Grand Teton Ski Descent
Tetons, WY
Elevation Profile
Current Conditions
Bottom Line
It's November 10th and there's essentially no snow on the ground — SNOTEL at Annie Springs (6,021 ft) shows just 1 inch depth and 0.1" SWE, with lower stations at zero. The Grand Teton ski descent is not skiable right now. Come back after a significant loading cycle.
34°/20°F · Sunny
No Rating (0/5)
0" depth
Elevated flows · 5 gauges
No active fires within 50 miles
9h 52m daylight · Sunrise 7:12 AM · Sunset 5:04 PM
Full Briefing
The snowpack simply doesn't exist yet. Annie Springs SNOTEL at 6,021 ft is showing 1 inch of snow depth and 0.1 inches SWE — that's a trace, not a base. Lower elevation stations at Long Lake and McNeil Canyon are reading zero across the board. The Grand Teton ski descent tops out above 13,000 ft, but even accounting for elevation gain, early November in the Tetons rarely produces the coverage needed for the upper couloirs and faces. Right now you'd be on rock.
Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center hasn't issued a rating — which in this case isn't a clean bulletin, it's a signal that there isn't enough snow to evaluate. Their discussion is essentially a placeholder: watch for instability signs if snow exists. It doesn't, at elevation worth skiing.
Weather this week is cold and dry. Today's high of 30°F with 15-25 mph westerly winds will load any micro-features that do have snow, but there's no precipitation in the forecast through Thursday — highs in the mid-30s, lows in the low 20s, mostly sunny. This is a consolidation pattern, not a loading one. No storm on the horizon means no meaningful accumulation before your window closes on November 13th.
Daylight is tight at under 10 hours (sunrise 7:12, sunset 5:04), which matters for a big objective like the Grand, but it's academic right now. Watch the SNOTEL network — specifically Annie Springs and the higher-elevation Phillips Bench station — for a loading event. A 12-15 inch storm cycle with cold temps would be your trigger to start planning in earnest. This trip needs to be rescheduled.
Waypoints
Lupine Meadows Trailhead
Main trailhead for Grand Teton climbs. Large parking area.
6,801 ft
Garnet Canyon Junction
Junction where the trail enters Garnet Canyon.
9,501 ft
Lower Saddle
Bivy site at the Lower Saddle (11,600 ft). Most parties spend the night here.
11,601 ft
Grand Teton Summit
Summit of the Grand Teton at 13,775 ft. Begin ski descent from here.
13,776 ft
Route Details
Distance
13.0 mi
Elevation Gain
7,201 ft
Elevation Loss
7,201 ft
Max Elevation
13,776 ft
Estimated Days
2
Trailhead
Lupine Meadows Trailhead
Best Season
Late April through mid-June. Requires consolidated spring snow conditions.
Permit Required
Climbing permit required from Grand Teton National Park. Register at Jenny Lake Ranger Station.
About This Route
Skiing the Grand Teton is the ultimate objective for advanced backcountry skiers in the Tetons. The Ford-Stettner couloir and Stettner couloir provide the most popular ski descent routes from the 13,775-foot summit, requiring expert mountaineering and skiing skills. The approach begins at the Lupine Meadows trailhead and ascends through Garnet Canyon to the Lower Saddle at 11,600 feet. From the saddle, the route climbs through increasingly technical terrain to the summit. The ski descent involves sustained 45-50 degree slopes with exposure. This is a serious mountaineering objective that requires perfect conditions, expert skills, and fitness. Most parties stage at the Lower Saddle bivy site. Spring is the preferred season when the snow is consolidated but before it melts out. A climbing permit is required.
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