I glance from my white knuckles gripping the upper ledge of the infamous crawl to the sheer exposure below my feet. My eyes focus on the ridiculous distance beneath the rapid drum of my heartbeat.
On my way to Garnet Meadows, I make a side trip to the split-pea-colored Delta Lake, which offers a spectacular view of the Grand.
A halo of rays beams from a rock tower as I follow the trail toward the distant Middle Teton.
Taking advantage of a midnight relief session, I snap some starry shots. The summit of Middle Teton peeks above a massive cliff block to the west of camp.
Stars twinkle in the void of the night’s illuminance, casting a fluorescent glow on the light-colored rocks of the ragged ridge to the northeast, towering over Garnet Meadows.
Yawning, I stretch my hands overhead, gazing at the sun-bathed valley sky framed by the canyon walls.
A bright-light selfie captures my squint as I make my way up a moraine, with the Middle Teton Glacier in the background.
A view of the Teton Range: with Mount Moran and Jackson Lake in the background as I crest the upper saddle.
Overlooking the iconic Tetons: The Middle Teton stands prominently, with the South Teton and its impressive ridgeline behind, and, if I’m not mistaken, Mount Wister in the distance.
Yeah, I made it! The Teton Range, flanked by its spectacular array of lakes, disappears into the curved glow of the northern horizon. What a great summit and a fantastic National Park.
As I descend to the upper saddle, I can see why this ridgeline has been described as ‘The jaws of hell, only slightly less intimidating.’ I’d have to agree—that’s pretty accurate.
I glance up and a smile crosses my face.
A gargantuan black dike, visible even from the road, vertically cleaves the Middle Teton in two. Fun fact: despite appearances, it’s actually pink. A scree climb up pink granite to the dike’s summit offers me this perfect shot.
A view of the Grand from the summit of the Middle Teton. What great summits, an epic adventure, and one rockin’ National Park.
And so, with my return to base camp, the saga ends!
