When January Looks Like July in the Tetons

Words & Photos: Michelle Smith

Today my partner Chris Onufer and I journeyed upward to see how things were looking in the South Fork of Garnet Canyon in Grand Teton National Park. We were hoping to make a summit attempt at either Middle or South Teton, and then pick our way down with our skis/snowboard. We knew the weather forecast was not optimal, but with the storm scheduled to come in around noon we figured with an early start we would be able to get up and out of there just in time.

Just below the saddle between the Middle and South Teton I felt I was in a freakishly cold day in July. The route up to the saddle was nothing but scree, and the popular lines in that area held scant ribbons of snow, some of which barely going through. In fact, we spotted more of last year’s snow than this year’s snow in some areas. When we got up to the saddle I was reminded that it was in fact not mid July when winter storm clouds came rolling in quick, and 50mph wind gusts nearly knocked me off my feet. We continued to scope things out a little more before turning around. The Southwest Couloir of Middle Teton had a lot more rock in it than snow, and South Teton could nearly have been done as a trail run. We considered hiking up South Teton without our gear, but with the weather coming in it didn’t seem all that desirable…. or fun.

So we hiked back down the scree field and put our skis on below Middle near the run-out of the Ellingwood Couloir. It was firm skiing down to the meadows, and then powder all the way out of Garnet Canyon. By the time we got back to the car the mountains were completely socked in, so let’s hope we get some snow out of this little storm!

Tags: chris onufer, featured, Grand Teton National Park, july in january, Michelle Smith, Middle Teton, south fork of garnet canyon, South Teton, Ungrounded

Category: Mission