Thirteen years to the week of our first failed attempt on the Grand, my father and I returned to Jackson Hole to give it another try. Our route this time would be the Upper Exum Ridge. The weather was picture-perfect this time around and aside from a rock fall that saw a half bowling ball sized rock hit me square on the top of my helmut, there were no problems. We stood atop the Grand at last.
Back


My father, Larry, with the Grand Teton behind


Now its my turn to pose


Teton Village (same great skiing here in the winter)


Larry ascending in the basic class


Larry on a rest break with our guide Jim Nigro (in blue)


Me on a rappel in the basic class


Me on a steeper rappel


Me ascending in the intermediate class


Hidden falls and Jenny Lake - Beautiful!


One of us starting a nice, long rappel


Packed up and ready to start our ascent of the Grand


Our guide, Wes Bunch (center), with Larry and a third member of our group who turned back within a couple of hours


Wes leading the way up Garnet Canyon


Rest break - Wes (closest bottom) and Larry (closest top)


I'm ready to make the final push through the extra snow still on the mountain


Wes and Larry moving up


Finally at the top of Garnet Canyon


The Exum hut on the Lower Saddle


Wes talking to Larry about the climb ahead


Larry hydrating far below the Grand and its Upper Saddle


Just relaxing at the hut


Wes and Larry getting ready to rope up at the end of Wall Street


Finally, the snowy summit ridge


Sweet victory


Nothing like a nice cold Dew after a hard morning



Larry with Wes (sitting) and are climbing class guide Jim Nigro


Larry starting the long rappel down to the Upper Saddle


Me starting the same rappel


Larry and Wes on our way back to the Exum hut (center back)


Heading back to the parking lot