The decision to turn back from climbing Mount Osceola was made easier by an experience I had years earlier on Grand Teton. There, sadly, a climber lost his life attempting the dangerous final section of The Grand without any assistance. It had been raining for over eight hours non-stop, and the climb was slick and perilous, to say the least. When we came upon a lonely backpack wedged under a large boulder before the last section, we could feel something was off. It was at this juncture that we had to make our own decision about whether to continue. Our party was somewhat split, but the presence of the backpack tipped the scales.
Views from the Upper Saddle on Grand Teton
The Final Ascent of Grand Teton
We started out in the wee hours of the morning, before first light. When the predawn light finally came, we were shocked to see the steps we were making were dangerously close to cliff’s edge. The picture above was taken in an area where we felt a little safer!
The rain never let up, constantly shifting between sleet, a snowy mix, and back to regular rain.
Summiting Grand Teton’s Enclosure
At the site of the lonely backpack, it was clear we were the last remaining climbing party on Grand Teton—the weather had turned everyone else back. Understandably so. After deciding not to ascend the main peak, we chose instead to summit “The Enclosure,” a subpeak of Grand Teton believed to be the site of an ancient Native American structure—a group of rocks arranged in a circle at the summit.
Grand Teton Descent
After we returned to camp at the Upper Saddle, we learned that a hiker was indeed, missing. Our guide left to join the search party, and we descended the rest of the way on our own. When we finally made it back down to base, they confirmed that our climbing party was the highest recorded group in the state of Wyoming that day. We didn’t know it yet, but the hiker who lost his life had actually gone some 50-100 feet above were we stopped, before falling into Valhalla Canyon.
Butt-sliding our way down the snow on Grand Teton
In the last two hours of the descent, the earth transitioned from winter back to summer, and we were relieved that the drenching would soon end. We were also still blissfully unaware of the terrible fate of the missing hiker. It wouldn’t be until two days later, when reading the newspaper, that we would finally learn what happened.
Sunset in the Tetons
Grand Teton Enclosure Ascent Details
Grand Teton Enclosure Height: 13,280 Feet
Route (Out and Back): Lupine Meadows to Lower Saddle to Upper Saddle
Elevation Gain: 7,038 Feet
Total Distance: 14+ Miles over two days (camped at the Lower Saddle the night before final ascent)
Trailhead Location: We went with Exum Guides, and the meet-up location may vary, but typically start from the Lupine Meadows Trailhead
More from 4000s by 40 & Why You Should Use a Guide
📖 Want to learn more? You’ll find the full story in 4000s by 40.
📸 Looking for more photos? Check out the 4000s by 40 Visual Companion for a full archive of trail views and summit shots from the book.
⚠ If you’re planning to climb Grand Teton, go with a guide. This mountain is no joke, and conditions can turn quickly. A guide not only improves your chances of reaching the summit safely but also ensures you make smart decisions along the way.