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travelhapp
I am organizing a backcountry hike in August in the Grand Tetons and am looking for suggested hiking trails/routes. We want to hike at least 5 days and can cover at least 32-miles. We are in good shape and want roughly 7-mile days with maybe 1 or so higher mile days. We want to camp near lakes or rivers or other beautiful areas. We will probably need to do a loop route. Thanks!
Answer
Some friends and I did the Grand Teton Loop in early September last year (2008). This is a 32-mile loop trip that takes you through the heart of the Tetons and can be done in anywhere from three to six day (we did it in five). It was Awesome!
The trip starts at Jenny Lake where you can take the tour boat across and start hiking up Cascade Canyon (with a stop at Hidden Falls). This is a popular day hiking spot, but the day hikers thin out as you go further up Cascade Canyon. At the fork, you go left up Western Cascade Canyon where you will start to run into the first backcountry camping area. The campsites are grouped into three clusters of 3-5 camp spots each with a single metal food bin at each cluster. The campsites are best at the first and last cluster.
The next morning, we went up and over Hurricane Pass (10 miles) with stunning views of the pass, Schoolhouse Glacier and the backside of the Teton peaks. At the top of the pass, you cross a high flat plateau and then drop down into Alaska Basin which is a very pretty area dotted with many small ponds. The first (and largest) pond is Sunset Lake, but we chose to setup camp among the cluster of smaller ponds a little further on called Basin Lakes (13.8 miles). This is a very cool area. We actually spent two nights here so that we could explore and take it all in. One day a mother and baby moose wandered through our camp. There is open camping here (as opposed to designated spots) as you are technically in National Forest rather than the park at that point.
After two nights in the basin, we made the climb up to Buck Mountain Pass and the along a rocky desolate alpine basin area to Static Peak Divide. The high elevation (11,000 feet) makes it a bit of challenge, but our biggest worry was the wave of thunder clouds going over as you are pretty exposed much of the way and you don't want to be at a place called 'Static Peak' in a lightening storm. On the far side of Static Peak, you drop way down into deep Death Canyon. I was definitely glad that we were going downhill on this stretch rather than up.
At the mouth of Death Canyon we camped at pretty Phelps Lake (21.7 miles) where both the sunset and sunrise were beautiful. There are three designated camp spots and two metal bear bins. We actually had a bear sniff around our camp that night and swipe a nalgene water bottle that we had foolishly left outside the bin. The next morning we hiked along the forerange of the mountains (providing a very different view) before spending our last night at Bradley Lake (28.6 miles). Bradley Lake has just one backcountry campsite (reserved for backpackers doing the loop) and it is one of the best backcountry campsites I have ever experienced - nicely laid out and not 15 feet from a little stony beach. We had the whole lake to ourselves that evening. The final day, we hiked back to Jenny Lake.
I did not really know what to expect with the Tetons, but it was one of my favorite backpacking trips yet (second perhaps only to Glacier NP). I would highly recommend the route and itinterary we did and I would definitely recommend two night at Alaska Basin to have the time to enjoy it. One important thing: Make sure you get your permit request in EARLY. Tetons is a popular spot and both Phelps and Bradley Lakes can fill up fast.
We also spent a couple of days day hiking and driving to the tourist pull outs at nearby Yellowstone. As for what to do on the day that you come out of the backcountry, let me just say this: Snake River Brewing Company in nearby Jackson Hole.
Some friends and I did the Grand Teton Loop in early September last year (2008). This is a 32-mile loop trip that takes you through the heart of the Tetons and can be done in anywhere from three to six day (we did it in five). It was Awesome!
The trip starts at Jenny Lake where you can take the tour boat across and start hiking up Cascade Canyon (with a stop at Hidden Falls). This is a popular day hiking spot, but the day hikers thin out as you go further up Cascade Canyon. At the fork, you go left up Western Cascade Canyon where you will start to run into the first backcountry camping area. The campsites are grouped into three clusters of 3-5 camp spots each with a single metal food bin at each cluster. The campsites are best at the first and last cluster.
The next morning, we went up and over Hurricane Pass (10 miles) with stunning views of the pass, Schoolhouse Glacier and the backside of the Teton peaks. At the top of the pass, you cross a high flat plateau and then drop down into Alaska Basin which is a very pretty area dotted with many small ponds. The first (and largest) pond is Sunset Lake, but we chose to setup camp among the cluster of smaller ponds a little further on called Basin Lakes (13.8 miles). This is a very cool area. We actually spent two nights here so that we could explore and take it all in. One day a mother and baby moose wandered through our camp. There is open camping here (as opposed to designated spots) as you are technically in National Forest rather than the park at that point.
After two nights in the basin, we made the climb up to Buck Mountain Pass and the along a rocky desolate alpine basin area to Static Peak Divide. The high elevation (11,000 feet) makes it a bit of challenge, but our biggest worry was the wave of thunder clouds going over as you are pretty exposed much of the way and you don't want to be at a place called 'Static Peak' in a lightening storm. On the far side of Static Peak, you drop way down into deep Death Canyon. I was definitely glad that we were going downhill on this stretch rather than up.
At the mouth of Death Canyon we camped at pretty Phelps Lake (21.7 miles) where both the sunset and sunrise were beautiful. There are three designated camp spots and two metal bear bins. We actually had a bear sniff around our camp that night and swipe a nalgene water bottle that we had foolishly left outside the bin. The next morning we hiked along the forerange of the mountains (providing a very different view) before spending our last night at Bradley Lake (28.6 miles). Bradley Lake has just one backcountry campsite (reserved for backpackers doing the loop) and it is one of the best backcountry campsites I have ever experienced - nicely laid out and not 15 feet from a little stony beach. We had the whole lake to ourselves that evening. The final day, we hiked back to Jenny Lake.
I did not really know what to expect with the Tetons, but it was one of my favorite backpacking trips yet (second perhaps only to Glacier NP). I would highly recommend the route and itinterary we did and I would definitely recommend two night at Alaska Basin to have the time to enjoy it. One important thing: Make sure you get your permit request in EARLY. Tetons is a popular spot and both Phelps and Bradley Lakes can fill up fast.
We also spent a couple of days day hiking and driving to the tourist pull outs at nearby Yellowstone. As for what to do on the day that you come out of the backcountry, let me just say this: Snake River Brewing Company in nearby Jackson Hole.
Good Hiking Pack for Kids?
Emma
We're interested in getting a sturdy backpack for our oldest daughter. I'm willing to spend around 100-150 dollars if I know that it can be passed down through all 3 of our kids until it's completely out grown by all of them. I'd rather an external frame pack (it's what I'm familiar with) but if you know a really high quality internal frame I'll take it into consideration.
The kids right now are 7, 5, and 2 years old. We're thinking our first hike-in trip will be in 2 or 3 years when the little one is old enough to walk the trail by herself. My husband and I would bear the brunt of the gear, the oldest a little gear in the pack we're looking for, the middle one some dry food in a regular book-bag, and the youngest would just walk without anything.
Just so no one freaks out, we're not being unreasonable in our plans. My husband is an Eagle Scout and is an experienced hiker. I have only done drive-up campsites but have been camping since I was a baby and spent some time in the Army so I know how it feels to haul 70lbs of gear over several miles. As a family, we did some 1 mile hikes last year when the middle kid was 4 years old and we currently do 2-3 mile day hikes every few weeks, so we know that a 5 year old can keep up as long as you don't push too hard. In fact, this weekend we did a 3 mile 200 vertical foot trail with the Big Girls walking, the little one was carried in a pack, and finished in just over an hour.
All that aside what I'm looking for is a good quality, durable, external frame pack for a kid in the 9-11 year old range.
Answer
With the exception of the 7 year old they are to young yet for any large capacity back packs so simple day packs that you can get at any sporting goods supplier will do. In that pack they should carry some water, some snacks, a flash light, a whistle, a space blanket, a fire starter, a multitool, a signal mirror and a two way radio (and know how to use them).
Long treks 2-3 years from now? your eldest could probably use a JanSport Scout Pack or the Kelty Jr. Pack and be able to carry around 25lbs on an external frame pack. However for a young frame internal frame packs are better to use for balance, control and comfort and instead of carrying the weight of a metal frame they can carry more gear they need. There are many high quality packs and you should try before you buy, rent them if you can. REI is one place that rents gear and they have reviews available for the gear the do sell. Check them out
With the exception of the 7 year old they are to young yet for any large capacity back packs so simple day packs that you can get at any sporting goods supplier will do. In that pack they should carry some water, some snacks, a flash light, a whistle, a space blanket, a fire starter, a multitool, a signal mirror and a two way radio (and know how to use them).
Long treks 2-3 years from now? your eldest could probably use a JanSport Scout Pack or the Kelty Jr. Pack and be able to carry around 25lbs on an external frame pack. However for a young frame internal frame packs are better to use for balance, control and comfort and instead of carrying the weight of a metal frame they can carry more gear they need. There are many high quality packs and you should try before you buy, rent them if you can. REI is one place that rents gear and they have reviews available for the gear the do sell. Check them out
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Title Post: Backcountry hiking in Grand Teton?
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Rating: 96% based on 987 ratings. 4,7 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
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