[TR] Grand Teton - Upper Exum 7/18/2012

[Whatcomboy]

Trip: Grand Teton - Upper Exum

 

Date: 7/18/2012

 

Trip Report:

A road trip to Grand Teton National Park got the 3 of us to Jenny Lake ranger station where we got a back country permit from very helpful climbing rangers with good beta for the mountain. Hiking in the next day we set up the tent in the moraine just as a good hail and thunder storm blew over. A 4am start got us to the saddle just as sunrise showed the upper mountain. Pictures do not do this mountain justice. The approach was not obvious but finally found the Wall Street ledge where we roped up. Dark clouds caused anxiety as we headed up interesting, not too dificult climbing with good exposure. We had the route to ourselves until close to the top where we met another 3 person team and joined them at the 13,770 summit in clear skies. We headed down to the rap station together for a single rope rap followed by a double rope rap to the exit gullies. Glad for no thunderstorms because we were late getting off. Had planned to climb the Middle Teton the next day but took a rest day instead then hiked out. Took a boat shuttle across Jenny Lake and climbed 11,400 Mount St. John. Would like to come back as there are a lot of peaks in this range to climb.