Grand Teton National Park - Wyoming

Back Country Travel - Grand Teton National Park

On September 5-8, 1977 myself, Randy Stevenson, Frank Nikolaus, Al Nikolaus, Evelyn Nikolaus, Stan Haye and Robbie Hay (age 9) backpacked 32 miles in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.

This trip was after a trip in the Wind River Range, Wyoming.

Monday morning was spent getting clothing and bodies washed and we finally hit the trail at String Lake about 1 p.m. (Stan and Robbie got away about 11). See route map at end of page.

Except for a few steep parts the well-manicured trai1 was pleasant to hike. Saw a number of day hikers coming down and a few backpackers. Nice views opened up as we climbed to Leigh and Jackson Lakes.

Made camp below Holly Lake at around 5:30. Had a pit toilet near the camp and had it all to ourselves. Others coming in to Holly Lake from above camped nearer the lake but we had a good campsite. There are no good campsites at the lake but many could be found above the lake.


Grand Teton from String Lake - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Grand Teton from String Lake - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Mount Moran from String Lake - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Mount Moran from String Lake - Grand Teton National Park 1977

Leigh Lake - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Leigh Lake - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Jackson Lake behind Leigh Lake - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Jackson Lake behind Leigh Lake - Grand Teton National Park 1977

Holly Lake - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Holly Lake - Grand Teton National Park 1977
On way to Paintbrush Divide - Grand Teton National Park 1977
On way to Paintbrush Divide - Grand Teton National Park 1977

Tuesday we continued to the top of Paintbrush Divide for fine views, then dropped into the north fork of Cascade Creek with continuous views of the Tetons and Lake Solitude. Arrived at the lake for lunch. Then headed down the trail and after a while came across some Moose at three locations. Took many Moose pictures. From the Forks of Cascade Creek we ascended the South Fork about 1.5 miles to a nice campsite near the creek.

On way to Paintbrush Divide - Grand Teton National Park 1977
On way to Paintbrush Divide - Grand Teton National Park 1977
On way to Paintbrush Divide - Grand Teton National Park 1977
On way to Paintbrush Divide - Grand Teton National Park 1977

Mount Moran from near Paintbrush Divide - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Mount Moran from near Paintbrush Divide - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Randy Stevenson arriving at Paintbrush Divide, Mount Moran in back - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Randy Stevenson arriving at Paintbrush Divide, Mount Moran in back
Grand Teton National Park 1977

Paintbrush Divide - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Paintbrush Divide - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Paintbrush Divide and Grand Teton - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Paintbrush Divide and Grand Teton - Grand Teton National Park 1977

Mount Moran and Grizzly Bear Lake - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Mount Moran and Grizzly Bear Lake - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Hurricane Pass from Paintbrush Divide - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Hurricane Pass from Paintbrush Divide - Grand Teton National Park 1977

View from Paintbrush Divide - Grand Teton National Park 1977
View from Paintbrush Divide - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Table Mountain (left), The Wigwams (center), Petersen Glacier (right) from Paintbrush Divide - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Table Mountain (left), The Wigwams (center), Petersen Glacier (right) from Paintbrush Divide - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Table Mountain (left), The Wigwams (center left), Petersen Glacierand Mica Lake (right) leaving Paintbrush Divide - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Table Mountain (left), The Wigwams (center left), Petersen Glacierand Mica Lake (right)
leaving Paintbrush Divide - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Grand Teton (left), Hurricane Pass, Table Mountain (right) descending from Paintbrush Divide - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Grand Teton (left), Hurricane Pass, Table Mountain (right)
descending from Paintbrush Divide - Grand Teton National Park 1977

Hurricane Pass (left), Table Mountain (right) - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Hurricane Pass (left), Table Mountain (right) - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Mica Lake (left), Lake Solitude (right) - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Mica Lake (left), Lake Solitude (right) - Grand Teton National Park 1977

Grand Teton, North Fork Cascade Creek - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Grand Teton, North Fork Cascade Creek - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Randy Stevenson (right), Frank Nikolaus (left) - Grand Teton - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Randy Stevenson (right), Frank Nikolaus (left) - Grand Teton
Grand Teton National Park 1977

Lake Solitude - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Lake Solitude - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Grand Teton over Lake Solitude - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Grand Teton over Lake Solitude - Grand Teton National Park 1977

Grand Teton over Lake Solitude - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Grand Teton over Lake Solitude - Grand Teton National Park 1977

Randy Stevenson, Grand Teton - North Fork Cascade Creek - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Randy Stevenson, Grand Teton - North Fork Cascade Creek
Grand Teton National Park 1977
Grand Teton from North Fork Cascade Creek - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Grand Teton from North Fork Cascade Creek - Grand Teton National Park 1977

Moose - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Moose - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Moose - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Moose - Grand Teton National Park 1977

Moose - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Moose - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Moose - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Moose - Grand Teton National Park 1977

South Fork Cascade Creek - Grand Teton National Park 1977
South Fork Cascade Creek - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Side creek from South Fork Cascade Creek - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Side creek from South Fork Cascade Creek - Grand Teton National Park 1977

On the way to Hurrican Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977
On the way to Hurrican Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977

Wednesday we continued up the pleasant South Fork to Hurricane Pass. Pleasant views along the route. Schoolroom Glacier was impressive as were the cliffs at the head of the valley. On the pass we had great views of the Tetons as we ate lunch. Good views also west into the Targhee National Forest. We continued past Sunset Lake to a fair campsite in the Alaska Basin. The drought had lowered the small lakes and we found the better campsites near a creek after making camp but we survived. Washed some socks and took a nap before supper.

Looking back on the way to Hurricane Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Looking back on the way to Hurricane Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977

'The Wall' on the way to Hurricane Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977
"The Wall" on the way to Hurricane Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977
South of the trail to Hurrican Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977
South of the trail to Hurrican Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977

On the trail to Hurricane Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977
On the trail to Hurricane Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977
'The Wall' on the way to Hurricane Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977
"The Wall" on the way to Hurricane Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977

Schoolroom Glacier - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Schoolroom Glacier - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Frank Nickolas and Grand Teton from trail to Hurrican Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Frank Nickolas and Grand Teton from trail to Hurrican Pass
Grand Teton National Park 1977

Cascade Creek (left front), Grand Teton (left), Middle Teton (center left), South Teton (center), 'The Wall' (right), Schoolroom Glacier (right front) - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Cascade Creek (left front), Grand Teton (left), Middle Teton (center left), South Teton (center), "The Wall" (right), Schoolroom Glacier (right front) - Grand Teton National Park 1977
South Teton (left), Schoolhouse Glacier, 'The Wall' (right) - Grand Teton National Park 1977
South Teton (left), Schoolhouse Glacier, "The Wall" (right) - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Stan Haye and Robbie Haye approaching Hurricane Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Stan Haye & Robbie Haye approaching Hurricane Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Looking back from Hurricane Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Looking back from Hurricane Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977

Table Mountain and Mount Moran from Hurricane Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Table Mountain and Mount Moran from Hurricane Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977
The gang and 'The Wall' from Hurricane Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977
The gang and "The Wall" from Hurricane Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977

The area above Roaring Creek from Hurricane Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977
The area above Roaring Creek from Hurricane Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977

Grand Teton and Middle Teton from Hurricanne Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Grand Teton and Middle Teton from Hurricanne Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977
The gang and Grand Teton from Hurricane Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977
The gang and Grand Teton from Hurricane Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977

Grand Teton (left), Middle Teton, South Teton (right) from Hurricane Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Grand Teton (left), Middle Teton, South Teton (right) from Hurricane Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Looking toward Alaska Basin across Teton Canyon from Hurricane Pass -Grand Teton National Park 1977
Looking toward Alaska Basin across Teton Canyon from Hurricane Pass -Grand Teton National Park 1977
Battleshiip Mountain from Hurricane Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Battleshiip Mountain from Hurricane Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Sunset Lake on the way down from Hurricane Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Sunset Lake on the way down from Hurricane Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977

Sunset Lake - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Sunset Lake - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Buck Mountain and Pass from Alaska Basin - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Buck Mountain and Pass from Alaska Basin - Grand Teton National Park 1977

Thursday morning it was windy and clouds were forming. Every indication of a storm coming. We hurried through breakfast and headed up the trail to Buck Mtn Divide Pass, then on to the high point on Static Divide. The winds were very strong and cold - almost blew you off the trail at times. After crossing Static Divide we found shelter in the lee side and as we descended discovered that the storm was blowing away so stopped at a lookout point over Phelps Lake for lunch.

Static Peak and Buck Mountain Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Static Peak and Buck Mountain Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Arriving at Buck Mountain Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Arriving at Buck Mountain Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977

Static Peak from Buck Mountain Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Static Peak from Buck Mountain Pass - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Buck Mountain Pass from Static Divide - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Buck Mountain Pass from Static Divide - Grand Teton National Park 1977

Looking toward Jackson Hole from Static Divide - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Looking toward Jackson Hole from Static Divide - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Prospectors Mountain and Rimrock Lake from Static Divide - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Prospectors Mountain and Rimrock Lake from Static Divide
Grand Teton National Park 1977

Buck Mountain from Static Divide - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Buck Mountain from Static Divide - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Death Canyon from Static Divide - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Death Canyon from Static Divide - Grand Teton National Park 1977

Death Canyon shelf - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Death Canyon shelf - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Lunch stop overlooking Phelps Lake - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Lunch stop overlooking Phelps Lake - Grand Teton National Park 1977

We then proceeded down the good trail into Death Canyon and regrouped at the Patrol Cabin trail junction. Saw a deer and 2 moose on the way. Fall colors were also starting to turn. We decided to head on to the car for the night so I headed out to the Whitegrass Ranger Station parking area. Arriving about 4 p.m.

Descending toward Phelps Lake - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Descending toward Phelps Lake - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Phelps Lake - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Phelps Lake - Grand Teton National Park 1977

I was lucky to catch a ride to the main road with two backpackers ahead of me. After hiking up the road a while, caught a ride all the way to my car, arriving about 5. After gassing up and buying some groceries, I returned to the roadhead where the gang had assembled and were starting supper. After supper we drove to the KOA at Jackson so the kids could swim in the indoor pool.

Friday morning after some shopping in Jackson we headed for Yellowstone making some touring stops in the Tetons on the way - ate lunch at Jenny Lake. Arrived at Old Faithful about 4:30 and waited for eruption at a little after 5, then on to campsite at Canyon where we fixed supper in the dark.

Static Ridge - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Static Ridge - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Teton Range - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Teton Range - Grand Teton National Park 1977

Grand Teton and Mount Owen - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Grand Teton and Mount Owen - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Grand Teton - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Grand Teton - Grand Teton National Park 1977

Mount Moran - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Mount Moran - Grand Teton National Park 1977
South Teton, Middle Teton, Grand Teton, Mount Owen,Teewenot Mountain, Teton Glacier - Grand Teton National Park 1977
South Teton, Middle Teton, Grand Teton, Mount Owen,Teewenot Mountain, Teton Glacier
Grand Teton National Park 1977

Grand Teton, Teton Glacier, Mount Owen - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Grand Teton, Teton Glacier, Mount Owen - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Teewenot Mountain, Grand Teton, Mount Owen, Cascade Canyon - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Teewenot Mountain, Grand Teton, Mount Owen, Cascade Canyon
Grand Teton National Park 1977

Teewenot Mountain, Grand Teton, Mount Owen, Jenny Lake - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Teewenot Mountain, Grand Teton, Mount Owen, Jenny Lake
Grand Teton National Park 1977

Teewenot Mountain, Grand Teton, Mount Owen - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Teewenot Mountain, Grand Teton, Mount Owen - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Grand Teton and Mount Owen - Grand Teton National Park 1977
Grand Teton and Mount Owen - Grand Teton National Park 1977

Saturday, having not been eaten by grizzly bears we proceeded to tour the falls in Yellowstone Canyon, then on to Yellowstone Lake for lunch and out West Yellowstone on the way home.

Old Faithful - Yellowstone National Park 1977
Old Faithful - Yellowstone National Park 1977
Lower Yellowstone Falls, Yellowstone Canyon - Yellowstone National Park 1977
Lower Yellowstone Falls, Yellowstone Canyon - Yellowstone National Park 1977

Lower Yellowstone Falls - Yellowstone National Park 1977
Lower Yellowstone Falls - Yellowstone National Park 1977
Yellowstone Canyon - Yellowstone National Park 1977
Yellowstone Canyon - Yellowstone National Park 1977

Inspiration Point from Artists Point Yellowstone Canyon - Yellowstone National Park 1977
Inspiration Point from Artists Point Yellowstone Canyon - Yellowstone National Park 1977
Uncle Tom Trail - Yellowstone National Park 1977
Uncle Tom Trail - Yellowstone National Park 1977

Lower Yellowstone Falls from Uncle Tom Trail - Yellowstone National Park 1977
Lower Yellowstone Falls from Uncle Tom Trail - Yellowstone National Park 1977
Rainbow at Lower Yellowstone Falls - Yellowstone National Park 1977
Rainbow at Lower Yellowstone Falls - Yellowstone National Park 1977

Upper Yellowstone Falls - Yellowstone National Park 1977
Upper Yellowstone Falls - Yellowstone National Park 1977
Upper Yellowstone Falls - Yellowstone National Park 1977
Upper Yellowstone Falls - Yellowstone National Park 1977

Rainbow and river below Upper Yellowstone Falls - Yellowstone National Park 1977
Rainbow and river below Upper Yellowstone Falls - Yellowstone National Park 1977

Stopped for the night between Wells and Ely about 1 a.m. Sunday we hit the road again, had lunch near Ely, and made Independence about 6 p.m., Lone Pine about 7 p.m.. See also my multiday visit to Yellowstone National Park in 1997.

Grand Teton National Park trip map 1977
Grand Teton National Park trip map 1977

This Grand Teton National Park backpack was the second part of a trip that started in the Wind River Range. This Trip Details PDF details the planned trip. Some variations were made during the trip.