Grand Teton Climbs

The 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. 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.

Grand Teton Equipment List

FOOTWEAR

• Objective Dependent – Scarpa footwear is available at Jackson Hole Mountain Guides for rent. JHMG also carries a selection of rock shoes for rent.
• Sticky Rubber Approach Shoes: required for all mid-summer climbs. (mid-July through Sept) – Guide Pick: Scarpa Crux (Available for rent)

OR

• Mountain Boots: Trips before  July 15,  require a crampon-compatible mountain boot – Guide Pick: Scarpa Zodiac Tech  (Available for rent)
• Rock Shoes for technical rock routes (Available for rent)
• Socks: 2-4 pairs: sized for your boots and blister prevention

UPPER LAYERS

• Synthetic/Wool Long Underwear Top –  Guide Pick: Men’s Mountain Stretch™ Long Sleeve  OR  Women’s Mountain Stretch™ Long Sleeve Crew

OR

• Synthetic/ Wool Sun Hoody – Guide Pick: Men’s Crater Lake™ Hoody OR Women’s Crater Lake™ Long Sleeve Hoody
• Synthetic T-shirt – Guide Pick: Men’s Wicked Tech™ Recycled Short Sleeve T-Shirt
• Lightweight Insulating Jacket: lightweight fleece or synthetic – Guide Pick: Men’s Polartec™ Full Zip Hoody OR Women’s Stratus Range™ Full Zip Hoody
• Insulating Jacket: Down or Synthetic – Guide Pick: Men’s Stretchdown™ Hoody OR Women’s Stretchdown™ Hoody
• Rain Jacket: waterproof/breathable with hood – Men’s Stretch Ozonic™ Jacket OR Women’s Stretch Ozonic™ Jacket

BOTTOM LAYERS

• Synthetic/Wool Long Underwear Bottom – Guide Pick: Men’s Mountain Stretch Tight OR Women’s Chockstone Tight
• Hiking Shorts for approach – Guide Pick: Men’s Basin Pull-on Short OR Women’s Dynama / 2 Bermuda Short
• Synthetic Climbing Pant – Guide Pick: Men’s Chockstone™ Pant OR Women’s Chockstone™ Pant
• Rain Pant – Guide Pick: Men’s Stretch Ozonic™ Pant OR Women’s Stretch Ozonic™ Pant

ACCESSORIES

• Hat: lightweight to medium weight warm hat – sleek enough to be worn under a helmet Guide Pick: Power Stretch® Beanie Unisex
• Gloves:  One Lightweight Guide Pick: Hardwear Belay Glove  AND one mid-weight glove Guide Pick: Alpine Route Setter.

ON THE TRAIL

• Alpine Climbing Pack. Internal frame only. 45 to 5O L for 3 or 4 day trip. Large enough to fit all your personal gear plus ten pounds of food and water.  (Available for rent)  OR Guide Pick: PCT 55 Pack
• Sleeping Bag Liner (available for purchase)
• Water Bottles (2-3 L/Qt.) or H2O hydration system
• Water Treatment – Steripen or other
• Closed-toed camp shoes (optional)
• Stuff Sacks: zip lock bags
• Dark Sunglasses
• Extra Contact Lenses
• Sun Hat or Visor
• Sunscreen (35+SPF)
• Lip Balm
• Headlamp and Fresh Batteries
• First Aid – minimal: blister care, analgesic, etc.
• Lunch, snacks & drink mix.
• Misc Items – Minimal: light knife, camera,
  bandana, camp suds, washcloth, etc.

RECOMMENDED & OPTIONAL ITEMS

• Trekking Poles
• Camera and batteries, spare memory card
• Insoles: custom or aftermarket

COLD WEATHER CONSIDERATIONS

• Early and late-season temperatures require warmer clothing. You may consider additional clothing if you get cold easily or if it is unusually cold or windy.
• Buff
• Extra down vest or jacket (June and September)
• Expedition weight long underwear (June and September)
• Extra gloves (June and September)

**Jackson Hole Mountain Guides supplies all the rock climbing gear, harnesses, helmets, locking carabiners & belay/rappel devices, crampons, and ice axes. However, you are welcome to bring your own equipment. Please coordinate with our office for gear checks. Backpacks, rock shoes, and boots can all be rented in our Jackson office for $10 per day.

For your safety and comfort, bring synthetic and or natural fiber clothing for insulation. Cotton is NOT acceptable and down must be kept dry. Clothing should be able to layer without encumbering movement.

We are not going to sugarcoat it – climbing the Grand Teton is hard. You need to arrive in Jackson in the best shape of your life.  If you work hard, train hard, and prepare for this climb, you are going to have a blast.  If you try to climb this mountain off the couch, you are going to be miserable, and impact the climb of your rope team.  The decision is simple.  Train hard and have a great time – or don’t, and hate it.

We are Mountain Guides,  not fitness experts.  However, we have partnered with Off The Mountain Fitness who will help you get ready for your climb.

To learn more about training with Off The Mountain or to book an assessment, email Ben at ben@otmstrength.com or give him a call at 937-726-2088.

Grand Teton National Park is located roughly 30 minutes from our Jackson, WY headquarters. Our Jackson office is located in the south part of Jackson at 1325 S. Highway 89, Suite 104 and shares a parking area with Smith’s. Our phone number is (800) 239-7642 or (307) 733-4979. Most trips and classes will meet at this office for gear checks, preparation, and classes. The Jackson Hole airport is the closest, but Idaho Falls (a 2 – 2.5 hour drive) is a cheaper option and Salt Lake City (4 – 5 hour drive) are also air travel options. It is helpful to arrive a couple of days prior to your trip/class 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 a significant climb – you will be tired and there are no guaranteed times when we will return to the trailhead. Plan on having accommodations for the night prior to and the night you return from a significant 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. Lodging recommendations and many more details can be found in the downloadable document below.

WHAT IS THE ADVANTAGE TO THE FOUR DAY GRAND TETON PROGRAM?

There are several. The training is conducted at 11,000’ on the type and aspect of rock that you will experience on the upper mountain. There are two opportunities to summit. The pace is far more relaxed than a rushed overnight climb from the valley wherein you must descend all the way o the parking lot after summiting. Ohh yeah! and instead of staying in a hotel room for your training days, you get to spend 3 night in one of the most beautiful places on earth, Corbet High Camp.

HOW FIT DO I NEED TO BE TO CLIMB THE GRAND TETON?

It is an undeniable fact that those who are in good shape are more likely to enjoy the view from the summit! Those who engage in regular exercise before coming to climb the Grand Teton (or any of the other climbs we offer) typically do fine on the ascent. Give yourself adequate time—at least a couple of months--to prepare, particularly if this form and intensity of exercise is new. Training for a Teton climb needs to be specific, and should include cardiovascular activities and weight training. For three days a week, focus on an hour or more of aerobic exercise such as running, cycling, swimming, etc. Gym equipment such as stairmasters, rowing machines, etc. can supplement cardiovascular training. On weekends a full day hike or other longer endeavor will help prepare you for the endurance required in the Tetons. Carrying a 20-30 pound pack uphill on trails or stadium steps will simulate the real climb better than anything. Lifting moderate weights to increase core body, leg, and arm strength is also a good idea. Focus on quads and hamstrings—legs need strength and endurance. Being generally fit and having some solid stamina for long days is the overall goal. *If you are not already in decent shape, or are not as young as you used to be(!), it would be prudent to consult with a doctor or certified physical trainer before undertaking a physical fitness training program.

WHY SHOULD I GO WITH JHMG?

We always say that there are times to be budget conscious and times when you want the best.  Things like surgery, sky diving lessons and mountain/rock climbing are times when you really don't want to be looking for a bargain.  But if you are looking for an adventure of a lifetime, with a well trained, certified and experienced guide service, you found one in JHMG.  But these are just words.  What sets us apart and what should you be looking for in a guide service? Good question, I am glad you asked.  First off.  JHMG is the second oldest guiding service in the US.  We have 48 Years of experience, which means that we have had time to refine our client processes, risk management procedures and have emerged a well-oiled machine, that knows how to provide a high level of service and do it safely. Second, JHMG is a National Park Service concessioner.  Our National Park Service is unscrupulous at vetting it's concessioners.  Not only do they pay close attention to our operations, but require visibility into our finances, insurance, hiring practices, environmental management practices, risk management practices and our customer satisfaction. In short.  We are required to run a very tight ship and we go under review EVERY YEAR!!!!  We welcome this scrutiny as an opportunity to make us better, and we apply this same high level of operation to every location we operate in. So you don't just have to take our word for it, the National Park Service stands behind our integrity as a company. In the end however, we are a company of passionate people who live and breath adventure.  We understand that to be the best, we need to seek out the best people and offer them a home and a professional opportunity.  All JHMG guides are employees,  not subcontractors.  They have retirement accounts, workers comp and are paid as professionals.  JHMG is also accredited by the American Mountain Guides Association.  Which means that our guides are not only vetted by an AMGA certified guide, but many undergo rigorous certification by a this third party organization in the discipline that they guide. But risk is a part of what we do.  So it is important that in the event of an incident, that our guides are capable of delivering a high level of care.  This is why all certified guides at JHMG are required to have at least Wilderness First Responder Medical training and many of our guides have gone on to get higher levels of medical training like Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC). I hope that the picture that is being painted is one of a professional, experienced and well trained guiding company.  But what about customer service?  We know that your time is precious, and we appreciate that you have a choice in how you spend that time.  That is why we take customer service very seriously.  From the moment you contact us, you will be treated with respect and professionalism.  Not just by our guides, but by the number of people who work behind the scenes to make sure that your adventure goes off without a hitch.  We can't control the weather, but we endeavor to make your experience everything you want it to be. So, if you are looking for a inexpensive guiding service for a one off adventure, we are probably not a great fit.  But if you want a professional, experienced team of people who will work hard to give you the experience of a lifetime, then look no further than Jackson Hole Mountain Guides.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BOOKING A PRIVATE TRIP AS OPPOSED TO GROUP TRIP?

Depending on conditions,  Jackson Hole Mountain Guides  will usually guide 3 clients with one guide.  If you have 3 friends that want to climb the Grand Teton,  Then you are in luck, you will have your own guide.  If you are a solo climber or a group of  two and you join a group trip, we will pair you with another climber or a group.  The good part about this, that you get to make new friends!  The possible downside is that if one of your new friends has to turn around, your summit attempt will be impacted.  That is where having a private guide can come in handy.  With a private guide, it is you and your guide, you are your own independent part party.  We do see increased success on privately guided tips.

DO YOU HAVE A MINIMUM AGE TO CLIMB THE GRAND TETON?

We get this question a lot.  The answer is no.  But our goal at JHMG is to give every climber a positive mountain experience.  In order to do so, we need to make sure we are setting our young one's up to succeed.  The Grand Teton is a big mountain and we usually see folks over the age of 15 have the physical and mental fortitude to succeed in reaching the summit.  We would also recommend the 4-Day climb.  Anyone under the age of 18 needs to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

WHAT ARE THE SLEEPING ACCOMMODATIONS AT CORBETT HIGH CAMP?

We have a Weatherport quanset hut for cooking and gathering, but we our guests sleep in new Mountain Hardware dome tents spread around the moraine for some privacy and greatly enhanced sleeping arrangements.

WHAT ROUTE ON THE GRAND TETON AM I LIKELY TO BE CLIMBING?

JHMG utilizes primarily the upper Exum ridge and the Pownal/Gilkey routes for summiting the peak. The Exum is a little longer and comes in to the morning sun early. The Pownall/Gilkey is a better bet for a questionable forecast as we can see the weather to the west and it is faster to retreat in the event of a storm.