A friend and I climbed this early enough in the year that the gully heading up to the peak was all snow. I actually fell into a moat up to my waist whilst walking the fall line. Hint: when ascending Symmetry Spire with snow present, climb through the cliffs well above the lowest line. Also for those wishing to take the great glissade down the gully; be aware that there is a small waterfall about halfway down!
PanamaRed - Nov 6, 2015 12:53 pm Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2015
Southwest Ridge, evening summing
Climbed the Southewest Ridge with 2 buddies back in early september of this year. I led every pitch and had a fantastic time. We used 2 ropes which took a little bit extra time. Because we started from the cars around 11 in the morning we did not start climbing till mid afternoon. We ended up reaching the summit just as the sun was setting, and had to scramble down the peak and the Symmetry Couloir in the dark. All in all it was an awesome climb and I would gladly do it again, just maybe starting earlier in the day.
Climbed the Southwest ridge. Approach was steep but beautiful and lots of water flowing. We ended up breaking up some of the pitches to reduce what would have been very bad rope drag. A few thin moves on the crux pitches protected by sketchy pitons. Otherwise good pro and good rock. Lots of fun!
wyomtman - Jul 29, 2013 8:49 am Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2013
SW Ridge
The climb just gets better and better the higher you go, amazing views of course. Some of the pitons are broken off and the others aren't far behind... Didn't make the last boat, but hike around the lake isn't bad. Great Route!
seano - Jun 26, 2012 1:08 pm Date Climbed: Jun 25, 2012
SW Ridge
A brutal approach, but a fun climb. The "nose" on P4 was kind of delicate. Trip report.
Excellent climb 6 weeks after badly breaking both my arms. The steep cracks hurt my not quite healed limbs.
marauders - Oct 3, 2010 12:23 pm Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2010
Routed Climbed: SW Ridge
Awesome route! The third and fifth pitches were the best.
chugach mtn boy - Apr 22, 2010 3:55 pm Date Climbed: Oct 10, 1977
NW side
Scrambled this one fall day. Have always wanted to go back and do one of the classic routes that look so pretty from below.
builttospill - Feb 5, 2010 3:47 am Date Climbed: Jul 11, 2009
SW Ridge
Climbed the SW Ridge with Brian (dunsum).
Left Salt Lake at 3 am, ready for the all-day push. Caught the boat at Jenny Lake (second of the day) at 8:15. The approach gully was longer than I expected, but the climbing was good. By 10 pm we were back in Salt Lake, happy about ticking another of the Ortenburger "classics" off the list.
The SW ridge is a great climb. I love the east ridge from Hanging Canyon. A great summit to hang out on. I once saw a rock the size of a van roll down all of Symmetry Couloir, almost to Jenny Lake.
patascent - Sep 12, 2009 10:36 am Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2009
SW Ridge
Super fun climb with my friend Tom. His first lead in the Teton's.
Sam Page - Apr 19, 2008 11:58 pm Date Climbed: Aug 4, 1996
Southwest Ridge
Left the Climber's Ranch at 7:30AM and returned around 3:30 AM. Epic. My partner totally panicked on the descent and, to put it mildly, our descent was slow.
Sam Page - Apr 19, 2008 11:53 pm Date Climbed: Aug 14, 1996
Durrance Ridge
Smooth sailing.
JonW - Oct 26, 2007 1:29 pm Date Climbed: Jul 13, 2006
SW Ridge
Great route. Nice approach. Descent down the couloir is a bit nasty. I got off route by following some stuck pro and went up this slabby corner thing. I still don't know what that variation is rated but is quite harder that the "Nose" which is suppose to be the 5.7 crux.
reboyles - Jul 30, 2007 10:33 am Date Climbed: Jul 17, 1983
Symmetry Spire
Curt Olson and I did the Jensen Direct. Great climb. Not real hard but the pitches were some of the most sustained I've been on in the Tetons.
bolojm - Jul 25, 2007 9:27 am Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2007
SW Ridge
Typical Teton approach, long and steep, especially for us flatlanders. The route is good...some loose rock here and there but the upper pitches are steep and exposed for the grade. Wouldn't call it a "classic" but "very good." We started climbing at noon and missed the last boat across Jenny Lake...but saw a bear on the Jenny Lake trail!
blackcoffee - Jul 25, 2007 3:16 am Date Climbed: Aug 13, 1993
SW Ridge
Classic, but the climb up took WAY more time than it should, and so did the descent. Watched the last ferry cross Jenny Lake from the summit, nasty rocky walkoff, and subsequent walk around the lake on the horse trail... back at the car at midnight.
lizrdboy - Feb 26, 2007 2:39 pm Date Climbed: Sep 9, 2002
SW Ridge
First climb in the Tetons. Great day. The route finding was similar to the Sandias, but the rock was much better.
dino61111 - Sep 11, 2017 5:18 pm
Lightning and MoatsA friend and I climbed this early enough in the year that the gully heading up to the peak was all snow. I actually fell into a moat up to my waist whilst walking the fall line. Hint: when ascending Symmetry Spire with snow present, climb through the cliffs well above the lowest line. Also for those wishing to take the great glissade down the gully; be aware that there is a small waterfall about halfway down!
PanamaRed - Nov 6, 2015 12:53 pm Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2015
Southwest Ridge, evening summingClimbed the Southewest Ridge with 2 buddies back in early september of this year. I led every pitch and had a fantastic time. We used 2 ropes which took a little bit extra time. Because we started from the cars around 11 in the morning we did not start climbing till mid afternoon. We ended up reaching the summit just as the sun was setting, and had to scramble down the peak and the Symmetry Couloir in the dark. All in all it was an awesome climb and I would gladly do it again, just maybe starting earlier in the day.
wyomtnlady - Jul 29, 2013 12:18 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2013
Good and steepClimbed the Southwest ridge. Approach was steep but beautiful and lots of water flowing. We ended up breaking up some of the pitches to reduce what would have been very bad rope drag. A few thin moves on the crux pitches protected by sketchy pitons. Otherwise good pro and good rock. Lots of fun!
wyomtman - Jul 29, 2013 8:49 am Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2013
SW RidgeThe climb just gets better and better the higher you go, amazing views of course. Some of the pitons are broken off and the others aren't far behind... Didn't make the last boat, but hike around the lake isn't bad. Great Route!
seano - Jun 26, 2012 1:08 pm Date Climbed: Jun 25, 2012
SW RidgeA brutal approach, but a fun climb. The "nose" on P4 was kind of delicate. Trip report.
Also soloed the Durrance on 6/11/13. Trip report.
Vinny - Feb 27, 2011 12:22 am
got lostnever did find the start as my first climb at the Tetons with Natalie. should have taken the boat across Jenny lake to buy more time.
ExcitableBoy - Dec 27, 2010 11:20 am
SW RidgeExcellent climb 6 weeks after badly breaking both my arms. The steep cracks hurt my not quite healed limbs.
marauders - Oct 3, 2010 12:23 pm Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2010
Routed Climbed: SW RidgeAwesome route! The third and fifth pitches were the best.
chugach mtn boy - Apr 22, 2010 3:55 pm Date Climbed: Oct 10, 1977
NW sideScrambled this one fall day. Have always wanted to go back and do one of the classic routes that look so pretty from below.
builttospill - Feb 5, 2010 3:47 am Date Climbed: Jul 11, 2009
SW RidgeClimbed the SW Ridge with Brian (dunsum).
Left Salt Lake at 3 am, ready for the all-day push. Caught the boat at Jenny Lake (second of the day) at 8:15. The approach gully was longer than I expected, but the climbing was good. By 10 pm we were back in Salt Lake, happy about ticking another of the Ortenburger "classics" off the list.
wyopeakMike - Nov 28, 2009 4:24 pm
very symmetricalThe SW ridge is a great climb. I love the east ridge from Hanging Canyon. A great summit to hang out on. I once saw a rock the size of a van roll down all of Symmetry Couloir, almost to Jenny Lake.
patascent - Sep 12, 2009 10:36 am Date Climbed: Aug 14, 2009
SW RidgeSuper fun climb with my friend Tom. His first lead in the Teton's.
mekwise - Jul 9, 2008 6:35 pm Date Climbed: Jul 5, 2008
Greatroute...symmetry couloir
Sam Page - Apr 19, 2008 11:58 pm Date Climbed: Aug 4, 1996
Southwest RidgeLeft the Climber's Ranch at 7:30AM and returned around 3:30 AM. Epic. My partner totally panicked on the descent and, to put it mildly, our descent was slow.
Sam Page - Apr 19, 2008 11:53 pm Date Climbed: Aug 14, 1996
Durrance RidgeSmooth sailing.
JonW - Oct 26, 2007 1:29 pm Date Climbed: Jul 13, 2006
SW RidgeGreat route. Nice approach. Descent down the couloir is a bit nasty. I got off route by following some stuck pro and went up this slabby corner thing. I still don't know what that variation is rated but is quite harder that the "Nose" which is suppose to be the 5.7 crux.
reboyles - Jul 30, 2007 10:33 am Date Climbed: Jul 17, 1983
Symmetry SpireCurt Olson and I did the Jensen Direct. Great climb. Not real hard but the pitches were some of the most sustained I've been on in the Tetons.
bolojm - Jul 25, 2007 9:27 am Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2007
SW RidgeTypical Teton approach, long and steep, especially for us flatlanders. The route is good...some loose rock here and there but the upper pitches are steep and exposed for the grade. Wouldn't call it a "classic" but "very good." We started climbing at noon and missed the last boat across Jenny Lake...but saw a bear on the Jenny Lake trail!
blackcoffee - Jul 25, 2007 3:16 am Date Climbed: Aug 13, 1993
SW RidgeClassic, but the climb up took WAY more time than it should, and so did the descent. Watched the last ferry cross Jenny Lake from the summit, nasty rocky walkoff, and subsequent walk around the lake on the horse trail... back at the car at midnight.
lizrdboy - Feb 26, 2007 2:39 pm Date Climbed: Sep 9, 2002
SW RidgeFirst climb in the Tetons. Great day. The route finding was similar to the Sandias, but the rock was much better.