One of the best views of any hike I’ve done. 360 degree view of the Grand Tetons. 1000 feet in 3/4 of a mile so I would rate as difficult. Hard to believe this hike isn’t on any of the hiking apps. Beautiful drive to trailhead but high clearance vehicle probably needed.
★
★
★
★
★
Have hiked this in July 2014 and late August 2018. In July you probably want an ice axe for the traverse between Static Peak Divide and Buck Mountain Divide. In August it was almost dry, but because of the rainy summer wildflowers were going crazy. I believe the track information is incorrect here. I recorded 5,600 feet total elevation gain. It's 4000 feet just to Static Divide; after this you've got the sheep steps and Mount Meek pass to get over.
There's been plenty of water along the whole route every time I've been on any of these stretches of trail. The driest parts are the few miles after Phelps lake when the trail rises above the creek, the higher parts of the Alaska Basin trail before Static Divide, and the first couple of miles of Death Canyon Shelf. I bring a small filter and a 2L hydration bladder and never have to worry. Your choice if you want to fill the bladder all the way and make fewer stops, or load up on just a liter at a time more often.
This is one of the great long routes in range. Truly spectacular.
★
★
★
★
★
