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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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We practiced our belay technique on the rock faces above Hidden Falls. Here Renny gives Lou tips about belaying the climber below. (Photo: Dave Fernley)
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We practiced our belay technique on the rock faces above Hidden Falls. Here Renny gives Lou tips about belaying the climber below. (Photo: Dave Fernley)

  • The Tetons. One of the most striking mountain ranges in North America.
  • Our adventure began the week of July 19 when a group of family and friends gathered in Jackson Hole. I arrived in Jackson Hole with my friend Rob Fernley. His family's house, where most of us were staying, sits on the edge of Grand Teton National Park
  • The plan was for eight of us to climb the Grand Teton, at 13,770 feet above sea level the highest of the Teton Range.
  • The Tetons are the youngest range of the Rocky Mountains, having been formed between six and nine million years ago, when the Earth's crust was pushed upwards along the Teton fault to form the Teton Range. The fault's east block fell downwards to form the valley called Jackson Hole.
  • The Tetons are a spectacular range of mountains, ever changing with the light and mood of the day. One reason the Tetons are famous is because of their great elevation above their base. Unlike most mountain ranges, the Tetons lack foothills, or lower peaks which can obscure the view. This is due to the fault zone being at the base of the range on the eastern side, and the range being too young to have had time to erode into soft hills. As such, the Tetons rise sharply, from 5,000 to nearly 7,000 feet above the valley floor.
  • The late spring meant wildflowers were still blooming in the Jackson Hole valley.
  • The first day of our adventure was spent acclimating to the 6,000 foot elevation of the Jackson Hole valley, preparing for the climb and the required two day mountaineering class before the climb. Rob, Kyle, and I took a short hike up the Death Canyon Trail to the Phelps Lake overlook.
  • Along the way, this moose was foraging in a nearby marsh.
  • The next day we met at the Exum Mountain Guides headquarters for the first day of the Multi-Pitch Climbing course. Our guides Renny and Dave issued our climbing gear (helmets, harnesses and ropes) and we took the ferry across Jackson Lake to the Hidden Falls area. (Photo: Elise Fernley)
  • The location for the climbing class was a scenic hillside overlooking Jenny Lake. The weather was perfect, as it was the entire week.
  • Renny taught us about the common knots we would be using -- the bowline and the double figure eight -- and how to attach the knots properly to our climbing harnesses. We also learned how to belay -- a skill we would use many times in the coming days. "That's me Pete! Climb on Lou!"
  • Then we hiked up past Hidden Falls, a spectacular waterfall still roaring with meltwater from the heavy snowfall of the previous winter. (Photo: Rob Fernley)
  • Elise displays a good belay stance -- feet braced against the rock in front, the climbing rope firmly around her waist, with her hands taking up the slack in the rope as the climber ascends toward her.
  • The rock in this area was moderately pitched but surprisingly slick. What looked to be relatively easy climbing was not! This was the first chance to test the sticky rubber soles of our approach shoes. Looking good Kyle!
  • We practiced our belay technique on the rock faces above Hidden Falls. Here Renny gives Lou tips about belaying the climber below. (Photo: Dave Fernley)
  • Pete nears the top of one of the pitches.
  • After several multi-pitch practice climbs we were ready for the next skill - rappelling. Here Renny checks out Lou's knots and makes sure the rappel device is properly attached to his harness.
  • Then Lou eases himself (slowly!) down the sloping face.
  • This complicated looking jumble of ropes provided Renny with the ability to belay us (control our descent) while we practiced our rappel technique. This was also one of the few places where fixed anchors were available for us to use.
  • Everyone had a chance to practice the rappel several times.
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