Teton Dreams
The Teton Range is the birthplace of American Alpinism. The terrain, the culture, and the history all lead to making the Tetons one of the great mountain ranges of the United States. The gem of the Tetons is the Grand Teton, one of the most famous mountains in the world. I've always wanted to climb this mountain, so last month my climbing buddy and I took some time off of work and made it happen.
Day 1 and 2: Climbing 16 miles, and 7,000 vertical feet on the Grand Teton! It was every bit as good as I hoped it would be.
The classic view of the Grand Teton entering Grand Teton National Park.
Another view of Teewinot, Grand Teton, and Mount Owen.
Hiking up Garnet Canyon.
Reaching "The Meadows" campsite. Absolutely Stunning.
Hiking up to the Moraine campsite.
The lower saddle coming into view.
Now we've reached our campsite. Dead tired. We ditched our tent to save weight on the ascent and instead purchase plastic painters' sheets at Wal-Mart to cover us if it rained.
Well, at 2am we awoke to drenching rain and hail, and exploding thunder. Miraculously, the plastic sheets really worked and we slept through the storm and woke up at 4am.
Hiking up the lower saddle.
Starting the technical climbing near Wall Street (ramp in the cliff ahead).
Exposed climbing on Wall Street.
After leading the Golden Staircase. What a view!
Resting and refueling.
Climbing to the Friction Pitch.
Climbing the top section of the Friction Pitch.
The remaining fourth of the climb. Superb terrain!
Climbing the V Pitch.
Summit ridge.
On the summit!
The first rappel down.
The second rappel down.
Walking home after a killer climb!!!
Day 3: Climbing Ice Point
We crossed over Jenny Lake, climbing around the initial waterfalls, and started up the snow couloir.
We reached the Ice Point - Symmetry Col and received an unbelievable view of the Cathedral Group.
The summit ridge. Mmmmmm, Mmmmmm.
On the summit.
The killer views from the summit.
Day 3: Climbing Ice Point
We crossed over Jenny Lake, climbing around the initial waterfalls, and started up the snow couloir.
We reached the Ice Point - Symmetry Col and received an unbelievable view of the Cathedral Group.
The summit ridge. Mmmmmm, Mmmmmm.
On the summit.
The killer views from the summit.
This trip was phenomenal and motivated us for an annual summer pilgrimage to the Tetons. Next year it'll be the Grand via the East Ridge, and then Moran via the CMC. Can't wait!
posted by Matthew Jesperson @ 11:24 PM
4 Comments:
That picture of sunrise of the Grand is awesome! I live here but Tetons never get old. Always great to see new people exploring the area.
9/04/2008 12:02 PM
Wow!!! Gorgeous!!!
9/09/2008 1:25 PM
great images! put that in a slideshow and give it to the park to use as a "this is climbing the Grand" in their orientation!
Then again, the two times I was turned back from crazy lightning/snow storms is the other side of the coin. You scored on the weather.
9/10/2008 2:04 PM
It's an incredible feeling for everything to go so smoothly on an aesthetic route like that. My lone Grand summit was on a picture-perfect day on the Upper Exum, and I never feel like I need to go back-except to ski it!
Great job.
9/19/2008 9:34 AM
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