The Devils Stairs trail in the Jedediah Smith Wilderness

The final climb before topping out at the Teton Canyon Shelf, near what I would name "Bug Hole". The high cliffs in the background separate South Teton Canyon from Darby Canyon.

Bench, or shelf, are the names often given to the wide flat areas that sometimes lie along the top of the cliff bands in the Tetons. You can pick your climate by choosing to hike certain benches, depending on season, elevation, and compass orientation.

The Teton Canyon Shelf runs along the south wall of the canyon for about 6 miles. The lower end of the Shelf has a small pond and gazillions of wildflowers, along with double-gazillions of mosquitoes early in the season.