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These photos are from a backpack trip that I enjoyed in 2002 through the southern half of the Jedediah Smith Wilderness. This portion of the trek took me up Darby Canyon to the high cliffs that overlook the Death Canyon Shelf in the Grand Teton National Park. Many of the paths that I followed aren't on any maps that I've seen. The upper basin of Darby Canyon is a seldom-visited, lightly trod region of limestone badlands and spectacular scenery that rivals any that I've seen in 4 decades of hiking and backpacking. Water is scarce in the upper basin, with the porous limestone soaking up nearly every drop. Despite that, the wild flower displays in early summer are incredible. From the cliffs that rim the upper canyon, you can enjoy views of the Cathedral Group of peaks over in the Teton National Park, including the rugged spire of the Grand. If you have time, it's fairly easy to snag a few peaks in the upper canyon - The Wedge, Mount Meek, and Mount Jedediah Smith are well worth the effort that it takes to gain the summits. |
