GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK, WYOMING, 13,776 FT.

Grand Teton is located in Grand Teton National Park just north of Jackson Hole, WY and just south of Yellowstone National Park.  The "Grand" as it is called is 13,776 feet high, but what makes it a new and unique challenge is that access to the peak can only be granted through a technical rock climb near the top (Grade II, Class 5.4 on the Owens-Spalding Ridge route).  

Check out the Road To Grand Teton video log that documents the preparation, obstacles, travel, training, and attempts on Grand Teton at the bottom of the page. 

FIRST ATTEMPT:  AUGUST 23-24.  Amy, Isaac and I made our first attempt of Grand Teton with Exum Guide's Colby Stetson.  We went to the Lower Saddle where Exum has a hut on August 23.  Isaac got AMS when we arrived and made the decision to not continue.  His success getting to the hut at 11,500' is impressive for a 15-year old.  Amy and I set out at 4:30am for the summit.  Due to our speed, we made the decision to forgo the summit of the Grand and went to a satellite peak known as the Enclosure where a prehistoric structure exists. 

SECOND ATTEMPT:  SEPTEMBER 3.  After arriving home in Washington, DC, Amy and I discussed me heading back for another attempt before the end of the climbing season.  I went back out on September 2.  The weather forecast looked ominous and so when meeting up with Exum Guide Ben Hoiness on September 3, he suggested to go for the summit in a day.  We raced for the summit and topped out in under 6-hours.  We then decided to head back to the car.  Round trip in under 11 hours 30min.

Road to Grand Teton - Video Log

Preparing for any big endeavor in your life requires perseverance, discipline, and inspiration.  We had a number of obstacles in our preparation for this climb and I decided to share the experience of the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of the preparation and the climbing.   These video updates document the preparation, success, failure, and attempt at redemption.