Grand Teton Hike (attempt anyway)

Brian's brother and him have been wanting to climb the Grand Teton for a while now.   Brian's brother Lance found a friend to guide them up it since it does require some rock climbing and repelling and such.  PLUS it can get a little rough up there and you have to summit by a certain time to avoid thunderstorms and lightning.  In fact, Brian's really good friend's sister died on this very hike from being struck by lightning.  Needless to say, Amanda was super nervous and Brian was super excited.

Well Amanda decided to hike up to the lower saddle (where no rock climbing experience is needed) along with a sister-in-law who was a couple of months pregnant (she is crazy in shape!).  After a bunch of issues with backpacks and gear and such, we finally figured it out and dropped our kids off with the grandparents and headed up.

in case we get stuck on the mountain I guess

We had to stop to pay for our site and to get bear canisters (this was bear country!)

a couple of miles in, looking down at the lakes nearby

We set out in the early afternoon.  This was Amanda's first real overnight backpack trip and man was it tough for me (Amanda)!  Though I think the hardest was really the first couple of miles since I had never carried something that heavy for so long.  But by the end, it was so worth it!  The views along the way were breathtaking.  It was hot and sunny when we left the valley by there was snow the higher you went up.

BEAUTIFUL!

Sooo, the whole way up we were a little paranoid about altitude sickness, since we were hiking so high.  Reading up on it, we found that it is important to drink alot of water.  Well I (Amanda) took that seriously and drank ALOT of water.  I mean, like 2 liters  by the time we were 3/4 of the way up.  Needless to say, I was grateful for water filters (to get more) and had to take a bunch of side hikes.

almost to our campsite!

 We weren't able to get a camping spot on the lower saddle (which was a 1/4 of a mile?  further), but was in a way nice because it was warmer down below the saddle than on top of the lower saddle.  We camped among the rocks and luckily there were nice flat spots to pitch our tents.

waiting for dinner to "hydrate"

We got to eat some yummy and not-so-yummy dehyrated dinner.  We had brought a fettucine alfredo, which wasn't the greatest, but Bret and Jane brought chicken and rice and beaf stew which was really good.

By the time we got all set up and had eaten, it was time to hit the sack!  Right after the sun went down, the weirdest thing happened.  Like a million moths came flying down from the saddle.  They were everywhere!  It lasted for a while and then they were gone.  They must have been flying to warmer air or something.  It felt like the story "The Birds" or something from Lord of the Rings.

Well the next morning the men got up at 4 am to meet the guide and his group on the lower saddle.  Brian's two other brothers, Lance and Michael had actually not camped over night and had instead hiked from the bottom at midnight.  Or that the was the plan, we didn't really know where they were since there was no cell service.  Brian and Bret waited for a bit but then made their way up so they would miss their guide.  The trail up to the saddle was lit with many people's headlamp since it was still really dark.   Michael and Lance did eventually come through in the dark- how they made it through the boulder field we will never know!  There isn't really any trail, just boulder hopping upwards.

As for Jane and I (Amanda) we got to sleep in!  When we woke up Jane had brought some nice cocoa which warmed us right up and then we sorta hung out for a little while. 

right after the boys left

We we got a little bored and decided to hike up to the lower saddle on our own (luckily without our bike packs).  It is not far distance wise, but it is still quite the hike!  There is one part where a rope is to help you climb up.  It was a little tricky navigating but we managed (the hardest part was actually coming down).

the rope and climb

at the top in front of the sign 

The view from the top of the lower saddle was quite amazing!  You could look out over the whole Teton mountain range.  It was also alot colder up there as it is not protected from the wind at all.  We hung out there for a while and hiked around.  We waited to hear something from the men...

Well they didn't quite make it this time.

Somewhere along the way Brian and Bret got lost off the trail (it was dark), Brian got really sick (possibly altitude sickness) and the guide had to go on without them (the guide and his party waited for a bit at the rope-in spot but couldn't wait any longer because of needed to summit so early).  They did end up crossing trails with Michael and Bret and they were able to make it to the upper saddle, but then headed back down.

 And then they found us back at camp.  Everyone was exhausted, but we still had to hike back down the mountain.  The weather was also beginning to look bad.  By the time we packed up, the clouds were chasing us.

super fun!

Here we are getting ready to head back down.  The cloud followed us and then engulfed us with rain on the hike down.  

Wow, it was a wet hike back down!  It rained the whole 7 miles it felt like.  We stopped for a break under a cavity of some huge boulders which was nice and talked to a few fellow hikers.  We were all soaked to the bone and tired by the end, but it was still all worth it!  We all vowed to try again sometime!

everyone minus Bret (who is taking the photo)

there is the Grand!  maybe next time!