August 23-27, 2013
A couple weeks back I headed to the Tetons with Aaron and Mark to try and do the granddaddy of the all Tetons climbing, the Grand Traverse. Â The Traverse is a roughly 14 mile jaunt through the most of the major peaks in the range. Â While similar to the Presidential Traverse in theory it is significantly more committing, difficult, and tiring. Â Much of the terrain is 3rd and 4th class scrambling, with a 50 Classic Climb thrown in the middle. Â Oh and most of it is above 10,000′. Â The plan was to break it into two pieces over two days, still an ambitious task. Â In the words of the famous alpinist, Jack Tackle, “you’ll be rock stars if you can on-sight it in two days.” Â Well turns out the roadies never even unpacked the van.
We drove up in Aaron’s sweet Westie on Friday morning. Â Throughout the day clouds built in the sky. Â As we reached Jackson it was nearly all cloudy. Â Any not the high overcast that you can still confidently charge into the wilderness with, it was the layered, 3D clouds that you know are going to dump. Â Turns out that it did as we got to the trailhead for our rest before the 12am start we had planned. Â Over the afternoon and evening it rained and we decided to postpone our departure by 24 hours. Â Saturday as we killed time we headed to the Ranger station at Jenny Lake and learned that it had snowed up on the Grand overnight. Â Our plans were dashed. Â The timeline we had planned needed good, dry weather. Â The conditions were anything but. Â So what is any good climber to do? Â Head to where the conditions are good. Â Luckily being in this neck of the woods we drove to the City of Rocks in Idaho.
The City was a good time, though our ambitions, mainly Aaron’s and mine, were deflated and we didn’t have much drive to lead. Â Rope gun Mark did much of the leading. Â We camped on BLM land, enjoyed an amazing evening thunderstorm and wonderful rainbow. Â It goes without saying that some beers were consumed, perhaps 1-2 more than necessary. Â The Grand Traverse will have to wait for another day…