Start at Teton Canyon Campground and trailhead on the west side of the Tetons. Follow a USFS trail up the north fork of Teton Canyon and up the west ridge of Table Mountain. Very close and very incredible view of the heart of the Tetons.

Awesome view of the Grand

For one of the coolest and most spectacular 3 day hikes along the spine of the Tetons, consider the Teton crest hike. Begin by taking the aerial tram to the top of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. The Hike begins from the top of Rendezvous Mountain. You will be camping in Grand Teton National park, so you will need to obtain camping permits at Jenny Lake Ranger station. Start by traveling south on Rendezvous mountain trail, descending into the south fork then on into the middle forks of Granite canyon. From this point you will catch the Teton Crest Trail. Continue north on the trail passing House top mountain then Marian lake, continue north along the west side of Spearhead Mountain and find camp on Fox Creek pass (8 miles). If weather is threatening and or the weather calls for lightning, consider descending a ways into Fox Creek Canyon to a lower elevation camp. This is also a decision point, if you are not feeling up to the rest of the hike for what ever reason, your bailout option is to descend death canyon and out to the trail head from fox Creek Pass. From Fox Creek pass continue north along Death Canyon Shealf, over Mount Meeks Pass, down the Sheep Steps, into Alaska Basin and on to the northern part of the basin at Sunset Lake (7 miles). From this point continue north to Hurricane Pass, down into the South Fork of Cascade Canyon, passing near Schoolroom Glacier, to the confluence of Cascade cayon trail proper. From here, continue east down Cascade Canyon to the boat dock at Jenny Lake (25 miles). Take the boat (fee) to the parking area and same spot you obtained your camping permit, thus completing one of the finest alpine hikes in the Tetons.

At the west end of Hanging canyon lies the Jaw. It provides outstanding views of the North face of the Grand Teton, Owen and Teewinot. Accessed by taking the boat across jenny lake and hiking up a climber's trail into Hanging Canyon. Though this is relatively close to the busy parts of the Tetons, this canyon is amazingly untraveled. Hike up into hanging canyon past the pristine lake of the Crags and scramble up the summit on the due west end of Hanging canyon.

Easy scramble; great view

For some of the finest, high quality day cragging (rock climbing) in the Tetons, start by either taking the aerial tram to the top of Rendezvous mountain, descending Rendezvous bowl to the ships prow and down to the buttress or by hiking up from the base of the ski area into Rock Springs canyon via the Rock Springs Trail. Once at the buttress you will find many routes both sport and trad, single and multi pitch of all grades. Info can be obtained at one of the mountain shops in town or stop by Jackson Hole Mountain Guides for further info.

For a quick bouldering work out in an awesome location, Boulder Town is a great choice. Begin by driving into Grand Teton National park, passing the entrance kiosk and travelling to North Jenny Lake junction. Take this left turn, stopping after a mile or so at the Cathdral Group parking area. From the west end of the parking area you will fine a small climbers path that will take you north accross open sage brush flats, into a treed area that is actually an old glacial morrain. Travel a short ways into the woods and you will find a variety of Granite boulders scattered through out the woods. There are numerous short problems but there are also numerous hi-ball problems that would be better suited to top rope climbing. There are many fixed bolt anchors to top rope from.

Big day challenge: Talk to any one who climbs and lives in the valley and they have probably done the Grand in a day. This is most often done by the moderate routes up the Grand, including the Owen Spaulding, Upper Exum or Pownall Gilkey. This is a serious endeavor and is only for those individuals with great aerobic fitness and well developed technical mountaineering skills. Remember that in the summer it can be sunny and 80 degrees in the valley and snowing , blowing and 20 degrees high on the grand. Summer storms can be violent and will usually come in some where around early afternoon complete with the already mentioned as well as intense electricity. Getting going super early is a must so that one is off the upper mountain by noon. Be sure to bring apropriate clothing, food, water and technical gear appropriate to the conditions. If you are of great physical condition but are unsure of you technical and or route finding skills, give me a call and I will lead you through such an endeavor.

The CMC route rated 5.6 is a mountain objective that is one of the finest moderate multi day mountain trip the Tetons has to offer. Starting from String lake parking area, one canoes up string lake, portages a short distance to leigh lake, then canoes an hour or so to the base of Mt Moran. From this point , 6,800', one hikes to scenic CMC camp at around 9,800' with a distance of around 1.4 miles. From this point one will need to get up very early, so once again, you are off the summit and headed down before early afternoon. This route though moderate in difficulty, is very unique in that it throws many different elements at the climber. You will need to study the guide book (available at any of the mountain shops in town), but from ascending the Drizzlepuss, rapping off, climbing the CMC route, descending, climbing back over the Drizzelpuss and descending to camp, this route is truely a great mountain adventure. This can be done in two days but three days is a much more enjoyable itinerary. Once again, if you think this sounds great but are unsure of your ability to pull this off, give me a call and I will be glad to lead you on this climb.

Mountain Biking, skateboarding, these are endeavors easily done though out the Jackson area, but the Grand targhee area allows for both activities while still actually in the Tetons. For the cross country mountain biker, there are plenty of trails around the resort, combine that with the Mill Creek ride and you have some fun cross country riding. Now the resort allows for downhill mountain biking. Bring your own or rent from the resort, they now let you ride the chair lifts with you bike for some downhilling. Now take the Targhee road... this road is of moderate enough angle and smooth enough consistancy to allow for some great longboarding. Of note, this is something that is encouraged and not looked at as a renegade activity.