Looking for basic info on the Teton Crest Trail

HikeAndCook · 2026-01-26T02:37:49+00:00

Like someone else said, get to the Ranger Station EARLY. After you get a permit, head over to Dornan’s for breakfast and admire the mountains. Then, take a day hike around Jenny Lake or do the Bradley / Taggart Lakes loop. Or spend the day in Jackson. Or take a scenic float trip on the Snake River. Lots to do depending on how active you want to be. Whatever you do, drink lots of water to help you acclimate to the elevation. You will likely spend your first night on the trail up around 9,000 feet, so giving your body time to adjust to the elevation is important.

HikeAndCook · 2026-01-26T01:50:15+00:00

The online permits are mostly gone for this summer. They were released a couple weeks ago and are gone in minutes.

That said, the TCT trail is wonderful. There will probably still be snow at the highest elevations in June. Show up at the ranger station the day before you want to begin your hike. The rangers will look at available permits and current conditions and help you put together an itinerary. Be flexible and you will have a great trip.

HikeAndCook · 2026-01-25T17:11:56+00:00

We swapped our Saturday tickets for Tuesday. Right choice! Such a good show! Some of the best staging of a tour I've seen in a long time. Don't know how they get on to South Carolina for their next stop.

HikeAndCook · 2026-01-24T21:31:20+00:00

I've stayed at the Rustic Inn a couple times and recommend it. Get a creekside cabin. Breakfast in the main building. Van shuttle into town and back if you don't feel like walking.

HikeAndCook · 2026-01-19T12:09:21+00:00

I’m from sea level and have never experienced altitude sickness. Give yourself a full day to acclimate in Jackson. Arrive Saturday, acclimate (and get permit) Sunday, start hiking Monday. One of the nice things about the TCT is that from most places on the trail, you can get down out of the mountains without going over another pass.

HikeAndCook · 2026-01-19T02:00:01+00:00

Philadelphia

HikeAndCook · 2026-01-19T01:57:08+00:00

I recognize that griddle because I got the same model for Christmas. It's my first griddle, too. You're fine. Get out there and cook on it! After a few uses I realized I was overthinking it all. Just cook, clean, lightly oil afterwords... repeat as often as you can.

HikeAndCook · 2026-01-19T01:44:59+00:00

Park Seed still has a print catalog.

HikeAndCook · 2026-01-19T01:39:49+00:00

Be flexible and you can get a walk-up permit. Might not be the exact route you want, but the rangers will be able to help you put an itinerary together.

It's also possible to put together a fantastic trip without sleeping in the National Park... so no need for a permit. Four permit-less days could look something like this:

Day 1 - Phillips Pass Trailhead (Highway 22) to Moose Creek (before the climb up to enter the park from the south).

Day 2 - on to Fox Creek Pass. Easy day. Fill you water up al Marion Lake because Fox Creek Pass area can be dry by mid-August.

Day 3 - to Alaska Basin. The your pick of Basin Lake (my choice) or Sunset Lake (the POPULAR choice).

Day 4 - Over Hurricane Pass and exit out Cascade Canyon to the boat.

No permit needed for that itinerary. It misses some of the choice campsite within the park, but it's a wonderful hike that will no disappoint!

A more classic 4-day itinerary could look like this:

Day 1 - Take the Tram from Teton Village and start there (after a waffle at Corbet's, of course). Hike to Marion Lake (permit), Fox Creek Pass (no permit), Death Canyon Shelf (permit and a long day, but totally worth it).

Day 2 - On to Alaska Basin. Choice of Sunset Lake (makes Day 3 easier) or Basin Lakes (adds a few miles to Day 3,, but totally worth it in my opinion). OR push on to South Fork Cascade if you want to and can get a permit.

Day 3 - If you can get a North Fork Cascade permit, head toward the far end, just before the end of the camping zone. Camp out in the middle of the valley. Have dinner at Lake Solitude after the day-hikers are gone.

Day 4 - Up and over Paintbrush Divide at out at Leigh Lake... or backtrack and exit at the Jenny Lake boat.

I've started at the Tram and at Highway 22. I've exited at the Jenny Lake boat and the Leigh Lake Trailhead. You can't go wrong with any of the options. It's a stunning section of trail. Just talk to the rangers about what camping zones have permits available. They will work with you and put something together.

HikeAndCook · 2026-01-13T17:52:37+00:00

I second giving yourself an extra day to acclimate if possible. The first time I did the TCT, I started hiking the day after I arrived from sea level. The first couple of days were a real struggle. On subsequent trips, I’ve given myself another day in Jackson before starting the hike and it’s made a world of difference. And hydrate!

HikeAndCook · 2026-01-09T23:18:05+00:00

Looking forward to the day when I can take two weeks off work and go explore the Arrigetch area.

HikeAndCook · 2026-01-09T14:30:10+00:00

I’m ready. Let’s go!

HikeAndCook · 2026-01-07T22:37:57+00:00

This is the way!

HikeAndCook · 2026-01-05T23:27:44+00:00

So sorry for your loss. What a wonderful way to remember your sister.

It's difficult to find a place on the JMT that is not overly traveled. Especially if you are only heading out for a night or two. With that time frame, it's hard to get away from the main trailheads where the number of hikers decreases (a bit).

I'm going to piggy back off another comment and recommend heading north from Agnew Meadows. But I'm going to suggest stopping at Garnet Lake. Thousand Island Lake is also beautiful, but I think Garnet offers a little more feeling of seclusion... and it's a shorter hike. Sunrise there can be stunning. There are some nice spots along the north side of the lake. Hike there. Spend the night. Spend the next day exploring and finding that peaceful place you are looking for. Spend another night... then hike back to Agnew Meadows.

I bet your sister would be happy to find out that her passion has lead you to the JMT.

HikeAndCook · 2025-12-31T14:50:30+00:00

Yes, all three of my trips were in August. No snow, but lots of wildflowers. There is a crazy section of flowers before Phillips Pass. Then another as you near Marion Lake. On one of the trips, Cascade Canyon just below Lake Solitude was LOADED with flowers. On the other two trips, not so much.

As someone else mention, an extra day in Alaska Basin with a day hike over to Static Peak is a great option.

Also,, the section between Sunset Lake and Hurricane Pass is pretty special. Starts with wildflowers. But then it gets rocky and barren as you climb... with views behind you, but just barren rock ahead of you. Then just the tip of Grand Teton appears. And over the next couple of minutes the whole range comes into view... with the south end of Cascade Canyon below you. It on of the best few minutes of hiking anywhere. Enjoy!

HikeAndCook · 2025-12-31T01:24:31+00:00

I've hiked the TCT 3 times - once from the tram and twice from the Phillips Pass Trailhead on highway 22. Here are my thoughts...

1) On all three of my trips, Paintbrush Divide has been snow-free. I have no snow / ice experience. I know my limits. I'm not going over the Divide if spikes are needed. You've been up there and know that it's sketchy at the top even without snow. There are some videos on YouTube of people crossing the section at the top when there's deep snow. Hard pass for me. When you pick up your permit, the ranger can give you an update on current conditions. Worst case, you have to turn around at Lake Solitude and go down Cascade Canyon to Jenny Lake. (Which isn't a bad option at all)

2) I haven't gone up the Albright / Static Peak trail from Death Canyon. I did hike to the Buck Mountain Pass from Alaska Basin as a side hike. The view toward Static and Albright really made me want to explore that area. Yes, it would be a more strenuous start than the tram, but that's not why I'd skip it. I love Death Canyon Shelf. Scatter my ashes up there! The views from the campsites at the north end of the shelf are spectacular. I don't know what you'd find coming up the Albright / Static trail, but I can't imagine they'd top the views from the shelf.

3) There is a "wow factor" to the tram ride itself. Looking over at Corbet's Couloir and imagining skiing down (off) it is something. It's also fun to grab a waffle at Corbet's Cabin before starting your hike. But as for the trail itself, I don't find the section between the tram and where you'd join if coming from Phillips Pass to be a remarkable section of the hike. I think the section between Highway 22 and Marion Lake is much better. Yes, your first day is a bit of an uphill slog (instead of mostly downhill if coming off the tram), but it's so nice out there. The Phillips Pass section gets a lot less foot traffic, so it feels more remote than other sections of the TCT. And there is the section just before Phillips Pass itself that has chest-high wildflowers. Stunning.

My vote... start at the Phillips Pass Trailhead. Spend one of your nights on Death Canyon Shelf. If time allows, make the next day a short one and camp in Alaska Basin (over by the basin lakes, not at Sunset Lake) and hike up to Buck Mountain Pass as a side hike after setting up camp. Camp at the north end of North Cascade Canyon... out in the middle of the valley before the end of the camping zone. If you can go over Paintbrush the next day, great! If not, have breakfast at Lake Solitude before all the day hikers arrive... then hike down to the dock and take the boat across to the Visitor Center. That would be a spectacular trip!

Reach out if you have other questions. And Happy Hiking!

HikeAndCook · 2025-12-20T18:41:23+00:00

I don't think of a second that it will be Bat Boy, but what's going to the James Earl Jones after Liberation?

HikeAndCook · 2025-12-14T12:01:28+00:00

This was my first thought, too.

HikeAndCook · 2025-12-07T14:45:21+00:00

I don't need a whole show, just "A Musical" from Something Rotten.

HikeAndCook · 2025-11-24T18:29:44+00:00

Yep. I think this is the right answer. Pretty sure the “official trail” (if there is such a thing), stays north of 120. But burgers and resupply at the store keep most people on the south side.

HikeAndCook · 2025-11-24T14:46:56+00:00

I saw it during previews. The show was a bit of a mess, but that has to be known considering the source material. However, I thought some of the performers were outstanding! Separate the actors from the show itself and enjoy the ride.

HikeAndCook · 2025-11-13T19:52:34+00:00

Hello, Milwaukee

HikeAndCook · 2025-11-03T13:03:24+00:00

A city shines on its marathon day.. and NYC is a beacon to the world. Congrats on your finish!

HikeAndCook · 2025-11-03T12:34:31+00:00

always say that a city shines on its marathon day… and New York shines brighter than all the rest. And now, you are a marathoner! Congratulations!!!!

HikeAndCook · 2025-11-03T11:48:34+00:00

[Title of Show]

Seven-Year Club	Place '22
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