun, Moon, Planet Times in JXN
MountainWeather.com's JH Weather Map
MesoWest Weather Stations
Lower Saddle Weather Station
Current Weather & Visibility GTNP
Grand Teton Webcams
BC Camping Permits: 307-739-3309
Visitor Info: 307-739-3399 (or 3300)
Every Kid in a Park
GTNP News Releases
Email: grte_info@nps.gov
M-F's GT Summit Forecast
NWS Extended Forecast 11,600'
NWS Hourly Forecast 11,600'
Forecast: GTNP / JXN
Sun, Moon, Planet Times in JXN
MountainWeather.com's JH Weather Map
MesoWest Weather Stations
Lower Saddle Weather Station
Current Weather & Visibility GTNP
Grand Teton Webcams
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****** WILDLIFE ******
IS ON THE MOVE
Drive With Care
15 miles west of the Grand Teton @ 6227'
Jackson Hole Airport Weather Station
3-Day Precip Data at the JH Airport
Lightning Map
Runoff or Precip + Low Temps = ICE
It is common for the Grand Teton to receive some moisture that is not recorded by this weather station. Precipitation can be highly localized in the Tetons and the mountains can get more precipitation than the valley floor. The BLUE precip line on the above graph sometimes lags behind real time data if it hasn't rained at this location.
JLCR's Conditions Reports
APPROACH, UPPER EXUM, OWEN-SPALDING
News and Events:
Snow, ice, and wet rock awaits climbers on the Owen-Spalding. The Upper Exum was dry on the critical pitches. Snow and ice was found on ledges and in shaded areas like the Wind Tunnel & Wall Street. 4 parties made it to the summit: 2 on the Upper Exum, 1 on the OS, 1 on OS via Wittich Crack. Most climbers bailed. We took crampons but did not use them. Much of the snow from the previous week has melted away.
Only one party was camping in Garnet Canyon for a Sunday climb. The Lower Saddle's weather station was removed on Friday, and the ranger's hut was disassembled.
The Catwalk
Snow, ice, and wet rock awaits climbers on the Owen-Spalding. The Upper Exum was dry on the critical pitches. Snow and ice was found on ledges and in shaded areas like the Wind Tunnel & Wall Street. 4 parties made it to the summit: 2 on the Upper Exum, 1 on the OS, 1 on OS via Wittich Crack. Most climbers bailed. We took crampons but did not use them. Much of the snow from the previous week has melted away.
Only one party was camping in Garnet Canyon for a Sunday climb. The Lower Saddle's weather station was removed on Friday, and the ranger's hut was disassembled.
Just before the Chockstone Chimney
This area is a natural drainage so it sees plenty of ice. There was plenty of dry rock.
This area is a natural drainage so it sees plenty of ice. There was plenty of dry rock.
On Sept. 7, 28-year old Deidre DeSantis from Oakdale, Pennsylvania, was descending the Middle Teton when she slipped on snow and fell approximately 30 feet while off-route. She sustained minor injuries and was stranded on a very small ledge until rescued by rangers. Rangers left Lupine Meadows just after 9pm but were unable to reach her until daybreak the following day.
~ A Few Trip Reports ~
April Through October
July 17th, 2016 (UXM) PNG Variation
~ Greater Details ~
Overview - Upper Exum
Overview - Owen-Spalding
Detailed Look At Specific Route Features
The Approach & Route Overviews
~ Other Trip Reports ~
MountainProject Owen-Spalding
MP Upper Exum
MP Forums for beta
MP All Forums including Lost & Found
SummitPost Grand Teton Routes
Google Search Trip Reports
YDS Class Rating
Let's state the obvious. Everyone experiences a climb differently. A dry Owen-Spalding route will feel like a scramble to a professional climber like Adam Ondra. An inexperienced mountaineer may feel great trepidation, and physically challenged.
The Owen-Spalding route is the easiest & fastest climb to the summit when dry. This is the Grand Teton's busiest route and it is often climbed by people who have no climbing or alpine mountaineering experience. The climbing demands some agility & thoughtful finesse. It has a short section of very exposed climbing that scares off many people. There is less than 300 feet of 5th-class climbing. A healthy fear of the unknown keeps many athletes from free-soloing this route who could otherwise make a successful summit on their own. The OS is considered to be a Class 5.4 climb on the YDS scale of difficulty when dry.
The Upper Exum is the sunny alternative to the shady Owen-Spalding. Compared to the Owen-Spalding, the route is longer, the rock is often steeper, some holds are smaller and not immediately obvious, and there's a short faith-based friction section. Additionally, it can be difficult, and impossible for some, to safely turn around and retreat if they're free-soloing the Upper Exum. Free-soloing this route with no previous climbing experience is not recommended. Consider the OS first. This is a YDS Class 5.5 climb.
There are plenty of opportunities to cover more challenging terrain along these routes should you choose to do so. There are many ways to travel through chimneys and variations along these routes are abundant. Some variations cover less challenging terrain. For example, climbers on the Upper Exum have the option to bypass the Friction Pitch by using an easier variation to the east when it's dry. Climbing this mountain with unavoidable wet, icy, or snowy conditions is not recommended unless you have previous experience doing so.
The Grand Teton has a long history of accepting moderately fit and very determined individuals to its summit. The majority of climbers are roping up for this climb. It's not always dry, not always easy for everyone, and not always within a climber's comfort zone to even consider free-soloing. The information provided on this website should give you a good feel for what to expect and how to proceed but it's impossible for us to know how hard it will be for you or how well you will manage the hazards.
The Upper Exum is the sunny alternative to the shady Owen-Spalding. Compared to the Owen-Spalding, the route is longer, the rock is often steeper, some holds are smaller and not immediately obvious, and there's a short faith-based friction section. Additionally, it can be difficult, and impossible for some, to safely turn around and retreat if they're free-soloing the Upper Exum. Free-soloing this route with no previous climbing experience is not recommended. Consider the OS first. This is a YDS Class 5.5 climb.
There are plenty of opportunities to cover more challenging terrain along these routes should you choose to do so. There are many ways to travel through chimneys and variations along these routes are abundant. Some variations cover less challenging terrain. For example, climbers on the Upper Exum have the option to bypass the Friction Pitch by using an easier variation to the east when it's dry. Climbing this mountain with unavoidable wet, icy, or snowy conditions is not recommended unless you have previous experience doing so.
The Grand Teton has a long history of accepting moderately fit and very determined individuals to its summit. The majority of climbers are roping up for this climb. It's not always dry, not always easy for everyone, and not always within a climber's comfort zone to even consider free-soloing. The information provided on this website should give you a good feel for what to expect and how to proceed but it's impossible for us to know how hard it will be for you or how well you will manage the hazards.
"The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up." Muhammad Ali
~ Climbers ~
Three former University of Montana students
saw the Grand Teton in 1923 and decided to climb it. Dave DeLap, Quin Blackburn and Andy DePirro made the third verified ascent of
the Grand Teton with no similar climbing experience, no gear, and no knowledge
of the area — free-soloing and on-sighting the Owen-Spalding route in a
single day back when there was no climbers' trail (FYI: the 1898 Owen party climbed twice). They started at 7 a.m., reached the summit at 5:55 p.m.,
and at 11 p.m. they got back to timberline by moonlight and slept. They
had a Eastman 2A Brownie Kodak camera to document their adventure. Two days later, Eleanor Davis became the first woman to climb the Grand Teton with Albert Ellingwood guiding. Here's a nice picture of Albert, in knee socks, & Eleanor atop Pyramid Peak near Aspen, Colorado.
In the above 1924 photo, Albert Ellingwood is on top of the Austrian mountaineer Hermann Buhl. The American mountaineer Carl Blaurock took the photo.
The above image was captured by William O. Owen of John Shive, Franklin Spalding, and Frank Petersen on the summit of the Grand Teton in 1898. Owen took several photos on the summit. They claimed the first verified ascent of the Grand Teton. Descendants of the Peterson family still live in Jackson Hole. There used to be plaque on the summit commemorating the ascent of the Owen party. It was stolen in 1977.
Paul Petzoldt, with no climbing experience, first climbed the Grand in 1924 at the age of 16 while wearing cowboy boots. ''We did everything wrong,'' the more safety-minded Paul said in later years. In 1931, an 18-year-old Glenn Exum borrowed a pair of leather-cleated football shoes two sizes too big from Paul and went on to on-sight and free solo the Upper Exum route. He leaped across the exposure at the end of Wall Street. Petzoldt followed on the same day and free-soloed the Upper Exum Ridge after guiding clients up the Owen-Spalding.
DeLap, Blackburn, DePirro - Summit, & in Yellowstone
The above image was captured by William O. Owen of John Shive, Franklin Spalding, and Frank Petersen on the summit of the Grand Teton in 1898. Owen took several photos on the summit. They claimed the first verified ascent of the Grand Teton. Descendants of the Peterson family still live in Jackson Hole. There used to be plaque on the summit commemorating the ascent of the Owen party. It was stolen in 1977.
Paul Petzoldt, with no climbing experience, first climbed the Grand in 1924 at the age of 16 while wearing cowboy boots. ''We did everything wrong,'' the more safety-minded Paul said in later years. In 1931, an 18-year-old Glenn Exum borrowed a pair of leather-cleated football shoes two sizes too big from Paul and went on to on-sight and free solo the Upper Exum route. He leaped across the exposure at the end of Wall Street. Petzoldt followed on the same day and free-soloed the Upper Exum Ridge after guiding clients up the Owen-Spalding.
Glen, Paul, and dogs on the summit. 1950
The above Trailfinder's image appeared in the book "Glenn Exum: Never a Bad Word or a Twisted Rope". The photo is dated 1952 in the book. The Trailfinder's say it was 1950. Two dogs signed the 1950 register. Dogs are not allowed in the backcountry these days.
Like many of today's climbers, Petzoldt was eager to document his climbs. The first known movie of an ascent on the Grand was in 1930 when Petzoldt guided a party of three men to the summit and they "Took 'movies' all the way". Where those movies ended up is a mystery. A year later in 1931, Paul guided another party that filmed their climb and you can watch the classic 1931 Grand Teton climbing video on Forrest McCarthy's YouTube channel. Nowadays, there may be a dozen people filming their climbs on any given summer morning. You can find 1000's of images, videos, and trip reports all over the Internet.
Like many of today's climbers, Petzoldt was eager to document his climbs. The first known movie of an ascent on the Grand was in 1930 when Petzoldt guided a party of three men to the summit and they "Took 'movies' all the way". Where those movies ended up is a mystery. A year later in 1931, Paul guided another party that filmed their climb and you can watch the classic 1931 Grand Teton climbing video on Forrest McCarthy's YouTube channel. Nowadays, there may be a dozen people filming their climbs on any given summer morning. You can find 1000's of images, videos, and trip reports all over the Internet.
U.S.
Olympic ski team member Laura McCabe was bringing up the rear with the
next generation on June 28th, 2015. Laura was married to Sean McCabe. The young adults were headed for the Upper Exum. If we heard correctly, Dashe McCabe climbed the GT at 7-years-old in 2013.
Jackson resident Kira Brazinski was busting loose on the summit in 2016 with a handstand. Ms. Brazinski has only one fully functioning leg but does more with one than most do with two.
7-year-old Greta Jensen
According to her father, Greta Jensen soloed the Grand Teton's
Owen-Spalding route when she was 7-years-old and
on her third attempt. We are unable to find any photo evidence of her free-soloing. It's quite possible that she free climbed the route instead. We ran into Greta on her second attempt and she appeared to be extremely comfortable and capable with mountaineering.
Peter Eubank climbed the Owen-Spalding route at the age of 6. It is often reported that he was 5 but he climbed Teewinot at 5, not the Grand. Peter and his family have had notable ripped-from-the-headlines life experiences that span the globe. Upon reflection, his climbing looks more like critical training.
Beo Charette climbed the Upper Exum in 2014 when he was 6. Between 1956 & 1958, Jeff Lowe (age 7), Greg Lowe (age 8), and Mike Lowe (age 10) all climbed the Exum Ridge with their father Ralph. A 13-year-old named Jay P. Bartlett and his 11-year-old brother Frank of Ogden, UT reached the summit on July 15th, 1933 with Paul Petzoldt as the guide, and in a single day from the valley floor. Hayden Wyatt climbed and skied the grand at 14 with his dad, Rick. 80-year-old Bob Riggs reached the summit in 2007 with Molly Loomis guiding.
Peter Eubank climbed the Owen-Spalding route at the age of 6. It is often reported that he was 5 but he climbed Teewinot at 5, not the Grand. Peter and his family have had notable ripped-from-the-headlines life experiences that span the globe. Upon reflection, his climbing looks more like critical training.
Beo Charette climbed the Upper Exum in 2014 when he was 6. Between 1956 & 1958, Jeff Lowe (age 7), Greg Lowe (age 8), and Mike Lowe (age 10) all climbed the Exum Ridge with their father Ralph. A 13-year-old named Jay P. Bartlett and his 11-year-old brother Frank of Ogden, UT reached the summit on July 15th, 1933 with Paul Petzoldt as the guide, and in a single day from the valley floor. Hayden Wyatt climbed and skied the grand at 14 with his dad, Rick. 80-year-old Bob Riggs reached the summit in 2007 with Molly Loomis guiding.
In 1924, Geraldine Lucas became the second woman to reach the summit. She was
58 (or 59) and woefully out of shape but tough and determined. Paul Petzoldt (16), everyone's guide, is sitting in the photo. The other men are, supposedly, Ike Powell, Allen Budge and Jack Crawford but they don't all appear in the August summit register. You'll walk by Geraldine's old homestead if you use the Burned Wagon Gulch trailhead instead of the Lupine Meadows' trailhead. Upon her death in 1938, her ashes were buried in a large boulder and sealed with a plaque. The impossible-to-miss boulder is alongside the Burned Wagon Gulch trail. You'll also see her name carved into the rock that holds the survey monument at the summit. Descendants of the Lucas family still live in Jackson Hole.
Nancy Stevens at the Crawl
In 2012, 51-year-old Nancy Stevens became the first totally blind woman to
summit. Among other highlights in her life, she also skied in the 1998 Winter Paralympics. Teton Adaptive Sports teamed up with Exum Mountain Guides to guide Ms. Stevens. Ryan Burke, with TAS, suggested the ascent after a single-pitch climb in Jackson.
“It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it’s the pebble in your shoe.” Muhammad Ali
Margaret Smith Craighead
Margaret was on the first manless ascent of the Grand Teton
in 1939. It took them 4 hours and 30 minutes to reach the summit from
the Lower Saddle. By the age of 16 she had climbed most of the major
peaks in the Teton Range. Margaret, at 19, wasn't the only teenager in the Tetons in 1939. Within a week of her manless ascent, 13-year-old Bill Johnston from Casper could be seen climbing the Grand Teton. And a 17-year-old Jim Crooks, who was an occasional climbing partner of 15-year-old Fred Beckey, was guiding a group of 19 people up the Owen-Spalding route.
40-year-old Joe Hawkes made his 5 hour and 21 minute FKT round-trip in 1939. By today's standards, it's not an uncommon time for middle-aged runners. 1939 was also the year that Lloyd and Mary Anderson, who founded REI a year earlier, descended on the Tetons with a group of over 100 members of The Mountaineers. Their trip was documented in the 1939 Annual of The Mountaineer which just happens to include Fred Beckey's first ascent of Mount Despair. You can still peruse the old GTNP Summit Registers on Paul Horton's great website if you want a glimpse into the climbing history of the Tetons.
From The Lupine Meadows Trailhead
4.1 miles Platforms Camping Zone
4.7 miles Meadows Camping Zone
5.5 miles Petzoldt's Caves Camping Zone
6.2 miles Morainal Camping Zone
7.0 miles Lower Saddle @ 11,600'
The Upper Saddle is near 13,200'
The Summit is near 13,775'
13,775-11,600 = 2,175'
We have no idea if the distances are correct.
If
you're not free-soloing, it may seem like forever. We'll assume you're
traveling light, you know the route, you're acclimatized, conditions are
good, you're fit, and you're free-soloing the Owen-Spalding route. Back in 1939, while some climbers were taking just over 7 hours to reach the summit from the valley floor, Joe Hawkes was proving that 3 hours and 22 minutes was possible. Let's look at some stats for those who wish to go fast.
We're betting that you can easily clock a sub-7-hour round-trip on the Grand Teton if, out at Teton Village, you can reach the top of the JHMR's Tram on Rendezvous Mountain from the resort's parking lot in under 90 minutes using all the trail shortcuts. That's 46 vertical-feet/min over the 4,139 ft elevation gain. And we like to guesstimate that if you can hike up Jackson's Snow King Mountain in 30 minutes from the parking lot to the top of the Summit Chairlift (52.4 vertical-ft/min up 1,571 ft), then you can make a round-trip on the Grand Teton during mid-summer daylight hours while walking at a moderate pace. If you can top out on Snow King in under 23 minutes (68.3 vertical-ft/min — 0.3 miles), then a 5 to 6 hour round-trip, or much quicker, is possible. In 2017, Ryan Burke, 35, made three 6-hour round-trips (back-to-back car-to-car summits) of the Grand Teton. He actually completed the three summits in 17 hours, 54 minutes. Some settle for two. Meredith Edwards made two back-to-back round-trips up the Grand in about 16 hours just before Ryan's threesome.
As another time reference for runners on two longer courses up the same mountains, take a look at Stephen Mulherin's race times during the 2016 Snow King Hill Climb & the Rendezvous Mountain Hill Climb. He clocked in at 00h20m49s during the Snow King race and then he punched a time of 1h05m15s up Rendezvous. Stephen also nailed the fastest time at the Grand Targhee Hill Climb in 2017 with 28 minutes and 19 seconds on a 3-mile course that gains 1,840 feet of elevation (65 vertical-ft/min — 3.0 miles). Stephen's round-trip on the Grand Teton sits at 3h00m34s. Stephen used to keep his activities under the social-media radar which was a refreshing change of pace for Jackson athletes but that didn't last: Here's a nice video about his pursuit of the GT's FKT:.
We aren't sure but it seems like Stephen has given up on his goal of nailing the FKT. It is hard to pull off. In the above video, Stephen most likely overstates the distance to the top of the Grand. The estimated, and often disputed, distance from the trailhead to the Grand Teton's summit is 7.7 miles with an elevation gain near 7000 feet.
A four hour one-way trip from the trailhead to the summit works out to 1750 vertical-feet per hour or 29.2 vertical-ft/minute. If the traveled distance is actually 7.7 miles, then that works out to 1.92 miles per hour. A 3-hour trip works out to 38.9 vertical-ft/min. A 1.8-hour trip to the summit works out to 63.6 vertical-ft/min. That's how fast the best runners are averaging over the 7.7 mile ascent path.
As Jason D. Martin once said, speed in the mountains is safety; and, speed and efficiency are everything. Well, perhaps, más o menos.
Obviously, many factors affect everyone's round-trip times which can be all over the map during a typical climbing season. Mid-way into the summer after we have a few trips under our belt we can sail under 7 hours without running. That's near the limit of our physical abilities. Nursing injures or not feeling 100%, it might take us 11 hours to make the round-trip. Time can extend past 15 hours with really poor conditions. We aim for an 8-hour day on average.
Our fastest walking time in 2017 from the trailhead to the summit was 3 hrs and 32 minutes. The trip back to the trailhead at Lupine Meadows took 2:55. The total round-trip time was 6 hours and 27 minutes. We didn't run or jog but we did walk very quickly when we could. We mostly walked at a moderate pace from the Lower Saddle to the trailhead during the descent. Often, safety in the mountains means slowing down when gravity, momentum, and fatigue are working together. Or, when old joints need a softer landing. We never run.
On our fastest days, we use hiking poles, carry a very small water bottle, and bring an energy gel pack. Not much else comes along, maybe a phone. Runners sometimes travel with nothing but shorts, shirt, and shoes.
Groups usually take much longer than individuals. There are a few individuals who set out on a one-day adventure and take 24 hours to finish. There's nothing wrong with taking 24 hours if you're prepared to do so. No one knows how long it will take you to climb the Grand Teton.
When discussing her first ascent up the Direct North Face of the Grand Teton, Jolene Unsoeld insisted that you don't get up in the middle of the night to start anything fun.
What time you leave depends upon your preference for warmth, sleep, solitude, and your choice to free-solo or rope up. It also depends upon your fitness, skill set, experience on the route, and your acclimatization to the elevation. And, what time you leave depends upon the route & weather conditions. There is no best time to leave for every climber but there are some basic guidelines to follow for summer climbers.
Most free-soloing climbers leave Lupine Meadows near sunrise during the summer high season. Many mountaineers who are roping up on a single-day round-trip will leave the Lupine Meadows between midnight and 2 a.m. If the extended weather outlook is nice, climbers can leave at any time that fits their schedule.
The park service frowns on groups larger than 2 or 3 people on the busy popular routes and fellow climbers aren't too excited to see large groups either. Large groups can try a post 9 am start from the Lower Saddle if the weather permits. Or, they can try a very very early start like the climbing guides. The climbing concessionaires often start their climbs by 4 a.m. from their high camps near 11,600'. They start early to avoid afternoon thunderstorms, to meet deadlines, to catch the sunrise, and to avoid other climbers. Sometimes, they leave later in the day.
You're more likely to find icy conditions in the morning especially on the bookends of the summer climbing season. A later start gives thin ice a chance to burn off as temperatures rise. It is often the case that climbers attempting to summit in the morning under poor conditions are retreating or greatly delayed while climbers attempting to summit later in the day go on to have a great day climbing — warm, quick, and ice free (or more manageable). If conditions are questionable, if it fits your schedule, and if the weather is improving, try a later start.
To illustrate that point, look no further than the first ascent by an individual with Down syndrome. In August of 2017, Bob Harris made a successful climb up the Grand Teton. His team departed the trailhead just before 6 a.m. and arrived at the summit around 5:15 p.m. The climbing was cold and icy in the morning. When they arrived in the afternoon it was nice and warm with safer conditions. After climbing, they camped overnight at the Lower Saddle. Had they arrived at the Upper Saddle before noon they may have turned around or had a much longer day.
Assuming they have lost sleep, climbers starting at midnight are less alert than someone leaving the trailhead at sunrise and they get more tired as the day rolls along. That's a safety hazard as is route-finding in the dark. Your attention, reaction time, and ability to make good decisions are all negatively impacted by a loss of sleep. Having said that, the truth is that many novice climbers have difficulty sleeping before a trip. If the adrenaline is high, you might as well start your climb. You're going to be sleepy either way but it's probably better to be sleepy for 10 hours instead of 18. You can always take a 30 minute nap at the Lower Saddle. It has been done.
If you don't mind a cold dark early-morning ascent then you can certainly follow the slow moving climbing concessionaires, or any other party, if they are on a route you wish to climb. Those early starts often make for some nice sunrise photography.
Early-season climbers who are traversing over snow on the approach may need to factor in additional time to deal with it. Sometimes the snow makes the climbing and the approach easier. If the snow is firm and grippy, you can quickly move to your destination. Of course, early-season climbers can cut their time in the backcountry by using skis for the approach. Spring skiers usually leave very early in the morning in order to avoid poor snow conditions and the natural hazards associated with warming temperatures.
Thunderstorms, if they are in a summer forecast, usually arrive around mid-afternoon. We try to summit and get back to the Lower Saddle before 1 pm under those conditions. Obviously, the best time to be off the mountain will vary from day to day just as the best time to start will vary with each climber.
40-year-old Joe Hawkes made his 5 hour and 21 minute FKT round-trip in 1939. By today's standards, it's not an uncommon time for middle-aged runners. 1939 was also the year that Lloyd and Mary Anderson, who founded REI a year earlier, descended on the Tetons with a group of over 100 members of The Mountaineers. Their trip was documented in the 1939 Annual of The Mountaineer which just happens to include Fred Beckey's first ascent of Mount Despair. You can still peruse the old GTNP Summit Registers on Paul Horton's great website if you want a glimpse into the climbing history of the Tetons.
Jim Huidekoper owned JHMG from about 1970 to 1975. Stearnie skied Teton Pass before you did and he owned Hungry Jacks in Wilson. Schwartz was a partner in the old Point Store at Hoback Junction.
Any summer backcountry camping permit involving technical climbing or mountaineering and any backcountry camping permit for Garnet Canyon must be picked up at the Jenny Lake Ranger Station.
A visit with the Jenny Lake Climbing Rangers is a good start to any adventure. Despite having concessionaires in the mountains everyday during the summer, the rangers don't always have up-to-date information on climbing conditions along the most popular routes. Nonetheless, the climbing rangers often have invaluable insights related to route finding & cruxes on climbs in the Teton Range. Many rangers are former guides. The rangers have a full staff between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Their ranger station at Jenny Lake may have slightly different opening & closing dates but it tends to be within a day or two of those holidays. You can give them a call at 307.739.3343, 8-5pm MST during the peak of the summer.
The ranger's backcountry hut at the Lower Saddle is usually assembled by mid-June and disassembled by mid-September if time and weather permits. Once assembled, you might find a ranger who can provide useful beta on your intended route. Their hut is sometimes occupied by rangers who are not climbing rangers, sometimes family members, etc.
To make a donation to the JLCR, please visit the Grand Teton Association website, the JLCR website, the JLCR Blog, the GTNP Support Your Park web page, or the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole website.
Search and Rescue
Accidents & Mountain Rescue
Search & Rescue Operations
Jenny Lake Ranger History
Senior Day on the summit
Paul Horton and Irene Beardsley share a moment the day before her 76th birthday after climbing the Exum in 2011. We don't get too impressed with fancy-name climbers but if you're climbing the Exum Ridge at 75 and you were the fourth woman to earn a Ph.D. in physics from Stanford, we're impressed.
A summit register from Aug. 1958
Dan Simon took his 8-year-old daughter Gail up the Grand Teton in 1958 and left a lock of her auburn hair attached to the summit register. Look closely and you may find a lost engagement ring near the summit but you won't find a register these days. They disappeared from most of the peaks in the 80's and 90's.
Obviously, a diverse group of people have made it to the summit. Individuals with no climbing experience and no particular athletic ability can sometimes sail past those who would seem overly qualified for a climb up this mountain. We have watched people who crush 5.10 lines in a gym become somewhat paralyzed by the exposure and modest climbing challenges on this mountain. Just because an 8-year-old girl can reach the summit doesn't mean you can.
Obviously, a diverse group of people have made it to the summit. Individuals with no climbing experience and no particular athletic ability can sometimes sail past those who would seem overly qualified for a climb up this mountain. We have watched people who crush 5.10 lines in a gym become somewhat paralyzed by the exposure and modest climbing challenges on this mountain. Just because an 8-year-old girl can reach the summit doesn't mean you can.
~ Jenny Lake Climbing Rangers ~
Any summer backcountry camping permit involving technical climbing or mountaineering and any backcountry camping permit for Garnet Canyon must be picked up at the Jenny Lake Ranger Station.
A visit with the Jenny Lake Climbing Rangers is a good start to any adventure. Despite having concessionaires in the mountains everyday during the summer, the rangers don't always have up-to-date information on climbing conditions along the most popular routes. Nonetheless, the climbing rangers often have invaluable insights related to route finding & cruxes on climbs in the Teton Range. Many rangers are former guides. The rangers have a full staff between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Their ranger station at Jenny Lake may have slightly different opening & closing dates but it tends to be within a day or two of those holidays. You can give them a call at 307.739.3343, 8-5pm MST during the peak of the summer.
The ranger's backcountry hut at the Lower Saddle is usually assembled by mid-June and disassembled by mid-September if time and weather permits. Once assembled, you might find a ranger who can provide useful beta on your intended route. Their hut is sometimes occupied by rangers who are not climbing rangers, sometimes family members, etc.
The rangers occasionally
act as if it's a burden to do their job and they can be
quick to criticize, and sometimes fine, unguided parties who get into
trouble in the Tetons while ignoring the obvious failures of their concessionaires (usually people they know). From
our vantage point, it appears that they are holding the less
experienced mountaineer to a higher standard than the professionals.
In 2017, the staff consisted of 6 permanent and 15 seasonal climbing rangers. There were two different types of open positions in 2018. The Park Ranger Protection & Climbing position involved work as a law enforcement officer and as a JLCR. It paid $19.74 to $22.46 per hour. The other position, Park Ranger Climbing, did not involve law enforcement work. It paid $16 to $19.82 per hour. You can make more money mowing lawns in Teton County.
In 2017, the staff consisted of 6 permanent and 15 seasonal climbing rangers. There were two different types of open positions in 2018. The Park Ranger Protection & Climbing position involved work as a law enforcement officer and as a JLCR. It paid $19.74 to $22.46 per hour. The other position, Park Ranger Climbing, did not involve law enforcement work. It paid $16 to $19.82 per hour. You can make more money mowing lawns in Teton County.
Lupine Meadows Rescue Cache
Search and Rescue
Accidents & Mountain Rescue
Search & Rescue Operations
Jenny Lake Ranger History
Climbing Conditions
~ Local Climbing Guides ~
Unauthorized commercial guiding or participating in an unauthorized commercial climb is illegal in Grand Teton National Park.
The majority of Americans could never afford a commercially guided climb with the concessionaires of Grand Teton National Park. The target demographic of the climbing concessionaires is very white & very wealthy. While the cost seems particularly exclusive, the fact remains that most people make do without the guides and climbers are not required to pay a fee or acquire a permit to climb in GTNP. All visitors pay an entrance fee and possibly a camping fee.
The fascination with the elites isn't limited to the concessionaires. The only time Scott Guenther, GTNP's head climbing ranger, climbed the Grand in 2016 was when a contingent of chauffeured VIP's happened to be on the mountain. For guides and rangers, those VIP's are like the bosom of Kate Upton. Apparently, the almost-director of the National Park Service and former superintendent of GTNP, David Vela, is especially passionate about making our national parks more relevant to diverse populations; however, refocusing the attention of the park's concessionaires on a different climbing demographic seems highly unlikely. The NPS currently regulates concessionaire rates and takes a percentage of the profits.
If you're using a concessionaire, be sure to pick one that best fits your personal needs. Both guiding services employ exceptional mountaineers and they have similar safety records but they do provide different services. For example, only one concessionaire is allowed to guide the Owen-Spalding route during the height of the climbing season. The JH Mountain Guides' high camp is located away from the public camping zones if you're looking for more solitude.
About half of all climbers signing up for a guided climb of the Grand never summit. The reasons can vary from poor conditions to the failure of clients to acclimate to the elevation or effort. Ask your guiding service about their success rate. The high cost is usually non-refundable due to weather, conditions, or your inability to summit.
Climbing alone was prohibited in the 1930's when Paul Petzoldt was running the first guiding concession in Grand Teton National Park. Apparently, Paul (video) was collecting $8/day for a guided climb when he started. He increased that to $12.50 during the Great Depression. That $8 a day for a climb with Paul would cost less than $140 in 2019 after accounting for inflation. Prices were in the $50 range for two-day trip up the Grand in the 60's. The first time Paul was asked to guide a group of men up the mountain he charged them $100 — more than he could make all summer as a ranch hand.
The guide books are available at the Teton County Library (TCLIB.org). Some older and fascinating guide books are also available. We have yet to find a guide book worth recommending but they all have some value. Climbers, with guidebooks in hand, still get off route, confused, and frustrated with their guidance.
The former head climbing ranger for GTNP, Renny Jackson, co-authored 'A Climber's Guide to the Teton Range' with Leigh N. Ortenburger. Nowadays, Renny occasionally guides for Exum, and is rumored to be working on an updated edition of the climber's guide. Leigh died in the Oakland & Berkeley Hills fire of 1991. He was a mathematician for GTE's Sylvania and began climbing in the Tetons in the late 1940s. Renny & Leigh didn't actually climb all the routes in the book and some descriptions may seem at odds with reality.
The majority of Americans could never afford a commercially guided climb with the concessionaires of Grand Teton National Park. The target demographic of the climbing concessionaires is very white & very wealthy. While the cost seems particularly exclusive, the fact remains that most people make do without the guides and climbers are not required to pay a fee or acquire a permit to climb in GTNP. All visitors pay an entrance fee and possibly a camping fee.
The fascination with the elites isn't limited to the concessionaires. The only time Scott Guenther, GTNP's head climbing ranger, climbed the Grand in 2016 was when a contingent of chauffeured VIP's happened to be on the mountain. For guides and rangers, those VIP's are like the bosom of Kate Upton. Apparently, the almost-director of the National Park Service and former superintendent of GTNP, David Vela, is especially passionate about making our national parks more relevant to diverse populations; however, refocusing the attention of the park's concessionaires on a different climbing demographic seems highly unlikely. The NPS currently regulates concessionaire rates and takes a percentage of the profits.
If you're using a concessionaire, be sure to pick one that best fits your personal needs. Both guiding services employ exceptional mountaineers and they have similar safety records but they do provide different services. For example, only one concessionaire is allowed to guide the Owen-Spalding route during the height of the climbing season. The JH Mountain Guides' high camp is located away from the public camping zones if you're looking for more solitude.
About half of all climbers signing up for a guided climb of the Grand never summit. The reasons can vary from poor conditions to the failure of clients to acclimate to the elevation or effort. Ask your guiding service about their success rate. The high cost is usually non-refundable due to weather, conditions, or your inability to summit.
Climbing alone was prohibited in the 1930's when Paul Petzoldt was running the first guiding concession in Grand Teton National Park. Apparently, Paul (video) was collecting $8/day for a guided climb when he started. He increased that to $12.50 during the Great Depression. That $8 a day for a climb with Paul would cost less than $140 in 2019 after accounting for inflation. Prices were in the $50 range for two-day trip up the Grand in the 60's. The first time Paul was asked to guide a group of men up the mountain he charged them $100 — more than he could make all summer as a ranch hand.
~ The Guide Books ~
A Climber's Guide to the Teton Range 'The Bible'
Its presentation is a little dated.
Best Climbs Grand Teton National Park
Best Climbs Grand Teton National Park
The guide books are available at the Teton County Library (TCLIB.org). Some older and fascinating guide books are also available. We have yet to find a guide book worth recommending but they all have some value. Climbers, with guidebooks in hand, still get off route, confused, and frustrated with their guidance.
The former head climbing ranger for GTNP, Renny Jackson, co-authored 'A Climber's Guide to the Teton Range' with Leigh N. Ortenburger. Nowadays, Renny occasionally guides for Exum, and is rumored to be working on an updated edition of the climber's guide. Leigh died in the Oakland & Berkeley Hills fire of 1991. He was a mathematician for GTE's Sylvania and began climbing in the Tetons in the late 1940s. Renny & Leigh didn't actually climb all the routes in the book and some descriptions may seem at odds with reality.
~ Published Distances ~
From The Lupine Meadows Trailhead
4.1 miles Platforms Camping Zone
4.7 miles Meadows Camping Zone
5.5 miles Petzoldt's Caves Camping Zone
6.2 miles Morainal Camping Zone
7.0 miles Lower Saddle @ 11,600'
The Upper Saddle is near 13,200'
The Summit is near 13,775'
13,775-11,600 = 2,175'
We have no idea if the distances are correct.
~ How Long Will It Take To Climb The Grand Teton ~
We're betting that you can easily clock a sub-7-hour round-trip on the Grand Teton if, out at Teton Village, you can reach the top of the JHMR's Tram on Rendezvous Mountain from the resort's parking lot in under 90 minutes using all the trail shortcuts. That's 46 vertical-feet/min over the 4,139 ft elevation gain. And we like to guesstimate that if you can hike up Jackson's Snow King Mountain in 30 minutes from the parking lot to the top of the Summit Chairlift (52.4 vertical-ft/min up 1,571 ft), then you can make a round-trip on the Grand Teton during mid-summer daylight hours while walking at a moderate pace. If you can top out on Snow King in under 23 minutes (68.3 vertical-ft/min — 0.3 miles), then a 5 to 6 hour round-trip, or much quicker, is possible. In 2017, Ryan Burke, 35, made three 6-hour round-trips (back-to-back car-to-car summits) of the Grand Teton. He actually completed the three summits in 17 hours, 54 minutes. Some settle for two. Meredith Edwards made two back-to-back round-trips up the Grand in about 16 hours just before Ryan's threesome.
As another time reference for runners on two longer courses up the same mountains, take a look at Stephen Mulherin's race times during the 2016 Snow King Hill Climb & the Rendezvous Mountain Hill Climb. He clocked in at 00h20m49s during the Snow King race and then he punched a time of 1h05m15s up Rendezvous. Stephen also nailed the fastest time at the Grand Targhee Hill Climb in 2017 with 28 minutes and 19 seconds on a 3-mile course that gains 1,840 feet of elevation (65 vertical-ft/min — 3.0 miles). Stephen's round-trip on the Grand Teton sits at 3h00m34s. Stephen used to keep his activities under the social-media radar which was a refreshing change of pace for Jackson athletes but that didn't last: Here's a nice video about his pursuit of the GT's FKT:.
Stephen Mulherin
We aren't sure but it seems like Stephen has given up on his goal of nailing the FKT. It is hard to pull off. In the above video, Stephen most likely overstates the distance to the top of the Grand. The estimated, and often disputed, distance from the trailhead to the Grand Teton's summit is 7.7 miles with an elevation gain near 7000 feet.
A four hour one-way trip from the trailhead to the summit works out to 1750 vertical-feet per hour or 29.2 vertical-ft/minute. If the traveled distance is actually 7.7 miles, then that works out to 1.92 miles per hour. A 3-hour trip works out to 38.9 vertical-ft/min. A 1.8-hour trip to the summit works out to 63.6 vertical-ft/min. That's how fast the best runners are averaging over the 7.7 mile ascent path.
As Jason D. Martin once said, speed in the mountains is safety; and, speed and efficiency are everything. Well, perhaps, más o menos.
When we're free-soloing with
a non-climber who is very fit but not an athlete we aim for a 12-hour day
but plan for 16. With athletes who are looking for a
quick trip, we usually make the Owen-Spalding round-trip in under 10
hours under good conditions. Some
will move faster, some slower. Strong soloing
climbers who are walking quickly will usually give themselves
between 4 and 5 hours to summit from the Lupine Meadows trailhead.
Obviously, many factors affect everyone's round-trip times which can be all over the map during a typical climbing season. Mid-way into the summer after we have a few trips under our belt we can sail under 7 hours without running. That's near the limit of our physical abilities. Nursing injures or not feeling 100%, it might take us 11 hours to make the round-trip. Time can extend past 15 hours with really poor conditions. We aim for an 8-hour day on average.
Our fastest walking time in 2017 from the trailhead to the summit was 3 hrs and 32 minutes. The trip back to the trailhead at Lupine Meadows took 2:55. The total round-trip time was 6 hours and 27 minutes. We didn't run or jog but we did walk very quickly when we could. We mostly walked at a moderate pace from the Lower Saddle to the trailhead during the descent. Often, safety in the mountains means slowing down when gravity, momentum, and fatigue are working together. Or, when old joints need a softer landing. We never run.
On our fastest days, we use hiking poles, carry a very small water bottle, and bring an energy gel pack. Not much else comes along, maybe a phone. Runners sometimes travel with nothing but shorts, shirt, and shoes.
Groups usually take much longer than individuals. There are a few individuals who set out on a one-day adventure and take 24 hours to finish. There's nothing wrong with taking 24 hours if you're prepared to do so. No one knows how long it will take you to climb the Grand Teton.
"Don’t count the days; make the days count." Muhammad Ali
~ What Time Should I Leave ~
When discussing her first ascent up the Direct North Face of the Grand Teton, Jolene Unsoeld insisted that you don't get up in the middle of the night to start anything fun.
What time you leave depends upon your preference for warmth, sleep, solitude, and your choice to free-solo or rope up. It also depends upon your fitness, skill set, experience on the route, and your acclimatization to the elevation. And, what time you leave depends upon the route & weather conditions. There is no best time to leave for every climber but there are some basic guidelines to follow for summer climbers.
Most free-soloing climbers leave Lupine Meadows near sunrise during the summer high season. Many mountaineers who are roping up on a single-day round-trip will leave the Lupine Meadows between midnight and 2 a.m. If the extended weather outlook is nice, climbers can leave at any time that fits their schedule.
The park service frowns on groups larger than 2 or 3 people on the busy popular routes and fellow climbers aren't too excited to see large groups either. Large groups can try a post 9 am start from the Lower Saddle if the weather permits. Or, they can try a very very early start like the climbing guides. The climbing concessionaires often start their climbs by 4 a.m. from their high camps near 11,600'. They start early to avoid afternoon thunderstorms, to meet deadlines, to catch the sunrise, and to avoid other climbers. Sometimes, they leave later in the day.
You're more likely to find icy conditions in the morning especially on the bookends of the summer climbing season. A later start gives thin ice a chance to burn off as temperatures rise. It is often the case that climbers attempting to summit in the morning under poor conditions are retreating or greatly delayed while climbers attempting to summit later in the day go on to have a great day climbing — warm, quick, and ice free (or more manageable). If conditions are questionable, if it fits your schedule, and if the weather is improving, try a later start.
To illustrate that point, look no further than the first ascent by an individual with Down syndrome. In August of 2017, Bob Harris made a successful climb up the Grand Teton. His team departed the trailhead just before 6 a.m. and arrived at the summit around 5:15 p.m. The climbing was cold and icy in the morning. When they arrived in the afternoon it was nice and warm with safer conditions. After climbing, they camped overnight at the Lower Saddle. Had they arrived at the Upper Saddle before noon they may have turned around or had a much longer day.
Assuming they have lost sleep, climbers starting at midnight are less alert than someone leaving the trailhead at sunrise and they get more tired as the day rolls along. That's a safety hazard as is route-finding in the dark. Your attention, reaction time, and ability to make good decisions are all negatively impacted by a loss of sleep. Having said that, the truth is that many novice climbers have difficulty sleeping before a trip. If the adrenaline is high, you might as well start your climb. You're going to be sleepy either way but it's probably better to be sleepy for 10 hours instead of 18. You can always take a 30 minute nap at the Lower Saddle. It has been done.
If you don't mind a cold dark early-morning ascent then you can certainly follow the slow moving climbing concessionaires, or any other party, if they are on a route you wish to climb. Those early starts often make for some nice sunrise photography.
Early-season climbers who are traversing over snow on the approach may need to factor in additional time to deal with it. Sometimes the snow makes the climbing and the approach easier. If the snow is firm and grippy, you can quickly move to your destination. Of course, early-season climbers can cut their time in the backcountry by using skis for the approach. Spring skiers usually leave very early in the morning in order to avoid poor snow conditions and the natural hazards associated with warming temperatures.
Thunderstorms, if they are in a summer forecast, usually arrive around mid-afternoon. We try to summit and get back to the Lower Saddle before 1 pm under those conditions. Obviously, the best time to be off the mountain will vary from day to day just as the best time to start will vary with each climber.
~ The Best Time Of Year To Climb ~
~ July & August ~
The best time of year to climb the Grand Teton is usually between mid-July and mid-to-late August if you're looking for dry conditions, long days, and warm temperatures. The actual 'best time' will fluctuate within that time period. The general rule of thumb is that when Mt. Glory above Teton Pass is completely free of snow, then it's time to go fishing and climbing. Keep in mind that low overnight temperatures after rain showers can leave parts of the
mountain covered in ice, and winter-like storms can blast through the
Tetons at any time of year so there are no guarantees.
The month of August is a prime time for forest fires in the western US. The fire season is unpredictable and getting longer so keep a close eye on the fire conditions before making plans to visit. Besides being bad for your health, the smoke obviously blocks your view.
The steep sun-baked climbing routes are often in better shape than the approach as we start summer. The south-facing Upper Exum tends to clean up fairly quickly. Sometimes the Owen-Spading route never completely cleans up; nonetheless, free-soloing climbers will usually find suitable conditions for safe & efficient travel by mid-July.
The month of August is a prime time for forest fires in the western US. The fire season is unpredictable and getting longer so keep a close eye on the fire conditions before making plans to visit. Besides being bad for your health, the smoke obviously blocks your view.
The steep sun-baked climbing routes are often in better shape than the approach as we start summer. The south-facing Upper Exum tends to clean up fairly quickly. Sometimes the Owen-Spading route never completely cleans up; nonetheless, free-soloing climbers will usually find suitable conditions for safe & efficient travel by mid-July.
High-elevation alpine lakes can still be still be covered in ice, or contain ice, as we move into July.
~ September, October & November ~
The climbing conditions can deteriorate quickly as we leave August and enter September; however, good conditions can return just as quickly with some sunshine and warm temperatures. The mountain absorbs a fair amount of heat energy and it helps clean the rock after a short overnight cold spell. The Owen-Spalding route will take longer to clean up than the Upper Exum. The days are getting shorter and the sunshine doesn't reach around the western aspect of the Grand Teton like it does in July.
The weather and conditions can seesaw between extremes during the fall season. The ability to travel in a safe and efficient manner can be short-lived or extended so it helps to have greater flexibility in your schedule if you don't want to solo under colder or mixed conditions.
Besides being slick, snowy conditions in the fall season can be exceptionally dangerous because foot traps are abundant with shallow unconsolidated snow. Additionally, the climbers' trail can be hard to identify under snowy conditions so you're more likely to travel off trail. Many climbers enjoy climbing under challenging conditions. It is alpine mountaineering.
Peak fall foliage usually arrives between the third week of September and the first week of October. Keep tabs on the fall foliage by visiting the Best of the Tetons blog, GTNP's social media accounts, or by searching your favorite hashtag on social media.
The weather and conditions can seesaw between extremes during the fall season. The ability to travel in a safe and efficient manner can be short-lived or extended so it helps to have greater flexibility in your schedule if you don't want to solo under colder or mixed conditions.
Besides being slick, snowy conditions in the fall season can be exceptionally dangerous because foot traps are abundant with shallow unconsolidated snow. Additionally, the climbers' trail can be hard to identify under snowy conditions so you're more likely to travel off trail. Many climbers enjoy climbing under challenging conditions. It is alpine mountaineering.
Peak fall foliage usually arrives between the third week of September and the first week of October. Keep tabs on the fall foliage by visiting the Best of the Tetons blog, GTNP's social media accounts, or by searching your favorite hashtag on social media.
Hazards are everywhere
November is one of those months when conditions are usually too poor for a fast ascent. Occasionally, the snow is deep enough on the approach for skis and the weather isn't too cold for an enjoyable fall climb. Keep in mind that the interior Teton Park Road between the Taggart Lake & Signal Mountain Lodge closes on November 1st, so climbers will need to use the Taggart Lake parking lot as their takeoff point.
~ December through March ~
Low temperatures and less than ideal conditions keep many mountaineers off the Grand between December and the end of March but some find it exhilarating. Adventures often begin where others turn around. Paul Petzoldt enjoyed packing a bottle of champagne to the summit on New Year's Eve and taking NOLS students with him. The first "winter" ascent included Paul, Fred Brown (a Jackson Hole skiing pioneer), and Eldon Petzoldt on December 19, 1935. They had a balmy jacket-free day
on the summit above a valley floor frozen at -20°F.
Technically speaking, the winter season is officially between the Winter Solstice & the Spring Equinox so if you want to say you made a winter ascent don't go up in November or April, or December 19, 1935. Keep in mind that rescue & visitor services are in short supply during the winter.
Skiers are a common sight in Garnet Canyon when conditions are favorable but most are not headed for the Grand during the coldest dark days of winter. The first winter ascent of the Exum Ridge happened in 1972, several years after the North Face had its first winter ascent but at the same time as the first winter ascent of the West Face.
David R. Smith, who was on the first winter ascent of the Exum Ridge in '72, wrote about another winter ascent up the Grand Teton on February 9, 1974, with Dave George,
Peter Gibbs, David Lowe, and George Lowe.
“After a late start (5:30
A.M.) we toured up Garnet Canyon, leaving our skis just below the
Caves. After lunch on the Lower Saddle, we fought deep unconsolidated
snow to the Upper Saddle, trying to keep up with George Lowe who was
in the lead breaking trail. The iced Owen-Spalding route required
four roped pitches. We then traversed over to the Exum ridge, climbed
more unconsolidated snow to the summit at six P.M. We descended
quickly in order to make the rappel to the Upper Saddle, not wishing
to repeat the 1972 winter experience when David Lowe and I had been forced to
bivouac after climbing the Exum ridge. After an hour of brewing hot
tea at the Lower Saddle Hut, we skied down in marginal moonlight,
arriving at Beaver Creek at 11:30 P.M."
According to an American Alpine Club Journal article, in early March of 1949, Paul Petzoldt with two partners set out to climb the Grand. They took skis and rope, but no ice-axes or crampons. They reported that most of the climbing sections were free of ice and snow; however, there was a "heavy accumulation of frost feathers". The temperature at the lower saddle was reported to be -2° F. Side Note: Oddly, the summit registers for 1948 and 1949 are not available.
The end of March is usually a nice time of year to climb if there's a warm spell and stable snow.
The end of March is usually a nice time of year to climb if there's a warm spell and stable snow.
~ April, May & June ~
During these months the days are getting longer & warmer as we roll toward summer. April can be better than May in terms of safety & precipitation but it varies from year-to-year. There are some Aprils when you can walk all the way to the Lower Saddle without it becoming a postholing nightmare. All of our published trip reports were walk-ins; however, most climbers are using AT skis to get into Garnet Canyon in April & May. This is a popular time to ski the Grand. Those skiers are usually climbing through
couloirs to reach the summit but a few will take
the OS route (it's very awkward to maneuver with skis around the Crawl & Double Chimney). In early May of 2007, the snow-covered Meadows Camping Zone was host to as many as 15 skiers & climbers in five parties.
Avalanche dangers exist throughout the spring as do snow-travel hazards like sliding over a cliffband. About a third of all accidents in the park occur on snow. In April & May, freeze and thaw cycles are in
play at mid-elevations, and sometimes at upper elevations. They help
consolidate the snow for hikers while cleaning handholds. Upper elevations are usually getting snow in April & May. There's very little, if any, exposed verglas on the technical climbing lines unless it's an abnormal weather year. You may find patches of exposed ice from the previous fall.
The valley starts to fully bloom around the third week of May. Ice on low-elevation lakes tends to burn off at the very end of April or early May. The Teton Park Road which takes you to the Lupine Meadows Trailhead opens on May 1st; however, the trail into Garnet Canyon is never free of snow at that time. On some occasions, the Lupine Meadows road is still covered in snow and hasn't been plowed by May 1st. We use the Burned Wagon Gulch trail during May because it's almost always in better shape than the lower Lupine Meadows' trail.
The valley starts to fully bloom around the third week of May. Ice on low-elevation lakes tends to burn off at the very end of April or early May. The Teton Park Road which takes you to the Lupine Meadows Trailhead opens on May 1st; however, the trail into Garnet Canyon is never free of snow at that time. On some occasions, the Lupine Meadows road is still covered in snow and hasn't been plowed by May 1st. We use the Burned Wagon Gulch trail during May because it's almost always in better shape than the lower Lupine Meadows' trail.
Bill Briggs' Ski Line from mid-June, 1971
FYI: 1971 was also the year that Sylvain Saudan skied Mount Hood in Oregon, and Fritz Stammberger dropped in on the North Maroon Peak in Colorado.
June is warm, the days are long, and the snow-covered mountains with the green valleys below look their best. The valley is fully leafed out below 8500' at the start of June. The impressive arrowleaf balsamroot sunflowers
on the Garnet Canyon trail tend to reach a peak in June and fade in
July. They are quickly followed by other flowers and flowering weeds
which come and go
throughout the season.
Conditions on the approach in June can be nasty — from slushy to frozen. Or, nice and grippy. Those conditions can change within an hour once the sun gets cooking, or sets. You will still find snow on backcountry hiking trails in June.
Conditions on the approach in June can be nasty — from slushy to frozen. Or, nice and grippy. Those conditions can change within an hour once the sun gets cooking, or sets. You will still find snow on backcountry hiking trails in June.
The actual climbing conditions in June can throw you a curve ball but it's usually a mix of snow and ice in June. Most hand holds on walls are dry if they're not in a drainage path. Freeze & thaw cycles really get going at higher elevations in June. The temperatures can climb well above freezing during the day
and then dip below freezing at night which means that new ice (or icy
snow) is forming overnight. That cycle continues for an indefinite time that's
dependent upon the weather and can easily continue into July. High temperatures can remove a layer of grippy snow and expose ice. It is sometimes easier to climb over grippy snow in April than to climb over ice, and icy snow, in June.
Those freeze & thaw cycles increase the chances of rockfall. Continuous warm temperatures, especially without a freeze cycle, increase the odds of wet-slab avalanches and flushing in drainages. To see a variety of backcountry hazards play out, watch this classic ski-mountaineering video with Steve Shea which took place in June of '78....
SuperTopo discussion about Fall Line
Steve's on the Grand & the Middle Teton
Steve's on the Grand & the Middle Teton
Bob Carmichael provides some additional insight into the making of Fall Line on his Vimeo channel. His field crew included Larry Bruce, Greg Lowe, Steve Shea, and David Breashears. They camped at the Lower Saddle for 7 weeks while making the movie. Bill Briggs ran supplies to the saddle. Larry Bruce was married to the American rock climber Molly Higgins who, with Barb Eastman, made the first all-woman ascent up The Nose on El Capitan. Barb started working as a Jenny Lake Climbing Ranger in 1980, along with Anne Macquarie during a time when female climbing rangers were a rare sight.
Larry Bruce and Steve Shea were living in Aspen, CO, in 1978, as were many mountaineers like Michael Kennedy and ski-mountaineering legend Lou Dawson. In the 70's and early 80's, Aspen was a nice place for a lowlife skier or mountaineer. Jobs at the Aspen Skiing Company were paying $5 to $6/hr and an evening job at Crystal Palace came with a ski pass. The perfect blue-collar hideout was the infamous Woody Creek Tavern. Nowadays, what made Aspen accessible and special during that time has long since faded. The Town of Jackson and its surrounding communities have had similar changes and we seem to be following Aspen's trajectory.
Larry Bruce and Steve Shea were living in Aspen, CO, in 1978, as were many mountaineers like Michael Kennedy and ski-mountaineering legend Lou Dawson. In the 70's and early 80's, Aspen was a nice place for a lowlife skier or mountaineer. Jobs at the Aspen Skiing Company were paying $5 to $6/hr and an evening job at Crystal Palace came with a ski pass. The perfect blue-collar hideout was the infamous Woody Creek Tavern. Nowadays, what made Aspen accessible and special during that time has long since faded. The Town of Jackson and its surrounding communities have had similar changes and we seem to be following Aspen's trajectory.
“It’s not bragging if you can back it up.” Muhammad Ali
Free-Soloing by the OS's Double Chimney
Just because ice or snow still sits on the route you wish to climb doesn't mean that there aren't plenty of secure dry holds.
~ Fastest Known Round-Trip Times on the Grand Teton ~
~ FKT for Men ~
Andy Anderson, 2h53m02s, August 22, 2012
(1:48:02 up, 1:05:00 down)
(1:48:02 up, 1:05:00 down)
Kilian Jornet, 2h54m01s, August 12, 2012
Stephen Mulherin, 3h00m34s, 2015
Bryce Thatcher, 3h06m, August 26, 1983
~ FKT for Women ~
Anton Krupicka, who was out running the Grand with Kilian, took the FKT for Wyoming's highest peak, Gannett, on September 18, 2012: 8h46m32s car-to-car from Green River Lakes.
Stephen Mulherin and Kilian Jornet had the least experience on the Grand of all the FKT runners. Kilian's controversial off-trail shortcuts on the approach probably saved him a minute or so but they cost his FKT some credibility. Nonetheless, without shortcuts he would have beaten the previous record held by Thatcher and he might trade FKT's with Andy Anderson on any given weekend. Putting that aside, none of the runners actually took the same overall route to the summit. It's doubtful they all faced the same conditions. And it's even more unlikely that they were all hitting their life-time peak performance levels on the day of record. Kilian was the only runner with unimpeachable proof of his record time.
Kilian's GPS watch recorded a 12 mile round-trip with shortcuts. There's no way that's correct. A GPS watch won't accurately capture every twist and turn of the trail especially if it's moving as fast as Kilian's watch. Google Earth pegs the round-trip near 13.8 miles but its measurement resolution is limited and its algorithm depends upon the user accurately mapping the trail. The only published distance with some authority pegs the round trip at 15.4 miles but it's an old estimate and often disputed.
Of course, there are other mountaineers (& see Giir Di Mont) that could post equally impressive times but they never make it to the Tetons. Karl Egloff, a 38-year-old Swiss-Ecuadorian, climbed Denali (20,310 feet) in 11 hours 44 minutes roundtrip, base camp (7,200 feet) to base camp, taking 7 hours 40 minutes to reach the summit and another 4 hours 4 minutes to get back down on June 20, 2019. He beat Kilian Jornet's old record by 4 minutes (according to Karl). Kilian used skis for the descent of Denali, Karl did not. Soundcloud Podcast
“Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men..." Muhammad Ali
~ Why free-solo the Grand Teton ~
You can sleep in. You climb on any day you want. You (well, not everyone) can easily make a round-trip in single day. You can go at your own pace and enjoy some solitude. You can travel further and stay stronger when you're carrying less weight. You can easily move past other climbers. You can focus on the rock and not on the mechanics of roped climbing. You can skip the expensive camping permit. You can skip the expensive gear. You can skip the expensive guide. There's a freedom that you can't get from being tied to the mountain or other climbers. It's a far more enjoyable experience for many. Older, injured, or physically weaker climbers may not be able to carry gear or travel on time-lengthy trips. You may not have the time for multi-day climbing activities. You'll move faster then protected climbers and that is often an advantage when the weather window is short. You might recover more quickly. You're more likely to have the summit to yourself if you're not tied to a fixed schedule like other climbers. It's unlikely that free-soloing climbers are delaying other climbers in a significant way and that helps keep all climbers moving in a timely manner. And, lastly, you will have a smaller environmental impact in the backcountry if you're just out for the day.
Free-soloing has its inherent dangers as does any activity but it's relativity safe if you're climbing within your comfort zone and taking obvious precautions like avoiding bad weather, terrain traps, and poor conditions. A one-day round-trip is not suggested for everyone but many athletes free-solo the Owen-Spalding route in a single day with no prior climbing experience. As we say above, it's well worth the effort to try a one-day ascent when the weather and conditions are in your favor if you're fit, agile, acclimated to the elevation and comfortable with the inherent risks.
The best investment you can
make if you wish to solo these routes and don't mind spending some money might be buying or renting a pair of climbing shoes. We solo the UXM & OS in just about any type of outdoor shoe but a good pair of comfortable sticky climbing shoes will boost your confidence
& safety on the rock. You don't need super sticky big wall climbing shoes, just shoes with some sticky rubber which can be approach shoes made for climbing or mountain biking shoes with sticky rubber. Sticky shoes that edge well are better than sticky shoes that smear better than they edge. The wrong shoes will ruin a trip so if your clunky work boots keep your feet happy on 15-mile mountain hikes, you might prefer those over something else. Choose wisely.
~ Plan B ~
Being
prepared for the unexpected means having a Plan B. Sometimes Plan B is
gear and a lead climber. A foothold might suddenly give way. Wind may
knock you off balance. Verglas might be mistaken
for dry rock. Rockfall may hit you. A handhold might come loose. You
might lose your focus. You might lose your way. You might even have a
medical emergency while climbing like Conrad Anker. Anything can happen, anywhere, anytime, even on the most familiar terrain and without warning,
Ropes (and helmets) can compensate for the natural ability of humans to make mistakes, and
for nature's ability to sabotage our safety. They don't guarantee your
safety but there's a good reason that the world's most
talented climbers, & least talented, use ropes. Besides safety,
the best reason for using a rope is that you're more likely to really
test & improve your climbing skills with the safety that a rope
affords. Ropes can also get you past tricky situations in a hurry.
~ Backcountry Camping Information ~
Most free-soloing climbers are just out for the day and not camping; nonetheless, many climbers enjoy overnight camping. There are several camping zones in Garnet Canyon but only three that really cater to Grand Teton climbers. Water is available at all of the camping zones. On some rare occasions, climbers at the Lower Saddle may need to get water from the Middle Teton Glacier. You should probably read up on the regulations for Garnet Canyon and take a look at your camping zone options - PDF before making any decisions.
A permit is good for 6 people per campsite. It is also good for 10 days but it is only good for 2 days at any one campsite. You must move to a new campsite every 2 days. Groups larger than 6 people must use separate sites. A 10 night backcountry camping limit is imposed between June 1st & Labor Day. There is a 30-day camping limit per year.
The Caves Camping Zone is at 9700'. It's mostly protected from the wind, it's in the trees, it's about 1.5 miles from the Lower Saddle, clean spring water is close by, and you get to listen to Spalding Falls tumble below you as you fall asleep. The number of tent sites is limited. You must pack out all human waste from the Caves. The Morainal Camping Zone is at 10,800'. As with the Lower Saddle, it can be pretty windy. There are plenty of tent sites here but there are no bear-proof food storage boxes. You are required to bring storage canisters which can be checked out with a camping permit for free at the Jenny Lake Ranger Station.
The Lower Saddle's Camping Zone is at 11,600'. Many climbers enjoy the wind-beaten saddle for the views and it's proximity to the summit. There are two huts at the Lower Saddle: one used by Exum Mountain Guides, the other by GTNP rangers. The huts are not open to the general public except in emergencies. The original Exum hut was built in Detroit by Jim Smith and it stayed at the saddle for 33 years until the wind blew it into the Middle Teton Glacier. There are several tent sites for those not on a guided climb. You must pack out all human waste from the saddle. Other camping zones in Garnet Canyon are further away from your destination and not recommended for those climbing the Grand but they can certainly be used and often are.
There are backcountry camping zones just to the west of the Lower Saddle along the South Fork of Cascade Canyon, and to the north of the Grand in Cascade Canyon. It is possible to reach the Lower Saddle from the west & north sides but it is not recommended. Climbers will sometimes access Valhalla Canyon from Cascade Canyon but most of those climbers are engaged in more difficult adventures.
There is a 'bathroom' at the Lower Saddle but it's only to facilitate the use of Rest Stop bags, etc. The Park Service no longer packs out human waste from Garnet Canyon - it's your job. There isn't much, if any, privacy in the backcountry so choose your rest stop locations carefully or plan your diet accordingly. No matter your camping location, you should acquire a WAG bag.
Backcountry reservations for the summer season are being accepted at Recreation.gov between the first Wednesday in January (starting 8 am MST) and May 15. Customers will be able to view backcountry campsite availability in real-time and apply for reservations accordingly. You will be charged a $45 non-refundable processing fee for each trip upon completion of your reservation. The online reservation system is run under contract by a for-profit company.
The park will reserve up to one-third of each camping zone in advance. It saves two-thirds of each zone for those who wish to get a first-come, first-served walk-in permit. The walk-in permit can only be acquired the day before your trip — call to confirm this if your needs are different. During peak season (July and August), competition for these walk-in permits is high so try arriving at the earliest possible time. There is a $35 fee for each walk-in backcountry permit.
Again, any summer backcountry camping permit (reserved or walk-in) involving technical climbing or mountaineering and any backcountry camping permit for Garnet Canyon must be picked up at the Jenny Lake Ranger Station. They are open from 8am to 5pm (June through early September).
Winter campers need to call 307-739-3309. Typically, winter campers will pick up permits from the administration building behind the Moose Post Office during business hours M-F, or from a ranger on the weekends after calling the park's dispatch center. Winter backcountry permits have traditionally been free but that could always change.
Backcountry Camping Estimates for GTNP
We have very little faith that the data calculated by GTNP for anything is an accurate representation of anything. They have a history of questionable data collection methodologies and analysis. Of course, sometimes the government just lies; nonetheless, this backcountry data certainly reflects peak visitation times. October of 2015 probably has a zero due to a federal government shutdown (it ended on the 16th...).
In 2015, a study took place in Garnet Canyon that focused on the acoustic experiences of climbers attempting the Grand Teton. The average age of respondents was 33 years old. The median group size was 3 people. The majority of respondents were male (79%). Most respondents were part of a private climbing party (72%), 23% were in a guided party, and 5% were climbing guides. Seventy percent of respondents were on overnight trips. Forty-seven percent summited and 53% indicated that they did not summit (some did not answer the question). Thirty-eight percent of respondents indicated that they had climbed the Grand Teton previously.
There were an estimated 40,193 overnight backcountry stays in GTNP in 2017 according to the Park Service. The National Park Service says that for improved campgrounds, "The number of sites occupied by tent and recreational vehicle campers is multiplied by the persons-per-site multiplier of 3.3." In other words, they are guessing how many people are camping.
NPS data for GTNP's overnight stays
According to park staff, approximately 10,000 climbers came to scratch the Tetons in 1991. The Jackson Hole News & Guide reported that 4000 or so were climbing the Grand in 2010. That would be about 33 climbers per day over a 4 month period. Compare that to 25 climbers reaching the summit of the Grand during the entire year of 1934. No one really knows how many climbers visit these days because climbers are no longer required to check in with the Park Service unless they are backcountry camping. There is a counter along the climbers' trail that counts all foot traffic but the NPS doesn't share that data online. Sharing information might expose them to unpleasant questions.
Backcountry Camping Zone Maps
Not everyone camps in the backcountry. Climbers can get a hotel room or stay in GTNP's campgrounds. Car camping is illegal in the Town of Jackson (unless you worked for the Rec Center in 2018). Finding a free or cheap spot to camp outside of town isn't too
difficult. The Bridger-Teton National Forest has many camping locations, as does the Caribou-Targhee National Forest on the western side of the Tetons. Climbers can also stay at the American Alpine Club's Climbers' Ranch in GTNP. The Ranch usually opens
during the 2nd week of June and closes during the 2nd week of
September so cheap accommodations are available during a small part
of the shoulder season. Their seasonal opening and closing dates
pretty well envelop the super-busy tourism season in the GTNP and
Jackson Hole. BTW, the Average Hotel Room Rate in Jackson during July of 2017 was $393.00.
Camping is not allowed at the Lupine Meadows trailhead. That includes car camping. If you arrive at the trailhead after 11 pm and catch some zzzz's before climbing, or after climbing, it's unlikely that anyone really cares as long as you're not outside with the lawn chairs and tents. It's not unusual to see people car camping; however, this being America, land of the free and all, rangers do indeed go after car campers. One last bit of advice for the people who think the trailhead is a dining / camping area: clean up after yourself. Don't dump food or liquids on the ground. This is bear country and little critter country. They will become habituated to human food, and humans.
If you're coming to the Tetons from Yellowstone, stop by the northern GTNP Information Station at Flagg Ranch to find out about camping options. Just below the southern boundary of Yellowstone near Flagg Ranch (Headwaters Lodge), there is free camping along the Grassy Lake Road at many campsites — first-come, first-served. And there is a fee-based Forest Service campground a little further to the south at Sheffield Creek. The closest dispersed and free camping area to the Grand Teton in the national forest is at Shadow Mountain. The dispersed Forest Service camping areas in Teton County, WY & Teton County, ID are popular. These are not the improved Forest Service campgrounds for which you pay a fee and can make a reservation. Finding a free, safe, and legal place to pitch a tent or park a van isn't always easy but it's possible if you put in the effort. Keep in mind that many small cars may not be able to completely utilize the dirt access roads that lead to the dispersed camping sites.
Camping is not allowed at the Lupine Meadows trailhead. That includes car camping. If you arrive at the trailhead after 11 pm and catch some zzzz's before climbing, or after climbing, it's unlikely that anyone really cares as long as you're not outside with the lawn chairs and tents. It's not unusual to see people car camping; however, this being America, land of the free and all, rangers do indeed go after car campers. One last bit of advice for the people who think the trailhead is a dining / camping area: clean up after yourself. Don't dump food or liquids on the ground. This is bear country and little critter country. They will become habituated to human food, and humans.
If you're coming to the Tetons from Yellowstone, stop by the northern GTNP Information Station at Flagg Ranch to find out about camping options. Just below the southern boundary of Yellowstone near Flagg Ranch (Headwaters Lodge), there is free camping along the Grassy Lake Road at many campsites — first-come, first-served. And there is a fee-based Forest Service campground a little further to the south at Sheffield Creek. The closest dispersed and free camping area to the Grand Teton in the national forest is at Shadow Mountain. The dispersed Forest Service camping areas in Teton County, WY & Teton County, ID are popular. These are not the improved Forest Service campgrounds for which you pay a fee and can make a reservation. Finding a free, safe, and legal place to pitch a tent or park a van isn't always easy but it's possible if you put in the effort. Keep in mind that many small cars may not be able to completely utilize the dirt access roads that lead to the dispersed camping sites.
"A man who has no imagination has no wings." Muhammad Ali
~ Water ~
There is no water at the Lupine Meadows' trailhead but water is nearby. The South Jenny Lake visitor services area has a free 24/7 water refilling station outside the Jenny
Lake Store. Additionally, you cross over Cottonwood Creek on the Lupine Meadows access road. You can certainly drink its water but we suggest filtering it. We drink plenty (LOTS!) of water before we arrive at the
trailhead. During a climb, we can go without water and food but we usually try to stay hydrated. Most people will carry too much water given the
fairly evenly distributed backcountry water sources. Nonetheless, it's good to be hydrated with water you're comfortable drinking. More information on water sources can be found on our web page covering the approach to the start of the technical climbing.
From the Mayo Clinic: Exercising at a high altitude increases your fluid losses and therefore increases you fluid needs. Dehydration can lead to serious complications, including:
1) Heat injury. If you don't drink enough fluids when you're exercising vigorously and perspiring heavily, you may end up with a heat injury, ranging in severity from mild heat cramps to heat exhaustion or potentially life-threatening heatstroke.
2) Urinary and kidney problems. Prolonged or repeated bouts of dehydration can cause urinary tract infections, kidney stones and even kidney failure.
3) Seizures. Electrolytes — such as potassium and sodium — help carry electrical signals from cell to cell. If your electrolytes are out of balance, the normal electrical messages can become mixed up, which can lead to involuntary muscle contractions and sometimes to a loss of consciousness.
4) Low blood volume shock (hypovolemic shock). This is one of the most serious, and sometimes life-threatening, complications of dehydration. It occurs when low blood volume causes a drop in blood pressure and a drop in the amount of oxygen in your body.
From the Mayo Clinic: Exercising at a high altitude increases your fluid losses and therefore increases you fluid needs. Dehydration can lead to serious complications, including:
1) Heat injury. If you don't drink enough fluids when you're exercising vigorously and perspiring heavily, you may end up with a heat injury, ranging in severity from mild heat cramps to heat exhaustion or potentially life-threatening heatstroke.
2) Urinary and kidney problems. Prolonged or repeated bouts of dehydration can cause urinary tract infections, kidney stones and even kidney failure.
3) Seizures. Electrolytes — such as potassium and sodium — help carry electrical signals from cell to cell. If your electrolytes are out of balance, the normal electrical messages can become mixed up, which can lead to involuntary muscle contractions and sometimes to a loss of consciousness.
4) Low blood volume shock (hypovolemic shock). This is one of the most serious, and sometimes life-threatening, complications of dehydration. It occurs when low blood volume causes a drop in blood pressure and a drop in the amount of oxygen in your body.
~ Food ~
Remember to store your food securely in GTNP. Marmots will break into your food stash if given the opportunity. So will foxes, bears, ravens, etc. Wildlife should never be fed, never. It's illegal to feed all wildlife. Don't throw food on the ground.
It takes a lot of energy to get up the Grand. If you're not used to strenuous activities, choose your diet carefully. The wrong food mixed with exercise and elevation can ruin a climb.
Everyone has a different food routine. Unlike most people, we stick to more protein than carbs leading up to a climb. We usually eat some carbs at the trailhead, however. We are only out for the day so we don't pack much in the way of food. Unless we expect a long day, we may pack nothing to eat. Most people need some form of food while in the backcountry. Energy gels with caffeine were our preferred choice of 'food' if we are looking at a sub 7-hour day and we wanted an energy spike. Caffeine works differently with each individual and may not help you.
One last item about food:
~ Showers & Laundry ~
Showers are available at
the Climbers' Ranch. Public showers and laundromat facilities are available at the Colter Bay Village and the Signal Mountain Campground. In Jackson, showers are available at the Rec. Center. The Missing Sock Laundromat is located in Smith's Plaza off Hwy 89. The Jackson Laundromat is located in the Grand Teton Plaza area behind First Interstate Bank.
~ Local Climbing Shops ~
...sells & rents gear
...sells & rents gear
Skinny Skis - (Google)
...clothes, packs, some gear
...mostly clothes, packs, hunting gear
...rents climbing & BC gear
~ Telephone Numbers ~
Climbing Info 307-739-3604
Jenny Lake Ranger Station
307.739.3343
...summer: 8-5 pm...
...winter: 307-739-3309 permits
Camping Info 307-739-3603
Visitor Info: 307-739-3399 (or 3300)
Email GTNP: grte_info@nps.gov
Road Conditions:
1-888-WYO-ROAD (or 511)
BC & River Info 307-739-3602
GTNP Lost and Found 307.733.3350
GTNP Emergency 307.739.3301
GTNP Emergency Text Msg: 307-690-3301
Report Wildfires: 307-739-3630
Moose Visitor Center 307.739.3399
Winter Hotline 307.739.3399
Public Affairs Office 307.739.3393
Admin: 307-739-3300
Moosely Mtn'eering 307.739.1801
Dornan's in GTNP (307) 733-2415
Climber's Ranch (in GTNP) 307.733.7271
Weather NWS 1-800-211-1448
GTNP Weather Report 307.739.3611
BTAC Avalanche Rpt 307.733.2664
BTAC Report Activity 739-2607
~ Emergency Calls ~
GTNP's Teton Interagency Dispatch is staffed 24/7 between June &
September. They are staffed between 6 and 10pm during the rest of the
year. Keep 307-739-3301 for voice calls & 307-690-3301 for texting in your phone in case of an emergency in GTNP during the summer
(or call or text 911). GTNP's telephone number for texting, 307-690-3301, is not monitored 24/7 outside of the summer season. Calls or text messages to 911 go to Teton County Dispatch (307-733-2331) and not GTNP Dispatch
(307-739-3301). Text messages do not usually include GPS location data like voice calls do. The Teton County Backcounrty SOS App can be used for texting and it will drop GPS location data into a text message if your GPS is on. You could paste your GPS coordinates into a text message by yourself if you know how, or just share your location's name: Lower Saddle, etc.
Climbers at or above the Lower Saddle may have their 911 calls directed to Teton County Dispatch in Idaho (208-354-2323).
Most cell phones can reach towers from the summit of the Grand Teton. Making a call from the North Fork of Garnet Canyon can be difficult or impossible. A text message might be easier to send and a better idea than making a voice call. If your battery is low, try a text message. Again, there's no guarantee a text message will get through to dispatch. Teton County Search and Rescue has the ability to use a device from inside a helicopter which allows rescuers to locate and text people where there is no commercial cell signal as long as those in need of rescue have their cellphone turned on and not in airplane mode. The first emergency call from a cell phone was probably on Aug. 18, 1994, after a rappel anchor failed and a person fell 200 feet while on the Exum Ridge.
Grand Teton National Park is in the process of planning for an upgraded wireless telecommunications infrastructure after 2017 so we might get better reception in Garnet Canyon in the future. They currently have cell towers on Signal Mountain above Jackson Lake and at the JH Airport which is inside the national park. They are considering eleven 80-foot towers that could accommodate up to four carriers. Those towers would be located at Moose, Beaver Creek, South Jenny Lake, North Jenny Lake, Signal Mountain, Jackson Lake Lodge, Colter Bay, the AMK Ranch, Lizard Creek Campground and Flagg Ranch.
Climbers at or above the Lower Saddle may have their 911 calls directed to Teton County Dispatch in Idaho (208-354-2323).
Most cell phones can reach towers from the summit of the Grand Teton. Making a call from the North Fork of Garnet Canyon can be difficult or impossible. A text message might be easier to send and a better idea than making a voice call. If your battery is low, try a text message. Again, there's no guarantee a text message will get through to dispatch. Teton County Search and Rescue has the ability to use a device from inside a helicopter which allows rescuers to locate and text people where there is no commercial cell signal as long as those in need of rescue have their cellphone turned on and not in airplane mode. The first emergency call from a cell phone was probably on Aug. 18, 1994, after a rappel anchor failed and a person fell 200 feet while on the Exum Ridge.
Grand Teton National Park is in the process of planning for an upgraded wireless telecommunications infrastructure after 2017 so we might get better reception in Garnet Canyon in the future. They currently have cell towers on Signal Mountain above Jackson Lake and at the JH Airport which is inside the national park. They are considering eleven 80-foot towers that could accommodate up to four carriers. Those towers would be located at Moose, Beaver Creek, South Jenny Lake, North Jenny Lake, Signal Mountain, Jackson Lake Lodge, Colter Bay, the AMK Ranch, Lizard Creek Campground and Flagg Ranch.
“If you even dream of beating me you'd better wake up and apologize.” Muhammad Ali
~ Visitor Centers ~
Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor Center
(AKA: Moose VC - 307-739-3399)
(AKA: Moose VC - 307-739-3399)
~ Social Media ~
~ Internet Access ~
Free internet access is available at many locations including the Teton County Library, all coffee shops, Jackson Whole Grocer, Albertson's Grocery & Smith's Grocery, Dornan's in Moose, the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Moose, some START buses, the JH-Teton County Recreation Center, McDonalds, K-Mart, Quiznos, St John's Medical Center, and at the JH Airport. The Visitor Center in Jackson has free WiFi as does the Home Ranch Welcome Center (unstaffed space). There was no internet access at the Climbers' Ranch except what you could get on a smartphone in 2017.
~ The 2019 entrance fee-free days ~
January 21: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
April 20: First day of National Park Week
August 25: National Park Service Birthday
September 28: National Public Lands Day
November 11: Veterans Day
~ Hitchhiking ~
A hitchhiking Paul Petzoldt caught a ride in a Model-T to go climbing in the Tetons. In the past, the park's rangers were obsessed with harassing hitchhikers. Hitchhiking is legal in Wyoming & GTNP. According to the Federal Code: Title 36 Part 4 Section § 4.31 Hitchhiking, "Hitchhiking
or soliciting transportation is prohibited except in designated areas
and under conditions established by the superintendent."
Hitchhiking is legal in GTNP according to the Superintendent's Compendium (2016) except under the following circumstances:
Within two tenths of a mile (0.2mi) of an Entrance Station. Within 200 feet of a park service office building or visitor center. While holding or having a sign that is larger than 2'x2' in size. The hitchhiker must stay off the surface of the paved roadway, though a hitchhiker may stand on pavement in a paved pullout. Where vehicles may not safely pull off of the main traffic lane into a pullout or safely onto the shoulder to allow for the passengers to be received safely. During the hours of darkness, unless the hitchhiker is wearing bright (preferable reflectively enhanced) clothing. When hitchhiking behavior is deemed unsafe or a nuisance by a commissioned Law Enforcement Ranger.
Hitchhiking is legal in GTNP according to the Superintendent's Compendium (2016) except under the following circumstances:
Within two tenths of a mile (0.2mi) of an Entrance Station. Within 200 feet of a park service office building or visitor center. While holding or having a sign that is larger than 2'x2' in size. The hitchhiker must stay off the surface of the paved roadway, though a hitchhiker may stand on pavement in a paved pullout. Where vehicles may not safely pull off of the main traffic lane into a pullout or safely onto the shoulder to allow for the passengers to be received safely. During the hours of darkness, unless the hitchhiker is wearing bright (preferable reflectively enhanced) clothing. When hitchhiking behavior is deemed unsafe or a nuisance by a commissioned Law Enforcement Ranger.
See this GTNP webpage for updated information on Laws and Policies
Jackson Hole is full of busybodies.
That's a recipe for great Mayberry Moments like the time in 2016
when a local resident called dispatch to report a suspicious person.
A black man was hitchhiking on South Park Loop Rd. Local police responded immediately
to this threat and tracked him down. They
demanded to know what he was up to. Hitchhiking, apparently.
Local law enforcement caters to the imaginary irrational fears of others not only because they often share those imaginary irrational fears but because common sense often takes a backseat to the fear of inaction. Telling busybodies that hitchhiking while black is not illegal and doesn't constitute suspicious activity is too difficult for our badged boys & girls. They would rather accost a black man who is just going about his day. Unfortunately, this is nothing unusual in Jackson Hole.
Local law enforcement caters to the imaginary irrational fears of others not only because they often share those imaginary irrational fears but because common sense often takes a backseat to the fear of inaction. Telling busybodies that hitchhiking while black is not illegal and doesn't constitute suspicious activity is too difficult for our badged boys & girls. They would rather accost a black man who is just going about his day. Unfortunately, this is nothing unusual in Jackson Hole.
Hitchhiking while black
~ Law Enforcement ~
The US Dept of Justice - District of Wyoming handles federal crimes related to our national parks. The Wyoming United States Attorney’s Office prosecutes misdemeanors and other petty offenses in Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, the National Elk Refuge, etc. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation handles many investigations on its own and for local law enforcement agencies including undercover work in Jackson.
Jackson Hole has more law enforcement officers per mile of highway than most places you will visit. We have our own FBI office and federal law enforcement agencies have an extensive presence in Teton County. Keep in mind that the rangers you meet in the backcountry may be law enforcement officers or simply park employees with no law enforcement duties.
Automated license plate recognition systems are used by the federal government and local law enforcement in Teton County. Facial recognition isn't far behind. The entire state of Wyoming is a speed trap. And 'pull over and fish' is our 'stop & frisk'. The speed limits on many roads are lowered at night so as to protect wildlife and we like to enforce those limits.
Jackson Police Twitter Feed, Teton County Sheriff's Office Twitter Feed, Highway Patrol Twitter Feed, GTNP Twitter Feed, National Elk Refuge Twitter Feed, Yellowstone Twitter Feed.
The US Dept. of Interior oversees most of the federal lands in Wyoming. The Wyoming Game & Fish Department oversees most of the management of wildlife in Wyoming.
"I should be a postage stamp. That's the only way I'll ever get licked." Muhammad AliJackson Hole has more law enforcement officers per mile of highway than most places you will visit. We have our own FBI office and federal law enforcement agencies have an extensive presence in Teton County. Keep in mind that the rangers you meet in the backcountry may be law enforcement officers or simply park employees with no law enforcement duties.
Automated license plate recognition systems are used by the federal government and local law enforcement in Teton County. Facial recognition isn't far behind. The entire state of Wyoming is a speed trap. And 'pull over and fish' is our 'stop & frisk'. The speed limits on many roads are lowered at night so as to protect wildlife and we like to enforce those limits.
Jackson Police Twitter Feed, Teton County Sheriff's Office Twitter Feed, Highway Patrol Twitter Feed, GTNP Twitter Feed, National Elk Refuge Twitter Feed, Yellowstone Twitter Feed.
Mugshot images went offline in 2019
The US Dept. of Interior oversees most of the federal lands in Wyoming. The Wyoming Game & Fish Department oversees most of the management of wildlife in Wyoming.
~ Biking ~
GTNP's paved pathways are only open to bikes between 1/2 hour before sunrise
& 1/2 hour after sunset (info on bike riding in GTNP). Many bike riders ignore the rule including park staff — travel at your own risk. A paved pathway (pdf maps) runs from the Town of Jackson
to Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park. The pathway came to fruition after Jeff Pool and 13-year-old Gabriella Axelrad were struck and killed while bike riding in GTNP. The park's nighttime pathway policy is another example of the National Park
Service putting human safety at risk as they try to balance their conflicting responsibilities.
Be alert for big game if you are on a bike or driving at night. Elk often mingle overnight in the open fields alongside the roadways. Or, mingle on the roadways. They can be difficult to recognize in a timely manner even if you are traveling under the speed limit.
Be alert for big game if you are on a bike or driving at night. Elk often mingle overnight in the open fields alongside the roadways. Or, mingle on the roadways. They can be difficult to recognize in a timely manner even if you are traveling under the speed limit.
~ Emergency Care ~
Grand Teton Medical Clinic (summer only 9-5)
In GTNP at Jackson Lake Lodge
455 W. Broadway near Loaf-n-Jug
Dr. Hayse often works late & w/o appointment.
307-733-6700 269 W Broadway
~ Satellite Based Emergency Communication ~
They all have drawbacks and benefits - research carefully. If you purchase a new or used U.S. coded 406 MHz beacon you MUST register it with NOAA as required by law. Personal Locator Beacons (ResQLink) were renting for $10/day at Teton Backcountry Rentals in 2018. The 406 MHz EPIRB has been designated internationally for
distress alerts.
~ Products ~
SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger
inReach (Garmin) 2-Way Satellite Communicator
ACR Electronics ResQLink GPS Personal Locator Beacon
McMurdo Fastfind
Iridium GO!
~ Accidents & Safety ~
Many
talented climbers have been seriously injured and killed in the Tetons.
Professional guides and their clients have died while climbing here.
There are times when climbers make decisions that seem reasonable but
Murphy's Law plays out like a bad dream. There are years when it seems like the Jenny Lake Climbing Rangers rarely go a week without rescue.
When conditions are bad, or the weather is unstable, you should take into consideration the very real possibility that accidents will happen as you finalize your game plan - more so than under good conditions and good weather. It might be easy to handle an emergency by yourself under good conditions but near impossible under poor conditions. And a rescue by rangers under poor conditions or bad weather may be greatly delayed or impossible.
When conditions are bad, or the weather is unstable, you should take into consideration the very real possibility that accidents will happen as you finalize your game plan - more so than under good conditions and good weather. It might be easy to handle an emergency by yourself under good conditions but near impossible under poor conditions. And a rescue by rangers under poor conditions or bad weather may be greatly delayed or impossible.
Most
climbers are
more than happy to help out fellow mountaineers and the professional
guides are often the first to respond to an emergency. If you need
assistance, ask for it. If you find yourself in a bad situation during the summer, assistance is usually nearby due to heavy climbing activity all summer long. If you're soloing and unable to safely move forward or backward due to conditions, or whatever, it's probably best to simply wait for another party to reach you than to try a risky maneuver.
"Many of our clients are exhausted
and at the limits of their abilities, and they make mistakes. What
this means is that our clients are trying to kill each other, they're
trying to kill themselves, and they're trying to kill you. Each of us
needs to remember this at all times. That's our job." Dave
Carman, Exum Mountain Guides, as told in the Outside Magazine story “The House of Rock".
If
you're on a guided climb, keep in mind that
every climber has a responsibility to look after their own safety and
the safety of others not only because guides often make incorrect
assumptions about everyone's safety but because it's your job.
"Climbing is simple. You go to the top, you have a good time, and you don’t harm other people in the process,” Conrad Anker
Every summer someone gets separated from their climbing group. Sometimes this is on purpose. Sometimes it's because of unintended events. Several things seem to happen all too often: the separated person gets injured; off route in a dangerous location; lost; or, they lose contact with their climbing party and the climbing party thinks something bad has happened when in fact the separated party is fine and heading back to the trailhead. We have spent time looking for people on this mountain who were in fact no longer on the mountain, and we have guided separated parties off this mountain. Think twice before separating from your climbing partners.
Every summer someone gets separated from their climbing group. Sometimes this is on purpose. Sometimes it's because of unintended events. Several things seem to happen all too often: the separated person gets injured; off route in a dangerous location; lost; or, they lose contact with their climbing party and the climbing party thinks something bad has happened when in fact the separated party is fine and heading back to the trailhead. We have spent time looking for people on this mountain who were in fact no longer on the mountain, and we have guided separated parties off this mountain. Think twice before separating from your climbing partners.
~ 2015 Accidents & Rescues ~
(GTNP mountaineering / skiing only)
On October 12, Millie Jimenez fell 45 feet down a rock slab in Avalanche Canyon, (GTNP NR). On August 31, Anthony McCormack slid down a rock slab while descending the South Fork of Garnet Canyon, (GTNP NR). On August 29, Justin Bodrero took a 200-foot fall over a snowfield & boulders while
descending the Middle Teton, (GTNP NR). On August 22, Tyler Strandberg and Catherine Nix fell to their death while on Teewinot, (GTNP NR).
On the same day, a hiker pulls a suitcase-sized rock down on himself,
while in Avalanche Canyon. Eight climbers were stranded overnight in
Stettner Couloir on August 15-16, (GTNP NR). On August 11, Grand Teton National Park rangers conducted a short-haul rescue of two climbers from the Middle Teton, (GTNP NR). Two Jackson climbers, Jordan Lister
& Carrie Schwartz, were injured on Saturday July 25th after
taking a slide on snow & rocks while on the south face of the
Middle Teton, (GTNP NR). On July 22, a dislodged
boulder hit Tucker Zibilich and broke his arm while en
route to the Grand Teton's Upper Saddle (13,200 feet), (GTNP NR). On July 7, Michael Polmear was
climbing the Middle Teton’s Black Dike when a boulder dislodged from the
mountain and struck his left arm, (JHN&G).
On June 9th, Charlie Emerson was solo
climbing a 4th class rated rock slab when he slipped and slid
approximately 150-200 feet before coming to rest in a snowfield at the
base of the rock feature, (GTNP NR). Two skiers died on Mt Moran on May 17th, (Backcountry Mag).
On July 23, Exum Mountain Guide Gary Falk fell from the top of the Owen Spalding Rappel into Valhalla Canyon near the Black Ice Couloir, (JHN&G Story). On the same day, Rangers also responded to a rescue of a 25-year-old woman from Walker, Michigan who was hiking in the south fork of Garnet Canyon and fell on snow and was severely injured. On August 9th, two 20-year-old male climbers ascending the Petzoldt Ridge became stranded on a ledge after one of the men took a 25-foot spill. On Aug. 10th, a 30-year-old Russian man was attempting to climb 12,605-foot Mount Moran and had to be rescued after figuring out he was in over his head. He was cited for “creating a hazardous condition," (JHN&G Story). Rene Dreiling lost his life after taking a fall onto a rocky cliff band beneath steep snow fields on the north side of Mount Owen. His body was found on September 4, (JHN&G Story).
On Monday, August 28th, Mounier Fizari, 22, of Bountiful, Utah, fell about 20 feet as he was climbing the Lower Exum. On August 26th, Cassie Grenier, 24, of Jackson was pinned by boulders after a rockslide in the South Fork of Garnet Canyon. Rocks landed on her chest and legs (GTNP NR). Rangers recovered the body of Alexander Kenan, 24, of Chapel Hill, NC, which was found between Teewinot Mountain and Mount Owen on August 25th (GTNP NR). He was climbing alone and the cause of his fall remains unknown. Evan Pack, 33, of Lehi, UT summited the Grand Teton on August 19th and was beginning to descend the mountain when he lost his footing and fell approximately 20 feet. He suffered serious head injuries (GTNP NR). Nick Marucci, 30, of Salt Lake City, UT and Laura Robertson, 23, of Orem, UT were rescued off the North Ridge of the Grand Teton after cold weather and conditions halted their progress (GTNP NR). On August 8, Ron Sloot, 58, of Colfax, WA and Geoff Mitchell, 35, of Spartanburg, SC got off route on Mt. Moran and had to be rescued (GTNP NR). Carl Miester, 46, of East Windsor, NJ was descending a snow field near the Middle Teton when he slipped, fell, and slid approximately 50 feet on snow before tumbling across 20 feet of rock and sustaining minor injuries (GTNP NR). Robert Henderson, 68, of Wilson, WY lost his footing on snow while descending the SW ridge of Disappointment Peak on June 19th and fell 400 feet which included a fall down a cliff toward Amphitheater Lake (GTNP News Release). On March 3rd, GTNP rangers & TCSAR rescued Mike Connolly, 61, of Idaho Falls, ID, from Maverick Peak in GTNP after he suffered a heart attack, (GTNP NR). On February 20th, 31-year old skier Mike Syverson from Telluride, Colorado was rescued after spending two nights in the GTNP backcountry, (GTNP NR). 26-year-old John “Jack” Fields Jr, a Jackson resident, died Feb 15th after falling 1,400 vertical feet near the Amora Vida Couloir on the south side of the South Teton. Alex Thompson took a 1000' ride in a wet-slab avalanche in Granite Canyon on April 9th (GTNP NR).
Marco Korstiaan Dees, 33, fell approximately 300 feet and lost his life on July 22nd while rappelling down Guide’s Wall (5.8) on Storm Point in GTNP (JHN&G). Burak Akil, 27, of Wayne, New Jersey, was found dead on Teewinot after slipping on its eastern aspect's steep & sketchy snow during his descent (GTNP NR). Derek Wilcox, 18, of Kansas City, Missouri, slipped and fell 30 feet while descending Symmetry Spire on June 12th and was rescued on June 13th. He suffered leg injuries (GTNP NR). Glider pilot Kristine Ciesinski, 65, of Victor, Idaho, and David Ross, 65, of Salt Lake City. died when they crashed between the Middle and South Tetons on Saturday the 9th, above Icefloe Lake at approximately 10,800 feet (JHN&G Story, GTNP NR). On March 19th, GTNP rangers and Teton County Search & Rescue prepared a short-haul evacuation of Yuki Tsuji, 37, of Louisville, Colorado, who was knocked down by an avalanche in the lower half of the “Son of Apocalypse Couloir” on the south side of Death Canyon. She suffered a lower leg injury (GTNP News Release).
After a climber's death, the Jenny Lake Climbing Rangers like to tell us if a climber had "appropriate gear". If they did, it clearly didn't save them. Gear can give climbers a false sense of security.
What is appropriate gear? We all know the rangers' definition. It's the Coors-Lite definition of climbing. Popular. Considered safe. However, climbing isn't defined by one style of climbing just as beer isn't defined by one style of Coors. And safety in the mountains goes way beyond gear.
Appropriate gear — as defined by the climber's style of climbing and their skill set — varies with the individual climber. It is not defined by a climbing ranger. Clearly, a reoccurring monologue about being prepared for challenges is useful. Just as Alex Honnold often uses a rope to prepare for free-soloing big walls, everyone needs to properly assess their objective's hazards. And assess their ability to deal with those hazards. We wouldn't want Bo-Youn-ee riding without a helmet but she might get by without those knee pads.
Exum Mountain Guides assisting
a non-client with a blown knee.
THERE ARE NO SAFE ROUTES ON THE GRAND TETON
~ 2016 Accidents & Rescues ~
(GTNP mountaineering / skiing only)
On July 23, Exum Mountain Guide Gary Falk fell from the top of the Owen Spalding Rappel into Valhalla Canyon near the Black Ice Couloir, (JHN&G Story). On the same day, Rangers also responded to a rescue of a 25-year-old woman from Walker, Michigan who was hiking in the south fork of Garnet Canyon and fell on snow and was severely injured. On August 9th, two 20-year-old male climbers ascending the Petzoldt Ridge became stranded on a ledge after one of the men took a 25-foot spill. On Aug. 10th, a 30-year-old Russian man was attempting to climb 12,605-foot Mount Moran and had to be rescued after figuring out he was in over his head. He was cited for “creating a hazardous condition," (JHN&G Story). Rene Dreiling lost his life after taking a fall onto a rocky cliff band beneath steep snow fields on the north side of Mount Owen. His body was found on September 4, (JHN&G Story).
~ 2017 Accidents & Rescues ~
(GTNP mountaineering / skiing only)
On Monday, August 28th, Mounier Fizari, 22, of Bountiful, Utah, fell about 20 feet as he was climbing the Lower Exum. On August 26th, Cassie Grenier, 24, of Jackson was pinned by boulders after a rockslide in the South Fork of Garnet Canyon. Rocks landed on her chest and legs (GTNP NR). Rangers recovered the body of Alexander Kenan, 24, of Chapel Hill, NC, which was found between Teewinot Mountain and Mount Owen on August 25th (GTNP NR). He was climbing alone and the cause of his fall remains unknown. Evan Pack, 33, of Lehi, UT summited the Grand Teton on August 19th and was beginning to descend the mountain when he lost his footing and fell approximately 20 feet. He suffered serious head injuries (GTNP NR). Nick Marucci, 30, of Salt Lake City, UT and Laura Robertson, 23, of Orem, UT were rescued off the North Ridge of the Grand Teton after cold weather and conditions halted their progress (GTNP NR). On August 8, Ron Sloot, 58, of Colfax, WA and Geoff Mitchell, 35, of Spartanburg, SC got off route on Mt. Moran and had to be rescued (GTNP NR). Carl Miester, 46, of East Windsor, NJ was descending a snow field near the Middle Teton when he slipped, fell, and slid approximately 50 feet on snow before tumbling across 20 feet of rock and sustaining minor injuries (GTNP NR). Robert Henderson, 68, of Wilson, WY lost his footing on snow while descending the SW ridge of Disappointment Peak on June 19th and fell 400 feet which included a fall down a cliff toward Amphitheater Lake (GTNP News Release). On March 3rd, GTNP rangers & TCSAR rescued Mike Connolly, 61, of Idaho Falls, ID, from Maverick Peak in GTNP after he suffered a heart attack, (GTNP NR). On February 20th, 31-year old skier Mike Syverson from Telluride, Colorado was rescued after spending two nights in the GTNP backcountry, (GTNP NR). 26-year-old John “Jack” Fields Jr, a Jackson resident, died Feb 15th after falling 1,400 vertical feet near the Amora Vida Couloir on the south side of the South Teton. Alex Thompson took a 1000' ride in a wet-slab avalanche in Granite Canyon on April 9th (GTNP NR).
~ 2018 Accidents & Rescues ~
(GTNP mountaineering / skiing only)
Marco Korstiaan Dees, 33, fell approximately 300 feet and lost his life on July 22nd while rappelling down Guide’s Wall (5.8) on Storm Point in GTNP (JHN&G). Burak Akil, 27, of Wayne, New Jersey, was found dead on Teewinot after slipping on its eastern aspect's steep & sketchy snow during his descent (GTNP NR). Derek Wilcox, 18, of Kansas City, Missouri, slipped and fell 30 feet while descending Symmetry Spire on June 12th and was rescued on June 13th. He suffered leg injuries (GTNP NR). Glider pilot Kristine Ciesinski, 65, of Victor, Idaho, and David Ross, 65, of Salt Lake City. died when they crashed between the Middle and South Tetons on Saturday the 9th, above Icefloe Lake at approximately 10,800 feet (JHN&G Story, GTNP NR). On March 19th, GTNP rangers and Teton County Search & Rescue prepared a short-haul evacuation of Yuki Tsuji, 37, of Louisville, Colorado, who was knocked down by an avalanche in the lower half of the “Son of Apocalypse Couloir” on the south side of Death Canyon. She suffered a lower leg injury (GTNP News Release).
~ 2019 Accidents & Rescues ~
(GTNP mountaineering / skiing only)
While hiking, skier Stephen Sherk, 24, of Jackson, slipped on firm icy snow and fell approximately 1,000 feet on the west side of Cody Peak in GTNP (News Release). Natalie Ulloa, 17, from Houston, Texas, was descending the Southwest Couloir when she slipped on ice and snow. Daniel Henderson, 22, of Hancock, Michigan pulled some rocks loose and caused multiple injuries to himself while climbing at the mouth of Death Canyon (News Release). 35-year old Jarek Strzalkowski of Poland was on the east side of
Paintbrush Divide when he lost his footing on snow and rock. He fell
approximately 1,200 feet over snow fields and rock outcroppings toward
Grizzly Bear Lake (News Release). On August 9, Nergui Enkhchineg, 28, from Mongolia slipped on snow and fell approximately 50-100 feet in the South Fork of Garnet Canyon. She sustained significant injuries and was evacuated by helicopter. On
August 11th, a helicopter conducted a reconnaissance flight around the
Middle Teton for a stranded individual. Teton Interagency Dispatch
Center was later notified that a private climbing party assisted the
stranded hiker to safety (GTNP News Release). 20-year-old Maxime Blondel fell 50 feet while climbing Disappointment Peak on Aug. 26. He was extracted on a wheeled litter due to high wind speeds preventing a helicopter short haul rescue (JHN&G). 28-year old Deidre DeSantis
from Oakdale, Pennsylvania, was descending the Middle Teton on Sept. 7 when she
slipped on snow and fell approximately 30 feet while off-route. She
sustained minor injuries and was stranded on a very small ledge until
rescued by rangers (GTNP NR).
Bo-Youn-ee on her first bike ride.
After a climber's death, the Jenny Lake Climbing Rangers like to tell us if a climber had "appropriate gear". If they did, it clearly didn't save them. Gear can give climbers a false sense of security.
What is appropriate gear? We all know the rangers' definition. It's the Coors-Lite definition of climbing. Popular. Considered safe. However, climbing isn't defined by one style of climbing just as beer isn't defined by one style of Coors. And safety in the mountains goes way beyond gear.
Appropriate gear — as defined by the climber's style of climbing and their skill set — varies with the individual climber. It is not defined by a climbing ranger. Clearly, a reoccurring monologue about being prepared for challenges is useful. Just as Alex Honnold often uses a rope to prepare for free-soloing big walls, everyone needs to properly assess their objective's hazards. And assess their ability to deal with those hazards. We wouldn't want Bo-Youn-ee riding without a helmet but she might get by without those knee pads.
Climber with a dislocated shoulder resting while on her way to the Lower Saddle.
You might want to read up on resetting a dislocated joint.
You might want to read up on resetting a dislocated joint.
a non-client with a blown knee.
Most injuries go unreported like muscle & tendon strains, torn ligaments, dislocated fingers, and minor cuts & abrasions. According to Wyofile.com,
the leading cause of death in Grand Teton National Park is unroped
climbing or scrambling on non-technical terrain. Death by avalanche
comes in second - mostly skiers. Falling on snow is the second leading
cause of death for climbers. Most fatalities happen on the Grand
Teton. The data isn't shared online so we're not sure how they break
down the numbers. Would an unroped person who is injured on
non-technical terrain be called an injured climber or an injured hiker?
Would they be soloing? Their data is fairly meaningless without more
context.
People will often wax-poetic about taking risks in life until their own near-death experience which, not unexpectedly, they will then use to wax-poetic about how precious life is.
For some goals, evaluating risks is like gathering facts from a shadow.
More than likely; however, we know the risk. We misjudge our ability to
manage it or throw some caution to the wind. Our desire for adventure
is nothing new nor is our propensity to make mistakes. As GTNP's lead
climbing ranger Guenther admits, "I made all the same mistakes that we rescue people for now."
Sometimes the professionals make the same mistakes as novices. In 2005, Jim Ratz (52), who co-owned Jackson Hole Mountain Guides, fell to his death while rappelling near Lander, WY. He was vice president of the board of trustees of the American Mountain Guides Association and a former executive director of the National Outdoor Leadership School. On Feb. 21st, of 2018, 31-year-old Jackson Hole Mountain Guide Paul Rachele sustained significant leg injuries while rappelling when he came up short on his rope and fell about 100 feet while attempting to bolt a new climbing route near Teton Pass at The Reef.
You can get a feel for the fantastic ways that climbers injure and kill themselves by reading the online version of the American Alpine Club's Accidents in North American Mountaineering. The American Alpine Club's 2016 Accidents in North American Climbing (renamed in 2016) has some factually-challenged reporting in its exposé about common accidents on a Grand Teton climb but it's still a good read: Danger Zones: Grand Teton; and, online at the American Alpine Club's website.
We will address one bit of disturbing advice from the AAC:
Sometimes the professionals make the same mistakes as novices. In 2005, Jim Ratz (52), who co-owned Jackson Hole Mountain Guides, fell to his death while rappelling near Lander, WY. He was vice president of the board of trustees of the American Mountain Guides Association and a former executive director of the National Outdoor Leadership School. On Feb. 21st, of 2018, 31-year-old Jackson Hole Mountain Guide Paul Rachele sustained significant leg injuries while rappelling when he came up short on his rope and fell about 100 feet while attempting to bolt a new climbing route near Teton Pass at The Reef.
You can get a feel for the fantastic ways that climbers injure and kill themselves by reading the online version of the American Alpine Club's Accidents in North American Mountaineering. The American Alpine Club's 2016 Accidents in North American Climbing (renamed in 2016) has some factually-challenged reporting in its exposé about common accidents on a Grand Teton climb but it's still a good read: Danger Zones: Grand Teton; and, online at the American Alpine Club's website.
We will address one bit of disturbing advice from the AAC:
From the AAC's Danger Zones: Grand Teton
If lightning is in the air, you don't continue to the summit. More information on exiting the Exum Ridge can be found on our Upper Exum Overview page. Five minutes can be the difference between life and death on this mountain. Again, you don't waste time getting to the summit if you need to retreat from lightning or changing weather.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TCSAR Backcountry SOS App
GTNP Accidents & Mountain Rescue
GTNP Search & Rescue Operations
TCSAR Backcountry SOS App
GTNP Accidents & Mountain Rescue
GTNP Search & Rescue Operations
THERE ARE NO SAFE ROUTES ON THE GRAND TETON
Stay off the summit block in bad weather.
Don't get Summit Fever and make bad choices.
Altitude Sickness is very common.
Ice is a serious danger all year long.
Falling rock is common.
Lightning is common.
Hail is common.
Dangerous wind gusts are common.
Low temperatures are common.
Wet rock is common.
Unstable snow underfoot is common.
Slips are very common.
Injuries are common.
Bears are someplace.
Avalanches are possible.
Dangerous runoff is possible.
Falling snow slabs are possible.
Falling ice is possible.
Freezing fog is possible.
Freezing rain is possible.
Death is possible.
Protect your eyes and skin from the damage of high-elevation sun exposure.
The sun's intensity increases at a rate of 4-10 percent per 1000' feet
above sea level. The intensity varies with the time of day, snow cover,
cloud cover, your location on the Earth, etc. The reflective intensity of the snow is a real threat. Take the sun seriously.
Don't
forget that rockfall is a hazard at any time but it's much more
active during wet weather and freeze & thaw cycles in the Tetons. Thermal expansion is also on the list of rockfall triggers but given the fairly cool temperatures at higher elevations we're not sure it's a major factor in the Tetons. Human-caused
rockfall is
the most common rockfall threat on these popular routes. You are in a hazard zone directly below other climbers in scree fields, chimneys, raps,
drainages, etc. Climbers cause rock to fall upon themselves all the time. Modest rockfall activity is always happening in the Tetons, somewhere. Here's a nice overview of rockfall activity in Yosemite National Park. We are not aware of any similar studies or records for GTNP.
Local climber & writer Molly Loomis, with her late husband Andy Tyson, published a fine book on rescuing yourself from backcountry climbing mishaps. The are plenty of self-rescue resources online. NOLS, over in Lander, WY, has many training programs related to wilderness medical care and self rescue techniques. Wilderness First Aid books & self-rescue books for climbers may be available at your library.
Local climber & writer Molly Loomis, with her late husband Andy Tyson, published a fine book on rescuing yourself from backcountry climbing mishaps. The are plenty of self-rescue resources online. NOLS, over in Lander, WY, has many training programs related to wilderness medical care and self rescue techniques. Wilderness First Aid books & self-rescue books for climbers may be available at your library.
“Live everyday as if it were your last because someday you're going to be right.” Muhammad Ali
~ Altitude Sickness ~
The body needs time to adjust to higher elevations. The reduced air pressure at 13,775 ft. (4200 m) means that there are 42% fewer oxygen molecules in every breath compared to the same volume of air that's found at sea level. Additionally, at that elevation there are 9% fewer oxygen molecules in a resting climber's blood which means that the blood is less efficient at circulating oxygen to the brain and other organs. The oxygen level in the blood decreases further when any strenuous activity is undertaken.
Altitude sickness has stopped many climbers from ascending the Grand Teton and its effects can become a serious safety hazard. In groups, individual denial of hazardous symptoms is not uncommon. Climbers suffering from Acute Mountain Sickness or Altitude Sickness need to stop, rest, and descend if hazardous symptoms don't improve. Pregnant women should consult with a doctor before spending time above 10,000'. Pregnant women are seen climbing the Grand.
Altitude sickness has stopped many climbers from ascending the Grand Teton and its effects can become a serious safety hazard. In groups, individual denial of hazardous symptoms is not uncommon. Climbers suffering from Acute Mountain Sickness or Altitude Sickness need to stop, rest, and descend if hazardous symptoms don't improve. Pregnant women should consult with a doctor before spending time above 10,000'. Pregnant women are seen climbing the Grand.
Diamox, AKA: acetazolamide, is used to prevent and reduce the symptoms of altitude sickness. You'll need a prescription. Apparently, stuff like Viagra has also been used for the same purpose but the research is sketchy. Here's an Outside Magazine story on doping climbers. Here's another from Gear Patrol.
~ Bears ~
Most of the bears we have encountered were clearly accustomed to short interactions with humans. While their habits & behaviors often seem predictable their thoughts are unknown so loitering in their comfort zone is never wise. Move on. Early in the season, you need to be extra cautious with all the new cubs wandering around. We ran into bears on almost 90% of our summer trips up the Grand in 2016; perhaps 70% in 2017. They were well behaved. Except for one grizzly bear, all the bears we ran into were black bears. A grizzly should be given a wide berth. Park regulations require you to stay at least 100 yards away from all bears. A large animal carcass can present a serious hazard to backcountry hikers due to it being a bear attractant — be alert, move away. Bear Safety
If you see a specific warning sign about bears,
bear spray is recommended.
Your chances of getting injured
on the Grand are greater than your chances of getting injured by a bear
but
never underestimate the threat posed by either one. We never carry bear
spray during the height of the climbing season, we don't make noise, we
usually travel alone, and we listen very closely to our environment which is why we see a lot of bears.
Male grizzly bears usually come out of their winter dens before females. Grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem have been spotted in late February and early March. Back in 2001, an employee of GTNP was injured by a grizzly bear while backcountry skiing near Berry Creek. Sows with cubs tend to leave their dens between April and early May. It can be earlier or later depending on the weather, etc. Black bears tend to lag behind their grizzly brethren. Bears, as with many animals, tend to be more active at dusk and dawn than during the middle of the day but you can run into them at anytime. They will be especially active at all hours during the fall as they fatten up for hibernation.
Male grizzly bears usually come out of their winter dens before females. Grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem have been spotted in late February and early March. Back in 2001, an employee of GTNP was injured by a grizzly bear while backcountry skiing near Berry Creek. Sows with cubs tend to leave their dens between April and early May. It can be earlier or later depending on the weather, etc. Black bears tend to lag behind their grizzly brethren. Bears, as with many animals, tend to be more active at dusk and dawn than during the middle of the day but you can run into them at anytime. They will be especially active at all hours during the fall as they fatten up for hibernation.
"During interactions with humans, most bears exhibit considerable tolerance and restraint, consequently, interactions between people and bears often have no negative consequences for either, particularly if people act appropriately around bears. Habituated bears generally tolerate people in close proximity without being aggressive toward people. However, even habituated bears have a personal space that they monitor and may defend, so there are numerous examples of habituated bears injuring people when those people have pushed the bear’s tolerance too far. In 2007 one person was injured in GRTE by an otherwise well-habituated grizzly bear that perceived a threat to itself or its cubs." Grant MacHutchon
Grant has been a wildlife biologist at A. Grant MacHutchon Consulting for 28 years. You can read his 'Human-Bear Interaction Risk Assessment' study on bears in the Moose-Wilson corridor which cost the NPS $21,700 and didn't tell them anything worthy of that fee. USASpending.gov
~ Ungulates ~
~ The evening speed limit in GTNP is 45 mph or lower ~
Collisions with vehicles kill over 100 large animals in GTNP every year and kill over 1,000,000 large animals in the USA. In 2017, over 500 animals were killed by drivers in Teton County. Elk are often crossing roadways when it's dark and they are abundant even in the middle of the night. The last two weeks of April are prime time for elk migration off the Elk Refuge and other winter feed grounds. Sometimes they start earlier. If possible and safe to do so, gently STOP for wildlife trying to cross roadways. If they look like they want to cross the highway, they probably do. The State Farm Insurance Company puts the odds of hitting a deer (just deer!) at 1 in 88 in Wyoming - more info. Cars eat moose for breakfast in Jackson Hole.
~ The Weather ~
We can have dry summers or nasty wet ones but they are usually a mix favoring more sun than rain in Jackson Hole. A typical summer provides many exceptional days for climbing. If it does rain, it's usually in the afternoon.
Between June and September, summit temperatures can swing from the single digits to the 60's. Temperatures in the 20's and 30's are common when people are climbing in the early morning. During the hottest part of the summer, you might find shaded temperatures in the 40's during the morning.
Temperatures can change very quickly as a cold front, bad weather, or darkness moves over the area. Low temperatures can cause heavy mist to quickly freeze to rock and make it impossible to safely navigate the mountain if you are soloing. Be cognizant of the direction that temperatures are moving under wet conditions. Additionally, thick fog can make route finding difficult and hide incoming weather. The decision to turn around is always the right call if your personal safety is clouded in doubt. Safety comes first. What you don't know may kill you or your partners. Never question your decision to turn around even if others do. Mountain weather is like a game of Russian roulette. Sometimes, just waiting an hour or so will improve the weather outlook so consider taking a break if you have the time.
It is not uncommon for overnight temperatures to drop below freezing after a summer storm. Shaded ice may need a full day or longer to burn off. If you're climbing the Upper Exum, keep in mind that conditions on the west-facing Owen-Spalding route (your descent) can be far worse than anything you encountered on the sun-baked Exum ridge. Usually, thin ice can be shattered with a loose rock if you run into a problem area. Some free-soloing climbers will carry a rope for emergencies if conditions are less than ideal.
~ The Weather Forecast ~
Any forecast comes with its own uncertainty and a forecast is no substitute for common sense. Nobody can accurately forecast the weather for a ten-mile radius around the Grand Teton during periods of moderate instability. It is possible to read the weather as it develops but it's impossible to predict the how quickly the weather will go from passing to threatening. A summer forecast can change dramatically in a few hours if there is any instability in the air so a forecast that's a few hours old may be stale. This is especially true in the Tetons.
A forecast for showers may just mean a 5 minute storm that passes 10 miles to the south of the Grand Teton. It's important to examine a forecast carefully. Keep an eye out for rainfall totals. The NWS's hourly forecast shows expected precipitation totals. If the forecast shows that only .01" of rain is expected over several hours, then you know that a big storm is probably not on the horizon.
Keep in mind that forecast temperatures are temperatures expected in a shaded place. It may be much hotter in direct sunlight or much colder with wind chill. The NWS's forecast for 11,600' near the Grand's Lower Saddle has a long history of inaccurate temperature predictions. We know this because we can look at actual data from the Lower Saddle's weather station and compare it to the forecast data. A forecast that's off by 7 degrees is not uncommon.
The good news is that free-soloing summer climbers can examine overnight temperatures at the Lower Saddle's weather station before they reach Lupine Meadows. Besides wind speeds and the temperature, the saddle's weather station will display the wet bulb temperature and the dew point.
Forecast wind speeds can be off by a factor of 2 or more at the 11,600' Lower Saddle because the NWS's wind models don't take into account the fact that the saddle represents an opening in the mountain range that the air rushes through.
This was the actual forecast.
We went climbing.
We went climbing.
NWS 5-day
Forecast at Saddle
NWS 2-day Hourly Forecast at Saddle
M-F's Grand Teton Summit Forecast
NWS's Forecast for JH
NWS 2-day Hourly Forecast at Saddle
M-F's Grand Teton Summit Forecast
NWS's Forecast for JH
WU's Forecast for JH
MW's Forecast for JHNWS Forecast Discussion
NWS User-Defined Forecast Area
NWS Jackson Weather Radio: 162.525
NWS Grant Village Yellowstone: 162.450
NWS Driggs ID: 162.450
As of 2019, the Idaho weather radar has better mapping of the western side of the Tetons. Most of our summer weather comes from the west. The localized Wyoming weather radar doesn't properly cover the Teton Range.
Local meteorologist Jim Woodmency runs mountainweather.com. It's a great source of weather information from other sources. His local forecast lacks the detail we look for in a forecast and he often just feeds the NWS forecast to his website. He may claim to enhance the NWS forecast but we don't find his forecast to be any better than the NWS and we doubt it is updated as often as the NWS forecast. Besides having an interest in the weather, Woody made many notable ascents in the Tetons and was a member of the Jenny Lake Climbing Rangers. He even survived being hit by falling rocks while on a routine mountain patrol. The Gold Face on the Lower Exum was put up by Renny Jackson and Jim Woodmencey in 1988.
Local meteorologist Jim Woodmency runs mountainweather.com. It's a great source of weather information from other sources. His local forecast lacks the detail we look for in a forecast and he often just feeds the NWS forecast to his website. He may claim to enhance the NWS forecast but we don't find his forecast to be any better than the NWS and we doubt it is updated as often as the NWS forecast. Besides having an interest in the weather, Woody made many notable ascents in the Tetons and was a member of the Jenny Lake Climbing Rangers. He even survived being hit by falling rocks while on a routine mountain patrol. The Gold Face on the Lower Exum was put up by Renny Jackson and Jim Woodmencey in 1988.
"If they can make penicillin out of moldy bread, they can sure make something out of you." Muhammad Ali
~ Thunderstorms ~
Sunny dry days are fairly common in the Tetons but so are afternoon thunderstorms. Thunderstorm usually arrive between mid-afternoon and early evening (2 p.m. to 7 p.m.). If the forecast discussion mentions monsoonal moisture, low pressure, or a cold front then that should raise a red flag. Those conditions can produce very unstable and dangerous weather. If it starts to hail in the mountains, thunderstorms are about to bust loose. Speaking of hail... it hurts. It's another good reason for using a helmet.
There are no safe places if you are outside in a thunderstorm. Of course, you can make yourself safer. Don't group together during a storm. Ideally, stay 50-100' apart; at least 15'. Remove all metal from your body - jewelry, biners, glasses, etc. Metal can increase the severity of burns. Ropes will conduct electricity so there's a trade off between the fall protection that the rope provides and the danger of it becoming a conductor that could injure or kill you. The temptation to avoid hail and rain may drive you to caves or overhangs but they can increase your odds of getting zapped especially near the opening.
Even though most people survive a lightning strike, over 70% have permanent disabilities. The forces are similar to an IED blast and peak temperatures can reach 50,000°F. With or without lightning, climbing in the rain is a bad idea.
There are no safe places if you are outside in a thunderstorm. Of course, you can make yourself safer. Don't group together during a storm. Ideally, stay 50-100' apart; at least 15'. Remove all metal from your body - jewelry, biners, glasses, etc. Metal can increase the severity of burns. Ropes will conduct electricity so there's a trade off between the fall protection that the rope provides and the danger of it becoming a conductor that could injure or kill you. The temptation to avoid hail and rain may drive you to caves or overhangs but they can increase your odds of getting zapped especially near the opening.
Even though most people survive a lightning strike, over 70% have permanent disabilities. The forces are similar to an IED blast and peak temperatures can reach 50,000°F. With or without lightning, climbing in the rain is a bad idea.
Mountain Thunderstorm Formation
NWS Online School for Weather
Keep in mind that gullies can become the path of rushing water & tumbling rocks.
Storms can develop right at the edge of the Tetons. And develop
quickly. Exum Mountain Guides had a group of high school students on the
Grand Teton's summit ridgeline when a blast of white lightning shot
through the air. They didn't see it coming and you may never see it
coming.
In 2003, several climbers were struck by lightning while on the Exum Ridge and Erica Summers, a 25-year-old mother of two, was killed. In 2010, 17 people decided to climb this mountain in questionable weather.
The result was the largest search & rescue operation in the
park's history and the death of 21-year-old Brandon Oldenkamp. Learn
from their mistakes.
Lower Saddle Weather Station
Live Weather Data GTNP
WW's Weather Page
Grand Teton Webcams
MW's Weather Access Map
MW's JH Observations
JH Airport Observations
Driggs, ID Airport Observations
Recent Timbered
Island Precip
Grand
Targhee and Alta
Precip
Real-Time
Lightning Map - National
Blitzortung Lightning Map
World Wind Map
World Wind Map 2
World Sky Cover Map
US Surface Maps & Observations
Blitzortung Lightning Map
World Wind Map
World Wind Map 2
World Sky Cover Map
US Surface Maps & Observations
Read the Mountain Weather
WU's Weather History
~ See The Weather ~
WU's Weather History
Temperatures in GTNP are, on average, cooler than in Jackson. The Lupine Meadows trailhead is notorious for trapping cool air. It is often the case that climbers are over dressing at the beginning of their adventure.
~ See The Weather ~
~ Weather Contacts ~
GTNP Weather Line: 307.739.3611
National Weather
Service - Riverton
Western and Central
Wyoming
nws.riverton@noaa.gov (weather)
nws.riverton@noaa.gov (weather)
w-riw.webmaster@noaa.gov (website)
1-800-211-1448
12744 West U.S. Hwy 26
Riverton, WY 82501
307-857-3898
12744 West U.S. Hwy 26
Riverton, WY 82501
307-857-3898
~ Typical Temperature Differences ~
The above graphic illustrating the lapse rate is used to estimate the worst-case scenario for falling temperatures while climbing. The Teton Range does a pretty good job of tripping up forecasters and climbers. Inversions are common and possible at any time of year. Temperature inversions can have a
40°F spread between the valley floor and 10,000' during the winter. Summer inversions are typically limited to overnight or early-morning hours and they rarely have large temperature spreads.
Inversion Temperatures: Saddle vs. Airport
As the graphic above clearly illustrates, the time of day can influence the temperature difference between two different elevations. And temperature swings at the Lower Saddle are fairly minor compared to those at the valley floor during the summer.
As the graphic above clearly illustrates, the time of day can influence the temperature difference between two different elevations. And temperature swings at the Lower Saddle are fairly minor compared to those at the valley floor during the summer.
The difference in temperature between two different elevations also depends upon the amount of
moisture in the air, cloud cover, the amount of heat energy released by
the mountain, location of the sun, how the air is
moving, etc. We usually consider 12°F to be the worst-case temperature difference between the Lower Saddle and the summit. An average of 8°F was used by the National Weather Service. The accuracy of the Lower Saddle's temperature readings is not known. We have found new ice above the Lower Saddle when overnight temperatures seemed too warm for new ice to develop.
The Catwalk - Mid-afternoon August 9th, 2015.
In
July of 1993, 6 feet of snow fell at the Lower Saddle (11,600') and it
was the coldest & wettest summer on record in Jackson, WY. In 2015, it was hard to find a summer raindrop — except for that snow storm shown above.
"I'm young; I'm handsome; I'm fast. I can't possibly be beat." Muhammad Ali
~ Historical Weather Patterns ~
Historical Weather 1981-2010 GTNP (not Jackson)
The historical data above differs slightly depending upon the source.
2017 Seasonal Rainfall at the Valley Floor
The historical data above differs slightly depending upon the source.
Keep in mind that the days get colder and shorter as we roll through summer. You'll have about 16 hours of daylight during the 2nd-to-last week in June when the summer solstice arrives in GTNP.
You'll find more snow at the lower elevations in the month of June compared to September; however, the June days are longer and warmer. June usually gets more thunderstorms but September's storms typically bring snow and ice that sticks around. These two months are considered part of the shoulder season for climbing in GTNP.
You'll find more snow at the lower elevations in the month of June compared to September; however, the June days are longer and warmer. June usually gets more thunderstorms but September's storms typically bring snow and ice that sticks around. These two months are considered part of the shoulder season for climbing in GTNP.
Occasionally, on the hottest days, temperatures on the summit hit 60°F and overnight temperatures ping 45°F. The highest temperature at the 11,600' Lower Saddle in 2016 was 63°F on July 21st, so that would put the 13,775' summit near 55°F in the shade under worst-case lapse rate predictions. Most high temperatures don't arrive until after 3:00 pm. We have seen climbers turn around in July & August simply because they didn't have gloves, or jackets, when the temperatures took a morning dip.
~ Historical Lower Saddle Weather Observations ~
Lower Saddle Temperatures 2018 - 11,600'
Supposedly, the hottest day of the year, on average, arrives during the 2nd half of July.
Climbers
have been killed by wind gusts while on the Grand
Teton. It's a real threat
for soloing climbers on places like the Friction Pitch. Usually,
however, the wind-chill temperatures cause the biggest problems for
climbers.
The wind can blow pretty hard at the Lower Saddle. Gusts reached 75 mph on August 21, 2015. The Lower Saddle's wind speed was a constant 30 mph the next morning and the temperature was 31°F at 6 am. That makes for a 15°F wind-chill temperature. If you're unprepared for a cold windy day on the Grand Teton, you're likely to turn around after a whole lot of effort & time on the approach.
~ Hypothermia ~
Climbers can experience hypothermia & frostbite during the summer. Wet clothes lose much of their insulating properties and a breeze can greatly increase the rate of heat loss so hypothermia can happen in air temperatures up to 50°F. Mild hypothermia can increase the odds of an accident due to the loss of dexterity, mental focus, and other factors. Forget hypothermia, just being cold is uncomfortable and can result in a loss of focus and dexterity.
The cold can be deadly. Hypothermia took the lives of several Grand Teton climbers in 1985 after a snowstorm trapped five climbers on the Exum Ridge, and hypothermia ultimately took the life of Gary Miller in 2013. Hypothermia took the toes of Aaron Gams who wrote the guidebook, Teton Rock Climbs, after he got stuck on the Middle Teton during a shoulder-season climbing trip.
The cold can be deadly. Hypothermia took the lives of several Grand Teton climbers in 1985 after a snowstorm trapped five climbers on the Exum Ridge, and hypothermia ultimately took the life of Gary Miller in 2013. Hypothermia took the toes of Aaron Gams who wrote the guidebook, Teton Rock Climbs, after he got stuck on the Middle Teton during a shoulder-season climbing trip.
“It's hard to be humble when you're as great as I am." Muhammad Ali
~ The Sky ~
The sun sets far in the northwest during June's summer solstice and burns the Owen-Spalding route clean, or tries to. It also reaches its maximum height in the sky during the solstice. Near the fall & spring equinox, the sun sets almost directly in the west and the route burns off slowly. During the winter the Owen-Spalding route gets very little direct sunshine. And the floor of Garnet Canyon doesn't see too much sun during the winter because the sun is low in the southern sky for most of the day which means it's behind Nez Perce, etc. The winter sun also sets in the southwest. The Upper Exum rises above 12,000' and it faces south so it gets plenty of sunlight during the winter.
~ Celestial Events ~
Perihelion
Closest point to sun
Closest point to sun
Aphelion
Furthest point from sun
Furthest point from sun
Equinoxes
The center of the sun appears directly above the equator
The center of the sun appears directly above the equator
Subtract 6 hours from UTC to get a summer MDT in Jackson. MDT starts at 2:00 AM on Sunday, March 10, 2019 and will end at 2:00 AM on Sunday, November 3. Subtract 7 hours during the MST months to get a UTC. (UTC Calculator — Coordinated Universal Time Wiki — Current UTC Time)
~ Meteor Showers ~
Northern Hemisphere
- January: Quadrantids
- April: Lyrids
- May: Eta Aquarids
- August: Perseids
- October: Draconids
- October: Orionids
- November: Leonids
- December: Geminids
- December : Ursids
~ Celestial Links ~
Visibility: Standard Visual Range (Chart)
Current Fires
Wyoming Star Gazing
SkyAndTelescope.com
NASA Earth Observatory
Space.com
Earthsky.org
Stardate.org
Sky Map for Jackson Hole
JH Clear Sky Chart
DarkSky.org
Dark Sky Finder
NASA Night Sky Network (Home page)
SpaceWeatherLive.com
Current Moon Phase Chart
The North Star - Polaris Wiki
NPS Night Skies
Sky at a glance
See the Northern Lights from Jackson Hole
Aurora-service.org Forecast
3-Day Aurora Borealis Forecast &
30 Minute Forecast
Aurora Wiki
We find that the times can be off by 5 minutes.
Upcoming sightings
Spot the International Space Station in GTNP.
ISS Webcam ...if dark, ISS is on dark side of earth.
It's over 200 miles high & 17,000 MPH.
Video from station of Earth
You have a better chance of seeing Old Faithful from the Grand Teton if you're looking in the morning when the air is cool and clear. You may even see it with the naked eye.
"I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was." Muhammad Ali
A few winter variations for Garnet Canyon access.
"I'm so mean, I make medicine sick." Muhammad Ali
Basic avalanche courses are available in Jackson from many sources. If those are too pricey, they are, pick up a book at the Teton County Library and take advantage of the many free online resources. No one needs avalanche certification unless it's for a job but every backcountry player should have a good understanding of the hazards, the ability to deal with the negative consequences of any hazard, and the ability to minimize their exposure to those hazards.
~ Winter Closures ~
Note: Rolando & Kim ran together on Kim's record time.
Janelle ran with her husband, Mark, in 2017.
Julia ran 6 months after getting her left lung removed.
Janelle on her record-breaking Grand Traverse in 2017
"I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'" Muhammad Ali
I'm a fairly cautious person and I like to think that I kept the risk at a reasonable level, but as I jogged across the "catwalk" while eating a gel I did manage to elicit a plea of "please don't die" from a member of one of the nearby roped teams.
From the lower saddle, I was able to make good time. I think that having rambled around in the mountains since childhood has made me pretty comfortable on the type of 3rd and 4th class terrain that is prevalent on the traverse.
I arrived at the summit of Middle in 4:01 and Nez Perce in 5:31. I made my only route finding mistake descending, but before long was kicking off some impressive rock slides going down to the meadows. When I finally hit the smooth trail, I tripped and fell flat on my face. From there I ran down the trail and mostly avoided hip-checking any hikers. I finished in a time of 6:30:49." Nick Elson
“I’m not the greatest, I’m the double greatest.” Muhammad Ali
Natural & prescribed forest fires can limit your view, make breathing difficult, and seriously dampen the pleasure that comes from camping, hiking, and climbing in the Teton Range. Check out the web cameras and the local air quality website to get a feel for conditions (national: AirNow.gov). The local air quality site has trouble staying operational. Google how smoke from fires can affect your health.
The view west.
~ What's the height of the Grand Teton ~
The 'official' NGS height is 13,775'
GTNP uses 13,770'.
~ Teton Range USGS Topo Maps ~
PDF's & TIFF's
Tiff images will download the fastest
USGS 2017 Grand Teton 7.5 minute quadrangle
USGS 2015 Grand Teton 7.5 minute quadrangle
USGS 7.5 min Grand Teton TIFF
You can easily download these maps & others from Pick-A-Trail
JPG's
USGS Grand Teton Quadrangle from 1901 (JPG)
USGS Jackson Quadrangle from 1935 (JPG)
USGS Victor-Driggs Quadrangle from 1946 (JPG)
GTNP Topo Map from 1968 (JPG) — USGS has free PDF
TIFF's
WY 7.5 min USGS Maps as Tiff Files (TIFF)
ID 7.5 min USGS Maps as Tiff Files (TIFF)
USGS ONLINE
USGS TopoView
USGS Earth Explorer
USGS National Map Viewer
USGS Store - & Free Downloads
USGS Wyoming Maps
NGS DataExplorer
National Geographic's ...
FREE USGS Quad Maps
GeoHack Map Links
Free Wyoming Geologic Maps
USGS Geologic Map GTNP
Free USGS Topo Maps TopoZone
Library of Congress Maps
Wyoming Geospatial Hub
Archive.org USGS Maps
OpenTopography
NRCS Wyoming
This map shows the names of various features around the Grand Teton.
Download - 1.56MB - Download - 2.56MB with a few more features.
2018 BTNF Motor Vehicle Use Maps
Blackrock Ranger District Winter Travel Map North
Caribou-Targhee National Forest Maps
MVUM & Visitor Maps
Wilderness & Refuge
~ Online Maps & Apps ~
Snow King Trail Map (PDF)
Teton Pass Trail Map (PDF)
Mountain Bike the Tetons Trail Maps
Teton Freedom Riders Maps.
JH Friends of Pathways Maps
Teton Valley ID, Trails & Pathways Maps
Idaho Alpine Club Maps
Google Earth
Google Maps
CalTopo Mapping
Hill Map.com
Here We Go Mapping
Bing Maps
Open Street Map
Open Cycle Map
Open Topo Map
Mapbox.com
Maps Me
Teton County GIS
Declination at GTNP 7-1-2019
Visibility: Standard Visual Range (Chart)
Current Fires
Wyoming Star Gazing
SkyAndTelescope.com
NASA Earth Observatory
Space.com
Earthsky.org
Stardate.org
Sky Map for Jackson Hole
JH Clear Sky Chart
DarkSky.org
Dark Sky Finder
NASA Night Sky Network (Home page)
SpaceWeatherLive.com
Current Moon Phase Chart
The North Star - Polaris Wiki
NPS Night Skies
Sky at a glance
See the Northern Lights from Jackson Hole
Aurora-service.org Forecast
3-Day Aurora Borealis Forecast &
30 Minute Forecast
Aurora Wiki
Usually, a Kp index number of 7 (G3 = Kp7) is required before the Northern Lights have the BIG SHOW along the northern horizon in GTNP. Sometimes the Northern Lights show up with a Kp of 5 or 6 but the odds are lower. Check the Kp Forecast's View Line.
A sample forecast from March of 2018
We find that the times can be off by 5 minutes.
Upcoming sightings
Spot the International Space Station in GTNP.
ISS Webcam ...if dark, ISS is on dark side of earth.
It's over 200 miles high & 17,000 MPH.
Video from station of Earth
The ISS disappears when the sun no longer reflects off its exterior.
You have a better chance of seeing Old Faithful from the Grand Teton if you're looking in the morning when the air is cool and clear. You may even see it with the naked eye.
"I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was." Muhammad Ali
~ Winter in GTNP ~
All GTNP visitor centers are closed during the winter. Park information can be obtained by visiting the Jackson Hole and Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center
in Jackson, or by calling 307-739-3399, 10 am - 4 pm, Mon. -
Sat. The Moose Visitor Center usually reopens in early March.
The interior park road is closed at the Taggart Lake parking area during the winter season so you must start you trip from there if you wish to climb the Grand. The road usually reopens on May 1st. There is a section of the Taggart Lake parking area that is set aside for overnight campers.
Most folks ski across Bradley Lake to access Garnet Canyon once the lakes
freeze over and snow covers the valley floor. The most common winter
route runs along the southern side of Garnet Creek (AKA Bradley Creek) once you're further
inside Garnet Canyon. You will find skin tracks on both sides of the creek and you will cross the creek at some point.
There is a slight ridgeline between Bradley
& Taggart lakes that runs up Shadow Peak. You could take that
ridge to the west and then go across the steep slopes at the entrance to
Garnet Canyon but it's not necessarily your best option. That route
needs plenty of compacted stable snow on the NE slopes and you need to
know the route otherwise you'll end up in some messy terrain - it is faster if you know what you're doing. Most people just go across the lake when it's frozen. Spring conditions can be sketchy on the headwall above the lake. That is especially true during your descent in warmer weather.
Frank H. Bradley and his assistant William Rush Taggart were members of Ferdinand Hayden's Geological Survey in 1872. It was during 1872 that Yellowstone was declared a National Park and Nathaniel Langford and James Stevenson claimed to have made the first ascent of the Grand Teton. Hayden's photographer, William Henry Jackson, captured many of the first photographs of landmarks in the West including the Grand Teton.
Frank H. Bradley and his assistant William Rush Taggart were members of Ferdinand Hayden's Geological Survey in 1872. It was during 1872 that Yellowstone was declared a National Park and Nathaniel Langford and James Stevenson claimed to have made the first ascent of the Grand Teton. Hayden's photographer, William Henry Jackson, captured many of the first photographs of landmarks in the West including the Grand Teton.
If
you're camping during the winter, make sure to choose a camping
location that's not in a common avalanche zone. Standing trees tend to
be standing because avalanches didn't wipe them out while they were
growing so places like the Platforms Camping Zone will be safer than the
Meadows. Trees with broken branches down low may be in an avalanche zone. The bodies of Greg Seftick and Walker Kuhl were found in their
sleeping bags after they were crushed by an avalanche that buried them under more than 13 feet of snow while they were sleeping in Garnet Canyon.
Expect poor winter road conditions in GTNP.
The NPS does not put salt on the roads and it's rare to find sand (our local sand can be pretty salty). High winds tend to blow sand off the main highway. Snow blows on the highway. Safety First is NOT always their priority but it can be yours if you slow down. The Town of Jackson isn't known for well-maintained roads either. WYDOT does a little better especially in critical areas. If you want to see how the pros do it (sometimes), drive across the Wyoming - Idaho
border. How bad can it be? Park rangers responded to over 50 motor vehicle accidents in GTNP between mid-Dec, 2016 and the start of January, 2017.
Get Teton County Nixel Alerts via txt msg by
texting your ZIP CODE to 888777 for mobile alerts.
"I'm so mean, I make medicine sick." Muhammad Ali
~ Avalanches ~
The Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center does not forecast the avalanche hazards above 10,500'; however, reports of avalanche activity and pit reports in Garnet Canyon can sometimes be found on their website. Our general
feeling about avalanche forecasts and in-field assessments for higher
elevations is that they are a poor safety guide unless the threat is
obviously high. Additionally, an avalanche forecast is not intended to be a guide for extreme terrain. In Jackson, skiing the backcountry under dangerous avalanche conditions is pretty common. And quite often, it's the days with moderate avalanche hazards that get people injured or killed.
It's wise to keep in mind that the so-called backcountry experts get it wrong time and time again. They are quick to blame the inherent dangers instead of themselves. Poor judgment is to blame more often than not. Either way, the backcountry doesn't care about your skill set, intelligence, fitness, or preparation. It doesn't advertise all its threats with neon arrows. Go forth with the certainty that you may need to turn around and come back another day, or not come back.
It's wise to keep in mind that the so-called backcountry experts get it wrong time and time again. They are quick to blame the inherent dangers instead of themselves. Poor judgment is to blame more often than not. Either way, the backcountry doesn't care about your skill set, intelligence, fitness, or preparation. It doesn't advertise all its threats with neon arrows. Go forth with the certainty that you may need to turn around and come back another day, or not come back.
Basic avalanche courses are available in Jackson from many sources. If those are too pricey, they are, pick up a book at the Teton County Library and take advantage of the many free online resources. No one needs avalanche certification unless it's for a job but every backcountry player should have a good understanding of the hazards, the ability to deal with the negative consequences of any hazard, and the ability to minimize their exposure to those hazards.
BTAC Avalanche Forecast
NWS's Snow Avalanche Guidance
BTNF
Avalanche set off by snowboarders — Teton Pass
NWS's Snow Avalanche Guidance
BTNF
~ Winter Closures ~
Many areas in the national park and national forests are closed to human travel during the winter so as to protect wintering wildlife. You can find winter travel maps online. Additionally, some roads, or sections of roads, are closed simply to avoid the expense of maintaining them during the winter, or because it would be impractical to open them. Most paved roads reopen on May 1st. Most dirt roads open once they dry out.
Winter Closures in GTNP: YELLOW AREAS and Highlighted Roads
~ The Grand Traverse ~
The Grand Traverse
is a traverse of the Tetons’ central peaks which include
Teewinot Mountain, Peak 11,840'+, East Prong, Mount Owen, Grand Teton,
Middle Teton, South Teton, Ice Cream Cone, Gilkey Tower, Spalding Peak,
Cloudveil Dome and Nez Perce. It starts and ends at the Lupine Meadows
trailhead. The level of climbing difficulty ranges up to IV 5.8. Peak
11,840' and the East Prong are sometimes left out of the bagged peaks. We are not aware of any of the climbers providing unimpeachable proof of their record times on the Grand Traverse but the times seem reasonable. The fastest known times are shown below.
Rolando Garibotti 6:49
Alex Lowe 8:15 - depending on the source.
~ FKT Records for Women ~
Julia Niles had a nice free-solo in about 16 hrs
Note: Rolando & Kim ran together on Kim's record time.
Janelle ran with her husband, Mark, in 2017.
Julia ran 6 months after getting her left lung removed.
Alpinist Magazine has the total distance at 17.9 miles. An
Outside Magazine story has a total
elevation change over 20,000 feet. Take all those numbers with a grain of salt.
Rumor
has it that the summit to the Lower Saddle was once clocked in 12
minutes by Rolo Garibotti. We're not sure that his feet touched the ground
at that speed but that remarkable (almost unbelievable, or unbelievable) time was once
reported in the now defunct outerlocal.com website as true.
Allen Steck, Dick Long, and John Evans completed the first Grand Traverse on August 12, 1963 by starting at Nez Perce and ending on Teewinot. Jim McCarthy and Lito Tejada-Flores were the first to try the traverse from Teewinot to Nez Perce back in August of 1966 (17–19th). Mike Brewer & Dick Pownall attempted the route by starting at Nez Perce. After gaining the Grand's summit, they descended via the Grand's East Ridge and then climbed Mt. Owen and traversed over to Teewinot. They left Jenny Lake at midnight and reached the top of the Grand at 2:30pm (AAC 1951 Publication & Grand Teton's 1950 summit register).
Allen Steck, Dick Long, and John Evans completed the first Grand Traverse on August 12, 1963 by starting at Nez Perce and ending on Teewinot. Jim McCarthy and Lito Tejada-Flores were the first to try the traverse from Teewinot to Nez Perce back in August of 1966 (17–19th). Mike Brewer & Dick Pownall attempted the route by starting at Nez Perce. After gaining the Grand's summit, they descended via the Grand's East Ridge and then climbed Mt. Owen and traversed over to Teewinot. They left Jenny Lake at midnight and reached the top of the Grand at 2:30pm (AAC 1951 Publication & Grand Teton's 1950 summit register).
"I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'" Muhammad Ali
~ 2016 Grand Traverse FKT Speed Record ~
On August 16th, Canadian runner & climber Nick Elson, 32, broke the 16-year-old speed record for the Grand Traverse by nailing a time of 6:30:49. Eric Carter
took some of the photos. Eric ran a round-trip up the Grand Teton and
back to Lupine Meadows in under 3.5 hours on the day before Nick made
his record Grand Traverse run.
Here's Nick at the Double Chimney
"I
set off just after 6am and reached the summit of Teewinot in 1:23. I
reached the summit of the Grand in 3:18, soloing carefully on the
Italian Cracks. It was great to pass Mark @smileysproject here guiding the traverse as he had also helped me out with some great local knowledge.
I'm a fairly cautious person and I like to think that I kept the risk at a reasonable level, but as I jogged across the "catwalk" while eating a gel I did manage to elicit a plea of "please don't die" from a member of one of the nearby roped teams.
From the lower saddle, I was able to make good time. I think that having rambled around in the mountains since childhood has made me pretty comfortable on the type of 3rd and 4th class terrain that is prevalent on the traverse.
I arrived at the summit of Middle in 4:01 and Nez Perce in 5:31. I made my only route finding mistake descending, but before long was kicking off some impressive rock slides going down to the meadows. When I finally hit the smooth trail, I tripped and fell flat on my face. From there I ran down the trail and mostly avoided hip-checking any hikers. I finished in a time of 6:30:49." Nick Elson
Also in 2016: Over the course of three days in August, 70-year-old Lee Sheftel of Carbondale, Colorado,
completed the Grand Traverse with partner Greg Collins.
~ The Grand Teton Triathlon ~
The GTT
(AKA: The Picnic) involves biking from Jackson's Town Square to Jenny Lake in GTNP, swimming from the Jenny Lake Overlook on the eastern shoreline to the western shoreline, taking the Jenny Lake Trail to the Lupine Meadows Trailhead, cruising to the top of the Grand Teton and then
doing the whole thing in reverse for a total of 42 miles of biking, 2.6
miles of open water swimming, and 20 miles of hiking and climbing. This
is not a sanctioned race with a set date. It's more like an FKT event to test yourself or an all-day picnic with lots of exercise. David Gonzales started the picnic. He wrote a book about Jackson.
Ryan Burke with adaptive athlete Lucas Onan during a 2017 Picnic (16:39 total time)
Julia Heemstra,
at 42, was the first woman to complete the Grand Teton Triathlon (The
Picnic) solo and unsupported. She finished in 14 hours and 47 minutes.
It helps to be a former masters-level swimmer and robust climber. A year later in August of 2017, Julia completed the Moranic in 13 hours and 33 minutes free-soloing the CMC face of Mount Moran.
Anyone who has done the Grand Teton Triathlon
has experienced the power of 60°F water to remove heat from the body
faster than 60°F air. Still water conducts heat away from the body
approximately 20 to 25 times more efficiently than still air. Because of that, an
unprotected swimmer can succumb to hypothermia even in warmish water on a
warm day. Unless you're a Jimmy Sorensen or swim the Trans Tahoe Relay every year, a proper wetsuit is essential for a safe swim across Jenny Lake. Participants have also towed $15 boogie boards
for hauling food/clothing/shoes. They can be used for emergency
purposes in case of cramping in the middle of your 1.2-mile swim. Keep
in mind that using a bike on the pathways is illegal at night. You can
use the park's roads. Or poach the pathway if you are worried about safety (didn't hear it from us).
Peak Water Temperatures 2016, Snake River
The temperature of the water in the Snake River rarely matches the temperature of the water in all of the park's lakes but the monthly highs and lows follow similar patterns. If you are wearing a wetsuit for the GTT, make sure it works best with the expected water temperature. Sometimes you can call the Jenny Lake Boat Concession facilities and get a water temperature at the dock. Peak water temperatures can happen late into August with a heat wave but usually the water cools considerably by then. The GTT has been done in September.
Water Temperatures at the dam
Snake River @ Moose
Temperatures below the JL Dam
Temperatures Snake River near Flagg Ranch
The peak river flows around Jackson in the 1,078 mile-long Snake River usually happen around the first or second week of June with 14,000 cubic feet per second (just above Alpine, WY) being the 65-year mean. The record high is around 38,600 cfs.
Snake River @ Moose
Temperatures below the JL Dam
Temperatures Snake River near Flagg Ranch
The peak river flows around Jackson in the 1,078 mile-long Snake River usually happen around the first or second week of June with 14,000 cubic feet per second (just above Alpine, WY) being the 65-year mean. The record high is around 38,600 cfs.
The GTT Swim
The Bike Path through SJL isn't obvious.
The Bike Path through SJL isn't obvious.
“I’m not the greatest, I’m the double greatest.” Muhammad Ali
~ Fire ~
SMOKE MAP
(If missing data, check another source)
GEOS West Sat Images
Satellite Animation
Smoke Forecast Maps
Sight Distance in GTNP
~~~~~~~
NOAA Smoke Map
Smoke Forecast
Wind Map
Smoke Time-lapse
NIFC Fire Map — Inciweb Fire Map
AirNow Air Quality / Fire Smoke Map
~~~~~~~
(If missing data, check another source)
GEOS West Sat Images
Satellite Animation
Smoke Forecast Maps
Sight Distance in GTNP
~~~~~~~
NOAA Smoke Map
Smoke Forecast
Wind Map
Smoke Time-lapse
NIFC Fire Map — Inciweb Fire Map
AirNow Air Quality / Fire Smoke Map
~~~~~~~
Teton Interagency Fire
Air Quality GTNP
Great Basin Fire
National Interagency Fire
InciWeb Fire Links
Air Quality GTNP
Great Basin Fire
National Interagency Fire
InciWeb Fire Links
NASA Fire & Smoke Images
NOAA Smoke Forecast
NOAA Satelitte Images
NASA Worldview
Worldview Events
NASA Earthdata
World Sat. View
Wildfire Map - Large Google Map
Fire & Your Health
NOAA Smoke Forecast
NOAA Satelitte Images
NASA Worldview
Worldview Events
NASA Earthdata
World Sat. View
Wildfire Map - Large Google Map
Fire & Your Health
Natural & prescribed forest fires can limit your view, make breathing difficult, and seriously dampen the pleasure that comes from camping, hiking, and climbing in the Teton Range. Check out the web cameras and the local air quality website to get a feel for conditions (national: AirNow.gov). The local air quality site has trouble staying operational. Google how smoke from fires can affect your health.
The view west.
~ What's the height of the Grand Teton ~
The 'official' NGS height is 13,775'
GTNP uses 13,770'.
The 2017 USGS 7.5 Min. Quad Map (pdf)
The height is between 13,760' & 13,840'
The height is between 13,760' & 13,840'
T44N R116W Section 32 NW 1/4
The 'official' height of the Grand Teton has changed many times and it
will change again due to the natural movements of the Teton Range and new
measurements. The Latitude & Longitude of the summit monument also changes. For USGS topo maps, elevations were usually accurate to within half the
contour line interval (80'/2 = 40') which means the elevation of the upper contour
line on the USGS map is between 13,720' & 13,800'. Perhaps the elevations are more accurate these days.
We noticed this next image from the National Weather Service which shows the height of the Grand Teton at 13,781'. Back in 2017, the NWS maps would display metric units until you zoomed in. The metric units had the Grand at 4194 meters which is about 13,760'.
We noticed this next image from the National Weather Service which shows the height of the Grand Teton at 13,781'. Back in 2017, the NWS maps would display metric units until you zoomed in. The metric units had the Grand at 4194 meters which is about 13,760'.
13,781...?
As far as we know, the Grand Teton's height has never been officially
observed to a very high degree of accuracy & precision using
modern mapping tools such as GPS, IfSAR, and LiDAR.
Back in the late 80's, local surveyor and climber Rich Greenwood wanted to get a better height measurement atop the Grand Teton. Eventually he got an opportunity to take a Trimble 4000ST GPS receiver up the mountain in October of '91. You can read about their adventures, and the original Grand Teton surveys, in a story published by Point of Beginning Magazine in 1992 (PDF File).
A LiDAR scan over GTNP and the National Elk Refuge was conducted in 2014. The vertical accuracy was 7.4 cm RMSEz (vertical linear root mean square error in the z direction) and the point spacing was 0.7 meters or 2 points per square meter which would certainly hit near the true summit of the Grand Teton if they flew over the top and nabbed a NAVD88 elevation. The last data that we looked at ended just to the northeast (43.744...,-110.801...) of the summit; however, we may have missed another dataset. You can also find two Teton County LiDAR scans at OpenTopography.org: Dataset 1 and Dataset 2. We were told by a park employee that the park service had LiDAR of all the peaks in the Tetons. We haven't been able to find it online so it might be just more misinformation from the park service.
Back in the late 80's, local surveyor and climber Rich Greenwood wanted to get a better height measurement atop the Grand Teton. Eventually he got an opportunity to take a Trimble 4000ST GPS receiver up the mountain in October of '91. You can read about their adventures, and the original Grand Teton surveys, in a story published by Point of Beginning Magazine in 1992 (PDF File).
October 1991 Greenwood Mapping
A LiDAR scan over GTNP and the National Elk Refuge was conducted in 2014. The vertical accuracy was 7.4 cm RMSEz (vertical linear root mean square error in the z direction) and the point spacing was 0.7 meters or 2 points per square meter which would certainly hit near the true summit of the Grand Teton if they flew over the top and nabbed a NAVD88 elevation. The last data that we looked at ended just to the northeast (43.744...,-110.801...) of the summit; however, we may have missed another dataset. You can also find two Teton County LiDAR scans at OpenTopography.org: Dataset 1 and Dataset 2. We were told by a park employee that the park service had LiDAR of all the peaks in the Tetons. We haven't been able to find it online so it might be just more misinformation from the park service.
~ Maps for trails within Grand Teton National Park ~
~ USGS 7.5 min map links are further below ~
Granite Canyon Trailhead
Death Canyon Trailhead
Taggart Lake Trailhead
Lupine Meadows Trailhead
Jenny Lake Trailhead
String Lake Trailhead
Leigh Lake Trailhead
Hermitage Point Trailhead
Two Ocean Lake Trailhead
GTNP MAP
TetonHikingTrails.com
AllTrails.com
There are many trails in GTNP that are not marked on any official maps. These can be climbing trails, hiking trails, game trails, horse trails, utility line trails, boundary line trails, irrigation trails, homesteader trails, mining trails, abandoned roads, service roads, abandoned trails, outfitter trails, and dike trails. There are trails that remain a mystery to most visitors but are well known to locals like the Burned Wagon Gulch Trail or the trail to Hanging Canyon. Trails through places like Avalanche Canyon are often in poor shape. Some of these trails are occasionally maintained, or were maintained. Some of the trails were never maintained and some are in rehab. There used to be a nice climbing trail to Mt. Moran. No more. Obviously, the park service would like everyone to stay on mapped or marked trails. In a backcountry absent of trails, climbers are expected to exercise good judgment when moving through a fragile ecosystem. This is a national park worth protecting.
Granite Canyon Trailhead
Death Canyon Trailhead
Taggart Lake Trailhead
Lupine Meadows Trailhead
Jenny Lake Trailhead
String Lake Trailhead
Leigh Lake Trailhead
Hermitage Point Trailhead
Two Ocean Lake Trailhead
GTNP MAP
TetonHikingTrails.com
AllTrails.com
~ Teton Range USGS Topo Maps ~
The first standard topographical map of the Tetons was published in 1899. William O. Owen surveyed many of the lands in Teton County and his name is on the Owen-Spalding route & Mt. Owen but his surveys bypassed the Grand. His name is mentioned on this survey by Lupine Meadows and he triangulated the altitude of Mt. Owen in 1925. You can find Owen's survey of the Town of Jackson on the BLM's GLO Records search page (click the "Basic Viewer" button at the bottom of linked page if needed).
The USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle maps for Wyoming are available for a free download at the National Map home page. Here's the 2017 Grand Teton 7.5 minute quad (about 54 MB). It's a layered image that contains aerial photographs, contours, etc. The 2012 GeoPDF maps did not include trails. The 2015 maps have some trails but not all. The standard PDF (much older) maps often show more trails and you can download them too. The USGS updates these GeoPDF maps on a three year cycle, usually.
There are several smart-phone apps that allow you to view the GeoPDF's. Older phones may be too slow to load and pan the images. The TIFF & JPG image files may be best for older phones and newer ones given that they currently have more details related to trails. You may need an additional app to open TIFF files.
For viewing GeoPDF maps on a personal computer, use the TerraGo Toolbar in Adobe Reader. For viewing GeoPDF's on your smartphone, consider using the Avenza System Inc app. You can only load a few GeoPDF maps at one time on the free version of their app unless you buy the maps from Avenza. As with offline Google maps, your location can be tracked on the GeoPDF map in real time without a cellular connection if your phone's GPS is active. Some TIFF images also include embedded coordinates. The Avenza app can decode and open TIFF files.
A partial look at Owen's 1892 survey of what is now the Town of Jackson.
The USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle maps for Wyoming are available for a free download at the National Map home page. Here's the 2017 Grand Teton 7.5 minute quad (about 54 MB). It's a layered image that contains aerial photographs, contours, etc. The 2012 GeoPDF maps did not include trails. The 2015 maps have some trails but not all. The standard PDF (much older) maps often show more trails and you can download them too. The USGS updates these GeoPDF maps on a three year cycle, usually.
There are several smart-phone apps that allow you to view the GeoPDF's. Older phones may be too slow to load and pan the images. The TIFF & JPG image files may be best for older phones and newer ones given that they currently have more details related to trails. You may need an additional app to open TIFF files.
For viewing GeoPDF maps on a personal computer, use the TerraGo Toolbar in Adobe Reader. For viewing GeoPDF's on your smartphone, consider using the Avenza System Inc app. You can only load a few GeoPDF maps at one time on the free version of their app unless you buy the maps from Avenza. As with offline Google maps, your location can be tracked on the GeoPDF map in real time without a cellular connection if your phone's GPS is active. Some TIFF images also include embedded coordinates. The Avenza app can decode and open TIFF files.
PDF's & TIFF's
Tiff images will download the fastest
USGS 2017 Grand Teton 7.5 minute quadrangle
USGS 2015 Grand Teton 7.5 minute quadrangle
USGS 7.5 min Grand Teton TIFF
You can easily download these maps & others from Pick-A-Trail
JPG's
USGS Grand Teton Quadrangle from 1901 (JPG)
USGS Jackson Quadrangle from 1935 (JPG)
USGS Victor-Driggs Quadrangle from 1946 (JPG)
GTNP Topo Map from 1968 (JPG) — USGS has free PDF
TIFF's
WY 7.5 min USGS Maps as Tiff Files (TIFF)
ID 7.5 min USGS Maps as Tiff Files (TIFF)
FYI: The Wyoming TIFF webpage directly above has some formatting errors. Starting with Wyoming's 52676 Dutch Nick Flat SW map, the TIFF download links don't work properly on the archived Libre Map Project website; however, they can be parsed if closely examined. For example, this is the full hyperlink to the 52676 Dutch Nick Flat SW map:
http://libremap.org/data/state/wyoming/drg/20161219150224/http://www.archive.org/download/usgs_drg_wy_44108_a4/o44108a4.tif
http://libremap.org/data/state/wyoming/drg/20161219150224/http://www.archive.org/download/usgs_drg_wy_44108_a4/o44108a4.tif
You'll notice that the link has two http:// addresses. You can select the second part of the address and open it to download your file. Or, you can search for TIFF files at https://archive.org/details/usgs_wy and download them for free from the archive.org site.
USGS ONLINE
USGS TopoView
USGS Earth Explorer
USGS National Map Viewer
USGS Store - & Free Downloads
USGS Wyoming Maps
NGS DataExplorer
National Geographic's ...
FREE USGS Quad Maps
GeoHack Map Links
Free Wyoming Geologic Maps
USGS Geologic Map GTNP
Free USGS Topo Maps TopoZone
Library of Congress Maps
Wyoming Geospatial Hub
Archive.org USGS Maps
OpenTopography
NRCS Wyoming
Download - 1.56MB - Download - 2.56MB with a few more features.
Note
that the South Couloir of the Middle Teton is often called the
Chouinard Couloir. The western boundary of the South Couloir is the
Chouinard Ridge as defined in A Climbers Guide to the Teton Range. It's difficult to exactly locate some features on a topo map so keep that in mind.
~ National Forest MVUM Maps ~
These are now available for your mobile device. Avenza System Inc has an app for viewing: www.avenza.com/pdf-maps. The BTNF updates their maps frequently, so visit their website to get the latest maps.
2018 BTNF Motor Vehicle Use Maps
Kemmerer, Big Piney and Greys River Ranger Districts
2018 Front of map, & Back side
Jackson and Blackrock Ranger Districts
2018 Front of map, & Back side
Pinedale Ranger District
2018 Front of map, & Back side
2018 Bridger-Teton Winter Travel Maps
Jackson Ranger District Winter Travel Map South2018 Front of map, & Back side
Jackson and Blackrock Ranger Districts
2018 Front of map, & Back side
Pinedale Ranger District
2018 Front of map, & Back side
2018 Bridger-Teton Winter Travel Maps
Blackrock Ranger District Winter Travel Map North
Caribou-Targhee National Forest Maps
MVUM & Visitor Maps
Wilderness & Refuge
Snow King Trail Map (PDF)
Teton Pass Trail Map (PDF)
Mountain Bike the Tetons Trail Maps
Teton Freedom Riders Maps.
JH Friends of Pathways Maps
Teton Valley ID, Trails & Pathways Maps
Idaho Alpine Club Maps
Google Earth
Google Maps
CalTopo Mapping
Hill Map.com
Here We Go Mapping
Bing Maps
Open Street Map
Open Cycle Map
Open Topo Map
Mapbox.com
Maps Me
Teton County GIS
11° 17' E
±
0° 22'
....changing by
0° 7' W per year
As a point of reference, the azimuth between the Middle & Grand Teton is about 30°. The Lower Saddle sits on a similar azimuth line near 27°. In other words, if you sat on the southern end of the saddle and looked toward the north end, the compass would show a 27° alignment off of the north-south line after taking into account the declination to the east.
It's unlikely that a broadcast from Garnet Canyon will reach anyone during an emergency. You might reach a pilot with an aviation radio or the Driggs Airport's CTAF channel from the Lower Saddle. In 2012, a hiker used a marine radio to call for help from Waterfalls Canyon, so you never know. For the most part, two-way radios are best used for communications between members of a climbing party assuming you don't mind schlepping them up the Grand. If you're wondering where frontcountry bears are hanging out, tune in to the park's dispatch channel: 171.675.
Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) Control Tower: 118.075
You used to be able to Listen Live to JAC here
JAC Ground: 124.550
JAC CTAF:
118.075
JAC UNICOM: 122.95
Driggs Airport has no tower:
CTAF/UNICOM: 122.7
Marine Distress Channel: 156.8
Marine Distress Channel: 156.8
Aviation Distress Channel: 121.5
International Distress EPIRB: 406 MHz
Mutual Aid: 154.875
Teton County Search & Rescue
Teton County Search & Rescue
155.22, Tx/Rx Tone 100.0
The agencies below use
Rx: 171.675
155.415
~ Weather ~
NOAA
Jackson Weather Radio: 162.525
NOAA Yellowstone Weather Radio: 162.45
Driggs, Idaho Weather Radio 162.450
~ Frequency Ranges ~
Aviation
118.000 - 136.975 MHz
Marine: 156 - 162.025 MHz
Weather:
162.400 - 162.550 MHz
International Distress: 406 MHz
Speaking of the airport....
UNMANNED AIRCRAFT
Launching, landing or operating an
unmanned aircraft, such as a drone, within
Grand Teton National Park is prohibited.
See the Laws & Policies of GTNP
~ Other Stuff ~
Best of the Tetons - Outstanding Photo Blog
Firearms in
Grand Teton National Park.
Mammals brochure for GTNP (PDF)
Wiki on GTNP Mammals
Wiki on geology of the Grand Teton
Wiki on Teton Fault
~~~~~~~
Wiki on GTNP Mammals
Wiki on geology of the Grand Teton
Wiki on Teton Fault
~~~~~~~
Wyoming Webcam Index
~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~
Jackson Hole News and Guide
Buckrail.com
22Rents - Facebook
JH Classifieds
WY Workforce Servcies
JH Chamber of Commerce
WyoFile
~~~~~~~
Buckrail.com
22Rents - Facebook
JH Classifieds
WY Workforce Servcies
JH Chamber of Commerce
WyoFile
~~~~~~~
Wyoming State Archives
Teton Climbing 1960's
USGS Photo Archives
Yellowstone Archives
National Archives - National Park Service
GTNP Archives
Jackson Hole Historical Society
A Place Called Jackson Hole...
(Chapter 16: Park of the Matterhorns)
~~~~~~~
Teton Climbing 1960's
USGS Photo Archives
Yellowstone Archives
National Archives - National Park Service
GTNP Archives
Jackson Hole Historical Society
A Place Called Jackson Hole...
(Chapter 16: Park of the Matterhorns)
~~~~~~~
GTNP News Releases
NPS News Releases
Not all news releases are released online and climbing related NR's are often misleading.
~~~~~~~
Snow King Seismograph (Or Try Here)
(OFTEN OFF-LINE)
Teton Pass Seismograph (Or Try Here)
(OFTEN OFF-LINE)
Moose WY GTNP Seismograph
Flagg Ranch GTNP Seismograph
Seismograph Stations USGS
UU's Station List - MAP
UU's Real-Time GYA (Yellowstone) Quake Map
USGS's 'Did You Feel It?'
Report a Quake
Tristan Greszko's Website
Tristan's Instagram
Jimmy Chin's Instagram
Jack Brauer's Teton Aerials
David Stubbs Instagram
Best of the Tetons
NPS News Releases
Not all news releases are released online and climbing related NR's are often misleading.
~~~~~~~
Snow King Seismograph (Or Try Here)
(OFTEN OFF-LINE)
Teton Pass Seismograph (Or Try Here)
(OFTEN OFF-LINE)
Moose WY GTNP Seismograph
Flagg Ranch GTNP Seismograph
Seismograph Stations USGS
UU's Station List - MAP
UU's Real-Time GYA (Yellowstone) Quake Map
USGS's 'Did You Feel It?'
Report a Quake
~ JH Photographers ~
Tristan Greszko's Website
Tristan's Instagram
Jimmy Chin's Instagram
Jack Brauer's Teton Aerials
David Stubbs Instagram
Best of the Tetons
~ Car Rentals, Bus, Bike, & Taxi Services ~
Car rentals in Jackson can be a nightmare according to some consumers on Yelp. For what it's worth, we have never had a problem with Enterprise Rent-A-Car, currently at the JH Airport, and they have the best reviews on Yelp; however, their parent company owns National Car Rental and Alamo Rent a Car which have horrible reviews. Keep in mind that some rental cars can't be used on well graded dirt roads (or off of any paved road) — read your contract and keep in mind that the GPS tracts your location.
Taxi services to and from the airport are fairly expensive. Uber & Lyft are available in Jackson. The JH airport sets rates for all transportation services to and from the airport. They are some of the highest rates in the nation. There is a discounted taxi service to the airport which does cost less than the overpriced regular taxi service. It's supposed to be for locals but we will assume that anyone can use it. Some hotels offer free transportation to & from the airport for their guests.
Jackson has a collection of bikes around town that can be rented from their bike rack with an app. We also have several bike-rental businesses — renting mountain bikes, commuter, e-bikes, etc. Our pathway system is extensive.
Jackson has a free bus system, the START bus, that operates within the Town of Jackson. Outside of town, the START bus is not free but it's fairly cheap. It only runs to Teton Village. We have a commuter bus (part of the START Bus services) for workers who live over Teton Pass in Idaho, or 'down valley' in Alpine, and points south. There is no bus service to the airport (as of winter 2019).
Two transportation companies provide shuttle services every day between Salt Lake City and Jackson: www.MountainStatesExpress.com and www.SaltLakeExpress.com. They have different routes and one was faster (MSE) than the other (SLE) - call them and get detailed information. Hitchhiking is always free and it's not too hard to get a ride in Jackson.
Taxi services to and from the airport are fairly expensive. Uber & Lyft are available in Jackson. The JH airport sets rates for all transportation services to and from the airport. They are some of the highest rates in the nation. There is a discounted taxi service to the airport which does cost less than the overpriced regular taxi service. It's supposed to be for locals but we will assume that anyone can use it. Some hotels offer free transportation to & from the airport for their guests.
Jackson has a collection of bikes around town that can be rented from their bike rack with an app. We also have several bike-rental businesses — renting mountain bikes, commuter, e-bikes, etc. Our pathway system is extensive.
Jackson has a free bus system, the START bus, that operates within the Town of Jackson. Outside of town, the START bus is not free but it's fairly cheap. It only runs to Teton Village. We have a commuter bus (part of the START Bus services) for workers who live over Teton Pass in Idaho, or 'down valley' in Alpine, and points south. There is no bus service to the airport (as of winter 2019).
Two transportation companies provide shuttle services every day between Salt Lake City and Jackson: www.MountainStatesExpress.com and www.SaltLakeExpress.com. They have different routes and one was faster (MSE) than the other (SLE) - call them and get detailed information. Hitchhiking is always free and it's not too hard to get a ride in Jackson.
~ Rivers ~
Current River Flows and Res. Levels
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When we switched to
Google's Blogger platform
in 2010, we did not transfer our trip reports from the previous domain host. Additionally, only a
few trip reports between 2010 and 2016 are still in our Blogger
archives. They rest were deleted. Our offline image catalog contains over 100,000 photos. It will
probably never see the light of day. If you would like to find
an old image, send us an email with the date of the climb and we'll see
what we can come up with.
"I never lost anything up there and...
never wanted to go back" - Allen Budge
This is one of the few web portals for climbers that
isn't intended to promote products or the author. The only thing we
promote is free-soloing the Grand Teton as safely and as efficiently as
possible. We would like to thank everyone who tolerated our photography, who climbed
with us, and who helped make this mountain more accessible to those who carry the dream to climb it.
