- 01-IMG_9449.JPG
Martin leading the top pitch of “Whorehouse Hoses” near Silverton, CO (February 2012) - 02-IMG_9488.JPG
Kurt Mensch on a snowy February morning on our way to do some ice-climbing near Ouray, CO - 03-IMG_9529.JPG
Gordon Laurens on the way to Grace Falls, at the base of Notchtop Mountain, Rocky Mountain Nat’l Park (February 2012) - 04-IMG_9531.JPG
John Christie and Gordon Laurens near Grace Falls, Rocky Mountain Nat’l Park (February 2012) - 05-IMG_9585.JPG
Rick at Silverton ski area (March 2012) - 06-Palmyra_Panorama.JPG
Palmayra Peak, Telluride ski resort (March 2012). You’re allowed to hike up the right-hand skyline and ski down the gully that starts from the very top (13,319’). - 07-IMG_9645.JPG
Martin and Paul Geddes at Whistler-Blackcomb (April 2012). We were there to do the Spearhead traverse, a multi-day backcountry trip that starts at the ski area boundary. Luckily the initial ascent is effort-free, thanks to the ski lifts. - 09-IMG_9649.JPG
Paul Geddes at the Blackcomb ski area boundary, about to start on the Spearhead traverse (April 2012) - 10-IMG_9654.JPG
Paul Geddes at the summit of Mt. Pattison (2,483m) on the Spearhead traverse (April 2012) - 11-IMG_9671.JPG
Camp at the Pattison-Tremor col on the Spearhead traverse (April 2012) - 12-IMG_9680.JPG
Paul Geddes at the Tremor-Shudder col, Spearhead traverse (April 2012) - 13-IMG_9687.JPG
Skiing across the Ripsaw glacier, Spearhead traverse (April 2012). Unfortunately clouds rolled in a short while later and for the rest of the trip we were in near-whiteout conditions. - 15-IMG_9695.JPG
On the second night of the Spearhead traverse we had the luxury of staying at an otherwise empty Himmelsbach hut. Here’s Paul Geddes leaving the hut in stormy conditions the next morning. - 17-IMG_9623.JPG
Kurt Mensch at the summit of Sayre’s Benchmark (April 2012) - 18-IMG_9628.JPG
Kurt Mensch skiing down the “Grand Central Couloir” on Sayre’s Benchmark (April 2012) - 19-IMG_9632.JPG
Kurt Mensch returning from Sayre’s Benchmark (April 2012). The “Grand Central Couloir” descends from the col just to the right of the summit. - 20-IMG_9716.JPG
John Christie climbing “Queen’s Way” on Apache Peak (13,441’), May 2012 - 21-IMG_9724.JPG
John Christie after skiing down “Queen’s Way” on Apache Peak (May 2012). Apache is the summit on the right of the photo. Queen’s Way is hidden from sight by the rocky buttress in front of the summit. - 22-IMG_9740.JPG
Kurt Mensch on North Apostle Peak after traversing over from Ice Mountain (13,951’), May 2012. We had just climbed the “Refrigerator Couloir”, the obvious snow-filled gully leading to the summit of Ice Mountain. Unfortunately 2011-2012 was a bad winter for snow and much of the snow had already melted from the gully, leaving patches of hard ice and unpleasant loose rubble. - 23-IMG_9878.JPG
Kurt Mensch en route to climb “Skye’s Sickle” (5.9) on Spearhead, Rocky Mountain Nat’l Park (August 2012). We were there on what turned out to be the last warm weekend of the summer and luckily we had the climb to ourselves. - 24-IMG_9884.JPG
Kurt Mensch near the summit of Spearhead after climbing “Syke’s Sickle” (August 2012). We had a memorable descent as one of my trail shoes had come untied from my harness halfway up the climb and tumbled hundreds of feet down the cliff. Fortunately I discovered it at the base of the cliff after hobbling down in one of my climbing shoes. - 25-P9263621_01.JPG
In September Alex left for San Jose, CA to join the Santa Clara Aquamaids synchronized swimming team. Here she is with her “grandmother” Robynne, who she’s living with while she trains there. - 26-P1000150.JPG
“Campground Couloir”, near Silverton, CO, which Martin climbed with Kurt Mensch in December 2012. - 27-P1000167.JPG
Alex and Rick at Mary Jane ski area on Christmas Eve. - 28-P1000206.JPG
Long’s Peak (on the horizon) and Bear Peak as seen from a late afternoon scramble up Bear Peak, near Boulder, CO, on Christmas Day. - 29-P1000118.JPG
The Andrews Glacier and Loch Vale in Rocky Mountain Nat’l Park, on the way back from climbing the NW Gully of Thatchtop with Kurt Mensch (November 2012). - 30-P1000055.JPG
Our newly-remodeled kitchen (October 2012). - 31-IMG_9888.JPG
Kurt Mensch on the hike down to Black Lake, Rocky Mountain Nat’l Park (August 2012). In the background are McHenry’s Peak and Arrowhead. - 32-IMG_9752.JPG
Kevin Smith near the summit of “Lone Eagle”, Indian Peaks Wilderness (July 2012). - 33-IMG_9616.JPG
Kurt Mensch on the way to Sayre’s Benchmark (13,758’), near La Plata Peak (April 2012) - 34-P1000135.JPG
Fran, Rick, Alex and Martin at home for Thanksgiving dinner, about to tuck into deconstructucted pumpkin pie. - 35-P1000184.JPG
Rick, Fran, Alex, Amber the cat and Martin at home on Christmas Eve - 36-P1000221.JPG
Alex, Martin, Fran and Rick at home for Christmas dinner. - IMG_9700.JPG
Martin enjoying some well-earned refreshment at Whistler ski area base after completing the Spearhead traverse (April 2012). - STD_9670_stitch.jpg
The Spearhead range from our camp the Pattison-Tremor col (April 2012). From left to right the prominent peaks are Macbeth, Iago, Fitzsimmons, Benvolio, Overlord and Fissile. - IMG_1028.JPG
Martin, Rick and his girlfriend Tate Reed left for South Africa a week after Fran and Alex. We had a few hours between flights in London and were able to fit in some sightseeing. This is Martin on the London Underground. - IMG_1036.jpg
Tate and Rick at Kololo Game Reserve, north of Johannesburg - IMG_1041.JPG
At The Cradle restaurant, near Johannesburg: Frieda Hough, Robie Welch, David Kinghorn and Anna Ludlow - IMG_1045.jpg
Tate, Nicole, Rick, Katy and Carole at The Cradle - IMG_1049.jpg
At Johannesburg airport: Bram, Olive, Hannah, Tate, Joachim and Rick - IMG_9897.jpg
The Great Court of the British Museum, London - IMG_9900.jpg
Rick and Tate at the British Museum - IMG_9904.jpg
Watching the sun set over the lagoon at De Hoop Nature Reserve - IMG_9905.jpg
Ostriches at De Hoop Nature Reserve - IMG_9910.jpg
At De Hoop Nature Reserve: Bram Schonveldt, Fran, Lindsay, Guy, Alex, and Hannah le Roux - IMG_9915.jpg
Humans and seagulls on the beach at De Hoop Nature Reserve - IMG_9921.JPG
At De Hoop Nature Reserve: Rick, Guy, Fran, Lindsay, Alex and Martin - IMG_9922.jpg
At De Hoop Nature Reserve. Back row: Guy, Fran, Lindsay, Simon, Ismo, Martin and Bram (recovering from bronchitis). Front row: Tate, Alex, Rick, Olive, Joachim and Hannah - IMG_9928.jpg
On Table Mountain, overlooking Cape Town: Bram, Olive, Tate and Rick - IMG_9936.JPG
Rick on Table Mountain - IMG_9941.JPG
Martin in front of the S African National Gallery, Cape Town - IMG_9947.jpg
At Kirstenbosch Gardens after David le Roux’s memorial service. Back row: Ismo, Simon, Hannah, Bram, Jan, Robie Welch, James Welch, William Frater, David Kinghorn, Martin, Rick, Berna and Guy. Front row: Jack Lotter, Tate, Joachim, Olive and Kim. - P7283286.JPG
Alex, Fran’s sister Lindsay Godfrey, Lindsay’s daughter Nicole, and Fran picnicking on the grounds of the Union Buildings, Pretoria - P7283293.JPG
Pretoria at dusk from the grounds of the Union Buildings - P8013324.JPG
Fran’s nieces Nicole and Katy, their father Robin, and Fran and Alex near Hartebeespoort dam - P8013336.JPG
Katy, Nicole and Alex near Hartebeespoort dam. - P8063347.JPG
Alex at Groot Constantia, near Cape Town - P8083373.JPG
Alex and Fran at Kirstenbosch Gardens, near Cape Town - P8083376.JPG
Fran’s brother Guy and Alex on Chapman’s Peak drive, overlooking Hout Bay, near Cape Town - P8103411.JPG
Guy and Alex at De Hoop Nature Reserve - P8103416.JPG
Ismo and Simon bringing some Finnish style to the beach at De Hoop Nature Reserve - P8103439.JPG
Fran and Alex on the beach at De Hoop Nature Reserve, in the Western Cape - P8113575.JPG
At De Hoop Nature Reserve. Back row: Guy Meredith’s daughter Laura, Guy’s mother-in-law Laura van Riet, Sandra’s son Steyn, Guy’s sister-in-law Sandra, Guy’s wife Berna, Martin, Fran, Guy’s father-in-law Steyn van Riet. Front row: Martin’s cousin Jan Hough, Jan’s wife Kim, Rick, Alex, Lindsay, Martin’s niece Olive le Roux, and Guy. - Above_Koven_Col.jpg
Teewinot, the East Prong and the Koven Col as seen from the lower E Ridge on of Mt Owen. Photo courtesy of Gordon Laurens. - Below_1st_Snow_field.jpg
Hiking up the lower slopes of Teewinot. From L to R: Kevin, John, Martin and Stewart Middlemiss. Photo courtesy of Gordon Laurens. - Burrito_Bivy2.jpg
Sunset over Idaho from our bivvy site on the Grand Teton. Photo courtesy of Gordon Laurens. - Burritto_Bivy_2.jpg
Stewart, Kevin and Martin at our second night bivvy site, on the Second Ledge of the Grand Teton. By now we had hoped to have summitted the Grand Teton and climbed up and over the Middle Teton, but we made some route-finding errors and we weren’t moving fast enough. Photo courtesy of Gordon Laurens. - Day1_Sunrise2.jpg
Sunrise over Jackson Lake on the way up Teewinot. Photo courtesy of Gordon Laurens. - IMG_1621.jpg
Traversing around the upper snowfield on Mt Owen. On the L is part of the N Face of the Grand Teton. - IMG_1633.jpg
Looking down at the N Face of the Grand Teton from the bivvy site on Mt. Owen - IMG_1642.jpg
We didn’t bring crampons and ice axes all this way in vain. Gordon climbing up to Gunsight Notch between Mt Owen and the Grand Teton. - IMG_1655.jpg
Martin approaching the Grandstand at the base of the N Ridge of the Grand Teton, with the W Ledges of Mt Owen in the background. - IMG_1671.jpg
Gordon on the N Ridge of the Grand Teton, with the Teton Glacier far below. - IMG_9782.jpg
Stewart and Gordon at the col just below the summit of Teewinot, with the Grand Teton and Mt. Owen in the background. - IMG_9797.jpg
Descending from the East Prong to the Koven Col below Mt Owen. - IMG_9801.jpg
Kevin, John and Stewart at our first night bivvy site, just below the summit of Mt Owen. - IMG_9805.jpg
Martin at the summit of Mt Owen, with the N Face and N Ridge of the Grand Teton in the background. - IMG_9809.jpg
Starting the descent of the W Ledges of Mt Owen the following morning - IMG_9818.jpg
The Second Ledge on the N Ridge of the Grand Teton. From here the climbing is mostly scrambling. - IMG_9840.jpg
Stewart, Kevin, John and Gordon at the summit of the Grand Teton. We continued along the Second Ledge to join the Owen-Spalding route, from where it’s a short section of easy 5th class and a few hundred feet of 4th and 3rd class scrambling to the top (with lots of company from guided groups). - IMG_9841.jpg
Mt Owen and Jackson Lake from the summit of the Grand Teton. - IMG_9852.jpg
Looking back at the SW side of the Grand Teton from the Lower Saddle. From here there’s a good trail down Garnet Canyon to the valley floor. There was some loose talk of spending a third night out and completing the Grand Traverse, but without any food left no-one was keen on the idea. Just as well we didn’t, as the weather turned nasty a short while later. - IMG_9858.jpg
Hiking down Garnet Canyon, with the Middle Teton in the background. - Middle_Teton_from_Grand_Decent_.jpg
The Middle Teton from the Upper Saddle on the Grand Teton. Photo courtesy of Gordon Laurens. - Owen_Summit_.jpg
Mt Moran, Jackson Lake and Teewinot fom the summit of Mt Owen. Photo courtesy of Gordon Laurens. - Second_Ledge_Traverse.jpg
Rounding the N Ridge of the Grand Teton on the Second Ledge. Photo courtesy of Gordon Laurens. - Storm_Coming_in.jpg
A parting view of the South, Middle and Grand Tetons, Mt Owen, and Teewinot under stormy skies. Photo courtesy of Gordon Laurens. - Teton_From_Grand_Stand.jpg
Stewart starting the climb of the N Ridge of the Grand Teton, about five or six pitches of 5.7. It felt hard for the grade up at 13,000’ with approach shoes and big packs. Photo courtesy of Gordon Laurens. - Teton_from_Tweenot.jpg
N Face of the Grand Teton from Teewinot. In the background are the peaks we didn’t get around to climbing. From L to R: Nez Perce (and behind it Buck Mountain), Cloudveil Dome, Spalding Peak, Gilkey Tower, the Ice Cream Cone, and the South and Middle Teton. Photo courtesy of Gordon Laurens. - Tweenot_Summit3.jpg
Summit of Teewinot, with the Grand Teton and Mt. Owen in the background. L to R: John, Martin, Kevin and Stewart. Photo courtesy of Gordon Laurens. - View_from_meadow.jpg
Panorama of the Teton Range from Togwotee Pass. The Cathedral Traverse doesn’t look like much of a traverse from this angle, since Teewinot and Mt. Owen are right in front of the Grand Teton (high point left of centre). From L to R: John Christie, Kevin Smith and Martin. Photo courtesy of Gordon Laurens. - IMG_9762.JPG
In July Fran completed her Ph.D. in Neuroscience at U of Colorado's Anschutz Medical Campus (thesis topic: "Modulation of Ionic Conductances at the Vestibular Type I Hair Cell Calyx Synapse"). Here are Fran and Martin after Fran's thesis defence. - GoogleEarth.jpg
Google Earth image of the Wapta and Waputik icefields. The traverse starts at Peyto Lake on the Icefields Parkway and ends at Wapta Lodge on the Trans-Canada Highway . There are four huts en route – Peyto (Whyte), Bow, Balfour and Scott Duncan. Also marked are a couple of peaks that we climbed. - P1000373.JPG
Getting ready to ski across a frozen Peyto Lake. - P1000386.JPG
Hiking up moraines near the foot of the Peyto Glacier. This was the only part of the traverse that was too steep for skins. - P1000394.JPG
Skiing up the Peyto Glacier in the warm afternoon sun. - P1000399.JPG
Dave and Cyril arriving at the Peyto Hut. Cyril had promised us that this would be the longest day on the traverse, but it didn’t quite work out that way. - P1000404.JPG
Inside the Peyto Hut. - P1000414.JPG
Making turns on the glacier above the Peyto Hut. - P1000427.JPG
After two nights at the Peyto Hut we headed over to the Bow Hut, stopping for lunch on the slopes of Mt. Rhondda. - P1000429.JPG
On the way to the Bow Hut most of us made a detour to skin up the gentle summit ridge of Mt. Rhondda. - P1000446.JPG
Our only logistical error was to assume that the huts would be stocked with toilet paper. This wasn’t a good assumption. Cyril came to our rescue by paying a handsome fee to our porters to part with their modest supply ($20 for two rolls!). Here’s Karen Woo carefully dividing this precious commodity between the ten of us. - P1000450.JPG
The view from the dormitory window at Bow Hut. - P1000463.JPG
Skinning up the slopes above the Bow Hut, on our way to Mt. Gordon. The summit in the background is St. Nicholas Peak. - P1000465.JPG
Leo, Stefan Kloppenborg, Ian Myles and Karen Woo at the summit of Mt. Gordon. Alas not much in the way of views that day. - P1000476.JPG
On the way back from Mt. Gordon a few of us made a detour to scramble up St. Nicholas Peak. It’s really more of a knife-edge ridge than a peak. - P1000480.JPG
Down-climbing from the summit of St. Nicholas Peak. - P1000486.JPG
Leo Markle, Karen Woo and Karen McGilvray inside the Bow Hut. The hut can be accessed directly from the highway and we had arranged with porters to carry some food – and wine! – up here in advance of our arrival (no helicopter landings allowed in Banff National Park). The wine was supposed to last a couple of nights, but it all disappeared in a few hours. - P1000491.JPG
The Bow Hut at evening. - P1000494.JPG
Preparing to leave the Bow Hut for the Balfour Hut (or so we thought). From L to R: Stefan, Cyril, Dave, Ian, Karen Woo, Alex Perel, Leo, me, Karen McGilvray and Boris Kaschenko. - P1000502.JPG
Roping up above the Bow Hut en route to the Balfour Hut. - P1000505.JPG
At the col between St. Nicholas Peak and Mt. Olive. At this point a stiff wind was blowing and a storm was fast approaching. Cyril announced that it would be best to carry on past the Balfour Hut and try get to the Scott Duncan Hut ahead of the storm, since there’s a high pass on the way to Scott Duncan (the Balfour Col) that’s exposed to avalanches if it’s been snowing heavily. - P1000506.JPG
Stefan and Boris approaching the col between St. Nicholas Peak and Mt. Olive, on the way to the Balfour Hut. - P1000514.JPG
Shortly after passing the Balfour Hut the weather closed in, and we traveled in a whiteout up and over the Balfour Col and down to the Scott Duncan Hut. Fortunately Cyril knew the route well, and with GPS assistance he kept us away from the avalanche slopes and crevasses that lie in wait for the unwary. Here we are arriving at Scott Duncan Hut. Cozy accommodation for a group of ten. - P1000522.JPG
Dinner at Scott Duncan Hut after a long day. From L to R: Boris, a pair of green booties belonging to Dave, Leo, Alex, Karen McGilvray, a white cap belonging to Cyril, Karen Woo, and Ian. - P1000524.JPG
We thought we might have to spend a second night at Scott Duncan Hut waiting out the storm, but by mid-morning visibility improved slightly and Cyril decided we’d be able to continue the traverse out to the highway. Here we are skiing past Mt. Niles. - P1000533.JPG
Ian and Cyril at tree-line on our way down from Scott Duncan Hut. This section was the steepest skiing on the trip. - P1000540.JPG
Skiing across Sherbrooke Lake, with Mt. Victoria and Mt. Huber in the background. Not far to go now. - P1000543.JPG
At the Trans-Canada Highway, and the end of our trip. At back (L to R): Alex, Cyril, Stefan, me, Dave, Boris. In front: Karen Woo, Ian, Leo, Karen McGilvray. - P1050728.JPG
Alas the skiing on the descent from Scott Duncan was a bit too steep for Dave. He was using Koflach mountaineering boots and took a nasty tumble, injuring his ankle when his binding didn’t release. Cyril taped him up and he was able to hobble the rest of the way back to the highway, but the next day his ankle had swollen to twice its normal size. It later turned out that he’d sustained a minor fracture. - DSC01367.JPG
Martin on Teewinot summit, with the N Face of the Grand Teton and Mt Owen in the background. One down, another eleven to go. - DSC01377.JPG
On the traverse from Teewinot to Mt Owen, somewhere between Peak 11,840’and the East Prong. - DSC01409.JPG
Scary 4th class down-climbing on the W side of Mt Owen, en route to Gunsight Notch. There are a couple of different ways to do this section, all involving steep, loose, exposed climbing and a few rappels. Last time we took a different line. I’m not sure that the way we did it this time was any better. - DSC01410.JPG
Traversing across exposed ledges on the W side of Mt Owen, en route to Gunsight Notch. - DSC01411.JPG
Willem rappelling down into Gunsight Notch. The climb up the other side onto the Grandstand was the toughest part of the traverse. It was gloomy, chilly and windy down in the notch, we’d already been on the move for 14 hours, and now we had to climb a couple of 5.7/5.8 pitches with heavy packs, cold hands and sore feet. - DSC01417.JPG
Our first night’s bivy site on the E side of the Grandstand, below the N Ridge of the Grand Teton. We weren’t sure what to expect here, as Kevin and I had bivvied further back on Mt Owen last time we tried the traverse. We were pleasantly surprised to discover some nice grassy ledges, sheltered from the wind, with a trickle of running water from snowmelt. - DSC01432.JPG
Kevin and Martin at the top of the Grandstand, with Mt Owen in the background. - DSC01442.JPG
Kevin at the top of the first Italian Cracks pitch on the N Ridge of the Grand Teton, with the Teton Glacier far below. - DSC01454.JPG
George on the summit of the Grand Teton. - DSC01457.JPG
Down-climbing into a notch on the N Ridge of the Middle Teton, with the Grand Teton behind us. The N Ridge is mostly a scramble with a short 5.6 section. - DSC01462.JPG
George, Charles and Willem on the Middle Teton summit. - DSC01494.JPG
Hiking down the Garnet Canyon trail. Only 3,000’ to descend between here and the beers waiting for us down at the Climbers Ranch. - IMG_5989.JPG
Higher up on the E slopes of Teewinot. It’s hiking until half-way up, then mostly 3rd class scrambling. - IMG_6076.JPG
Descending the SW couloir of the Middle Teton, with Icefloe Lake down below. - IMG_6133.jpg
Looking E from the S Teton. It’s a bit confusing but from nearest to furthest the peaks are the Ice Cream Cone, Gilkey , Spalding, Cloudveil Dome and Nez Perce. - IMG_6145.JPG
Charles, George, Martin and Willem on the Ice Cream Cone summit. - IMG_6174.JPG
Scrambling up to Spalding summit. We got a bit lost between Ice Cream Cone and Spalding, traversing too low across rubble-strewn ledges on the S side of Gilkey, then having to back-track from the Gilkey/Spalding col to summit Gilkey before continuing on to Spalding. - IMG_6175.JPG
Martin and Charles on Spalding summit. - P1000945.JPG
At the American Alpine Club Climbers’ Ranch the evening before the climb. From L to R: George, Charles (displaying his inimitable organizational style), Willem and Kevin. - P1000958.JPG
Slogging up the E slopes of Teewinot. Only 5,600’ from the valley floor to the summit. - P1000963.JPG
The Grand Teton and the peaks of the southern part of the traverse, as seen from Teewinot. - P1000965.JPG
Descending from the East Prong to the Koven Col, en route to Mt. Owen. - P1000966.JPG
Looking back at the East Prong and the Koven Col. A rappel allowed us to avoid down-climbing the steep snow. - P1000974.JPG
Scrambling up the E side of Mt Owen from the Koven Col . - P1000976.JPG
Charles just below the summit of Mt Owen, with the N Face of the Grand Teton and the Enclosure in the background. - P1000981.JPG
Kevin on the summit of Mt Owen, with Teewinot in the background and Jenny Lake far below. - P1000987.JPG
Looking back at the S shoulder of Mt Owen from our bivy site on the Grandstand - P1000988.JPG
Sunrise from our bivy site on the Grandstand. We didn’t have as far to go as the previous day and we had the luxury of lying in our sleeping bags until the sun warmed us up. - P1000994.JPG
From our bivy site it was an easy scramble to the top of the Grandstand and the base of the N Ridge of the Grand Teton. - P1000999.JPG
Willem and George starting up the Italian Cracks (5.7) on the N Ridge of the Grand Teton. (No idea why they’re called the Italian Cracks, they were climbed by a pair of Americans). This was much more pleasant than the previous day’s climb out of Gunsight Notch; it was sunny and warm, and we’d all had a decent night’s rest. - P1010005.jpg
Traversing across the Second Ledge to the W side of the Grand Teton. From here we took the Owen-Spalding route to the summit (a couple of 5.4 moves, then 3rd class scrambling). - P1010008.JPG
Kevin, Willem and Charles on the summit of the Grand Teton, looking down at the rest of the traverse. - P1010014.JPG
Rapelling down from the Grand Teton to the Upper Saddle. This is the standard descent for the Owen-Spalding route and the rappels can be quite crowded, but luckily we didn’t have to wait long. - P1010015.JPG
Looking across from the Upper Saddle to the N Ridge of the Middle Teton, our next objective. - P1010018.JPG
Taking a break for tea at the Lower Saddle before starting up the Middle Teton. We weren’t in too much of a hurry that day. - P1010020.JPG
George and Willem on the Middle Teton summit. - P1010021.JPG
Next day’s objectives as seen from the descent of the Middle Teton. From R to L: South Teton, Ice Cream Cone, Gilkey Tower and Spalding Peak. Cloudveil Dome is just out of sight on the L. We bivied on the broad saddle between the Middle and S Tetons. - P1010024.JPG
Martin at our bivy site below the Middle Teton. Another luxury bivy with running water not too far away. - P1010028.JPG
Fore! Charles teeing off from the summit of the S Teton. - P1010032.JPG
Kevin on the S Teton summit, with the Middle and Grand Tetons behind him. - P1010036.JPG
Charles climbing a 5.7 pitch up the W side of the Ice Cream Cone. After he did the hardest section we noticed an easier traverse ledge coming in from the right. The rock at the top of this pitch was pretty `rank`. - P1010044.JPG
George on the descent of Spalding’s E ridge. Supposedly it’s a 3rd class descent, but lower down we found ourselves on distinctly 4th class terrain with scary exposure. From the base of Spalding it was a 3rd class scramble across to Cloudveil Done, then more 4th class down-climbing and a rappel down to the connecting ridge between Cloudveil and Nez Perce. - P1010084.JPG
All done! Martin, Kevin, Charles and Willem on Nez Perce summit. We had to hunt around a bit before finding the route up here. It turned out to be a fairly well-marked track, mostly 3rd class with one short 4th class section. - P1010091.JPG
Showered and clean (some of us, anyway) and happy to be back at the Climbers Ranch. From L to R: Martin, Charles, Kevin, Willem and George. - P1010093.JPG
The view from the Climbers Ranch the next morning. - P1010095.JPG
George and Kevin posing for a final photo before we headed back to Colorado. From L to R: Nez Perce, Middle Teton, Grand Teton, Owen and Teewinot. - P1010097.jpg
The Teton Range from Jackson Hole (elevation 6,700’). In order of the traverse the peaks are (1) Teewinot 12,325’ (2) Unnamed 11,840’ (3) East Prong 12,000’ (4) Mount Owen 12,928’ (5) Grand Teton 13,770’ (6) Middle Teton 12,804’ (7) South Teton 12,514’ (8) Ice Cream Cone 12,400’ (9) Gilkey Tower 12,320’ (10) Spalding Peak 12,240’ (11) Cloudveil Dome 12,026’ (12) Nez Perce 11,901’. - P1010102.JPG
Martin and all the peaks of the Traverse.