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October 16, 2007
Static Peak, Just Barely
It’s hardly possible to imagine that, after Yellowstone’s raging snowstorm last week, it would be possible to do any exploring at any elevation in any proximal area without winter gear. However, on Sunday, my sweetie and I, dressed in little more than skimpy running clothes and shoes, turned a blind eye to the accumulated snow and climbed to the summit of Static Peak (11,303 feet) in the Teton Mountains. We made it, but just barely (I may or may not be exaggerating a bit with this statement, but I’ll let you be the judge.).
The trail to Static Peak begins at the Death Canyon Trailhead (6800 feet elevation), inside of Grand Teton National Park. It was a gorgeous day, perhaps 60 degrees Fahrenheit and flawlessly sunny. The weather was so beautiful that, at the trailhead, a random toddler was running around without pants (A fatherly figure was also present, and, happily, he was fully clothed.). It’s still unclear exactly why the little fella’ was running about all nekkid-like, but it was rather funny.
I was, again, struck with the issue of how to handle all of my clothing needs, since it was momentarily quite warm, yet we were going to be climbing above 11,000 feet elevation. I settled on wearing capri-length tights and a long sleeve technical shirt. I brought a hat, gloves, a fleece, and a small, packable down jacket with me, and I was grateful for each piece of clothing on the mountain!
The trail begins with a 1 or so mile, 400 foot ascent over the geologically way-old moraine at the mouth of Death Canyon. This moraine blocks drainage from Death Canyon and forms Phelps Lake. The overlook at the top of the moraine (7200 feet elevation) was obscenely spectacular, and I’m sharing with you in the below photo. 
I would have been happy to stay at the overlook, eating trail mix under a warm sun, but my sweetie insisted that we continue up the canyon. So, onward it was! Next, we descended the 400 foot tall moraine to Phelps Lake and then we started climbing into Death Canyon. The mouth of Death Canyon can be seen in this photo.
The name Death Canyon has a rather ominous ring to it, but the canyon was nothing but alive, vibrant, and really tall. By this time in the season, the wildflowers were long gone, but the aspens were perfectly yellow. After climbing about 1000 feet, we arrived at the Death Canyon Patrol Cabin (about 7800 feet elevation). Today, the cabin is used by Grand Teton National Park’s rangers for, you know, patrol. It was built ages ago by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) for a place to stay while they built trail in the Teton Mountains. I was quite enjoying the CCC’s trails so far!
Just after the patrol cabin, two paths diverged in a spooky coniferous forest. The left fork continued up the gradually climbing Death Canyon and the right fork headed straight for the near-vertical canyon wall (and Static Peak in some distant location ahead). Naturally, we took the more challenging right fork and began an endless switchbacking ascent. Here’s a photo looking back into Death Canyon as we climbed out of it.
We climbed and climbed and climbed (It wasn’t arduous; it was just all uphill.) and got into the first patches of snow at about 9200 feet. At about 9500 feet, we hit an overlook wherein we could gawk into the depths of Jackson Hole to the east. The view included Phelps Lake, which was now quite far below us. It seemed like we were just right there, and I guess that’s because we were. Here’s the view from this overlook.
From here on up, it was just plain snowy. In my Montrail Hardrocks, my feet remained painfully wet and cold for the next few hours. Shortly after the overlook, we came to what appeared to be a pass separating Death Canyon from the next canyon to the north, which I think is called Stewart’s Draw. The view was amazing and the snow somewhat deeper than my ankles. Again, I would have personally been happy to call it a day here. To this point, we had been following 2 sets of footprints through the snow. At the pass, the footprints turned around and went no further. In my reasoning, these 2 hikers decided enough was enough with the snow and headed back down. For some strange reason, though, we continued on.
Just over 1 mile and about 1300 vertical feet up Static Peak’s southeast ridge later, we arrived at Static Peak. I shouldn’t elaborate on the details of this portion of the trail, but I will. The trail wound around the north side of the ridgeline where the snow was deeper and windblown into piles and drifts. Here’s a photo of what I’m calling the scary snow crossing.
My sweetie swears there was a flat trail beneath the snow (which was lying at the angle of repose) and that this was a safe endeavor. I followed him back and forth across this and a few other steep fields of snow, shedding tears the whole way.
However, the view from 11,303 feet was worth the harrowing jaunt through steep snow. From up there, it seemed like you could see the whole world. I think I could almost see my house, some 100 miles away. Here’s a photo looking to the north from the summit of Static Peak.
The foreground mountain on the left is Buck Mountain, which is almost 1000 feet higher than Static Peak. The background mountain on the right is the infamous Grand Teton. Here is another photo looking southeast from the summit, and you can see the trail tracing its way through the snow along the ridgeline.
We could only linger at the summit for a few minutes since we were becoming pressed for daylight, so we began retracing our footsteps back to the trailhead. At first, we stepped carefully, daintily, and slowly through the snow and steeps. Then, when the snow cleared from the trail, we began to run downhill at a steadier pace. Our pace further increased as the daylight continued to wane. We arrived back to Phelps Lake at the bottom of Death Canyon just as it was getting dark. From there, we donned headlamps, ran carefully through the darkness, and hollered loudly for bears.
We arrived back to the trailhead and I felt great. In about 7 hours, we covered what’s advertised as 17 miles and 5000 total feet of elevation gain and subsequent loss (As a side note, I think this route must really be about 20 miles.). I had none of the fatigue/bonking issues from our long run 2 weeks ago, and that’s great news! It was a great run/hike, despite the fact that we just barely made it through some early season snow to Static Peak’s summit.
You probably won’t hear from me again for about a week. I’m amidst a ridiculously busy week, which includes the Montana State Cross Country Championship this weekend. My team could use a little good luck and good thoughts this weekend, if you have any to spare! Thanks in advance!
Posted by Meghan at October 16, 2007 12:02 PM
Comments
Absolutely incredible photos! I can't wait to be walking normal again so I can head out. It's time to switch from running to mountaineering.
Posted by: JeffO at October 16, 2007 2:35 PM
Those photos are amazing. But I'll probably have nightmares involving the "scary snow crossing" tonight. Be careful!
Best of luck to your team at the state meet (which is so early in the season compared to ours!) And good luck making it through your busy week as well.
Posted by: Alison at October 16, 2007 6:39 PM
Absolutely stunning photos. Wow. Good luck this weekend!
Posted by: backofpack at October 16, 2007 9:19 PM
Awesome, awesome story/pics of your trail run/hike. I just can't even believe where you live - it's like a postcard every time! :) Glad you survived!!
Best of luck to you and your team at states! Make it 2 championships in a row! :)
Posted by: Beth at October 17, 2007 7:18 PM
Wow, talk about epic runs. Incredible photos, what an adventure!
Good luck to your XC team! REPEAT!
Eric
Posted by: Eric at October 17, 2007 8:58 PM
Ach, Meghan, where to start... first with the site you linked to's description, so sad, of the "small, dying glacier". And then, big sigh of envy but whoops, thank God I was in Glacier N.P. on Sunday so I don't have to turn all green with envy... and then HUGE pangs of sympathy at doing something scary. That photo of the snowy trail? Hell yes that looks scary! I'd be crying, too, reward or no reward. I'm glad you didn't panic and become useless and a danger to yourself (what my horribly wired instincts do to me). I loved "but there's really a flat trail beneath the snow!" Oh, the failure of some to understand it's not a matter of rationality or logic. You were a trooper and that scenery was just spectacular. Good luck with your busy week, dearie, and way to get out there and push yourself in so many ways.
Posted by: Kendra Borgessia at October 18, 2007 8:20 PM
oh, WOW. Breathtakingly spectacular photos! What incredible views! Just amazing. Thanks for posting the pics and taking us along vicariously! That snow crossing is just nuts. What? There is a trail underneath? Uhh..... ooookay... ? I would never have believed it! :)
Hope you guys have a GREAT cross-country meet this weekend! Good luck to all the runners!
Have Fun!
Posted by: anne at October 19, 2007 10:05 PM