Hiking in Grand Teton National Park

Evenings are a great time for Hiking in Grand Teton National Park.

Death Canyon Trailhead

On a clear day soon after the summer soltice, the few people you meet are nearly all coming off the trail and heading home.

Frodo in LOTR

I truly felt like Frodo at the crossings in Ilithien climbing up these stairs.

Light Streaming across an open glade

Shadow and light were in stark contrast.

Phelps Lake Overlook

The shadows cast by the Tetons slowly progress across the calm waters of Phelps Lake.

Marmot!

The ubiquitous marmot.

Approaching the steeps

Light pours through the mouth of Death Canyon. Tho a glacially carved U-shaped valley, it does appear V-shaped from this angle.

Waterfall in Grand Teton

The cataract below the mouth of Death Canyon was roaring with meltwaters. Six switchbacks down, two to go!

Snow!

There were several snowfields across the path, this being the steepest. Best not take a tumble here, or it’s the stream a 100′ below for me. Perhaps there’s some gear to be had on Backcountry.com to make such crossings more sure…

Truly, this pool above the cataract is one of the most serene locations in Grand Teton National Park. If one is pushing on into upper Death Canyon, I recommend breaking here with a tasty Powderhound.

Phelps Lake and Death Canyon

As I ran down from the cataract to the car in less than an hour to beat the encroaching darkness, it appeared as if the mountains in all directions were aglow with light.