Grand Teton: Trip Planner
TRAVELArrival and Departure Dates
It is helpful to arrive a couple of days prior to your climb in order to acclimatize. Otherwise, you should arrive the day before and stop by our office for an equipment check. Do not plan on traveling the day after the summit climb-you will be tired and there are no guarantees when we will return to the trailhead.
Air Travel
In the summer there are regular flights to Jackson Hole from Denver, Salt Lake City, Chicago, Dallas/Ft. Worth, and Minneapolis. We suggest making your reservation as soon as possible. If flights are sold out or too expensive, your options include flying into Idaho Falls, Salt Lake City, Bozeman, or Cody and renting a car. Idaho Falls is the closest option, just two hours away. Otherwise, Salt Lake City, Bozeman, and Cody are all about a five-hour drive from Jackson.
Also, the Jackson Hole Express (800-652-9510) provides daily shuttle service from Salt Lake City and Idaho Falls.
Local transportation
Please plan on providing your own transportation. Jackson Hole Mountain Guides does not provide transportation services but it is often possible to arrange car pools with other clients and the guide. Car rental, bus and taxi services are available.
Office Location and Directions
Jackson Hole Mountain Guides is located in downtown Jackson at 165 North Glenwood. Our local phone number is (307) 733-4979.
From the airport, (north of town) drive south on Highway 89. In north Jackson, Highway 89 becomes Cache Drive. At the second traffic light, turn right on Gill Avenue. At the first intersection, turn left on Glenwood Street. We are located a half-block down on the right.
From south of town, drive north on Highway 89. In south Jackson, Highway 89 becomes Broadway. Just shy of the town square turn left on Glenwood Street (you’ll essentially turn into the Wort Hotel on a one-way). We are located one-and-a-half blocks down on the left.
SCHEDULE
*Our adult classes meet at 8:30am at the JHMG office at 165 N. Glenwood, one block NW of the main Jackson square. Our Kids Rock/Kids Climbing Camp classes will meet at the office at 9am.
*Our overnight Teton trips, including the Grand Teton programs, meet at the office at 9am on the first day of the trip, unless you are otherwise notified.
*The one day climbs will start very early in the morning; please confirm the time and place with our office.
If you are joining us for programs other than Daily Classes, please stop by our office the day before the start of your trip so that we can look over your clothing and equipment. Please bring your pack and gear with you at that time. If you are taking a class prior to the start of your trip, bring your equipment along for a post-class gear check. Summer office hours are 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., daily throughout the summer. The first two hours of the day are usually very busy so please stop by after 10 a.m. if possible.
For classes, no prior gear check is required, although you should review the class equipment list.
We look forward to meeting you.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Plan on having accommodations for the night prior to and the night you return from your climb. There are a plethora of hotels, motels, and bed and breakfasts in Jackson and the surrounding area. Accommodations near our office make your transitions convenient. It is highly advisable to make reservations as early as possible. Jackson Hole is quite busy throughout the summer and holiday periods are often sold out.
For all Jackson lodging information, we suggest
Jackson Hole Central Reservations (800-443-6931) and Jackson Hole Net.
A few ideas for lodging in the vicinity of our office are listed here. We also can provide a phone list of all lodging options in the downtown Jackson area.
For high end accommodations, we suggest the historic Wort Hotel. Located near the town square, it is a historic landmark with all the amenities.
The Rusty Parrot Lodge and Spa has a quiet yet convenient location and a casual atmosphere; it has won several awards for excellence.
For mid-priced lodging, one can’t beat the Alpine House Inn and Spa. Run by Hans and Nancy Johnstone, two Olympic athletes and mountaineers, the Alpine House is a European style inn with an excellent breakfast menu and chef.
Lower end options include the Woods Motel, right across the street from our office. It has been recently remodeled. (307-733-2200/877-963-2200).
The Antler Motel is well known, has lots of rooms, and is in a convenient location.
Camping
The American Alpine Club’s Grand Teton Climbers Ranch, located near Lupine Meadows in Grand Teton National Park, is an excellent and affordable crash. It has bunkhouses, community eating areas, shared bathrooms and costs $10/person/night for AAC members, $20 for non-members. Read more at the American Alpine Club website, or, in the summer season call 307-733-7271.
In Grand Teton National Park there are many campgrounds available on a first come first served basis. The Gros Ventre Campground, with 360 sites, is the least likely to fill up and the most convenient, located between Jackson and Moose on the Gros Ventre River. Call 307-739-3300 for more information on lodging and camping options inside the park.
The Bridger-Teton National Forest also has camping; Curtis Canyon, only seven miles from downtown Jackson, is convenient and beautiful but only has 11 sites. Cost is $12/site. Should the campground be full, free undeveloped camping is available further up the Curtis Canyon road for one or two night stays. There are other National Forest campgrounds northeast of Kelly, including Atherton, Red Hills, and Crystal Creek, all of which have 5-20 sites and charge $10-$12/night.
In addition to these public campgrounds, there are a few privately owned campgrounds, including Wagon Wheel Village near our office. Campers can obtain showers at the Jackson Recreation Center, which is open until 9pm, 7pm Sundays. Entry fee is $6.25 for adults.
FOOD INFORMATION for Grand Teton Climbs and Other Area Climbs
During your stay in the mountains, Jackson Hole Mountain Guides will supply all breakfasts and dinners. You provide your own lunches, trail food, and energy drinks. Our office will provide more information on recommended foods to bring.
EQUIPMENTThe Grand Teton Equipment List is an item by item inventory of what you will need for your Grand Teton trip. The specific gear considerations are designed to prepare you for all possible conditions. We do have a limited number of rental and sale items for your convenience. You are welcome to store extra gear and luggage that you will not need on your climb in the office. The following information provides more specific details and comments to assist your preparation. Don’t hesitate to call our office with any questions.
There are several excellent mountaineering shops in Jackson should you need to supplement your gear. These include Skinny Skis: 307-733-6094, and Teton Mountaineering: 307-733-3595, and they carry all the equipment necessary for your trip.
View the complete Grand Teton equipment list in PDF format.
View our multi-day equipment list, for climbs other than the Grand Teton, in PDF format.
View our single day equipment list in PDF format.
The following is a discussion of specific equipment needs.
Footwear
Mid-Summer Footwear: approach shoes are required. Approach shoes are lightweight shoes with a "sticky" rubber sole. There are many approach shoes on the market but only a few are adequate for climbing the Grand Teton. We recommend breaking in your new pair of approach shoes prior to your arrival. Alternatively, you can rent approach shoes from Jackson Hole Mountain Guides or Teton Mountaineering.
Technical rock shoes are not needed for our typical Grand trips; the approach shoes work very well. However, you should bring them if you are climbing one of the more difficult routes on the Grand Teton, or some of the other rock climbs. For multi-pitch climbs, please make sure they fit very comfortably.
Approved approach shoes include:
*Scarpa's Zen
*La Sportiva Cirque Pro and B5
*Garmont's Sticky Cat
*Five.Ten's Approach Line, including The Camp 4 and Guide Tennie
Early Season/snowy conditions: lightweight mountaineering or leather boots.
The La Sportiva Trango Evo S GTX and Asolo’s Vortex XCR are recommended, as is Scarpa’s Charmoz GTX. The Asolo model can be rented at JHMG; La Sportiva Trango Evo S GTX and double boots can be rented at Teton Mountaineering.
Layers
Please, no cotton: Cotton or cotton blends are not acceptable layers, except for a short sleeve hiking shirt and shorts. Wet cotton cools your core body temperature quickly and this can become a serious safety issue.
Make sure that your insulating jackets and rain gear, both tops and bottoms, can fit over other layers. Do not omit layers; we actually wear them all on many occasions! If you think you’d like an extra layer, a vest is a nice light addition. Rain ponchos are not acceptable. Gloves may be used while climbing; they must be both dextrous and warm, and leather is not a good idea.
Packs
Packs are worn while climbing and are taken to the summit. Be careful of tall packs that interfere with head movement. We have some day packs stored at our high camp, for your use on summit day.
Miscellaneous Items
If you wear contacts, be prepared for a windy, dusty environment. We do not have mosquito/bug problems at high camp and above.
TRAINING for climbing the Grand
Please see our page on Preparation.
AMENITIES
Jackson is a resort town with all the amenities. The town has an excellent library, recreation center, and over a hundred restaurants. There is a climbing gym south of town.
The Chamber of Commerce has local information.
WEATHER & CLIMATE
This area has elevations from 6,200 in Jackson, to 13,770’, and the high mountain areas have extremely variable weather. Often the nights are cool or cold, while the days can, at least potentially, warm up substantially even in the alpine environment. Strong winds, rain, hail, even summer snow showers may be encountered, and expect early morning starts to avoid afternoon thundershowers!
A great local weather site is Jim Woodmency’s Mountain Weather.
Our website's “haulbag” Teton climate page has more in depth information on climate.