Continued from the previous page.

DESCENT TO THE LOWER PART OF ALASKA BASIN

Past the intersection with a half-mile spur that goes up to Buck Mountain Pass, the basin loop trail descends about 900 feet in elevation to the south and west on switchbacks to the cluster of lakes in the lower part of Alaska Basin.

Again, I'm talking about the part of the basin that's within the trail loop on this map, where it says "Basin Lakes," not farther down where it says "ALASKA BASIN:"

 

While you're hiking down the switchbacks you can often see parts of the trail far ahead and below you:

 

The views looking back up toward Buck Mountain -- or ahead, if you're going the other direction -- are scenic, too:

 

 

In that last picture you can see one of the major Teton peaks (South Teton?) barely visible in the background toward the left.

The trail passes or crosses several small streams on its way down to the lower basin, including this area with very colorful rocks, moss, and other alpine plants:

 

 

 

Other than the Basin Lakes, that was probably the prettiest spot on the whole hike today.

Here are some other scenes between there and the Basin Lakes in the lower part of the basin:

 

 

 

 

Little waterfall in foreground, Buck Mtn. in background

Just past the waterfall and stream crossing the trail drops down a little farther to my favorite part of the loop trail, which winds past the scenic Basin Lakes.

There are several small lakes clustered here and, as you'd expect, it's a popular place for backpackers to camp overnight:

 

 

 

 

 

 

On previous hikes that were shorter, I've walked around all of these little lakes but I wisely decided not to do that today.

TETON CREST TRAIL TO THE SOUTH

Just past the lakes, at 13.1 miles into the hike and about 9,522 feet elevation, I came to another intersection with the Teton Crest Trail and had a decision to make:

1) continue forward and back down the Alaska Basin approach trail to Teton Canyon, the way I came up = about 7.9 more miles, or 2) go left (south) on the Teton Crest Trail through another part of the lower Alaska Basin to the Teton Shelf Trail and Devil's Staircase, which intersect with the South Teton Canyon Trail, and back to the trailhead. That option would add another two or three miles.

Well now . . .

The sky was still clear and I felt great -- I didn't know my water was as low as it was -- so I chose the longer way, Option #2, for more variety.

I've done this part of the Teton Crest Trail northbound in this section but not southbound so it seemed almost like new to me. I like the colorful bedrock, the stream crossings and little pools of water, and the expansive views in all directions:

 

 

As I approached a pretty pool of water in the lower basin that I'd never noticed when I've gone the other direction, I saw two young men getting ready to jump into the water (next picture). One let out a big yell because the water was so cold.

About two seconds later a very young brown black bear cub went racing across the trail about 25 feet ahead of me, apparently scared when it heard the yelling.

The cub disappeared before I could get a picture. I looked around carefully for mama bear but didn't see her.

I walked over to the pond and talked to the young men across the water. They saw the cub run away but didn't see the mother, either.

I kept going with my bear radar a notch higher. I've never seen a bear up here, just in the canyon.

The trail switchbacks up a mountainside going southbound. It's fairly smooth at first, then gets quite rocky. I got more distant views as I climbed higher, including beginning to see the major Teton peaks (Owen, Grand Teton, Middle Teton, and South Teton):

Buck Mtn. is in the distant center.

Teton Canyon is in the center background.

Trail makes a sharp left around the corner of that rock wall at end of arrow.

After rounding the corner I could look back and see the major Teton peaks finally.

I still had to climb through some more rocks. These black ones look volcanic.

After climbing through the black rocky section I was up on the Teton Shelf. My highest elevation on the Shelf was 9,734 feet before I began descending again.

The distant views across the wide plateau to the north included (L to R) Battleship Rock, Table Rock, and the major Teton peaks:

I continued to see all those mountains for at least a mile down the Teton Shelf Trail.

Before I turned off the Teton Crest Trail, Mount Meek dominated my view to the south. If I'd continued going that direction I would have come to Meek Pass. On a previous hike I went to the pass and looked beyond but I didn't do that today.

Meek Pass is about 3/4 mile ahead. I turned right before that.

After 2.3 miles on the Teton Crest Trail I came to the intersection with the Teton Shelf Trail. The Crest Trail continues south over Meek Pass and down to WY 22. I turned right (NW) on the Shelf Trail.

Continued on the next page:  down the Teton Shelf Trail and Devil's Staircase to the South Teton Canyon Trail and home!

Happy trails,

Sue
"Runtrails & Company" - Sue Norwood, Jim O'Neil, Cody the ultra Lab, and Casey-pup

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© 2015 Sue Norwood and Jim O'Neil