Rocky Mountain Front, Old Baldy to Teton Pass ski resort

Climbing the summit ridge of Old Baldy with the rest of our day visible in the background.

The highlight of our family vacation to the Rock Mountain Front was a ridge link up from Old Baldy to Teton Pass ski resort.  This was also one of my most enjoyable days in the.mountains this summer because it combined a new and thoroughly enjoyable outing with a rare full day with Leah.  We left the Rescue creek trailhead at 6 am and crossed the creek at the toe of Old Baldy after just a few miles on the Middle Fork Teton trail.  The climb to Old Baldy took quite a bit of time, but it was without a doubt a worthwhile addition to the outing.  It also took a long time to get down Old Baldy and across Route Creek pass.  The rest of the ridge was clean, easy, and just plain fun.  We climbed all of the peaks along the ridge including Teton peak, Mount Lockhart, and several unnamed high points.  We kept waiting for the forecast heat to strike, but between the wind and an abundance of snowmelt water, we were never stricken by heat.  Before long, we had crested Lockhart. Just over an hour later, we were on top of the ski resort.  Getting down the resort took longer than expected, but we still made it back to the bikes ahead of schedule.  The 7-mile downhill shuttle was one of the easiest shuttles I have ever done.  We were both tired, and it was a nice end to the day.  

Leah coming up to the summit ridge on Old Baldy.

Mid way through the day.

Up the last climb to the top of Teton Pass ski resort.

I would love to do this one again.  Super high quality.  It would be cool to go bigger and start at Rocky Mountain.  I think it's doable, but everything including the shuttle would be much longer. Also now on the list: ski traverse from Old Baldy or somewhere similar to Teton Pass resort.  With spring stability.  It looks to be a super logical link up.

The rest of our time in the Front was a treat, full of time with friends, laughs and adventures with kids, remembering that I don't remember how to climb, and shorter scrambles and bike rides.  

Mount Frazier (day one outing) as viewed from Mount Werner (day two and three outings).