Grand Teton National Park
A couple friends and I drove 16 hours and through the night to our campsite in Grand Teton National Park!
We arrived at about 3 AM to Gros Ventre campground, just in time to get our tents set up and get a couple hours sleep before heading out on our long hike. As we lay there trying to sleep, anticipating the next morning’s adventure, I heard some coyotes yipping in the distance. Uncertain if they were asleep, I whispered over to a friend, ‘Do you hear the coyotes?’. We listened to them for no more than a few seconds, excited that we were finally back in the wilderness, when suddenly the loudest howl I’ve heard in my life goes off like a siren. I’m sure my face turned a little pale in that moment as my mind screamed “THAT’S NOT A COYOTE”. Seconds later, another wolf howls…. and then another… and another… and so on (It really reminded me of that scene in Zootopia where they start a ‘howling’). Suddenly I realize ‘This is the real deal’ as I listen to wolves howling all around us, some perhaps nearby, others miles away.
In the morning (or a couple hours later anyway), we headed over to the permit station to get our back country permit. They warn us of some potentially concerning storms coming in, but it should be okay during the time frame we’re at the top of the mountain. We discussed it a few seconds between ourselves and decided, we’re doing it! Maybe not the smartest decision, but it worked out :)
We make our way to the trail head and load our packs onto our backs, making sure we have what we need, leave what we didn’t, and make sure not to leave any food in the car (bears CAN and WILL rip your car open to get at any food you may have forgotten!)
And we’re off!
It was damp, foggy, and sprinkling most of the morning but we were in high spirits anyways! We were outdoors, in nature, in mountains, and it was beautiful!
We learned to start putting our rain flies and rain gear on AS SOON AS it started sprinkling. If we didn’t the rain would soak into our packs and we’d end up carrying more than a little extra water weight, and it didn’t dry out very fast!
We hiked along some nice streams and waterfalls on the way up.
As we continued our way up the mountain we passed few strangers, always said hi or starting a conversation with our perky optimism. About halfway up, a couple of hikers told us they had gotten stuck in a hail storm toward the top of the mountain. This made us a little nervous for what we had in store for us as our first camp site was intended to be in upper Paintbrush Pass.
It was damp every morning and evening and dipped below freezing during the night, so each morning we’d start our day by shaking the ice and moisture off our tents. Then head down to the lake or stream and collect some water to make breakfast while we let our stuff dry out.
First on breakfast menu was a nice toasty cup of Nestle’s hot chocolate. I wasn’t sure I wanted to bring it along when I was packing, but oh my God I was so glad I did! It warms you up and tastes so good! It’s become a pinnacle of my backpacking morning routine ever since!
Next up I’d boil some more water on my MSR Pocket Rocket to rehydrate and cook some freeze dried mountain house meals. I learned I hate the freeze dried scrambled egg meals on this trip, but some good old fashioned chicken dumpling is a great breakfast replacement :)
Victory snacks at the top of the pass!
Packing List
Gear
Backpack: Osprey Atmos AG 65
Backplack rain fly: Osprey
Air horn: Cheap walmart brand from the store’s party section
Bear Spray: BearAssault
Compass: Compass, Whistle, thermometer combo
Gallon Ziploc Bags:
Camel pack:
Water Purification tablets
Bear canister: BearVault BV500
Trekking Poles
Tent: Big Agnus Copper Spur 2 person
Sleeping pad: Nemo Quasar 3D
Sleeping bag: Kelty 20C
Pillow: Thermarest Compressible Pillow
Camp Stove: MSR pocket rocket
Fuel:
Water Filter: Sawyer Squeeze
Spork
Lantern:
Multitool
Sunglasses
bug spray
tooth brush/paste
Hydrogen peroxide
antibiotic ointment
Toilt paper
Trowel
Food:
Clothes:
Hiking Shoes: Salomon
Hiking Pants: Kuehl
Shirts: Smart Wool
Socks
Gloves
Stocking Cap
Baseball cap
Underarmor Base shirt
Underarmor base pants
shorts?
Rain Jacket: Frog Trogs (didn’t bring the pants)
Maps/Apps:
Alltrials App
Personal Locator Beacon - InReach Mini 2
Sunscreen
Pills bottle (naproxen, vitamins, allegra)
Blistex
