Teton Permits

[woodmaker_58]

Planning a trip next summer to hike in the Tetons. How difficult is it to get a backpacking permit in Sept?

 

[Chuck the Mauler]

Walk ups are no issue at all with a little flexibility. If you intend to stay at either Marion or Holly Lake the first night, that MAY be an issue. I have never left the state of MI with a Teton permit in hand and I've been spending time in the area for at least a dozen years. Furthermore, if you intend to hike the northern section of the park (north of Moran), the rangers may not even know how to issue that permit with much accuracy. You would NO issues there at all. We didn't see another sole the entire time (after a few hours into our hike) until we hiked out on day 6.

Where do you intend to hike while in the park? Side note, we got a little snow this past week. So like any mountain hike, be prepared for snow after Labor Day.

PS: Just got home from there after 27 hours in the car driving straight through. I flew out (for the first time ever) in July and liked that much better.

Peace!

 

[Joey]

Everything @kcwins says is spot on. And if you have any questions about your route, ask him. He knows the park.

After Labor Day, your not going to have any issues with permits. Crowds slim down a lot. You could have cold weather, just depends on the week. But the colors will be awesome. The aspens are already changing colors right now.

 

[woodmaker_58]

Just starting to look into the trails that we want to take. Looking at Static Peak and going up Garnet Canyon as far. I will be there 10 days and my son 6 days. One thing I have seen is that solo hiking seems to be discouraged. Any comments on that. I saw that there was snow. Plan is to go after Labor day so the crowd thins out.
I really appreciate the feedback.
Tom

 

[Joey]

I go solo all the time, nothing wrong with that. The park discourages it for 2 main reasons: 1. If anything happens to you, no one is going to be there to help you. 2. They have to cover themselves for future liability. And they also have to go rescue hikers often, which costs them money. But I pass solo hikers all the time, and no one at the backcountry office will give you a hard time about it. Just something they put in print.

As for the Crest Trail, there is a lot of hiker traffic on that trail. You will see people, even in September. So you won't be alone, and if something did happen to you, there is a decent chance someone would come across you and be able to help. And cell phone service is great in several locations along the trail. Also, in regards to Grizzly Bears, grizzlies stay out of that area (despite what you may read from other reports). You won't have any run ins with them, unless you leave the trail, and climb into other untrailed canyons.

Its raining right now (I'm in the park now), and it rains more than it snows in September. But every year is different, and cold fronts come and go often. The earlier in September the better for warmer weather, but you really just never know.

As for routes, @kcwins will give you some great suggestions, he knows the crest area much better than I do. I'm sure others on this forum can help as well. I will say that the view from Paintbrush Divide, dropping down into Cascade Canyon is as good as it gets. Here is a quick video for you:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152684752324766

I personally like camping in the upper end of the South Fork of Cascade Canyon. The Death Canyon Shelf campzone is awesome, here is another video from there:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10151726768794766

I prefer going up Death Canyon over Garnet Canyon or the Tram. There are awesome camp sites above that canyon, between Marion Lake and the Death Canyon Shelf. Outside the park boundary, you can camp anywhere you want without a permit. Fox Pass is the area I'm talking about here. There is also fantastic camping in Alaska Basin that doesn't require a permit.

 

[Bob]

Fox pass is decent, stayed there. Water at the shallow lake sometimes.

 

[woodmaker_58]

I go solo all the time, nothing wrong with that. The park discourages it for 2 main reasons: 1. If anything happens to you, no one is going to be there to help you. 2. They have to cover themselves for future liability. And they also have to go rescue hikers often, which costs them money. But I pass solo hikers all the time, and no one at the backcountry office will give you a hard time about it. Just something they put in print.

As for the Crest Trail, there is a lot of hiker traffic on that trail. You will see people, even in September. So you won't be alone, and if something did happen to you, there is a decent chance someone would come across you and be able to help. And cell phone service is great in several locations along the trail. Also, in regards to Grizzly Bears, grizzlies stay out of that area (despite what you may read from other reports). You won't have any run ins with them, unless you leave the trail, and climb into other untrailed canyons.

Its raining right now (I'm in the park now), and it rains more than it snows in September. But every year is different, and cold fronts come and go often. The earlier in September the better for warmer weather, but you really just never know.

As for routes, @kcwins will give you some great suggestions, he knows the crest area much better than I do. I'm sure others on this forum can help as well. I will say that the view from Paintbrush Divide, dropping down into Cascade Canyon is as good as it gets. Here is a quick video for you:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152684752324766

I personally like camping in the upper end of the South Fork of Cascade Canyon. The Death Canyon Shelf campzone is awesome, here is another video from there:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10151726768794766

I prefer going up Death Canyon over Garnet Canyon or the Tram. There are awesome camp sites above that canyon, between Marion Lake and the Death Canyon Shelf. Outside the park boundary, you can camp anywhere you want without a permit. Fox Pass is the area I'm talking about here. There is also fantastic camping in Alaska Basin that doesn't require a permit.

Thanks for clearing up the concern about going solo and the trail suggestions.

 

[Chuck the Mauler]

How many days would you like to spend in the backcountry there? I can send you a few suggestions with what I consider must do side trips.