Grand Teton

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Grand Teton is the highest mountain within Grand Teton National Park, and the second highest in the U.S. state of Wyoming.

The origin of the name is controversial. The most common explanation is that "Grand Teton" means "large teat" in French, named by either French-Canadian or Iroquois members of an expedition led by Donald McKenzie of the Northwest Company.[link] However, other historians disagree, and claim that the mountain was named after the Teton Sioux tribe of Native Americans. [link]

The mountain itself has two peaks, the Grand itself (13,770 ft, 4,197 m) and The Enclosure, a side peak on the mountain that contains prehistoric rock formations arranged in an enclosed circle. The Enclosure is the second highest peak in the Teton range and its formations prove that humans were able to climb at least to this peak if not to the top before Europeans came to North America.

Climbing Routes

Grand Teton can be climbed and scrambled without climbing gear via the Owen-Spalding route (5.5). However, it is highly exposed and climbing gear is recommended. The Owen-Spalding route is named after the climbers who made the first claimed ascent: William Owen, Franklin Spalding, Frank Peterson and John Shive. There is some debate as to which person made the first ascent; however most agree this group was the first. Their route begins at the Upper Saddle which is reached by walking from Lupine Meadows Trailhead, up Garnet Canyon, to the Lower Saddle.

Another famous route up the mountain is the Exum Ridge route (5.6), a 13-pitch exposed route first climbed by Glen Exum, founder of Exum climbing guides. This route, too, can be found on the southern face of the mountain. The Owen-Spalding and Exum Ridge routes can be climbed from the base of the mountain at Lupine Meadows in one long day but the average person takes two days (a permit is required for an overnight stay in the backountry). Routes up the northern face are more difficult but famous in the climbing world. The Grand Teton can also be skied in the winter. The first descent on skis was made by Bill Briggs in the spring of 1971; a route on the Owen-Spalding is now named in his honor.

External links

[Grand Teton on Summitpost]
[NPS website for Grand Teton National Park]
http://www.grand.teton.national-park.com/info.htm

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