Thinking about climbing Granite Peak in July 2012. I'm from New England so I don't have experience for a multi-day climb (and no technical climbing experience). I found Jackson Hole Mtn Guides offering 4-day approach on their website and I'm very interested in the early-July snow climb.

Does anyone have experience with them?

Thanks!
-Alex

I had a climbing lesson a few years ago with one of their guides who does the Granite trips; he lives in Cody and is a great person as well as a climber. I've heard nothing but good things!

SM0421: You could probably find partners on here for free that know enough to safely get you to the summit, or, you could prob pay someone on here a lot less than $1300 to guide you up. It's ultimately all about what you want and feel safe with, but if it were me, I'd save the $1300 for a guide for Mt. Rainier.

There is also a Class 3 route from the south: http://www.summitpost.org/southwest-couloir-route/160092.

If you're okay with some route-finding and scrambling on loose rock, you wouldn't need a guide at all. The page has some good beta photos, and the climber's log has some helpful information as well.

The class 3 SW Couloir is a much safer route and less technical route. My only advice would be to wait until mid August if you take this route, and definitely go with someone. I have attempted Granite via this route before, it is a long approach in prime grizzly territory, with relatively few people on the trail. My wife and I spent 12+ hours on the trail and covered over 18 miles and only passed one other group of just a few people (that was near the trailhead and on a weekend). This is not somewhere you want to be alone if something goes wrong (animal attack, fall, struck by lighting, etc.) because it may be a few days before anyone else even gets within hearing distance for you to yell for.

thanks musicman - I enjoyed your latest Granite trip report!

gwave and Bob - thank you for pointing out the level-3 SW Couloir route, I spent a couple of hours google this route and printed out all the reports, this one seems doable even without ropes! I have hiked a few class 3 routes in New England (Mt. Kathadin, Mt. Washington) and felt no problems.

It seems August is a good time and I'll need some bear spray and travel with partners, I'll try to plan it for this August.

Thanks again!
-Alex

I believe JH guides is owned by the Executive Director of the American Alpine Club. I have never heard anything bad about them since they've been around.

Alex, let me know when you go. I was planning on soloing the standard route, but would gladly change my plans to the SW Col if it means picking up a partner.

FYI- skeeters can be bad on the SW approach (below treeline anyway) anytime from mid-July to mid-August depending on the year. Bring nets and bug spray.

gwave - email sent via online system.

peakhugger - thanks for the tips! I bought head net from REI, thanks a lot!

No experience with Granite but hope to get there soon. Just beware (not trying to ignite controversy) that all routes rated Class 3 are not the same. I've been up all the standard "trails" on Katahdin. What's listed as Class 3 on Katahdin would be considered Class 2 most places out west. Sort of like a blue downhill run in Colorado would be a black diamond in the NE. (OK, now I know I'm going to get in trouble). But seriously, it would be best to do some tough scrambling out west in an some what accessible place first to make sure you don't get in over your head in the back country. Let us know how it goes!

I've been up the SW couloir on Granite. Definitely no need for a rope on the route. It's a long rough route, but easily doable without a rope. Here is the trip report from our hike.

I will likely be up Granite with a small group in August. At least one of us has been up before. We're always open to having others join, so keep in touch early in the summer if interested.

sm0421 wrote:gwave and Bob - thank you for pointing out the level-3 SW Couloir route, I spent a couple of hours google this route and printed out all the reports, this one seems doable even without ropes! I have hiked a few class 3 routes in New England (Mt. Kathadin, Mt. Washington) and felt no problems.

SW couloir is nice, but certainly a big step up from any of the standard nontechnical routes on Katahdin or Washington. I do have firsthand experience with all 3--PM if you'd like to discuss.