On Saturday April 13th I had the pleasure of skiing the classic East Face of The Jaw with Bobbi Clemmer, Bailey Haus and Carl Osterberg. That’s right, Carl’s back on the blog. Upon exiting we tagged the North Couloir of Symmetry Spire, a really neat, relatively tight and seldom skied hallway funneling into Hanging Canyon.
When Bailey and Carl come to town, it’s always a good time. This weekend we enjoyed a one-two punch of resort skiing and ski mountaineering… that’s right – I went to a ski resort. Last spring I had dreams of rekindling my youthful chairlift assisted spirit, and impulsively purchased my first season pass since the 2017/18 season. But alas, that dream never manifested. April 12th was the sole resort day of my season. For a working class man like myself, that stings – 1,200 dollars down the drain – let’s drop the subject. At least the turns were good!
Onto Sunday – I finally got into Hanging Canyon on snow. This unique canyon is home to several moderate Teton ski mountaineering classics. The Jaw, and many south ramps of Mount Saint John, are the kings. The North Couloir of Symmetry Spire is lesser known and too short to warrant a trip of it’s own, but is an irresistible attraction to the passing steep skier. The Rock of Ages presides as the premier visual attraction. It could be the most intriguing formation in Grand Teton National Park save for Cleaver Peak, with a 500 foot square-cut summit block holding virtually no snow, rising to 10,900 feet. The Rock of Ages is not a ski destination. By winter the impressive quadrilateral formation is solely eye candy. The Southeast Ridge is home to a 5.9, Grade III, climbing route Bobbi and I will explore someday… hopefully soon. I’m rambling for two reasons: first, I’ve drank too much coffee. Second, Hanging Canyon is beyond inspiring, especially for moderate to advanced ski mountaineering on solar aspects. Every Teton skier capable of 45 degree skiing should have this venue on their springtime short list.
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With a hard overnight freeze and measly high of 22 degrees at 11,600 feet coupled with light winds, we got a leisurely 06:30 launch from the Bradley-Taggart Trailhead. Eight bike miles and 3,000 feet of icy ski cramponing later and we were at Lake of the Crags – the heart of Hanging Canyon. Accessing the canyon was relatively straightforward save for one large cliff which puts the “hanging” in Hanging Canyon. No more than 1,000 feet above Jenny Lake, a 1,500 foot wide cliff underpins the canyon. Skiers and summer hikers alike must pass the obstacle on it’s north side. By spring, this often involves exposed snow travel on firm solar slopes between 30-40 degrees. Facing bulletproof conditions, we opted for crampons and ice axes.
The Jaw sits at the penultimate conclusion of Hanging Canyon, rising to an impressive 11,405 feet. The atypical peak is named for it’s claw-like appearance, with several small pinnacles that adorn both sides of a thin summit pyramid. The East Face is the only line which skis cleanly from the summit, offering a 1,900 foot fall-line descent to Lake of the Crags. Like most Teton faces The Jaw is convex, with it’s steepest slopes of 45-ish degrees just off the summit. A few cliff islands add a sprinkle of short lived spice. From below the face looks benign, but towards the top most will be happy for an ice axe – another Teton optical illusion.
We reached the summit around 11:00 amidst gentle cross winds which barred all warming despite the unabridged April sunshine. We had ample time to kill, which was fortunate… because there was a special summit activity on the agenda. Carl proposed to Bailey! I had the pleasure of shooting the pictures, and fortunately both Bailey said yes, and I nailed the shot. The Jaw has a spectacular view of the Cathedral Group for both skiing and proposals alike. I wish I could share the picture, but it’s not my place. You’ll have to use your imagination. Instead, I’ll include a shot of Bobbi and I.
After the sappy ceremonies wrapped up, and many snacks were eaten, we agreed the slope had no chance of softening and switched to ski mode. I actually found the skiing rather pleasant. Of course perfect corn or hot powder would have been better, but this zipper crust was shallow, soft, and predictable enough for fluent jump turns. Carl’s splitboard bullied the crust with ease. As less initiated ski mountaineers, Bobbi and Bailey were a bit closer to the “survival skiing” end of the spectrum, but both succeeded in connecting a few turns where possible, and not falling in the exposed sections hanging above the sneaky rolling cliffs. Below 11,000 feet conditions flipped to perfect corn, and we all enjoyed many hoots and hollers back to Lake of the Crags. On the way out Bobbi and Bailey graciously picnicked on the lake while Carl and I blasted up the 800 foot North Couloir of Symmetry Spire. We hoped for the chalky north facing conditions common to late spring, but found exactly the opposite: bulletproof glaze, the product of the same damned northerly winds which haunted our entire Teton season. The jump turns were as loud and tiring as they were engaging, on a slope beginning at 45 degrees but quickly mellowing to a sustained gradient of 40 degrees. Once accustomed to the lack of edge purchase, we both reported a fun descent. The ensuing 3,000 feet to the valley floor was pitch after pitch of excellent corn and transitional melt-freeze ball bearings. We reached the bikes around 16:00 and the car an hour later – an 11 hour day of the finest quality.
All in all, The Jaw provided a slightly more intense skiing experience than expected. While slope angles are never steeper than 45 degrees, and never sustained above 40, exposure is deceptive. Any path down the varied face will involve some degree of skiing above life threatening cliffs. Bobbi and Bailey can testify to the severity of dissecting The Jaw in sub-optimal conditions. The closest comparison I could offer within Grand Teton National Park would be the East Face of Static Peak. The North Couloir on Symmetry shows it’s hand from the lake – a classic, albeit short, ski pinner with excellent ambiance. Connecting the two lines makes for a logical 6,000 vertical foot “morning sun/afternoon shade” springtime outing, with potential for corn skiing and powder skiing on the same tour.
Skiing aside, this day was really all about Carl and Bailey. Watching your best friends get engaged is an emotional and special experience, compounded by the honor of being the trusted photographer. Congrats you two – and way to avoid falling to your death on the descent!
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DISCLAIMER
Ski mountaineering, rock climbing, ice climbing and all other forms of mountain recreation are inherently dangerous. Should you decide to attempt anything you read about in this article, you are doing so at your own risk! This article is written to the best possible level of accuracy and detail, but I am only human – information could be presented wrong. Furthermore, conditions in the mountains are subject to change at any time. Ten Thousand Too Far and Brandon Wanthal are not liable for any actions or repercussions acted upon or suffered from the result of this article’s reading.
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I just have to ask – what makes Cleaver one of the most “intriguing formations” in the park?
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