Table Mountain
Mid June to Early October
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Table Mountain (11,106 feet) is one of the only peaks along the crest of the Teton Range that contains high-quality technical climbing routes. Most other Teton crest peaks either consist of loose sedimentary rock or extensively shattered gneiss and climbers rarely attempt any steep climbing there. Thus it is a special treat to climb on Table Mountain, not only because of rock quality, but also because of its unique position in the range relative to the high peaks.

As you climb on the east buttresses of Table Mountain, you can look directly across Cascade Canyon at the immense hulk of the Grand, Middle, and South Tetons. No other Teton climbing route offers such a unique and spectacular perspective.

Two routes are of particular interest because they pass through a large band of fine white granite:

• Heartbreak Ridge This fine route ascends the spectacular ridge along the left edge of the east buttress in eight pitches. The crux is a vertical step near the top of the route, which is passed by steep face climbing at 5.7 difficulty. Most of the rest of the route involves pleasant scrambling interspersed with a few moves of 5.7. Difficulty: III 5.7.

• East Face, Southern Buttress This route tackles the same buttress as the above route but uses crack systems on the east face well to the right of Heartbreak Ridge. This route is also considerably more sustained with 5.7 crack climbing on nearly every pitch. However, good belay ledges continuously interrupt these cracks. The crux crack is a strenuous off-width chimney during the fourth of eight pitches. Difficulty: III 5.8+.

To approach Table Mountain from the west shore of Jenny Lake, we hike for about seven miles of relatively flat terrain on an excellent trail into the south fork of Cascade Canyon, one of the range's most spectacular valleys. That evening, we set up camp in a beautiful meadow and watch the high peaks glow orange and pink in the evening light. In the morning, we make the final approach to the climb over a short stretch of off-trail terrain. The climb to the summit via either the East Face or Heartbreak Ridge lasts between three and six hours. After basking on the summit under the massive hulk of the Grand Teton, the descent involves walking on Table Mountain's summit plateau until lower-angle scree and boulders in the south gully are reached. Once back at camp, we relax for another evening and hike out the seven miles to Jenny Lake on the third morning. You and your guide may hike out on the afternoon of the second day, but the rate remains the same. See our current rates for these climbs.