![]() ![]() Fox Creek Pass from shelf:ĭeath Canyon Shelf continues towards the distant Grand and South Tetons:ĭeath Canyon Shelf, like Spearhead Basin, was dry. From the pass we climbed onto the Death Canyon Shelf. We climbed over a low pass into Spearhead Basin where we the trail section looked like it was made from cobblestonesĪt the foot of Fossil Peak we hit Fox Creek Pass and the Death Canyon Trail. We retraced our steps back to the TCT, climbed meadow switchbacks onto a bench where we found Marion Lake. We were slow out of the tent, but the morning was gloriously bright and our camp site, right at the edge of immense flower strewn meadows, was in full sun. Skies cleared after dark and the temp plummeted. The OK-to-camp zone had changed-the first campsites had “no camping” signs. The starch was out of us, and the gloomy descent thru dripping trees seemed both foreboding and time consuming. Skies continued to threaten, but mostly held off, and we made Granite Canyon, our first night’s camp. We took our own lunch hunkered under large spruce to wait out a thunder shower. Where we disturbed this young buck’s flower lunch: We switch backed down thru groves of trees and traversed meadows: Waffles gone, we hit the trail where we passed the parapenter launch site. Interestingly, the staff spoke Russian, English was clearly a second language: We heard about waffles served at the top of the tram, so we did the tourist thing and gave ‘em a try. Yep, we wussed out and took the Jackson Hole tram, which deposits you at 10,450’! Permit in hand, we relocated to our exit point, the String Lake parking lot, and waited for the taxi we had booked. We nearly got our perfect itinerary, too. We pulled into an almost empty, still shadowed, Moose Visitor Center lot at 7:45 AM and waited outside the main doors. Jackson Hole Tram top terminal to Granite Canyon. The new plan: get to Idaho Falls for a hotel room, food resupply, and some shut eye before a 4 AM departure for the Moose Visitor Center where we could get our permit. =8&t=13669Įveryone decided to forgo hot showers so we could hurry towards Teton National Park and TCT permit. ![]() We found the A/T Lake loop deserved its fame as the best short Sawtooth Wilderness loop. Since most of the TCT is above 10,000 feet we hiked the Sawtooth Wilderness’s Alice Lake/Toxaway Lake loop to acclimate. ![]() Prepare for cold temperatures at high elevation, grizzly bear activity, and possible snow accumulations.Teton Crest Trail: Mountains, Flowers, Rocks, and a Birthdayįor my wife’s 60th birthday we chose to do the Teton Crest Trail, TCT, a +/- 40 mile trail along the Teton Range’s crest from, historically, Teton Pass to Paintbrush Divide before descending Paintbrush Canyon to exit at String Lake. However, avoiding crowds means late September-October. If you’re looking for wildflowers and a bit of trail traffic, August is great. Remember if you plan to camp at Leigh Lake one more night you will still have about 2.5 miles back to Campsite 12. Finally connecting to the String Lake Parking area in another 0.3 miles. Take a left on Cascade Canyon Trail and begin the 4.5 mile descent down to Jenny Lake (6,783 ft.) Stay left on the Valley Trail 1.4 miles along the banks of Jenny Lake. From here take the Lake Solitude Trail 2.7 miles to the top of Cascade Canyon. Begin the descent down 2.4 miles to Lake Solitude (9,035 ft.). From here continue 1.7 miles to Paintbrush Divide (10,700 ft.) for a 360 degree view of the Teton backcountry. Take a right and continue 4.9 miles up to Holly Lake (9,500 ft.) There is the option to camp at Holly Lake if 22 miles in a day is not your style. Then hike 0.7 miles to the String Lake/Paintbrush Canyon Junction. Hike South 1.5 miles from site 12 to the junction where you will take a right. Wake early enough on day 2 to tackle all 22 miles of the Paintbrush Canyon loop. Site 12 has some of the more impressive beachfront views of the Front Range.īegin the hike at the String Lake Trailhead (6,880 ft.) Hike along the East side of the lake about 1 mile until you arrive at a junction, stay to the right and continue about 1.5 miles to the camping area (Site 12) on the shores of Leigh Lake. From the backcountry office obtain a backcountry permit for 2 nights at Leigh Lake. However, one of my personal favorites is from Leigh Lake via the String Lake trailhead. There are many ways to access the Teton backcountry. Backpack the this Teton Range loop and enjoy a night of beachfront camping on Leigh Lake. ![]()
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