Bonneville Pass - August 2021

Austin Peak is my favorite dayhike in the world. It's only 11,155' high but you have amazing views of the remotest peaks in the 48 and broader Absaroka Range, Winds, Gros Ventre, Tetons, Pinnacles....just wonderful. One of my scariest moments ever hiking or riding was being charged by a grizzly on the trail about a mile before it opens up and you head North for Austin Peak. Spray worked, rolled up just under 6' in front of me after grinding his face into the ground for about 10' and turned and ran off towards Jules Bowl. About pooped my pants. Two years after my charge they dug that Forest Inventory Contractor out of 3 different holes on Cub Creek just about 3 miles from my near bowel movement.

I used to see lots of grizzlies up there earlier in the century but beetle kill has moved them around a lot. Saw a wolverine a few miles from there too. Up on Austin I love looking at Younts and Thorofare, bringing back memories of horse packing deep into the Teton Wilderness. Here was mid July 2008. Many thanks for sharing and igniting memories of dozens of hikes up there solo and guiding guests from my cousin's ranch in the Dunoir Valley.


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Austin Peak is my favorite dayhike in the world. It's only 11,155' high but you have amazing views of the remotest peaks in the 48 and broader Absaroka Range, Winds, Gros Ventre, Tetons, Pinnacles....just wonderful. One of my scariest moments ever hiking or riding was being charged by a grizzly on the trail about a mile before it opens up and you head North for Austin Peak. Spray worked, rolled up just under 6' in front of me after grinding his face into the ground for about 10' and turned and ran off towards Jules Bowl. About pooped my pants. Two years after my charge they dug that Forest Inventory Contractor out of 3 different holes on Cub Creek just about 3 miles from my near bowel movement.

I used to see lots of grizzlies up there earlier in the century but beetle kill has moved them around a lot. Saw a wolverine a few miles from there too. Up on Austin I love looking at Younts and Thorofare, bringing back memories of horse packing deep into the Teton Wilderness. Here was mid July 2008. Many thanks for sharing and igniting memories of dozens of hikes up there solo and guiding guests from my cousin's ranch in the Dunoir Valley.


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@Absarokanaut I couldn’t agree more!!! It is absolutely spectacular country up there, simply breathtaking in every direction. We did see some older grizzly tracks up there around the first bench you come to and then several more after climbing up to the second ridge/bench where those two tarns are. We climbed up above those tarns into a small group of trees and there was grizzly scat and tracks everywhere, but all looked to be a month or more old. I couldn’t even begin to imagine an encounter that close, I would’ve certainly been needing new underwear after that haha. We’ve had several fairly close encounters with grizzlies and a few black bears, but thankfully they’ve all been good. The closest was along the south buffalo fork heading west out of terrace meadows near a great lookout over the rapids we were within 25 yards of a decent size boar digging and eating roots, we came up on top of the hill and was making plenty of noise as we had saw some fresh tracks and boom there he was. He payed us very little attention, just looked up annoyed that we were interrupting his lunch and then moved off about 15 more yards and continued digging, we gave him a wide birth and that was that. We actually camped in the old outfitter camp at the base of terrace mountain in the meadows not realizing at the time that the previous fall was where the guide was killed up there. You definitely have to be on your toes in that wild country, but I think that’s part of what makes it so spectacular.
 
I usually head North well before you did, right as the trail levels out and gets out of the trees. Have seen grizzlies at a distnace up there several times in late September. Descending Austin with Jules Bowl to the South. Thanks again!Austin Descent.jpg
 

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