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Climbing the Grand Teton

An unforgettable adventure in one of the most beautiful landscapes in the country.
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The summit was quite small -- several other parties arrived shortly after us.
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The summit was quite small -- several other parties arrived shortly after us.

Grand TetonJackson Holeclimbinghikingwestsummit

  • Untitled photo
  • Sleep was elusive that night. I was glad when the battery powered fluorescent light flickered on at 3:00 AM. Time to get up and climb. (Photo: Rob Fernley)
  • After a quick breakfast we started climbing in the dark with headlamps. (Photo: Kyle Fernley)
  • After climbing for an hour or so, the sun started to light the valley below.
  • Kyle takes a breather as we approach the Upper Saddle.
  • Hard to imagine a more spectacular sunrise.
  • Dave Bowers, the lead guide, tells us about the strategy for the route ahead.
  • We climbed along ledges and up through chimneys in the rock. Much of the time we were either on belay or "walking in coils" -- tied together with about 6 feet of rope in between us, and the rest of the rope coiled in our hand. (Photo: Kyle Fernley)
  • After four hours of climbing, we broke into the sun and we were on the summit! It was a spectacular day -- clear, in the 40s with very little wind. It was just after 8:00 AM.
  • The summit was quite small -- several other parties arrived shortly after us.
  • The view from the summit to the west.
  • Looking over the Jackson Hole valley, to the south.
  • 13,770 above sea level.
  • Tired but elated!
  • Kyle, Lou, and Ben on the summit.
  • Our guides Eric Johnson and Dave Bowers.
  • After spending about a half hour on the summit, it was time to descend. (Photo: Dave Fernley)
  • On the way down, we avoided some of the harder downclimbing with a 150 foot rappel. (Photo: Kyle Fernley)
  • The climb down was long, but just before noon we approached the Lower Saddle again.
  • The local marmot keeps track of our progress on the way down.. (Photo: Elise Fernley)
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