The Grand Tetons are truly a magnificent National Park. Learn how to have your Ultimate Adventure in the Grand Tetons.
My very first trip out West as a kid was to the Grand Teton National Park with my family. I was in awe as we flew into the Jackson Hole Airport and the Grand Teton was towering outside my window. The airport is built like a log cabin and this was SO cool to kid Haley. Still rings true today.
Twenty-five years later, it was time to return to where the adventure began.
Day 1: My first priorities after landing in Jackson Hole were:
- Craft Beer
- Food
I found both in the town of Moose (side note – this was my nickname growing up because I ate like a Moose!) at Dornan’s Pizza Pasta Company. I enjoyed a delightful Amber Ale (Grand Teton Brewing) and a delicious pizza against this spectacular backdrop.
Pro Tip: Lower Schwabacher Landing – don’t pass by this slice of heaven! Head North on US-191, past the the turnoff for Jenny Lake, and you will see a small sign for Schwabacher Landing on the left.
Next stop was to my Airbnb in Victor, ID where I met my sweet host, Marcia, on Abbey Road. Her mini goldendoodle, Ruby, made me homesick for Fitz!
Victor, ID is a small town about an hour drive from the Jackson Hole Airport. Lodging is more affordable in Idaho and it’s a beautiful drive. Victor is also home to the Grand Teton Brewing Company and the Knotty Pine Restaurant, two stops you must add to your list.
Day 2: Bike from Jackson, WY to Jenny Lake and back. I mean, why drive in your car when you can experience the fresh air and amazing scenery on your bike?!
Pro Tip: Rent from Teton Mountain Bike Tours on North Cache Street in Jackson. Friendly folks. Reasonable rates.
Jackson Hole to Jenny Lake and back is a 42 mile round trip bike ride. It’s a relatively flat ride, but the altitude (6,784 feet) and the afternoon wind heading back into Jackson make for a challenging trip. The greenway leads you right to Jenny Lake.
Day 3: Rock Climbing with Jackson Hole Mountain Guides. I signed up for a big wall climb. My climbing package included one “light” training day, and the second day would be the “big” climb. I have rock climbed on and off since college, but had not been climbing in over 2 years. My training consisted of about 2 weeks of forearm curls with 10 pounds weights prior to the climb.
My definition of a light day was very different from my guide’s definition. It was officially the most I had ever climbed in one day: 5 routes of 30-50 feet of climbing and one multi-pitch route of 120 feet. I refreshed my skills on cleaning the route and regained confidence in my climbing ability. I also happened to earn a lovely blood blister under my left big toenail.
Pro Tip: Wear climbing shoes that fit almost like tennis shoes for long climbing days. Consider wearing socks.
My climbing shoes were not new and had never given me issues previously, but I had also never climbed 6 routes in a day. I thought…here we go again with my feet…see THIS post for my learnings on appropriate endurance footwear.
I seriously doubted whether I could climb the following day – 6 pitches of Guides Wall in the Cascade Range in the Tetons, roughly 600-700 vertical feet of climbing.
But then I thought, when am I ever going to climb a big wall in the Tetons again? So I rented a bigger pair of climbing shoes, planned to wear socks, and hoped for the best.
Day 4: I woke up at midnight with a shot of nervous adrenaline. 4 more hours to sleep. What was I doing? I focused on my breathing and closed my eyes, even though I never fell back asleep.
I met my guide, Taylor, at 6:30 am at the Jenny Lake Ranger Station.
This was the guy who literally held my life in his hands. He seemed nice enough. We rode the ferry across Jenny Lake, hiked for about an hour and a half into the Cascade Range, and then walked up several hundred feet of a rock scramble to the base of Guide’s Wall. I attempted to not think of the day ahead, but breathe into the present moment. I was SO nervous!
It was a beautiful sunny day and my nerves were a 6 on a scale of 1-10. Taylor led the first pitch and quickly disappeared over the boulders and I belayed at the bottom. My nerves escalated as I was alone with my thoughts.
Soon it was my turn. The first boulder move was an awkward start and I doubted if I could even get off the ground. It was not graceful by any stretch, but I moved up the rock. Slowly. Breathe, step, breathe, step.
Although it’s a popular route, we were the only ones on the climb that day. I focused on my breathing and my footwork. As we climbed hundreds of feet off the ground, I could see the vastness of the canyon floor in my periphery.
I felt my heart beating in my chest. Although I was on top rope the entire time, it took all my focus and breath work not to lose my shit. After each pitch, I breathed a sigh of relief.
Suddenly I found myself at the base of the last pitch. I recognized the rock formations from pictures online. This section was graded 5.9. The sun warmed the rock as my hands began to sweat. Taylor was patient as I moved at a glacial pace.
Then, I found myself on a small ledge, barely room enough for one person. I had made it! I quickly snapped a few pictures.
At this point, we still had to repel down 600 feet. Taylor called for me to descend and I leaned back over the edge to begin the first of several repels down the cliff face. I stopped to look around and admire the scenery.
Relief washed over me as my feet hit the ground. I broke through some mental barriers on the climb. While I felt my fear in the periphery of my mind, I focused on my inhale and exhale to bring me to the present. This foot hold. This hand hold, this step up.
A natural high and general feeling of bad-assity prevailed the rest of the trip. In true Haley form, I managed to emerge with another toe injury.
Learnings from the Grand Teton Adventure:
- Fear is a portal to the present moment. One doesn’t need to be hanging from a cliff to experience fear. Fear crops up every day, but recognize it, meet it, breathe into it, learn from it. Fear is excitement on pause.
- I can do hard things. Even when I think I can’t.
- It feels good to stretch myself mentally and physically.
- Wear the right footwear. I thought I learned this one already, but I suppose I needed a reminder :-).
Thinking of climbing Guide’s Wall? Check out this YouTube video.
Get your Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Mindful Hiking: HERE
