Hiking the Teton

Devin had been planning to hike the Grand Teton during his summer visit to Idaho for quite a while.  He had two buddies that were planning to go too.  About a month before the visit Jacob found out about it and decided to join the group.  Growing up with the Grand in daily view we have heard many stories of people making the big hike.  It involves rock climbing, camping part way up, hiring a guide, difficult and scary paths as well as an amazing view and major bragging rights if you make it.  My Dad was able to go with a group a long time ago and he still talks about it with awe.  Devin did a lot of researching and decided they could do it without a guide and without having to camp.  Jacob started researching and they watched YOUTUBE videos of the difficult parts and each bought a couple books to take along.  Devin provided the vision and Jacob provided the resources (he had all the climbing gear).  I drove to Idaho a week early and enjoyed a long visit with Devin, Nicole and Brynlee.  Jacob, of course, had to fly in Friday afternoon and only stay for the weekend.  His plane landed about 4:00 Friday afternoon and they started hiking at midnight.  One of Devin's friends backed out earlier in the week and the other only went a few hours before turning around to go home.  Devin and Jacob continued on together.  They packed crampons, climbing harnesses, ropes, shoes and other gear, water, food, ice pickes and first aid kits.  Their packs weighed about 45 lbs.  Jacob started experiencing altitude sickness at about 4 miles into the hike.  They found a cave and decided to take a short rest.  They rested about an hour, then continued at sunrise.  At 1000ft. from the summit Jacob became too sick and disoriented to continue.   They would soon need to start using the climbing gear to reach the summit.  With Jacob not thinking straight it was not safe to continue.  So with their dream in sight, they had to turn around and start the long hike back down.  They hiked a total of 18 hours, 16 miles, and 7500 ft.  Devin admitted wanting to chuck his heavy pack off a cliff he was so frustrated about having to carry it all the way back down the mountain.  Jacob didn't get over his altitude sickness until about 3 miles from the end. 

Nicole and I were so anxious about our hubbies that we couldn't wait for them to get all the way home.  We decided to meet them at the bottom of the hill in Jackson.  That was probably not the best idea.  They were two of the most tired, disappointed, weary guys I have every seen.  We all wanted to go eat and hear about every detail of their adventure, but they could hardly keep their eyes open during dinner and just wanted to go home and crawl into bed.  Our conversation went over and over what they could have done to lighten their packs and overcome altitude sickness.  I was glad they were not driving themselves home after seeing them so tired.

Here are the weary hikers with the rescue party.

I didn't even take any pictures of our great time with Devin's family.  I drove straight to the cabin from North Dakota with the kids.  I was a little nervous about doing it by myself with Tirzah being so little, but that never stopped me before.  We loved our time at the cabin.  There was canoeing, four wheeling, bike riding, hanging out by the river, games and good food.

Then the boys went on their big hike and Jacob drove home with me on Sunday.

Brynlee and Zach

These two are about 9 months apart in age.  Brynlee has just turned 2 and Zach will soon be 3.

Look at that hair color!