Grand View Hike, To the Top, 2024

Each year we try to hike to the top of Grand View Point. The top of the peak, is on the east side of Grand Teton National Park, and is the best view of the Teton’s . Of course, its prime bear territory and so carrying bear spray is mandatory, (about half the people we meet do not carry any). We decided to make the attempt on our second trip this week to Jackson, Wyoming. This time we got there early so we could buy a luggage carrier for the Suburu. Hopefully we can now pack the car so that we will be able to see out the back window. The Thule carrier was on sale at REI, and they had one that fit our car. It was an easy install and before long we were on our way to the Grand View Parking Lot.

Passing a large buffalo, bison herd, we stopped for a few quick pics of the huge bulls.

Arriving at the parking lot, there were only a few horse trailers and a few small campers, so we parked, geared up, and took off up the trail, (top picture). We immediately noticed how dry the ground was, and that we kicked up dust with each step.

The trail started up and for us anyway got harder. We are both in our seventies and so each year we have to take it easy with quite a few rest stops along the way. We noticed a dearth of any flowers and saw that many of the trees showed sign of pine beetle disease.

Normally the trees can overcome the infestation, if there is sufficient rain, but this year has been abnormally dry, (pictured is one of many dead trees). We quickly reached the sign where the trail divided and now the hike became quite a bit steeper. Resting often, we reached a rock that marks the halfway point, and taking a picture of Renita, we continued up. Now I would like to mention that quite a few younger hikers passed us as we stopped, but its ok as the only race we have is against our inner voices. They seem to say you are too old for this, but we ignore them and exhort each other to continue.

Finally reaching the place where we could see several people eating lunch, we greeted them and took each others pictures. Sitting down I almost sat on my phone, but Renita reminded me about how much it cost when I broke the glass several years earlier.

We told the others that the true summit was only a short hike away and after finishing lunch we hiked there for the mandatory summit shot.

On the way back down, we stopped so Renita could take pictures of Two Ocean and Emma Matilda Lakes.

We had made the hike to the summit! Clear skies, and of course, if you go remember, “To the Top!” (thanks Steve G. for sharing your climbing motto).