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Free-Soloing The Grand Teton In 12 Hours, Wyoming

Alta, Wyoming

Details

Distance

14 miles

Elevation Gain

7000 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Flip Mayernik

Free-Soloing The Grand Teton In 12 Hours.

Free-Soloing the Grand Teton in Wyoming on September 3, 2015.  We camped at Colter Bay the night before.  We started our hike at the Lupine Meadows trailhead at 7am.

It Started out as just a moderate hike in the woods with a slight elevation gain for about 4 miles until you reach Garnet Canyon.  Once you get in the canyon the views are unbelievable with a view of the Tetons and an awesome waterfall.  You continue scrambling up this boulder field all the way to the base of the Lower Saddle.  This is where we saw our first fixed rope which i always get excited about.  

The next move is to get to the summit Via the Owen-Spaulding route which is known for free-soloing.  The most technical, heady and exposed sections are known as the Belly Roll and the Belly Crawl.  Once you get to the Upper Saddle you will see the Belly Roll and Belly Crawl.  First you have to do the Belly Roll which is a very exposed section but only takes a couple seconds to get around.  The Belly Crawl is pictured above.  The drop down is about 2,000 feet.  We were climbing the most exposed route we had ever done.  The approach shoes helped a lot and are sleeker, lighter, and have better grip than hiking boots.  I would recommend you put them on when you are about to approach the Lower Saddle and before the fixed ropes, until you summit and get back down the fixed ropes.

The whole trip took us about 12 hours.  7,000 vertical feet up in 7 miles and then back down.  A total of 14 miles round trip.  A lot of people doubted us and we had a million reasons to not do it and just turn around.  The experience and adventure will last us our life time.  More importantly I realized I love doing trips like these and started dedicating my life to the outdoors.  More people need to go out and keep Mountaineering The World because life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.

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Fitness
Rock Climbing
Survival
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Camping
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Lake
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Waterfall
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Nearby

Surprise Lake via Lupine Meadows

Backpack the South Fork of Garnet Canyon

Summit the Grand Teton via the Owen Spalding Route

Delta Lake via Lupine Meadows Trailhead

Backpack the Teton Loop

Spend an Afternoon at Lucas Fabian Ranch

Let Adventure be your Destination in Wyoming

Wyoming’s wide-open spaces make it easy to get off the grid and on a trail, through a park, into a forest, up a mountain or down a river. During your journey through Wyoming’s Black to Yellow Region, discover geologic marvels, dense evergreen forests and sprawling prairielands.

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