Hi All,

My brother and I are thinking about doing the traverse in early August. It looks like a great hike but, we have never been out in this part of the country and were wondering if it is as good as everyone says. We have about a week and are both experienced hikers having done quite a bit of climbing in Ecuador, Bolivia, and Argentina as well as oodles of hiking in the White Mountains and Vermont. Any thoughts, suggestions, advice will be greatly appreciated.

The easiest rout goes at 5.4 the owen spaulding route on the grand. the middle and south tetons can go at 3rd class. I am going up the middle and south next weekend andcan let you know how it is. but so far climbing in the Tetons is amazing!

Cathedral Traverse? Teton Crest trail? Which traverse are you asking about?

Sorry for the lac of clarity! We are going along the Teton Crest Trail.

I last hiked the Complete Teton Crest Trail in 2006. It is a wonderful hike that many people are consumed with abbreviating and missing out on some truly wonderful country south of Marion Lake. In Alaska Basin I always suggest folks forget Sunset Lake and look to Mirror. If you can spend two nights there a dayhike of Static Peak is wonderful. If you can get Holly Lake I think its better than upper Paintbrush. I prefer the uppermost part of the upper zone in the Southfork. Avalanche Divide, the Wall, all really good. If you're adventurous hike Avalanche Canyon from the Climbers Ranch. Petzoldt said Lake Taminah was as prettya place as he'd ever been. Kit, Snowdrift, all top Shelf. Not the Crest, but wild and far less travelled. Grizzly Bear Lake is awesome too, but give yourself added time if you choose it.

In the valley there is some great free camping with jillion dollar views just East of the Park [Grand Teton] boundary. If you message me I can clue you into some of that.

Gros Ventre is a wonderful campground, great for seeing moose, raptors, and nesting owls.

If you have a lot miles under you think about adding the Old Skyline Trail. The Northern Tetons are one of the wildest and lesser travelled spectacular places you'll ever go.

Have a blast,

John