Alaska Basin

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Alaska Basin
Subalpine basin
Static Peak Divide Trail B.jpg
Alaska Basin Trail with Alaska Basin to the left
Country United States
State Wyoming
Location Teton Range = [1]

 - elevation 9,400 ft (2,865.1 m) [1]
 - coordinates 43°42′04″N110°51′16″W / 43.70111°N 110.85444°W / 43.70111; -110.85444 Coordinates: 43°42′04″N110°51′16″W / 43.70111°N 110.85444°W / 43.70111; -110.85444
Highest point
 - elevation 10,400 ft (3,169.9 m)
Area 8 sq mi (21 km2)

Alaska Basin is a subalpine basin on the west slopes of the Teton Range, in the U.S. state of Wyoming. Located on the western border of Grand Teton National Park, Alaska Basin is within the Jedediah Smith Wilderness of Caribou-Targhee National Forest. The drainage for the basin is to the northwest along Teton Creek through Teton Canyon. Access into the basin is by trail only and the basin is bisected by the Teton Crest Trail which connects Mount Meek Pass to the south with Hurricane Pass to the north. The Alaska Basin Trail also enters Alaska Basin and connects with the Teton Crest Trail near Sunset Lake. [2] Alaska Basin can also be accessed from the west by starting at the Teton Canyon campground. From there the hike to the summit of Table Mountain is 12 miles (19 km) roundtrip with a total elevation gain of 4,150 feet (1,260 m). [3]

Teton Range mountain range of the Rocky Mountains in North America

The Teton Range is a mountain range of the Rocky Mountains in North America. It extends for approximately 40 miles (64 km) in a north–south direction through the U.S. state of Wyoming, east of the Idaho state line. It is south of Yellowstone National Park and most of the east side of the range is within Grand Teton National Park.

U.S. state constituent political entity of the United States

In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are currently 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory and shares its sovereignty with the federal government. Due to this shared sovereignty, Americans are citizens both of the federal republic and of the state in which they reside. State citizenship and residency are flexible, and no government approval is required to move between states, except for persons restricted by certain types of court orders. Four states use the term commonwealth rather than state in their full official names.

Wyoming State of the United States of America

Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the western United States. The state is the 10th largest by area, the least populous, and the second most sparsely populated state in the country. Wyoming is bordered on the north by Montana, on the east by South Dakota and Nebraska, on the south by Colorado, on the southwest by Utah, and on the west by Idaho and Montana. The state population was estimated at 586,107 in 2015, which is less than 31 of the most populous U.S. cities including neighboring Denver. Cheyenne is the state capital and the most populous city, with an estimated population of 63,335 in 2015.

Alaska Basin at sunset Alaska Basin Cooper.jpg
Alaska Basin at sunset

Related Research Articles

Death Canyon canyon located in Grand Teton National Park

Death Canyon is located in Grand Teton National Park, in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The canyon was formed by glaciers which retreated at the end of the last glacial maximum approximately 15,000 years ago, leaving behind a U-shaped valley. The trailhead for the canyon is located on a side road off the Moose-Wilson Road, approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) from the park headquarters at Moose, Wyoming. At the base of the canyon is Phelps Lake which was created by glacial activity. The Death Canyon Trail extends the length of the canyon to Fox Creek Pass, at which point the Death Canyon Shelf, a relative narrow and level plateau, can be traversed. The canyon has many Whitebark Pine stands, particularly near the tree line. At the junction of the Death Canyon and the Alaska Basin trails, the historic Death Canyon Barn is preserved after being listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.

Buck Mountain (Wyoming) mountain in Wyoming

Buck Mountain 11,943 feet (3,640 m) is located in the Teton Range, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, immediately southeast of Grand Teton. The mountain is the highest summit south of Garnet Canyon and is easily seen from most vantage points in Jackson Hole. Views from the summit offer excellent views of the Cathedral Group to the north. The west slope of the summit tower are along the Alaska Basin Trail and extend into Caribou-Targhee National Forest and the Jedediah Smith Wilderness, which is the location of Alaska Basin, a popular wilderness camping area for backpackers. Timberline Lake is located on the eastern flanks of the peak.

Paintbrush Canyon

Paintbrush Canyon is located in Grand Teton National Park, in the U. S. state of Wyoming. The canyon was formed by glaciers which retreated at the end of the last glacial maximum approximately 15,000 years ago. The canyon lies between Rockchuck Peak and Mount Saint John to the south and Mount Woodring to the north. Leigh Lake is at the base of the canyon to the east and the alpine Holly Lake is located mid canyon. Popular with hikers, the canyon is part of a popular circuit hike of 19.2 miles (30.9 km) which is rated as very strenuous and includes a total elevation change of 3,845 feet (1,172 m) due to the ascent to Paintbrush Divide 10,720 feet (3,270 m). Views from Paintbrush Divide include Lake Solitude and of Mount Moran to the north and the Cathedral Group including Grand Teton to the south. An ice axe may be necessary for hikes in the early summer. The Paintbrush Canyon Trail is part of the Teton Crest Trail, which spans the southern section of the Teton Range from Teton Pass along Wyoming Highway 22 to String Lake, a total distance of 39 miles (63 km).

Teton Crest Trail

The Teton Crest Trail is a 40-mile (64 km) long hiking trail in the U.S. state of Wyoming that extends from Phillips Pass, on the border of Bridger Teton and Caribou-Targhee National Forests, to String Lake in Grand Teton National Park. Backpacker Magazine calls the Trail one of the "Best Hikes Ever," with "mesmerizing and constant views of jagged peaks."

Paintbrush Divide

Paintbrush Divide is a pedestrian mountain pass located in the Teton Range, Grand Teton National Park, in the U.S. state of Wyoming. Situated at approximately 10,720 ft (3,270 m) above sea level, the pass can be accessed from the east by way of the Paintbrush Canyon or Cascade Canyon Trails and involves a nearly 4,000 ft (1,200 m) elevation gain.

Hurricane Pass

Hurricane Pass is a pedestrian mountain pass located in the Teton Range, Grand Teton National Park, in the U.S. state of Wyoming. Situated at approximately 10,338 ft (3,151 m) above sea level, the pass can be accessed from the south by way of the Teton Crest Trail or from the north via the South Fork Cascade Canyon Trail. From Jenny Lake the roundtrip hike is 24.8 mi (39.9 km) with a 4,500 ft (1,400 m) elevation gain. Schoolroom Glacier is 100 yd (91 m) from the pass. Views of the west slopes of several of the highest Teton Range peaks as well as Alaska Basin and Battleship Mountain in Caribou-Targhee National Forest are available at the pass.

Mount Meek Pass

Mount Meek Pass is a pedestrian mountain pass located in the Teton Range, Grand Teton National Park, in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The pass is situated at 9,718 ft (2,962 m) above sea level and is accessed by way of the Teton Crest Trail and is immediately east of Mount Meek. Mount Meek Pass is more than 12 mi (19 km) from the nearest trailhead. To the south of the pass lies Death Canyon Shelf within Grand Teton National Park, while to the north can be found the region known as Alaska Basin, which is in Caribou-Targhee National Forest.

Fox Creek Pass

Fox Creek Pass is a pedestrian mountain pass located in the Teton Range, Grand Teton National Park, in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The pass is situated at 9,570 ft (2,920 m) above sea level and is at the head of Death Canyon. Fox Creek Pass can be accessed by way of the Teton Crest Trail or the Death Canyon Trail from the east. To the north lies the Death Canyon Shelf in Grand Teton National Park while Fossil Mountain and Caribou-Targhee National Forest are to the west and south, respectively.

Static Peak Divide

Static Peak Divide is a pedestrian mountain pass located in the Teton Range, Grand Teton National Park, in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The pass is situated at 10,800 ft (3,300 m) above sea level and is the high point along the Alaska Basin Trail which is accessed from Death Canyon. The Static Peak Divide is the highest altitude mountain pass along any maintained trail in Grand Teton National Park and is just west of Static Peak.

The Owl Creek Trail is a 7.3-mile (11.7 km) long hiking trail in the far northern region of Grand Teton National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The trail begins at a junction on the Berry Creek Trail and traverses west then south to Moose Basin Divide where it meets the Webb Canyon Trail. Located in the remote northern backcountry of Grand Teton National Park, the trail is not connected to maintained trails in the southern part of the park and must be accessed from the Glade Creek trailhead in the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. From Glade Creek, it is a 7.5 mi (12.1 km) hike to the Berry Creek Trail and then another 4 mi (6.4 km) to the trail junction. The Owl Creek Trail follows Owl Creek west then south and passes south of Forellen Peak. The trail requires numerous stream crossings which can be dangerous during spring melt.

The Webb Canyon Trail is a 9.9-mile (15.9 km) long hiking trail in the far northern region of Grand Teton National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The trail begins near the National Park Service backcountry patrol cabin near Wilcox Point on Jackson Lake. Located in the remote northern backcountry of Grand Teton National Park, the trail is not connected to maintained trails in the southern part of the park and must be accessed from the Glade Creek trailhead in the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. From Glade Creek, it is a 7.5 mi (12.1 km) hike to the patrol cabin and the beginning of the Webb Canyon Trail. The trail follows Moose Creek west and after several miles, is flanked by both Owl Peak and Elk Mountain to the north and several unnamed peaks nearing 11,000 ft (3,400 m) to the south. At Moose Basin Divide the trail meets the Owl Creek Trail.

Alaska Basin Trail

The Alaska Basin Trail is a 7.5 mi (12.1 km) long hiking trail in Grand Teton National Park and Bridger-Teton National Forest in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The trail begins at a junction on the Death Canyon Trail near the Death Canyon Barn and climbs steeply to Static Peak Divide. From the divide, the trail soon splits with a western branch descending into Alaska Basin and the eastern trail continuing north to junction with the Teton Crest Trail. There are no camping zones on the trail within Grand Teton National Park, however in National Forest lands within Alaska Basin, camping is permitted anywhere more than 200 ft (61 m) away from lakes, though no open fires are allowed. The Alaska Basin Trail is oftentimes used by climbers attempting to make ascents of Buck Mountain and Veiled Peak.

Death Canyon Trail

The Death Canyon Trail is a 10.5 mi (16.9 km) long hiking trail in Grand Teton National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The trail begins west of the White Grass Ranger Station Historic District and ends at Fox Creek Pass where it intercepts the Teton Crest Trail. The trail follows the length of Death Canyon. To get to the trail, the Valley Trail must be accessed at the White Grass Grass Ranger Station then by trending westward just to the north of Phelps Lake. Near Phelps Lake Overlook, the Death Canyon Trail heads west and is flanked by Albright Peak to the north and Prospectors Mountain to the south. After over 2 mi (3.2 km), the canyon widens and is intercepted by the Alaska Basin Trail. The Death Canyon Trail continues west then southwest, climbing steadily to Fox Creek Pass. The camping zone in the canyon extends from just west of the Alaska Basin Trail junction to .5 mi (0.80 km) below Fox Creek Pass and is available by permit.

The Granite Canyon Trail is a 8.2 mi (13.2 km) long hiking trail in Grand Teton National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The trail begins at the Granite Canyon trailhead on the Moose-Wilson Road, about 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Teton Village and ends at the junction with the Teton Crest Trail near Marion Lake. The trail follows the length of Granite Canyon. Just over a mile before the junction with the Teton Crest Trail, the Open Canyon Trail intercepts this trail from the north. An alternative route is to take the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ski lift to the top of Rendezvous Mountain and descend 3 mi (4.8 km) down the Rendezvous Mountain Trail to junction with the Granite Canyon Trail, a distance of 12 mi (19 km) and mostly downhill. There are three different camping zones in the canyon which are available by permit.

Garnet Canyon Trail

The Garnet Canyon Trail is a 4.8-mile (7.7 km) long hiking trail in Grand Teton National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The trailhead is at the Lupine Meadows parking area and climbs steeply more than 2,500 feet (760 m) in just under 5 miles (8.0 km) into Garnet Canyon. At the 2-mile (3.2 km) point, the trail forks from the Amphitheater Lake Trail and heads south and then west into Garnet Canyon. Garnet Canyon is the most popular approach route for climbers attempting to summit not only Grand Teton but also Middle Teton, South Teton, Teepe Pillar and Disappointment Peak. Though the trail becomes unmaintained once it enters boulder fields at approximately the 9,500-foot (2,900 m) elevation point, climbers continue on to other destinations such as the Lower Saddle, a high altitude mountain pass situated between Middle and Grand Teton. The altitude gain from the Lupine Meadows trailhead to the Lower Saddle is nearly 5,000 feet (1,500 m).

Paintbrush Canyon Trail

The Paintbrush Canyon Trail is a 9.1-mile (14.6 km) long hiking trail in Grand Teton National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming. Access to the Paintbrush Canyon Trail is from the String Lake trailhead. From there the trail follows the west shore of String Lake and is also known as the String Lake Trail. The Paintbrush Canyon Trail then enters Paintbrush Canyon and becomes steeper and then splits with one trail heading to Holly Lake and the other heading south then west. The trails merge west of Holly Lake and it is a steady altitude gain the last 3.9 miles (6.3 km) to Paintbrush Divide. The east approach to Paintbrush Divide is steep and may require the use of an ice axe through July. There are two camping zones within Paintbrush Canyon and one designated campsite at Holly Lake which are available with a permit. There is a popular loop trail which includes the Paintbrush Canyon Trail, Lake Solitude Trail and Cascade Canyon Trail which spans a distance of 19 mi (31 km) and has a total elevation gain of 4,900 ft (1,500 m).

Hidden Falls (Teton County, Wyoming)

Hidden Falls is located on Cascade Creek, Grand Teton National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The falls drop approximately 100 feet (30 m) near the eastern end of Cascade Canyon, and west of Jenny Lake. The easiest way to access the falls is by way of the Jenny Lake boat shuttle which goes from South Jenny Lake to the entrance of Cascade Canyon. From there it is a 1.2-mile (1.9 km) roundtrip hike along the Cascade Canyon Trail to viewing points for the falls. Another option is to hike 5.2 miles (8.4 km) roundtrip from South Jenny Lake on the Jenny Lake Trail. During the summer vacation period, Hidden Falls is one of the busiest tourist attractions in Grand Teton National Park.

South Fork Cascade Canyon Trail

The South Fork Cascade Canyon Trail is a 5.6-mile (9.0 km) long hiking trail in Grand Teton National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The trail begins at the Forks of Cascade Canyon and extends to Hurricane Pass. A short connector trail just before Hurricane Pass leads to Schoolroom Glacier. From the Forks of Cascade Canyon and most of the way through South Cascade Canyon, backcountry camping is allowed with a permit. The South Fork Cascade Canyon Trail is also part of the Teton Crest Trail its entire length and to the south beyond Hurricane Pass lies Alaska Basin.

Death Canyon Shelf is a narrow plateau located in Grand Teton National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The plateau extends from Fox Creek Pass to Mount Meek Pass, a distance of almost 4 miles (6.4 km). The Death Canyon Shelf parallels much of Death Canyon to the east and has cliffs rising several hundred feet to the west for most of the shelf's length. Camping is permitted on Death Canyon Shelf with a permit. The shelf is traversed by the Teton Crest Trail for its entire length, but it is deep in the backcountry, requiring a 10-mile (16 km) hike from the Death Canyon trailhead to access.

References

  1. 1 2 "Alaska Basin". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey . Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  2. Grand Teton, WY (Map). Topoquest (USGS Quads). Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  3. "Day Hikes" (pdf). National Park Service. February 2012. Retrieved 2012-05-25.