We stopped for lunch at Sunset Lake, a crystal clear, shallow body of water that soothed our feet and souls. We headed out toward the Alaska Basin, everyone in better spirits than the previous morning since we knew Larry and the boys were having their own version of fun. Our longest day, we were thankful for a good night’s sleep. Our view from camp Day 3 (Death Canyon Shelf to South Fork Cascade Canyon–10.25 miles) We hung a right, heading north, towards the Death Canyon Shelf. We climbed in the bright midday sun to Fox Creek Pass, where the Teton Crest Trail bisects the Death Canyon Trail. We were all a bit somber, as it didn’t feel quite right not having our entire tribe with us, but the views as we reached the end of the canyon finally distracted us enough to recognize the gift of this glorious day. The rest of us packed up and headed back to the trail, Death Canyon Shelf as our goal. As soon as they descended, Aidan immediately felt better, so it was the right call, albeit an incredibly sad one to make. The three of them headed back to the trailhead, and then to the Laursen’s rental house. It was not an easy decision, but ultimately, Larry, being the amazingly adaptable person that he is, took one for the team. The next big question centered around which adult had to end their trip too. Diana and John had a heart to heart discussion about Teagan and his tolerance for heat, knowing we’d be exposed to the hot sun most of this trip, and decided it might be safer for him to leave with Aidan. We finally made the painful decision to end his hike. Despite his misfortune, that night was bittersweet for me, as we watched the full moon rise together, lighting the canyon with a brilliant luminescence, while talking about what it means to be alive. He is still in his bag in this picture, while the kids surround him with concern and encouragement. There are two sleeping bags on this rock, where Aidan and I spent the night. We would be ascending to an altitude of about 8300 feet, and we knew good hydration would help stave off any ill effects of camping at this elevation. The day was hot, dry, and sunny, so we encouraged the kids to drink regularly. Not ones to be deterred by ominously named trails, we started our journey at the Death Canyon Trailhead, headed towards group campsite G in Death Canyon, 5.9 miles away. We met up with our good friends, the Laursen’s, shuttled our cars between our entry and exit trailheads, and hit the trail in good spirits! We spent the week prior to the trip in Yellowstone National Park, building up their trail legs and tolerance for higher altitudes on some of my favorite day hikes. Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on Email Day 1 (Death Canyon Trail to Death Canyon–5.9 miles)Īfter our kids survived a backpacking trip into the Grand Canyon at ages 11, 9, and 8, we wanted to keep the momentum going with another backpacking trip a few months later to one of my favorite places on earth: Grand Teton National Park. How to find the Best Deals on Hiking and Backpacking Gear.2022 Speaking Engagements, Guiding and Events.
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