Grand Teton Ski Descent
Tetons, WY
Elevation Profile
Current Conditions
Bottom Line
Clean avalanche bulletin with Moderate danger and no identified problems — this is as good as March gets in the Tetons. Snow showers Monday night could change things, so get your objective done early in the weather window.
26°/6°F · Mostly Sunny
Moderate (2/5)
45" depth
Normal flows · 5 gauges
No active fires within 50 miles
11h 53m daylight · Sunrise 7:36 AM · Sunset 7:30 PM
Full Briefing
Excellent conditions for a Grand Teton ski descent with a clean avalanche bulletin showing Moderate danger across all elevations and no identified avalanche problems. This means the snowpack is stable and settling nicely after recent cycles. Annie Springs SNOTEL at 6,021 feet shows 33 inches of settled snow depth with falling trends, indicating consolidation rather than active loading.
The weather window opens up perfectly for your timeline. Today brings mostly sunny skies with manageable winds at 13-18 mph from the northwest — not enough to create significant wind slab loading. Monday looks like the weather pivot with snow showers becoming likely and winds ramping up to 15-23 mph from the southwest. You'll see 2-4 inches of new snow Monday into Monday night, which won't be enough to create immediate storm slab concerns but could change the avalanche picture for later in the week.
Tuesday clears to partly sunny with stronger winds at 22-26 mph, but temperatures climb to 36°F which will drive wet loose activity on sun-exposed terrain by early afternoon. The key is timing your descent for early Tuesday morning before solar heating destabilizes the new snow from Monday night. Plan to be off steep south and west aspects by 1 PM Tuesday.
With sunrise at 7:36 AM and nearly 12 hours of daylight, you have plenty of time for the technical sections. Start early to catch the cold snow conditions on north aspects and position yourself for the descent during optimal snow conditions before the afternoon warming cycle kicks in.
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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