Grand Tetons backpacking
Backpacking will not be an official part of De Anza College Outdoor Club trips to the Grand Tetons, but you could get a permit for a backpack adventure if you plan ahead
and bring appropriate gear, including gear for a potential early winter storm during the fall trip or late spring storm during the summer trip. In summer, remember that the snow doesn't clear on the highest trails until late July or August and you'll need an ice axe (and knowledge of its proper use) for safe travel over many passes/divides.
The Grand Teton Online Ranger Station, with climbing, mountain pass, canyon and trail route conditions is at: http://www.tetonclimbingpass.blogspot.com/
If you decide to backpack overnight you'll need a permit. As of a 2008 brochure, the basic rules are: individual parties of 1 to 6 people. Groups of up to 12 people can only backpack to designated group sites. You can't stay overnight everywhere, for example, not in the first 4.5 miles of the Cascade Canyon trail. There are designated campsites at some places, zones where overnights are allowed at others and no sleeping overnight allowed some places. There are limits to how many nights you can stay at some places, as few as two or three, and a maximum in the backcounty in summer of 10 nights.
Backcountry camping permits are issued free of charge to walk-ins on a first-come, first-served basis OR requests for advance reservations are accepted from January 1st to May 15th. You can send the request by email, regular mail, fax, or in person. You have to pick up an advance reservation permit.
http://www.nps.gov/grte/pubs/brochures/backcountry-2.pdf.
As of 2002, the Park Service was promoting a more complete pack-it-out policy and providing 'rest stop' bags to pack out human waste from the Grand Teton lower saddle. Climbing guide companies were requiring their clients to use the bags.
You can climb and day hike without a permit, as long as you don't camp/bivouac. But it's always wise to check with the Rangers for info before even a long hike above the valley floor. In 2000 they banned eating snacks or lunch in the Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point areas of Cascade Canyon because a black bear sow and her two cubs had found they could bluff charge and get people to abandon their picnic or pack.
De Anza students planning a backpack as a part of one of our official trips to the Tetons are asked to read:
Backpacking Advice
and to plan to check out one or more Garcia food storage containers from the club:
As of 2008 "backpackers are required to carry bear-proof canisters when camping below 10.000 feet in elevation."
Counterbalance hanging of food does not work; bear canisters (or campsite bear lockers) are the only effective and proven method of preventing bears from getting human food.
Afternoon thundershowers are common in the summer. At least one period of interesting weather with snowfall at the higher elevations occurs in late August every year. Grand Tetons Weather
Horses and pack trains have the right-of-way. Yield to them by stepping off the trail on the uphill side and stand still and quiet until they are well past you.
Teton County (Wyoming) Search and rescue would like you to know:
"Do not stand in moving water, even if shallow. If your foot gets trapped in the rocks, the current will push you over, wedging you foot tighter, and pushing your head underwater. You will drown. Others have drowned in 2 feet of water this way."
To truly be able to leave no trace and follow backcountry rules about camping the proper distance from a lake or digging your personal latrine hole the proper distance from water, etc., you will need to know how far 100 feet is. Lay out a tape measure at home and walk it and count your paces.
See also:
Hiking Advice
GORP and hiking snacks
Thunderstorm and lightning safety
At altitude
Backpacking Advice
Cell phones in the wilderness which has advice on how/when to use a cell phone to contact 911 in the wilderness
You can't always expect a helicopter rescue
fatal, near fatal or close call incidents/accidents in camping, backpacking, climbing and mountaineering
GPS is not infallible
Grand Tetons trip pages index
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