Page Type:
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Mountain/Rock |
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Lat/Lon:
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43.74110°N / 110.802°W |
Elevation:
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13770 ft / 4197 m |
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Overview
This is a live webcam view of the Grand Teton from the west which updates every 30 minutes.
Due to night hours or weather, the mountain may not always be in view.
Also, if there is no photo, the webcam is temporarily down.
Webcam direct linked with permission from Pat Neeley.
Click on the above webcam photo for current conditions and a larger version of the webcam view.
Here are more webcams from Pat's website including time-lapse photos of Grand Teton and Teton Valley.
Thanks to Pat for the use of his webcam.
More Webcams
This page was graciously transferred to me by fellow SummitPost member Allan Ellis. He is responsible for most of the great information on this page. I hope to maintain the same quality that he has over the years!
The Grand Teton! Even the name inspires one to explore and climb it's classic routes. Grand Teton is a classic alpine peak in itself to the point that an entire national park was named after it. Climbers have been drawn to "The Grand" for over 100 years and continue to make pilgrimages from all over the world. With over 35 routes and 50 variations to those routes, there is something for everyone from 5.4 to 5.12. New routes are being discovered every year including The Squeeze Box, Grade IV, M7, A0, put up by Stephen Koch and Hans Johnstone on February 6, 2007. This new route is on the north face and lies between Shea's Chute and the Alex Lowe Memorial Route, and ascends a weakness up a beautiful granite buttress (www.StephenKoch.com). Even the easiest route, the Owen-Spalding, is a technical endeavor and should not be taken lightly. At Grade II, 5.4, the Owen-Spalding is the standard route and requires technical rock climbing skills and equipment. The Exum Ridge route is the most famous, named after Grand Teton pioneer, Glenn Exum.
The first ascent of The Grand was on August 11, 1898 by William Owen, Franklin Spalding, Frank Peterson, and John Shive via the now-called Owen-Spalding route. Although the Owen party is officially credited with the first ascent, there is a controversy on whether they were actually the first to climb The Grand. Supposedly, Nathaniel Langford and James Stevenson climbed the mountain 25 years earlier. Read an article on the controversy HERE.The remainder of Grand Teton history is very rich and much too detailed to be described here. The references listed below are highly recommended for a detailed history of the mountain. One reason the early history of climbing The Grand is so well known is because the summit logs have been maintained by the park superintendent since 1927. This rich history continues to this day.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE SUMMIT REGISTER ARCHIVE: This site contains a collection of digital images of the Grand Teton National Park Summit Register Archive including the register for the Grand Teton. The summit registers were maintained from about the late-1920s into the 1980s and they form a unique repository of Teton climbing history.
The three Tetons: Grand, Middle, and South were named in the 1800's by French Trappers of the Hudson Bay Company. They called them Les Trois Tetons, which meant “the three breasts.” Early native American Indians of the Shoshone tribe called the range “Hoary Headed Fathers.”
BTW: A common mistake is for people to call the Teton Range "The Grand Tetons." The proper term is "the Tetons" or "the Teton range." The Grand Teton is a single mountain and deserving of distinction.
Photo by Biglost
Noteworthy Ascents/Events of Grand Teton:
Exum Ridge: July 15, 1931; Glenn Exum
North Face: August 25, 1936; Jack Durrance, Paul and Eldon Petzoldt
East Ridge: July 22, 1929; Robert Underhill
First Female Ascent: August 27, 1923; Eleanor Davis
First Winter Ascent: December 19, 1935; Fred Brown, Paul and Eldon Petzoldt
First Ski Descent: June 16, 1971; Bill Briggs and Robbie Garnett via the Stettner Couloir
Speed Record: August 22, 2012; Andy Anderson; 2:53:02; Lupine Meadows to summit and back
First Grand Traverse: 1966; Jim McCarthy, Lito Tejada-Flores
Grand Traverse Speed Record: 2000; Rolando Garibotti; 6 hours, 49 minutes
First Winter Grand Traverse: January 19, 2004; Stephen Koch and Mark Newcomb
Sources:
Mountaineering In The Tetons, by Fritiof Fryxell
A Climber's Guide To The Teton Range, by Leigh Ortenburger and Reynold G. Jackson
Climbing Magazine, Issue 267; July 2008
Much of this page courtesy of William Marler.
Getting There
Several of the more popular routes on The Grand. Photo and editing by Alan Ellis
Grand Teton is located in the northwest corner of Wyoming inside Grand Teton National Park. From the north entrance of the park, drive south 28.5 miles to Moran Junction on highway 191. From Moran Junction, continue south on highway 191 for 18 miles to Moose Junction where you turn right (west). From Jackson, Wyoming, drive north 12 miles on highway 191 to Moose Junction and turn left (west). At Moose Junction, drive about seven miles to the sign for Lupine Meadow Trailhead.
Lupine Meadow trailhead is the jumping off point for most routes on the mountain. Expect a lot of cars at this trailhead. From Lupine Meadow Trailhead (6732 ft) follow the trail up through Garnet Canyon. At 1.7 miles the trail forks. Stay right and continue for 1.5 miles where the trail forks again. If climbing the Owen-Spalding, Exum Ridge, or Petzoldt Ridge, go left, following the signs to Garnet Canyon. After 1.1 miles, the Platforms (8960 ft) campsites are reached. Shortly after, the trail crosses a moraine field and reaches the Meadows (9200 ft) camping area after another 1.0 miles. At the Meadows, a small log bridge will greet you to the left. Stay right and follow the trail as it begins to switchback up toward Spalding Falls. Above the falls, the trail continues climbing until reaching the Lower and Upper Moraine campsites. Above the Upper Moraine campsites the Lower Saddle headwall will appear directly to the west. Use the fixed rope to ascend the class 3/4 headwall section. A short hike above the headwall will end at the Lower Saddle.
If climbing North Face routes or the East Ridge, your trailhead will be the same, but you will go go right to Amphitheater Lake at the second fork (3.2 miles from Lupine Meadow trailhead).
Refer to the left side-bar for a list of available routes to the summit.
Red Tape
Grand Teton is located inside Grand Teton National Park. There is a $25.00 entrance fee (per vehicle) to the park which will also get you into Yellowstone (Good for 7 days). See more info below for other entrance fees. No permits or fees are required to climb; however, a check-in with the Jenny Lake Ranger Station is recommended.Backcountry Camping Permits: Permits are needed for backcountry camping if using a high camp. Free permits are available at the Jenny Lake Ranger Station on a first come, first served basis. A limited number of permits can be made in advance by submitting your request in writing to the address or FAX number below. Reservations may be made as early as January 1 and are accepted up to May 15. Although the permit is free, there is a $15.00 non-refundable reservation fee. For more information call (307) 739-3397 or (307) 739-3309. Even though you have a reserved permit, you must pick up your permit in person by 10:00 am the morning of your trip or they will make it available to others. Backcountry Camping Brochure (PDF)
Grand Teton National Park
Permits Office
P.O. Drawer 170
Moose, WY 83012
FAX: (307) 739-3438
SOME ADVICE ON PERMITS: There are advantages to both getting your permits in advance and advantages to waiting and getting them the day before your climb. If you get your permits in advance, you are guaranteed a permit, but your climb day is at the mercy of the weather. If you wait and get your permits the day before your climb (on a first-come-first-serve basis), you can look at the forecast while you're there and choose which weather day offers the best chance of success for your climb. However, you then take the chance that everyone else is doing the same thing and you won't get a permit. The other disadvantage to getting your permits while there is that they only issue permits the day before, so you have to waste a entire morning "getting a permit" when you could be climbing instead. Most people have no problems getting the permits they need while there but you need to the permit office VERY early (long before they open at 8:00 am).
ENTRANCE FEES
Vehicle single entry $25.00 for 7 Days, $12.00 per person for single hiker or bicyclist, or $20.00 per motorcycle. You may also purchase an "America The Beautiful Federal Lands Recreational Pass" for $80.00 which is good for entrance to all National Parks, National Forests, BLM, US Fish & Wildlife, and Bureau of Reclamation sites for one year from date of purchase. If you're disabled, you may want to get an Access Pass which are free and good for a lifetime. If you're 62 years of age or older, a Senior Pass can be purchased for $10 and they're also good for a lifetime. Click here for more info on fees and passes. Existing National Park Passes and Golden Age/Access/and Eagle Passes will be honored until they expire. (Info courtesy of SP Member Sequoia)
BACKCOUNTRY REGULATIONS
Grizzly Bear in Grand Teton National Park. All wildlife is dangerous and shoud be given a wide berth. Photo credits to fellow Summitpost member Ferdinand Verboom.
When To Climb
June through early September is considered the summer season. July is the driest summer month while June is the wettest. However, that is an average over several years. It can storm and rain for days on end during any month. Like typical Rockies weather, the Tetons are notorious for violent afternoon thunderstorms, so get an early start. Plan on being off the mountain by early afternoon. However, it has also been known to storm at any time of the day including early in the morning. Sometimes the weather clears and high pressure moves in for several days of storm-free climbing.
Clouds over the North Face/Ridge of the Grand Teton as seen from high on Mount Owen. It is prudent to reach the summit or bail point as early in the day as possible. Even if the forecast is clear, unexpected squalls and storms have a tendency to form in the mid to late afternoon. Downclimbing wet, technical terrain in the dark is not a fun time. Photo by Jackson Herring
Storm approaching the Grand Teton. People have been killed by lighning strikes on the Grand, so it is best to avoid climbing when bad weather is forecast. It is better to come back and climb the peak another time than to risk your life trying to outrun a thunderstorm. Photo by Jackson Herring
Camping and lodging
American Alpine Club Climber's Ranch below The Grand. Photo by Alan Ellis
See Red Tape section above for backcountry camping information.
Grand Teton National Park has five campgrounds all on a first come, first served basis. Jenny Lake campground has 49 sites for tents only and fills very fast. Other campgrounds: Gros Ventre - 360 sites, Signal Mountain - 86 sites, Colter Bay - 350 sites, Flagg Ranch - 175 sites, and Lizard Creek - 60 sites. Colter Bay and Flagg Ranch each have over 100 full RV hookup sites.
Grand Teton National Park Camping Info
American Alpine Club Climbers Ranch
The best option to camping before your climb is to stay at the American Alpine Club's Climber’s Ranch located 7 miles past Moose Junction on Teton Park Road. The Ranch offers very rustic accommodations for only $20/per night. Very rustic means you bring your own bedding, mattress, etc., and you will be sharing a cabin with other climbers. Showers and a cooking area are available. Lodging is on a first come, first served basis but reservations are accepted. You can make an online reservation here or call (307) 733-7271 between June 1 and September 30. You do not have to be a member of the American Alpine Club to stay there; however, the AAC rate is only $10.00/night.
AAC Grand Teton Climbers Ranch:
ATTN: Manager
P.O. Box 57
Moose, WY 83012
Email: gtcr@americanalpineclub.org
Mountain Conditions
Brilliant sunset alpenglow light on Mount Owen, 12,928 feet, and the Grand Teton, 13,770 feet, as seen from Cascade Creek to the northwest - July. Photo by JackB
All routes are in an alpine environment. Expect any type of conditions any time of the year, including, storms, snow, and ice. Temperatures can vary from moderate to sub-freezing. July is considered the best month to climb with the least average precipitation. Rock fall is very common in the Tetons and Grand Teton is no exception. Trailhead elevations are approximately 6800-7000 ft and tree line is at approximately 9000 ft. The Jenny Lake Ranger Station is the headquarters for Teton climbing. Call the ranger station at (307) 739-3343 (summer) or (307) 739-3309 (winter) for current conditions. Also, don't forget to go to the webcam link at the top of the page to get current conditions and a live webcam view of the Grand. Here is a great link for up-to-date route conditions on the Grand: www.TetonClimbing.blogspot.com.
Maps
Trails Illustrated: Grand Teton National ParkEarth Walk Press: Grand Teton National Park
USGS 1/24 Quad: Grand Teton
Online Maps:
Detailed Map Of GTTNP (PDF)
Low Resolution Map Of GTTNP (PDF)
Order Maps Online
Guide Services
Although climbing Grand Teton on your own can be a rewarding experience, one may choose to use one of the available guide services if you are a novice or if you desire to do a more challenging route above your current ability. These guide services are considered some of the best in the country.Exum Mountain Guides
Jackson Hole Mountain Guides
The Tetons in morning light from the Snake River. Taken with a large format Linhof camera, 150mm Schneider lens on Kodak E100VS film.
Photo by Arthur Yeo
1 Mountains & Rocks