Nez Perce

Overview

Nez Perce is located in Grand Teton National Park. Nez Perce is located just east of South Teton and is close to Middle Teton and Grand Teton. Grand Teton National Park is visited by over 3 million visitors per year. The Teton Range rises over 7,000 feet above the valley floor. The rock of the Teton Range is primarily ancient, hard crystalline rock including darker colored metamorphic rock and lighter colored igeneous rock. The Tetons are among the youngest mountain ranges within the Rocky Mountains. To the east of the Tetons lie the Gros Ventre Range, to the north are the Absarokas and Yellowstone Park, to the south the Snake River Range, and to the west Big Hole, Lemhi, and Centennial Ranges.

Signature photo by fellow member Alan Ellis

Getting There

Fly into Jackson Hole Airport which is located in Grand Teton National Park. Rental cars are available at the airport. Leaving the airport parking lot, take a left onto highway 191 (which goes to Yellowstone Park). Make a left at Moose Junction and you are at numerous routes to start your climb.

Moose Junction has a climbing store (lots of nice gear), bike shop, gas station, small grocery store and gift shop.

Proceed past Moose Junction and on your left is the Climbers Ranch. Plenty of information is available here. Climbing partners can be found here as well. Routes begin here and at Lupine Meadows Trailhead which is further to the north.

Red Tape

Entrance fees $20 per vehicle / $10 per hiker or bike / $15 per motorcycle

Golden Eagle Passport $65 (allows entry to most national parks & other federal areas for 1 year from date of purchase)

National Parks Pass $50 (allows entry to most national parks for 1 year from date of purchase)

Parks Specific Pass $40 (allows entrance to Grand Teton & Yellowstone for 1 year from date of purchase)

Golden Age Passport $10 (allows US citizens over 65 unlimited access to all national parks / one time fee)

Golden access Passport Free (allows US citizens with disability lifetime free access)

When To Climb

The summer climbing season generally runs from late June thru September. Year-round climbing is possible.

Approximate average high / low temperatures:
January 25F / 0F
February 28F / 0F
March 40F / 13F
April 45F / 15F
May 60F / 30F
June 70F / 35F
July 78F / 40F
August 80F / 45F
September 75F / 35F
October 60F / 30F
November 45F / 17F
December 28F / 7F

Camping

Gros Ventre Campground
Open from 04/29 to 10/17
372 sites

Jenny Lake Campground
Open from 05/13 to 09/20
51 sites (tent only - full by 8:00 a.m.

Signal Mountain Campground
Open from 05/13 to 10/14
86 sites (full by 10:00 a.m)

Colter Bay Campground
Open from 05/20 to 09/20
350 sites (full by noon)

Lizard Creek Campground
Open from 06/10 to 09/03
60 sites (full by 2:00 p.m.)

The best option to camping before your climb is to stay at the American Alpine Club's Ranch located (7) miles past Moose Junction on Teton Park Road. The Ranch offers very rustic accomodations for only $8 per night. Very rustic means you bring your own bedding, mattress, etc. and you will be sharing a cabin with other climbers. Showers and a cooking area are available. Lodging is on a first come, first served basis but a limited number of reservations are accepted. They only accept reservations after June 1. Send your reservation information including number in party, dates of reservation, number of nights staying, and your email address to the below address. Include in your letter a check for $8 per night per person and a $20 fee for reservations. Two seperate reservations require two $20 reservation fees. Do not send your letter via overnight mail. They do not accept credit cards. The Climbing Ranch telephone number is (303) 384-0110. You do not have to be a member of the American Alpine Club to stay there.

Grand Teton Climbing Ranch
Attn.: Manager
P.O.Box 57
Moose, Wyoming 83012
email:gtcr@onewest.net

This information provided by fellow SP member Alan Ellis and taken from the South Teton page.

Mountain Conditions

Visitor Information: 307-739-3600
Backcountry & River Information: 307-739-3602
Campground Information: 307-739-3603
Weather: 307-739-3611
Climbing Information: 307-739-3604

www.nps.gov/grte/
(this is the web site for Grand Teton Park / Go to Links)

There are (2) approved guiding services in the park:

Exum Mountain Guides
307-733-2297
www.exumguides.com

Jackson Hole Mountain Guides & Climbing School
307-733-4979
www.jhmg.com

Routes

Northwest Ledge: One day climb starting from the Meadows. Diffificulty: ll 5.4

South Ridge: One long day climb starting from the Platforms of Garnet Canyon. Steep climb in 7 or 8 pitches. Can also be climbed from Jackson Hole.
Difficulty: lll 5.7

Chief Joseph Buttress: Starting from a camp at the Platforms, or as a one day climb from Jackson Hole. Hike off trail into Shadow Peak Cirque. Route does not have sustained challenges, has a few crux moves and consisitent exposure for over 1,000 feet.
Difficulty: lll 5.9

Source of this information from exumguides.com / Also avaiable at this site are several photos of the mountain with maps of the routes shown.

USGS Quad sheet: Grand Teton

External Links

• Grand Teton National Park
  
  
• Exum Guides
  Guiding service offering guided climbs in the Tetons.
  

Images

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