Buck Mountain, Static Peak, Albright Peak Loop in Grand Teton National Park, WY

Hike Buck Mountain, Static Peak, Albright Peak Loop Grand Teton National Park, WY

Class 3 14.9 miles 6900 gain 7-10 hrs Loop Sep 9, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Buck Mountain, Static Peak, Albright Peak Loop GPX Track

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Buck Mountain is a a big peak just south of the Grand Teton massif, and its proximity to the Grand means excellent views. Static Peak is a more minor summit just south of Buck Mountain, a peak that can be reached via a popular trail. The issue we foresaw would be getting from Buck Mountain to Static Peak, since the only info we were aware of would either require a Class 5 traverse, or a snow climb up to the saddle separating the two peaks. Though with some luck and hope, we set out to attempt it and later located another option that worked out much better, allowing us to link the peaks and form a great loop that visits some gorgeous scenery in Grand Teton National Park.

We set out from the Death Canyon Trailhead, the very popular hike lulling us to the west, tricking us into thinking it would continue in this manner to Timberline Lake. Of course not being the case, we had to backtrack a bit to locate a far less obvious social trail leading off to the north. While the trail was certainly still quite good, we had already become complacent within the first half mile of the hike and groaned dramatically. Minimal deadfall through the forest and barely-encroaching sagebrush through a meadow led us up into Stewart Draw. The granitic spires above starting coming into view and the creek was flowing nicely. Often the trail climbed steeply up various slopes, but we we had no issues following it until about 9600' when we entered a talus field. Here the trail petered out and we did our best to stick to eroded portions within the talus as we made our way toward Timberline Lake. The last few hundred feet followed tundra and talus and reached an overlook of the lake.

Buck Mountain was just ahead of us now, but we still had 1600 vertical gain or so to gain the summit. A social trail popped in again when we reached the base of the ascent route, the only clear option for getting around the cliff bands around Buck Mountain's base. We were presented with two options. The first led up a Class 2+ gully, while the second kept left of the gully and ascended grassy ledges. Both met up and continued through a talus field, making an ascending traverse toward Buck's summit to the west. The lower portion of the talus field is wide, but on both the acent and descent we were eventually pushed toward a wide, key gully (Class 2). There's certainly no one correct way to reach the summit since we pretty much all took slightly different routes from one another and then also on the way back, but it generaly sticks to Class 2/3 terrain with the occasional Class 3 move. If you aren't paying attention, a random cliff may present Class 4 or harder, so just keep plotting a few hundred feet ahead.

After inhaling the incredible summit views, we scoped our proposed route to Static Peak to the south. We didn't even toy with the idea of taking the Class 5 traverse from the summit of Buck, and our inspection of the extraordinarily steep-looking saddle had us laughing, but Chris pointed out that Static's east ridge looked reasonable. Once we reached the base of Buck Mountain, Jon and Matt decided they were content for the day and turned back, leaving me and Chris alone to traverse the light Class 2 talus field leading to Static Peak's east ridge. We were excited about potential salvation from an out-and-back hike. After some clawing at a very loose Class 2/3 slope to gain the ridge, we were thrilled to learn the ridge seemed to continue in Class 2/3 fashion for at least a little while. Keeping below the ridge and its initial cliffy terrain led to one Class 3 steppy move on somewhat loose terrain, followed by Class 2/3 on more loose stuff to get back to the ridgeline. From here was light Class 2 to the summit. The views were excellent toward Buck Mountain the whole way up, and we got a cool perspective of Static Peak's sheer northern cliff.

Now on the unofficial Static Peak Trail, we descended to its junction with the Alaska Basin Trail, which led to the base of Albright Peak. This is a minor summit with a steep social trail leading to its summit (Class 2). Its slightly lower southern summit offered great views into Death Canyon far below and back toward Static Peak and Grand Teton in the distance. Us nerds made a few too many jokes about how the peak was more than just "albright". Now it was just a matter of hiking the long Alaska Basin Trail down using its many switchbacks to join the Death Canyon Trail. Along the way, the views into the canyon were spectacular and we even saw a bear asleep in a tree just off the trail. There's a historic cabin at the junction with the Death Canyon Trail, now used as a patrol cabin. Death Canyon's sheer walls looming above led us out toward Phelps Lake on the nice trail. Once out of the canyon, the trail headed away from Phelps Lake and ascended to the east for a few hundred feet in order to get us back to the trailhead.

Upon our return, we were greeted by Matt and Jon who had lovingly brought us iced coffees and beer, but also by a couple of bears lingering in the parking lot who calmly refused to let us pass to reach our friends and their goodies. The bears used the road since it was the path of least resistance, uncaring that we were also there. We backed away. They approached. We backed away more. Clearly these bears were not going to charge us, but I'm a simple desert dweller accustomed to predictable rattlesnakes and jumping cholla, so I wasn't willing to risk a serious encounter with one of these foreign, furry beasts.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Buck Mountain
11938 ft
1298 rise
2
Static Peak
11303 ft
343 rise
3
Albright Peak
10552 ft
312 rise

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Starting from the Death Canyon Trailhead.
Starting from the Death Canyon Trailhead.
A junction with the social trail leading away from the Death Canyon, taking us up to Buck Mountain.
A junction with the social trail leading away from the Death Canyon, taking us up to Buck Mountain.
A nice meadow as we near Stewart Draw, seen center.
A nice meadow as we near Stewart Draw, seen center.
Image 3 from gallery
The trail was in great shape, just not as good as the main Death Canyon Trail.
The trail was in great shape, just not as good as the main Death Canyon Trail.
Image 5 from gallery
Crossing the creek.
Crossing the creek.
Entering the drainage, Buck Mountain visible ahead.
Entering the drainage, Buck Mountain visible ahead.
Ascending next to the creek.
Ascending next to the creek.
Image 9 from gallery
Progress up the slopes.
Progress up the slopes.
View back down Stewart Draw.
View back down Stewart Draw.
Buck Mountain top right, Static Peak top left.
Buck Mountain top right, Static Peak top left.
Steep section ahead, followed by a boulder field where the trail sort of disappears. Buck Mountain seen top center.
Steep section ahead, followed by a boulder field where the trail sort of disappears. Buck Mountain seen top center.
Ascending to the boulder field.
Ascending to the boulder field.
Class 2 boulder field.
Class 2 boulder field.
A shot back at our progress from the center. Albright Peak visible top right.
A shot back at our progress from the center. Albright Peak visible top right.
Class 2 for a bit until we cleared the boulder field.
Class 2 for a bit until we cleared the boulder field.
Another shot back at the top of the boulder field.
Another shot back at the top of the boulder field.
Tundra. Buck and Static seen ahead.
Tundra. Buck and Static seen ahead.
View back as we near Timberline Lake.
View back as we near Timberline Lake.
Timberline Lake. Static Peak seen top left.
Timberline Lake. Static Peak seen top left.
Approaching the base of Buck Mountain, Grand Teton poking out behind. The route leads to the weakness in the center.
Approaching the base of Buck Mountain, Grand Teton poking out behind. The route leads to the weakness in the center.
Looking back as we start up Buck Mountain.
Looking back as we start up Buck Mountain.
At the base of Buck Mountain. Straight leads up a Class 2+ gully. Keeping left out of the gully is Class 2 grassy ledges.
At the base of Buck Mountain. Straight leads up a Class 2+ gully. Keeping left out of the gully is Class 2 grassy ledges.
Ascending traverse up to Buck Mountain, currently obscured by clouds.
Ascending traverse up to Buck Mountain, currently obscured by clouds.
View back along the grassy ledges option. On the far left you can see the gully option.
View back along the grassy ledges option. On the far left you can see the gully option.
Another shot back. We came up from the valley floor on the top right.
Another shot back. We came up from the valley floor on the top right.
Class 2/3 stuff.
Class 2/3 stuff.
We got funneled into this Class 2/3 gully both on the ascent and descent, though there's possibly other options.
We got funneled into this Class 2/3 gully both on the ascent and descent, though there's possibly other options.
View back down the wide gully.
View back down the wide gully.
Class 2/3 fun.
Class 2/3 fun.
View back again as we take slightly different routes up the peak.
View back again as we take slightly different routes up the peak.
Nearing the summit after 1500+ feet of Class 2/3 ascending.
Nearing the summit after 1500+ feet of Class 2/3 ascending.
View back just below the summit.
View back just below the summit.
View north toward the Grand Teton massif.
View north toward the Grand Teton massif.
Grand Teton!
Grand Teton!
View west.
View west.
View back the way we came.
View back the way we came.
View south toward Static Peak and Albright Peak.
View south toward Static Peak and Albright Peak.
A shot on our way back toward Static Peak's east ridge.
A shot on our way back toward Static Peak's east ridge.
Back at Timberline Lake.
Back at Timberline Lake.
Class 2 talus field leading to Static Peak's east ridge. You can see the steep-looking slope we'd be clawing up shortly to reach the ridge in the center.
Class 2 talus field leading to Static Peak's east ridge. You can see the steep-looking slope we'd be clawing up shortly to reach the ridge in the center.
Yay, loose garbage!
Yay, loose garbage!
View back toward Buck Mountain and Timberline Lake.
View back toward Buck Mountain and Timberline Lake.
On Static's east ridge. We kept left of the initial cliffy stuff.
On Static's east ridge. We kept left of the initial cliffy stuff.
Class 3 move below the cliff.
Class 3 move below the cliff.
Class 2/3 loose stuff to regain the rigeline.
Class 2/3 loose stuff to regain the rigeline.
View back along the ridgeline.
View back along the ridgeline.
Mostly easy, steep hiking to the summit.
Mostly easy, steep hiking to the summit.
View back.
View back.
Approaching the summit, Buck Mountain seen over there.
Approaching the summit, Buck Mountain seen over there.
View back, Timberline Lake below.
View back, Timberline Lake below.
Static Peak summit, view toward Buck Mountain.
Static Peak summit, view toward Buck Mountain.
View west.
View west.
View south toward Albright Peak (left) and Prospectors Mountain (center).
View south toward Albright Peak (left) and Prospectors Mountain (center).
Albright Peak top left, seen as we descend from Static Peak.
Albright Peak top left, seen as we descend from Static Peak.
View back toward Static (right), buck poking out on the left.
View back toward Static (right), buck poking out on the left.
Wrapping around an outcropping as we make our way down to the base of Albright Peak.
Wrapping around an outcropping as we make our way down to the base of Albright Peak.
View down into Death Canyon.
View down into Death Canyon.
Approaching the base of Albright Peak.
Approaching the base of Albright Peak.
View back as we ascend Albright Peak along a social trail.
View back as we ascend Albright Peak along a social trail.
Cool cliff along Albright's east face.
Cool cliff along Albright's east face.
Just below the summit of Albright Peak, view north.
Just below the summit of Albright Peak, view north.
Class 2 up to Albright Peak.
Class 2 up to Albright Peak.
View into Death Canyon and of Phelps Lake.
View into Death Canyon and of Phelps Lake.
Static, Buck, The Grand.
Static, Buck, The Grand.
Descending along the Alaska Basin Trail into Death Canyon.
Descending along the Alaska Basin Trail into Death Canyon.
View back.
View back.
Death Canyon far below, many switchbacks away.
Death Canyon far below, many switchbacks away.
Image 70 from gallery
Some nice views of the pinnacles to the north.
Some nice views of the pinnacles to the north.
Getting lower.
Getting lower.
Death Canyon below.
Death Canyon below.
Death Canyon cabin at the junction with the Death Canyon Trail.
Death Canyon cabin at the junction with the Death Canyon Trail.
Along the Death Canyon Trail.
Along the Death Canyon Trail.
Phelps Lake below.
Phelps Lake below.
View back up Death Canyon.
View back up Death Canyon.
Looking back into the mouth of Death Canyon.
Looking back into the mouth of Death Canyon.
A few hundred feet of ascending to get up to what's called the "Phelps Lake Overlook".
A few hundred feet of ascending to get up to what's called the "Phelps Lake Overlook".
Phelps Lake below.
Phelps Lake below.
Lovely lighting as we headed back along the Death Canyon Trail to reach the trailhead.
Lovely lighting as we headed back along the Death Canyon Trail to reach the trailhead.

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