GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK — The Jenny Lake Rangers in Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) went on a recon mission up Garnet Canyon last week.
Two teams of climbing rangers hit the trail on Friday: one team traveling on skis, and one team with climbing gear. A Saturday Instagram post chronicled the patrol of some favorite park trails by the park’s elite team of search and rescue professionals.
The post warns of continued winter circumstances up high in the mountains: “While conditions vary widely with slope aspect and time of day, what you can be certain of is that above 9,000’ there are still multiple feet of snow, making many ‘summer’ trails impassible without an ice axe, crampons and experience traveling on steep snow!”
The steep snow slopes that are still present can be frozen solid at certain times of day. Due to these conditions, the rangers said, a short fall could quickly turn into a 1,000-foot fall over cliffs and rocks.
According to the post, lower to mid elevations have some south facing rock climbing routes that are dry, including Irenes Arete, Guides Wall and Open Book. Steep snow travel is required at or above 9,000 feet and on prominent hiking trails like those to Delta Lake, Surprise and Amphitheater lakes, and Garnet Canyon Meadows.
A separate social media post from Sunday describes the conditions specific to the Delta Lake trail. Multiple feet of snow remain and there are no signs or markers to direct hikers. The rangers do not recommend traveling in the steep snow without traction devices and an ice axe for self arrest. Delta Lake is frozen, and people should avoid foot travel on the ice. Rangers performed a rescue in that area just last week, according to the post.
“Many injured parties underestimate the difficulty of travel on snow without proper equipment and experience,” reads the post.
