Grand Tetons

I'm having some difficulty with the little letters on my mini keyboard as my hands look like they are blown-up balloons. I'm not sure if this is from altitude or frostbite - all will be explained shortly...

But first... I have removed myself from Salt Lake City (missed Jenny and Co by 2 days) and headed north through 15 minutes of Idaho and then, via hill and dale, to Wyoming. Hill and dale is a little unfair, it's more gargantuan peaks and vast canyons - incredibly, incredibly beautiful. I am now in Grand Teton National Park. The Tetons were named by French chaps and tetons means 'tits' in English. Look at the photo below and pretend you are a virile male who has not seen a woman for many months ie. use imagination... then just think it's lucky the French didn't discover the Grand Canyon first!

In seriousness this mountain range is spectacular. The valley below is wide and gently undulating then suddenly these jagged peaks shoot skyward and beckon to be climbed.

Today I answered the challenge but in true Alec Harslett fashion, was underprepared for such a venture. Starting at dawn, I circuited Jenny Lake, an easy 5 mile walk and climbed up into Cascade Canyon, a further 6 miles. All was well and it was only 9am. Then I reached the snow line, and here was me in sneakers, shorts and a T-shirt. But of course I plugged on and as the going was a steep uphill was keeping myself warm enough until I met a fellow hiker, equipped with thermals, goretex and an ice-pick. Lucky for me he was up to the challenge so became my pathmaker. We climbed over a 10700 foot pass, carved steps for ourselves down a near vertical ice slope and trudged through 10 foot snow down the adjoining canyon. 22.3 miles later I returned to my vehicle.

I cannot put any weight on my right leg without excruciating pain and have elephantitis hands but what an AWESOME hike!!!!!!!!!!!