Grand Teton BC Trip

[smahurin]

I'm curious if anyone has some experience doing the teton crest backpacking trail. In addition to my numerous glacier day hike trips, likely 2-ish bc trips, I'm trying to squeeze in the teton crest trail next summer. I've done a decent amount of searching on the internet, but haven't found a ton of information other than: "its awesome".

Mainly I'm looking for campsite recommendations. Last year for kicks and giggles I logged on their opening lottery day to see what was available and half went through the process of reserving but found it is surprisingly less intuitive than you'd think for a online application. The problems I kept coming up with were some of the sites/areas were only for groups >6 and some of the areas weren't even listed in their on-line system (not that they weren't available... they weren't even listed?). Maybe this was just a funky thing with last year as I believe it was the first time they had done the online only app process but I could be wrong.

Just looking at the map I was thinking of 3-4 day trip with stops in Death Canyon Shelf, and north fork cascade (and possibly picking up a night somewhere else to break up the distances better). But the problem I found at least last year when looking was that South and North Fork Cascade were only available for Groups (which seems wrong as while there is a designated group site within the camping zone I wouldn't think the entire zone is group only, as both look like the areas should had additional capacity for non-groups but I know nothing. And for some reason last year neither of the paintbrush group sites were even listed in the on-line app. Maybe this is because the paintbrush camping is listed as an open camping zone?

Anyways so I was curious who's been there and done that, and if anyone has suggested sites, or just in general any information or suggestions.

Thanks!

[isleroyaleguy]

I have never been. Yet.
I will be planning a trip for late August 2015. I will share all the info I have once I'm into hardcore trip planning mode. I should have my map soon. Just like GNP the permit system is a drag.
Hope to hear from you.
IRG

[sj in cal]

I've done most of the teton crest trail three times recently, turning back from Paintbrush Divide each time, twice for snow and once for family issues. I didn't have the issues with the reservation system you mentioned. Death Canyon Shelf and the sites below Hurricane Pass are must stays for me! Marion Lake is very nice, but over-used (i.e., good luck finding an unused place to dig a cat hole). Let me know if you have any questions.
Steve

[smahurin]

Awesome, thanks sj in cal. I just browsed over to rec.gov and while they aren't accepting permits yet obviously I can at least browse the mountain camp zone sites... and it looks like all the options are there. Not sure why last year when I got on, some of the spots "didn't exist?" in the system... I could just be dumb. I'm sure it was somehow user error. As when I tried last year, North Fork Cascade only had a groupsite option (no non-group slots) and neither of the paintbrush camping zones existed.

Again, I'm sure it was user error. I'll try for reals this time tho!

EDIT: Also a question for you. I realize its entirely dependent on the winter/spring... but realistically how quickly do the passes in GTNP melt out? I realize the rule of thumb in glacier is end of july/beginning of august, obviously tho that depends. I'm wondering if GTNP is really any different in that regard, IE maybe melting out a few weeks quicker than glacier? My fam snagged a Sperry reservation already for first weekend of August. And ideally I'd like to snag a week long trip glacier trip that will hopefully be sometime in august and I'd like to give as much flexibility for that. I'm wondering if I shoot for the teton crest around July 20-ish if that will be pushing the season. Any advice/guidance/experience from people who've spent more time in that neck of the woods than me?