The magnificent knife-edge of Irene's Arete soars above the Meadows, a popular camping area and lunch stop for those headed for the Grand Teton.

Many Teton climbers would say that Irene's is the best rock climbing route in the Tetons. If you continue up the trail and look back across at climbers on the route, you will see why: it is spectacular. The route offers six or more pitches of sustained, steep, exposed climbing, and several difficult variations are possible.

 

The view of the surrounding peaks--Nez Perce, Cloudveil, South Teton, Middle Teton, Grand Teton--is superb.

The approach involves a two to three hour hike to Petzoldt's Caves followed by a short scramble to the base of the climb. The view of the route above is, as they say, awesome. The climb ends on the summit plateau of Disappointment Peak.  Various descent routes are possible, followed by the hike back to Lupine Meadows.