Teton Crest Gear Checklist
The Teton Crest Trail is a high alpine traverse where the packing question changes with the month. The park says snow lingers on the high divides and passes into summer, and hikers who went early carried microspikes and ice axes and used them. Later in August and September the same hikers wrote about thunderstorms, a cold wet night, a canister that was too small, and numb hands. What people carry follows from that: snow traction early, rain gear and waterproof gloves always, a big enough bear canister, and a way to treat water.
What shapes your gear on Teton Crest Trail
- Snow decides the date
- The park says winter conditions last well into July, and that snow keeps Static Peak Divide, Hurricane Pass and Paintbrush Divide hazardous into summer. It calls an ice axe, crampons and the ability to self-arrest musts for the Teton Crest Trail and says backpacking is usually more enjoyable in August and September.
- Mid-July reality check
- A party that crossed Paintbrush Divide in mid-July 2015 was told by a ranger before the trip to carry an ice axe, then told at pickup that the snow was minor. They crossed a small snowfield without the axe. A 2018 account from earlier in the season found snow and ice blanketing the north side of the divide.
From Backcountry Post: Teton Crest Trail July 13th-17th 2015 and The Outbound
- Loose rock on the back of Paintbrush Divide
- The north side of the divide at 10,700 feet was the sketchiest part of a July 2021 trip: some loose rock and a small snowfield that would be a bad place to fall. An August 2016 party found the first quarter to half mile of the descent steep, unnerving and scree-covered, though snow-free.
From Backcountry Post: 4 Days Backpacking Grand Teton Wilderness/Teton Crest Trail, July 2021 and Wasatch Mountain Club
- Water
- The park says streams flow through every canyon, and warns that late summer can leave Open Canyon, the Mt. Hunt Divide, Fox Creek Pass and the Death Canyon Shelf dry. A mid-July 2015 hiker found water on every stretch and carried only 1 liter.
From National Park Service, Grand Teton National Park: Know Before You Go, Grand Teton National Park backcountry and Backcountry Post: Teton Crest Trail July 13th-17th 2015
- Getting the permit and canister
- The park hands out canisters free with a permit, and permits are picked up in person. In July and August the walk-up line starts forming around 5:00 am, according to the park. A 2018 pair who arrived at 6 am were first in line, and an August 2016 party got a five-day permit after queuing at 6:45 am.
From National Park Service, Grand Teton National Park: Know Before You Go, Grand Teton National Park backcountry, National Park Service, Grand Teton National Park: Backcountry Camping FAQs, The Outbound and Wasatch Mountain Club
- Length and climb
- Parties report 35 to 40 miles over 4 to 5 days. The August 2016 party counted just under 40 miles with about 8,000 feet gained and 7,200 lost. Starting with the Jackson Hole tram skips a couple of miles and over 2,000 feet of climbing.
From Wasatch Mountain Club and Backcountry Post: Teton Crest Trail July 13th-17th 2015
What the agency requires on Teton Crest Trail
An approved bear canister
Backpackers need approved bear-resistant storage unless a food storage box is provided at camp. Food, trash, toiletries and any odorous item belong inside it, day and night. The park lends one free with a permit, and hanging food is prohibited.
Snow traction and self-arrest skills in early season
The park names an ice axe, crampons and the skill to self-arrest as musts on routes such as the Teton Crest Trail when snow lies on the divides. This is a safety requirement in the park's words, not a permit condition.
Rain gear and extra clothing
The park warns that a sudden storm plus cold high-country air can cause hypothermia. Its advice is rain gear, spare clothing, layers and no cotton.
What hikers carry on Teton Crest Trail
Microspikes and an ice axe, in early season
A 2018 pair carried both and put the spikes on for the switchbacks up to Paintbrush Divide, then needed the axe on the icy north face. The writer fell once, drove the axe handle into the snow and said they should have refreshed their skills first.
From The Outbound
A bear canister big enough for the whole group's food
A mid-July 2015 hiker took the smaller canister the ranger offered, then spent two days pushing food into friends' canisters. A 2016 party was lent 10-liter canisters at the permit desk.
From Backcountry Post: Teton Crest Trail July 13th-17th 2015 and Wasatch Mountain Club
Waterproof gloves
After a cold, rainy night at Sunset Lake a 2015 hiker packed up with wet numb hands in leather gloves that were not waterproof, and said they would have paid heavily for waterproof ones. An August 2022 hiker carried thin hiking gloves for chilly mornings and windy camp chores.
From Backcountry Post: Teton Crest Trail July 13th-17th 2015 and Brooke Beyond
A real rain shell and rain pants
Hail and rain came through on the Death Canyon Shelf and again in Cascade Canyon in 2015, and the hiker credited waterproofed rain gear for staying dry. An August 2022 hiker warned that a perfectly clear morning in the Tetons can turn into a 4 pm thunderstorm.
From Backcountry Post: Teton Crest Trail July 13th-17th 2015 and Brooke Beyond
A way to treat water, with a backup
Streams are close at hand, so the gear is light. A 2015 hiker used a battery-powered pen that still had half a charge after four days, and another in the group carried a pump as a backup. An August 2022 hiker used a squeeze filter and a collapsible reservoir to haul water back to camp.
From Backcountry Post: Teton Crest Trail July 13th-17th 2015 and Brooke Beyond
A tarp or footprint that doubles as a tent liner
A 2015 hiker lined the tent floor with a cheap tarp during a large thunderstorm with hail and credited it with keeping gear dry. In good weather it served as a footprint.
From Backcountry Post: Teton Crest Trail July 13th-17th 2015
Trekking poles for the long descents
An August 2022 hiker used poles every day and said they saved their knees coming down from the saddle with a full pack. The route drops nearly 3,000 feet from Hurricane Pass through South Fork Cascade Canyon.
From Brooke Beyond and Backcountry Post: 4 Days Backpacking Grand Teton Wilderness/Teton Crest Trail, July 2021
A phone map plus a power source
A 2015 hiker downloaded the map, kept the phone in airplane mode and slept with it in the bag to keep the battery strong. An August 2022 hiker carried a small power bank and a solar charger. The park warns that cell coverage is spotty and suggests a satellite device.
From Backcountry Post: Teton Crest Trail July 13th-17th 2015, Brooke Beyond and National Park Service, Grand Teton National Park: Know Before You Go, Grand Teton National Park backcountry
A sun hat, sunglasses and a neck gaiter
An August 2022 hiker had warm, sunny days under intense sun and described a gaiter as protection from sun, sweat, dust and wind. The park notes little shade in the alpine and a sunburn risk.
From Brooke Beyond and National Park Service, Grand Teton National Park: Know Before You Go, Grand Teton National Park backcountry
12 people can go on one permit. Split this list between them so nobody carries two stoves.
Plan a trip hereWhat hikers regret or leave behind on Teton Crest Trail
The smaller bear canister
The 2015 hiker who chose the smaller one regretted it for the first two days.
From Backcountry Post: Teton Crest Trail July 13th-17th 2015
A pack with no frame and a thin seam
The same 2015 hiker removed the frame from a 50-liter pack and lined it with a trash bag. The load was too heavy and the seams began tearing near the waist belt. A friend's larger pack seemed perfect.
From Backcountry Post: Teton Crest Trail July 13th-17th 2015
Heavy insulation in August
An August 2022 hiker wore a synthetic jacket every day, left the heavy fleece mostly in the pack, and carried a 0 degree sleeping bag that was warmer than needed. She suggested adding a light down layer earlier in the season.
From Brooke Beyond
Rusty ice-axe skills
A 2018 hiker had not used an axe in almost a year and slid onto their stomach in the first minutes of the descent.
From The Outbound
A 16-ounce pot for a group
A 2015 hiker found the small pot meant boiling water several times per meal for three people, and bought a bigger one afterward.
From Backcountry Post: Teton Crest Trail July 13th-17th 2015
Gear questions for Teton Crest Trail
Do I need an ice axe on the Teton Crest Trail?
Only if snow lies on the divides. The park names an ice axe, crampons and self-arrest skill as musts when the high divides are snowy, which can last into summer. A mid-July 2015 party did not need one, while a 2018 party that met thick snow did.
From National Park Service, Grand Teton National Park: Know Before You Go, Grand Teton National Park backcountry, Backcountry Post: Teton Crest Trail July 13th-17th 2015 and The Outbound
Do I need a bear canister on the Teton Crest Trail?
Yes. The park requires approved bear-resistant storage and lends canisters free with a permit. Hikers report picking them up at the permit desk. Hanging food inside the park is prohibited.
From National Park Service, Grand Teton National Park: Know Before You Go, Grand Teton National Park backcountry, National Park Service, Grand Teton National Park: Backcountry Camping FAQs and Wasatch Mountain Club
Is there water on the Teton Crest Trail?
Plenty in most years. The park says streams flow through every canyon, but late summer can dry up the Death Canyon Shelf, Fox Creek Pass, Open Canyon and Mt. Hunt Divide. Hikers treated stream water with a pen, a pump or a squeeze filter.
From National Park Service, Grand Teton National Park: Know Before You Go, Grand Teton National Park backcountry, Backcountry Post: Teton Crest Trail July 13th-17th 2015 and Brooke Beyond
When is the best time to hike the Teton Crest Trail?
The park says August and September are typically more enjoyable, because snow persists on the passes well into July. An August 2016 party met surprisingly few backpackers late in the season.
From National Park Service, Grand Teton National Park: Know Before You Go, Grand Teton National Park backcountry and Wasatch Mountain Club
Is there cell service on the Teton Crest Trail?
Barely. The park calls coverage spotty and suggests a satellite device. A 2015 hiker got service entering Alaska Basin on one carrier but not another.
From National Park Service, Grand Teton National Park: Know Before You Go, Grand Teton National Park backcountry and Backcountry Post: Teton Crest Trail July 13th-17th 2015
Sources
- Know Before You Go, Grand Teton National Park backcountry · National Park Service, Grand Teton National Park · Agency
- Backcountry Camping FAQs · National Park Service, Grand Teton National Park · Agency
- Teton Crest Trail July 13th-17th 2015 · Backcountry Post, pstm13 · Forum thread
- Grand Teton National Park Backpack · Wasatch Mountain Club, Richard Jirik · Trip report
- How to Avoid the Crowds on the Teton Crest Trail · The Outbound, Jack Trotter · Trip report
- 4 Days Backpacking Grand Teton Wilderness/Teton Crest Trail, July 2021 · Backcountry Post, Mikjik86 · Forum thread
- Teton Crest Trail Packing List · Brooke Beyond, Brooke · Blog