Page Type:
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Route |
|---|---|
Lat/Lon:
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43.46238°N / 110.62638°W |
Route Type:
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Hiking, Scrambling |
Season:
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Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter |
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Time Required:
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Half a day |
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Rock Difficulty:
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Class 3 |
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Overview
The northeast ridge is a fun hike/scramble to one of most popular and accessible peaks around Jackson. A climber's trail, faint at times but usually easy to follow in summer, follows the ridge with a bit scrambling over rocky pinnacles and returns to an easy trail for the last ~200' to the summit. Views are spectacular all around, with the Tetons to the northwest, and the heart of the northern Gros Ventres to the east. Also on display are other ranges of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, from the Wyoming range in the south, to parts of the Absarokas to the north.
Getting There
Drive east through Jackson on Broadway into the Elk Preserve. Turn right onto the Curtis Canyon Rd after a few miles. Take the Curtis Canyon Rd to the Goodwin Lake TH, bearing right at the Sheep Creek Rd fork, then stay left. In summer, in dry conditions most medium clearance vehicles should make it, though it may require patience.Route Description
From the Goodwin Lake TH, take trail toward Goodwin Lake. Just past the Gros Ventre Willderness boundary sign, you'll take a climbers' trail that bears uphill and slightly right. Follow this trail uphill, eventually going over some rock outcrops. Depending on your route over these, it'll be class 2/3. Stay on the ridge, which descends slightly, then follow the trail uphill on the NE ridge to the summit. Descend the same route, or follow the trail down the south slopes, then west and north past Goodwin lake on the main trail back to the trailhead.Theoretically, this could be done in winter, but would be much more involved. Things to consider are TH access, snow danger, cornices, etc. If you're up to it, you probably don't need this page.
Essential Gear
Standard hiking gear, map, etc. Whatever you usually use. In early season axe and crampons may be desired.External Links
http://www.mountainweather.com/
Jackson Peak's summit & cairn.